Cytotec is a trade name for the medication misoprostol. Cytotec belongs to a class of medications known as prostaglandins and works in two ways: it prevents the secretion of gastric acids and it causes uterine contractions in pregnant women.
Up to 20 percent of the population at any given time is shedding herpes simplex virus, according to the "5-Minute Clinical Consult" textbook. Risk factors for contracting the virus include sexual intercourse with an infected person, occupational...
Thuja is a family of evergreen trees in the cypress family native to eastern North American and Europe. Parts of the plant contain the oil thujone which has been used in folk medicine to treat arthritis, menstrual irregularities, headaches and...
Nicotine patches are sometimes used to help a person quit smoking by supplying a low level of nicotine that can be tapered and discontinued. These patches have been rated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as category D, meaning that there...
Nicotine is one of the many chemicals found in tobacco products such as cigarettes, cigars, pipes and smokeless tobacco. Nicotine is readily absorbed, and once it enters the bloodstream, it quickly moves through the body and affects the organs....
Native to Europe and temperate climates, chicory has been used for medicinal purposes for centuries. Available as a dietary supplement, vegetable or coffee substitute, chicory may alleviate abdominal pain and constipation. Despite its potential to...
Smoking is the most preventable cause of death and illness among mothers and babies, suggests the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. As such, in preparation for trying to get pregnant, it's important to completely stop smoking. However,...
Caffeine is a much relied upon way to wake people up in the morning and keep them going throughout the day. If you like the way caffeine energizes you, you can safely drink 200 to 300 mg per day, MayoClinic.com notes. If you drink any more than...
Ashwagandha is a popular "adaptogenic" herb, meaning it helps your body to cope with stress factors. You can also use ashwagandha to treat many different psychological and physical problems or conditions. As with any herbal remedy, you should talk...
Black tar is a type of heroin that largely comes from Mexico into the United States. Unlike other forms of heroin, black tar takes on a sticky black form or a hard rock-like form, instead of a white or tan powder. However, like other forms of...
Various herbs and spices comprise an important element in traditional and modern medicine. You may incorporate such plants into your daily routine as an all-natural supplement or treatment for a health problem, but just because it's all-natural...
Bitter melon, a member of the gourd family, is used widely in Asian and East Indian cuisine. The green, spongy fruit tastes bitter and has a slightly pungent smell. However, bitter melon contains numerous vitamins and minerals that make it the...
Many pregnant women question the safety and efficacy of taking herbal supplements during pregnancy. Cinnamon bark and cinnamon oil have been used for seasoning and medicinal purposes for centuries. Although cinnamon as a kitchen spice is...
As a "tonic herb," ashwagandha has been used in traditional herbal medicine to boost health, physical vigor, mental function, fertility and infection resistance. You might take ashwagandha to improve your body's ability to adapt to stress or for a...
Derived from the fruit of the tropical Momordica charantia plant, bitter melon is used as food and a medicinal remedy. Gymnema also comes from a tropical plant and is used medicinally for its leaves. Both have a history of use in folk medicine for...
Cholesterol is a potentially fatal fatty substance produced in the liver and pumped throughout the bloodstream. When bad cholesterol levels overcome good types, plaque begins to build in your arteries. This forces the heart to work extra hard to...
Ginger is a spice used in cooking and herbal medicine. Ginger tea as well as ginger in powder and capsule forms can be used to soothe the stomach, fight nausea, combat diarrhea, reduce inflammation related to osteoarthritis and rheumatoid...
The term "missed abortion" refers to an inevitable miscarriage in a woman who has not yet experienced any vaginal bleeding or uterine cramping. In a missed abortion, the pregnancy will not progress because, although the woman retains embryonic...
Progesterone is an essential hormone that is involved in more than just reproductive phases. According to "Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine," progesterone is essential to the renin-agiontensin-aldosterone system and the metabolism of...
Your body needs iodine, a non-metallic element, to support normal thyroid function. The earth's oceans and soil contain iodine, which allows fish, fruits and vegetables absorb it. The World Health Organization reports that an iodine deficiency is...
Pregnancy brings a lot of changes to a woman's body and lifestyle, but fitness doesn't necessarily go by the wayside. A fit, active woman can maintain her healthy lifestyle with a relatively wide range of activities and exercises. However some...
Retinoic acid is essentially a vitamin A acid available in topical creams and gels, and by prescription for the concentrated and oral forms. The New England Journal of Medicine warns that use of retinoic acid will cause birth defects and...
Tuberculosis is the leading infectious disease worldwide in women of childbearing age, according to an article in the Global Library of Women's Medicine by Edward Newton, M.D. He says one-third of the world's population shows evidence of infection...
Bitter melon is a tropical fruit that's grown in South America, India, Africa and Asia. It has been studied for centuries for its many health properties. According to Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) in New York, it has been used to...
The Atkins diet focuses on eating lean proteins and a variety of vegetables and healthy fats while avoiding refined carbohydrates and trans-fats, according to the Atkins website. While you can eat a very healthy diet on Atkins, you should not be...
According to the 2009 National Survey on Drug Use and Health --- abbreviated NSDUH by the U.S. government --- more than 15 percent of pregnant women admit to using drugs or alcohol at some point during their pregnancies. Topping the list of drugs...
While it's common to say that a pregnant woman is "eating for two," in reality, a developing baby requires only a small number of calories--about an extra 200 to 300 calories per day beyond a woman's normal nutritional needs. Pregnant women...
Arthrotec is a medication used to manage the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis in people who have an increased risk for developing intestinal and stomach ulcers. According to Drugs.com, Arthrotec is a combination of diclofenac...
A miscarriage, also known as a spontaneous abortion, is the unexpected loss of a fetus before the completion of the 20th week of pregnancy. A miscarriage is not something any woman expects, but it happens to women from all walks of life. The...
