Multiple sclerosis, or MS, is an autoimmune disease that damages the myelin sheath, a protective layer that covers the nerve cells, and patients with MS have nerve damage that gets worse over time. The National Institute of Neurological Disorders...
Neurontin is the brand name for gabapentin, a drug used to treat epilepsy and some types of pain. Most people taking Neurontin will not have any serious side effects, but Neurontin, like any other drug, can cause severe complications, some of...
Black cohosh is an herbal remedy that women sometimes use to treat the symptoms of menopause, including hot flashes. They use the roots of the plant to make teas or powder or extract them to make standardized capsules for use as supplements....
Boniva, generic name ibandronate sodium, is a type of drug used to prevent bone loss in people with osteoporosis or osteopenia, which is low bone density. Boniva belongs to a class of drugs known as nitrogen-containing bisphosphonates....
Eyebright is available as an oral herbal supplement and an ophthalmic preparation. The topical solution is most commonly used. Derived from the plant Euphrasia officinalis, eyebright comes in extracts, tinctures and capsules. The ophthalmic...
The term ocular migraine, also called an ophthalmic migraine, is used to describe two different conditions, according to the Mayo Clinic. The first is a painless migraine aura that may or may not be accompanied by a headache. The second, a rarer...
An old cliche says that the eyes are "windows to the soul," but sometimes those windows can become problematic. Bacterial or viral infections can seep into the mucus membranes of the eyes. Sometimes the lenses in the eyes become cloudy, which...
More than 29 million Americans are diagnosed with sinusitis annually, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. A sinus infection is inflammation in the sinus cavity that leads to sinus headaches, nasal congestion and postnasal...
Herbalists have used eyebright to treat eye problems and other illnesses since at least the 14th century. During Elizabethan times, sufferers---and perhaps others---drank eyebright ale. The botanical name for the eyebright herb is Euphrasia...
Sight enables much of the interaction humans have with the environment and one another. As such, the development of blindness proves a devastating loss. The leading causes of blindness in the United States include cataracts, glaucoma and diabetic...
Homeopathic remedies address the individual symptoms of the patient, rather than the condition from which the patient is suffering. As a result, one condition could be addressed by several homeopathic remedies. A detailed list of all of the...
A cataract is a clouding of the lens in the eye. The lens, found behind the iris and the pupil, focuses light on the back of the retina. Cataracts differ by type and cause. More than 50 percent of people over age 80 either have a cataract or have...
Whether you are a new vegan or an old pro, one thing is certain: It sometimes takes a little jumping through hoops to get all your vitamins on a plant-based diet. While getting everything you need can seem like a hassle, it is by no means...
For centuries, the eyebright herb has been consumed as a popular folk remedy. In Scotland, milk infused with eyebright is used to treat inflamed eyes, while in Iceland, juice from the pressed eyebright herb is used. However, scientists have not...
Fish oil is a rich source of the omega- essential fatty acids, docosahexaenoic acid, also known as DHA, and eicosapentaenoic acid, commonly called EPA. You can get fish oil from oily fish such as salmon, mackerel and herring or take it as a...
When you're pregnant, you may feel more like relaxing and elevating your swollen ankles than stepping up onto a treadmill. However, pregnancy is a perfect opportunity to get involved in an exercise regimen, even if you haven't slipped on your...
Glaucoma is an eye disorder that can lead to blindness or low vision if left untreated. Two main issues are of concern when dealing with glaucoma: intraocular pressure (IOP) and fluid drainage. The optic nerve becomes damaged when the pressure in...
Abraham Lincoln's mother wasn't the first person to warn a reader that poring over books in dim light could permanently affect his vision, and she certainly wasn't the last. Many of people believe that reading in dim light will damage your eyes.
The back of your eye has a tissue lining called the retina. Many blood vessels feed the retina, and if a retinal vessel breaks, this could result in fluid buildup under the retina, a condition known as central serous retinopathy. For many people,...
Multiple sclerosis is caused by damage to a protective covering that surrounds nerve cells called the myelin sheath. Nerve impulses are slowed or stopped. Researchers are not sure what triggers the damage, but it could be a virus or genetic...
Your brain is a very delicate organ that is protected by a surrounding layer of fluid known as cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). CSF prevents your brain from from hitting your skull and causing damage. Intracranial hypertension (IH), also known as...
The National Federation of the Blind reports that each year, 50,000 Americans become blind. While a majority of cases are due to age, a great number of children and young adults also suffer from this condition. A variety of causes are responsible...
Cigarettes contain thousands of chemicals that act as irritants, carcinogens and inflammatory agents, all of which can interfere with blood flow and damage eyes. Research has established smoking as a definitive cause of serious, progressive...
Multiple sclerosis, or MS, results from damage to the myelin sheath, which covers part of the neuron. Without the proper myelin sheath, communication from and to the brain becomes affected. According to 2008 information from the Merck Manual Home...
Multiple sclerosis, or MS, is a disease in which the body's immune system attacks the protective covering of the nerves. When this covering is destroyed, communication between the brain and other parts of the body are disturbed. Symptoms of MS can...
Anemia refers to any significant decrease in the amount of red blood cells circulating through the body. When pregnant, a woman's blood volume increases by about 50 percent. This is a normal process in pregnancy. Blood consists of liquid plasma...
A cataract describes a clouding of the eye lens, which focuses images on the nerve tissue at the back of the eye. A significant cataract causes loss of visual clarity and dimmed vision. The definitive treatment for a cataract is the removal of the...
Glaucoma is a dreaded eye disease that can, if untreated, render you blind. Unless diagnosed, glaucoma can be present without symptoms. It works by attacking the optic nerve. Medical research has yet to produce a cure, but there are medications...
Many pressure points exist in the wrist area, according to Chinese medicine and acupuncture theory. Some can be useful for decreasing pain, while others are useful for alleviating symptoms associated with disorders of specific organs. Be sure to...
