Garlic is a popular herb used both for cooking and as medicine. While garlic is often recommended to improve cardiovascular health, the available research supporting the effectiveness of garlic in lowering cholesterol levels paints a mixed...
Passiflora incarnata, more commonly called passion flower, is an herbal remedy with calming effects. Passion flower may increase the amount of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in the brain, as explained by the University of Maryland Medical Center...
According to the Mayo Clinic, eating a healthy diet is the best way to receive proper nutrition and the recommended vitamins for seniors and younger people alike. Seniors, however, often have inadequate nutrition for a variety of reasons, ranging...
Passion flower extract is one of the most important and most researched herbal extracts. It is primarily prescribed for nervous disorders, and research is beginning to support passion flower's historic use for these and other health conditions.
Some teas, including passionflower tea, produce a calming effect. Dried passionflower herb is the only active ingredient in passionflower tea. It is available in loose powder form and as prepackaged tea bags. Because it is a central nervous system...
High-density lipoprotein cholesterol is a weapon against heart disease, as it removes plaque in artery walls caused by excess low density lipoprotein cholesterol. Garlic may increase HDL cholesterol levels, but research shows conflicting results....
If you go to your doctor with a common cold, he or she probably won't be able to do much for you than treat the symptoms. If the physician sends you home with the instructions, "get plenty or rest, drink fluids, call me if it gets worse," you may...
Being overweight increases the risk of developing heart disease and diabetes, but losing excess pounds often presents a challenge. Although reducing your calorie intake and exercise is the only proven method of losing weight, some herbs may also...
A diet rich in nutrients helps you stay healthy. Diabetes is a condition characterized by high blood sugar levels, and individuals suffering from this condition have special vitamin requirements. According to American Diabetes Association,...
While some women breeze through menopause with nary a hot flash, others experience symptoms that seriously impact their quality of life. Passionflower, an over-the counter herbal preparation made from the Passiflora incarnate plant, may help with...
Crestor, generic name rosuvastatin, is one of the family of statin drugs designed to lower elevated cholesterol levels. The most commonly measured cholesterol levels include low-density lipoprotein, or LDL, the "bad" type of cholesterol. Crestor...
The body needs cholesterol for a number of biological functions, but having too much cholesterol may cause heart disease and stroke. If you have high cholesterol, known as hypercholesterolemia, your doctor will likely tell you to lower your fat...
It is perfectly normal to feel worried or nervous some of the time, especially when you are facing an event or situation you find stressful. But, if you constantly feel uneasy and it is interfering with your ability to enjoy life, then you may...
When your nervous system is reacting to stress, certain herbs can help calm you down. The sympathetic nervous system causes the "fight-or-flight" response in the body, to mobilize you to deal with stressors. The heart pounds, palms sweat,...
The mallows represent a large group of flowering plants also known as the Malvaceae family. Most people are familiar with common marshmallow and the confection of the same name, although the foodstuff no longer contains any of the plant material....
Many herbal remedies may help with the symptoms of Lyme disease, a common tick-borne illness. However, you need treatment with antibiotics like doxycycline, amoxicillin or cefuroxime to clear the infection and prevent complications. Grape seed...
Korean ginseng and vitamin B-12 are ubiquitous dietary supplements thanks to their purported role in energy production. Ginseng is a widely used ingredient in so-called energy drinks. Energy production is a vital process in which the body converts...
There are 13 essential vitamins that your body needs on a daily basis to promote optimal health, however, some of these vitamins may help or hinder certain medical treatments. When it comes to vitamin E and vitamin C in connection with...
Cholesterol, a waxy substance found in all cells in the body, may get too high if the diet is high in cholesterol. Cholesterol can build up in arteries and lead to health problems, like heart attack and heart disease. There are a variety of...
Generalized anxiety disorder is one of the most common anxiety disorders, affecting around 6.8 million American adults, according to the Anxiety Disorders Association of America. While this disorder is typically treated with cognitive-behavioral...
Revia, known generically as naltrexone, is a drug prescribed to help ease symptoms of addiction. Naltrexone reduces the desire for alcohol and narcotics by blocking chemical signals in the brain that trigger cravings. This medication, taken alone...
About 40 million adults age 18 and older have an anxiety disorder each year, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. Generalized anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, panic disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder and...
If you are looking for an easy antidote to an artery-clogging diet of bacon cheeseburgers and slabs of ribs, you won't find it in cloves. Research about the cholesterol-reducing effects of cloves remains limited, and the results are mixed. More...
Passion flower has historical uses as a treatment for anxiety, hysteria, seizures and insomnia due to its calming properties. Today, passion flower is still in use as a natural treatment for insomnia and anxiety disorder. It is hypothesized that...
The scent of sage may bring to mind holiday cooking. Poultry, stuffing, sausage, vegetables, savory breads and pork all benefit from the addition of fresh sage leaves. Dried, powdered sage can also be used in recipes or as a supplement to treat a...
Ginseng is a plant, available in supplement form. Ginseng has a history of use in Chinese medicine that goes back thousands of years. The name "ginseng" refers to both American ginseng, or Panax quinquefolius, and Asian, also known...
When the common cold and its cough creeps up on baby, it can be challenging to relieve the symptoms. Reaching for over-the-counter medicine can be dangerous, says Catherine Tom-Revzon, pediatrics clinical pharmacy manager at the Children's...
You may know sage as a spice and flavoring agent, but it has also been used medicinally for a wide range of ailments, ranging from gastrointestinal complaints to excessive sweating. Sage is now being studied for various conditions, including...
According to the National Institutes of Health's National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM), the use of natural remedies is increasing among Americans. In a 2007 NCCAM survey, nearly 40 percent of U.S. adults indicated that...