Vitex, also known as chasteberry is an ancient herbal remedy used primarily to address health concerns important to women, specifically those dealing with the reproductive system. According to the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, a limited...
Vitamin K is a fat-soluble vitamin that plays an important role in blood clotting, bone formation and cell growth. Common in green leafy vegetables, oil and naturally produced by intestinal bacteria, deficiency in uncommon. Supplementation with...
Phenobarbital belongs to a group of drugs known as barbiturates. They are primarily used to treat seizure disorders by slowing down activity in the brain and central nervous system. Phenobarbital is also used also to treat insomnia or as a...
Spirulina is a form of blue alga found in the southwest United States as well as in Asia Minor. It is taken as a supplement, due to the fact that it contains over 100 vitamins and minerals, essential amino and fatty acids, and large amounts of...
Antipsychotic medications treat schizophrenia, bipolar I disorder and treatment-resistant depression. The first antipsychotic drugs went on the market in the 1950s, and many of those are still in use today. However, a second generation of...
Powdered milk retains many of the nutrients present in the liquid milk from which it comes. According to U.S. Aid, powdered milk is the result of extracting fat and water from fresh pasteurized milk. Liquid milk contains vitamins, minerals and...
Bilirubin is a byproduct of the breakdown of old blood cells by the liver, normally excreted through bile into the digestive tract. When the liver is unable to remove and excrete the appropriate amount of bilirubin, it builds up in the bloodstream...
Lingzhi, a large woody-looking mushroom also known as Ganoderma lucidum or reishi, is highly revered in Asia. Indeed, lingzhi has been a component of Chinese medicine for more than 4,000 years; today, lingzhi is an ingredient in several...
According to the Epilepsy Foundation, seizures are categorized according to whether the individual maintains consciousness, shows limb movements or experiences hallucinations. Illicit as well as prescribed drugs lower seizure threshold--the point...
The U.S. National Library of Medicine reports that heart disease is the leading cause of death for American women. It also causes many cases of disability. When suffering a heart attack, women may have the crushing pain that many men experience,...
Levaquin is the brand name for the generic medication levofloxacin and is available in both oral and intravenous formulations. Levaquin is a fluoroquinolone-type antibiotic that may be used to treat many different types of bacterial infection....
Macrolides are a class of antibiotic that includes the medication clarithromycin. These types of antibiotics are used to treat certain bacterial infections, including pneumonia and bronchitis, as well as infections of the ear, nose, throat and...
Lithobid is one brand name of the generic medication lithium carbonate. Lithobid is used to treat the manic phase of bipolar disorder, otherwise known as manic-depression. Lithobid is also used as off-label medication for other disorders such as...
Potassium is the major ion present in the intracellular fluid. Along with sodium, it is needed to maintain water balance, osmotic equilibrium and acid-base balance. Along with calcium, it is important in the regulation of neuromuscular activity....
The dry heaves, or retching, is a gastrointestinal disturbance similar to vomiting, but without emptying the stomach's contents. Dry heaves often precede or follow vomiting, but in some cases, they can occur on their own. For example, excessive...
Your pre-game meal can help to supply your body with a significant amount of energy an athlete will need for an event. However, it will not supply all the energy needed. Instead, you should eat the right types of food for several days prior to...
Certain supplements may be helpful in treating or preventing blood clots. According to MedlinePlus, blood clots manifest when your blood hardens from a liquid to a solid. A blood clot that develops inside your blood vessels or within your heart is...
Certain dietary supplements may be helpful in cleansing plaque from your arteries. The accumulation of plaque in your arteries is called atherosclerosis and can limit the amount of oxygenated blood reaching your tissues and organs. Plaque is made...
Salmonella is an illness caused by several strains of bacteria, mainly salmonella enterica and salmonella bongori. The most common sources of the bacteria are from uncooked meat, poultry and seafood; raw eggs; contaminated fruits and vegetables;...
The abdomen is the region between the chest and groin, containing numerous bodily organs that may experience pain. The University of Maryland Medical Center indicates that pain in the abdominal area can result from a variety of factors primarily...
The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine describes valerian as a plant whose roots have been used for thousands of years as a treatment for insomnia. Today, valerian-containing supplements are used for insomnia, anxiety,...
N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) is a pharmaceutical drug and nutritional supplement with numerous health and medical uses. Acetyl cysteine plays an important role in the formation of glutathione, a powerful antioxidant in your body. Taking NAC supplements...
Niacin, or vitamin B-3, is an essential micronutrient used by your body to metabolize food into energy. It also helps to protect your nervous and digestive systems. You can obtain this vitamin from food sources, but if you have high blood...
If you experience stomach pain after eating peanuts, a number of factors could be to blame. Some basic information on the topic can guide your understanding of stomach pain caused by peanuts, but your doctor should remain your primary source for...
Psychiatrists prescribe both Effexor and Wellbutrin to treat major depression. Effexor also has Food and Drug Administration approval to treat generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety and panic disorder. These drugs work in a similar way but...
Yellow squash is a mildly sweet vegetable, available during the summer months. An ideal alternative to zucchini, 1 cup of chopped yellow squash provides a variety of vitamins and minerals that the body requires to maintain cellular function, the...
Playing a sport has an obvious effect on some parts of your body: you sweat, you may lose or gain weight, your muscles grow firmer, but it also has a significant impact on your internal organs – specifically your gastrointestinal system....
Children can develop diarrhea from a variety of sources, including teething complications, a virus, a reaction to medicine or even food poisoning. The two main goals in treating a child with diarrhea are to help get his gastrointestinal system...
Lamisil is the brand name for the antifungal medication terbinafine. It's available in over-the-counter topical formulations of cream, solution and spray. Lamisil is also available by prescription in tablets and granules to be taken orally....
