Vanadium is a natural metal found in the Earth's crust. In its pure form vanadium is bright white and forms a soft, pliable metal. Vanadium aids in the growth of bones and teeth, and an article in the June 1999 "Journal of Alternative and...
Cultivated in high altitudes in the mountainous regions of Peru, maca has been used for centuries by the natives for energy, libido, stamina and fertility. Although all varieties of maca basically provide the same health benefits, they each...
An integrative approach to cancer care involves combining of Western medicine and complementary therapies such as the medicinal use of herbs. Modern Western medicine often uses medications to treat cancer that can cause other health problems in...
Milk thistle and dandelion are nutritional supplements used in some cultures as a treatment fora variety of conditions. Both herbs are thought to have properties that could aid in treatment or prevention of problems with the liver. Though they are...
Ribose, also known as D-ribose, can be found on health food store shelves where it is a favorite of body builders.This supplement has not been approved by the FDA for the treatment of any condition. While this supplement gets a lot of buzz, the...
Migraines are intense, painful headaches that can cause nausea, confusion and changes in your vision. Migraines can result from different triggers, including depression, stress and exhaustion. A stressor triggers a migraine headache by causing...
Fenugreek is an herb used as both a medicine and flavoring to many Indian dishes. As a medicine, fenugreek can provide promising effects for diabetics, lactating mothers and those with skin irritations, according to the National Center for...
The brightly-colored flowers of the hibiscus plant, botanical name Hibiscus sabdariffa, perk up your garden -- and, possibly, your health. Teas made from hibiscus flowers, known as "sour teas," can help regulate high blood pressure as well as...
Altoids were formulated in 1780 to relieve intestinal discomfort. The original peppermint Altoids were introduced to the United States in 1918. In 2010, health claims are no longer made for Altoids in the U.S., but the shape and ingredients of...
The pain, fatigue and depression associated with fibromyalgia can sometimes improve but often worsen and become chronic for months or years. Approximately 34 percent of fibromyalgia patients spend between $100 and $1,000 monthly above their...
Rheumatoid arthritis causes swelling, stiffness and pain in the joints. Unlike osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis is considered an autoimmune system disorder that can become active in youth. Unfortunately, no cure exists, and scientists are not...
Colds are caused by more than 200 different viruses, according to the American Academy of Family Physicians. There is no cure for colds, so treatment focuses on relieving the symptoms, including cough, sore throat, watery eyes, headache, muscle...
Some herbal teas are helpful for sinus or chest congestion brought on by colds, bacterial infections and allergies. Expectorant herbs remove mucus from the respiratory tract, whereas decongestant herbs clear the sinuses. Find these teas at health...
The use of complementary or alternative medicine is more and more popular in the United States to treat everything from congestion and the common cold to chronic conditions. According to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative...
Rhodiola rosea, a medicinal herb originating in the mountains of Northern Eurasia, has a long-standing history of use as an adaptogen. According to Dr. Andrew Weil, a renowned naturopathic physician, rhodiola rosea may help to improve stamina,...
Aloe vera, a succulent native to the Cape of Good Hope, is an ornamental plant with firm, fleshy leaves with a small spine along the edges. Aloe grows throughout Madagascar, southern Arabia and much of Africa. It also grows in North and South...
Rifaximin, which is sold under the brand name Xifaxan is an antibiotic used to treat a bacterial infection in the small intestine called small intestinal bacteria overgrowth or SIBO. SIBO occurs when there are an abnormally large numbers of...
Magnesium is a vital mineral needed by the human body for chemical reactions that maintain proper function and maintenance in a variety of body organs. According to Dr. Michael Schachter of the Schachter Center for Complementary Medicine,...
Medications, diet pills, and fad diets are all over the Internet and the media with promises of weight loss. However, there are natural herbs available to assist the dieter in her quest to lose weight. Herbs can be used to boost metabolism, reduce...
Irritable bowel syndrome is a chronic digestive condition characterized by gas, bloating, abdominal pain, flatulence and alternating bouts of diarrhea and constipation. Peppermint oil has been used for centuries as a digestive aid and is often...
Magnetic therapy uses the pulse fields of magnets sent through a coil or relies on static fields from magnets placed on the body. According to the Sports Injury Clinic, magnetic therapy is a common alternative treatment for chronic conditions such...
Millions of Americans frequently experience some form of fatigue, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that as many as one million suffer from chronic fatigue syndrome. Various supplements have been introduced to the market...
If you do not have diabetes, you probably do not have it on the top of your worry list. This is understandable for Type 1 diabetes, a failure of the pancreas to produce enough insulin, which is usually the result of genetics. Type 2 diabetes can...
Hawthorn extract is produced from the flowers and leaves of several species of Cragtaegus. According to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, hawthorn has been used as a heart medication since the first century A.D. Also...
Hyperkalemia is an increased level of potassium in the blood and can create symptoms such as an irregular heartbeat, nausea and a slow or weak pulse. If hyperkalemia is a long-term problem, many patients are prescribed diuretics to reduce...
According to the National Institute of Mental Health, 6.7 percent of American adults suffer from a depressive disorder, 2.7 percent suffer from a panic disorder and 3.5 percent suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder. These are just a few of...
The use of complementary medicine in the United States is gaining in popularity with the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine stating that 38 percent of Americans now use some form of complementary medicine, as of 2011. The...
Prostatitis can be a painful condition that interferes with healthy urination and ejaculation, MayoClinic.com reports. Although commonly caused by an infection of the prostate, many men never know the cause of their prostatitis. In addition to...
EDTA, or ethylene diamine tetra-acetic acid, is a chelating agent. Chelation, as defined by the Merck Manuals Online Medical Library, is the process of introducing a substance into the bloodstream for the purpose of removing excess amounts of...
