5FU is another name for the chemotherapy drug fluorouacil. It is a commonly prescribed drug used to treat many cancers. According to Cancer Research UK, 5FU is an anti-metabolite and stops cells from working. While it prevents cancer cells from...
Vitamins A, C, D, E, K and the B-complex are all obtained through food or manufactured by the body, but they are also available in supplement form. Vitamin supplements are often taken to treat ailments, prevent medical conditions, or to treat...
You may take potassium iodide to combat an overactive thyroid. Potassium iodide also is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as a thyroid blocking agent that can be used during radiation emergencies. This drug can be obtained without...
Scleroderma is a chronic disease that literally means "hard" (sclera) "skin" (derma). This disease affects almost 300,000 people in the United States, according to the Scleroderma Foundation. It can range from mild skin lesions to serious organ...
Propecia (or finasteride) can stop and even reverse mild to moderate hair loss in men. Studies have shown nearly 80 percent of men using Propecia have found some success in hindering their progressive balding on the top of their head and...
An allergy is an immune response to something in the environment. Many allergies cause nasal symptoms like a runny nose, sneezing and coughing, and even skin symptoms like eczema. According to BabyCenter, dust mites are a common cause of nasal...
L-glutamine is one of the 20 amino acids needed by the body for protein synthesis. It is the most abundant amino acid, making up about 50 percent of all amino acids found in the blood. According to health advisers on the Life Extension website,...
Eosinophils, a type of white blood cell, increase during allergic reactions, and also help fight certain parasitic infections. Eosinophilic leukemia, an abnormal increase in eosinophils, can occur as an acute or chronic condition. Chronic...
Kawasaki disease is a childhood disease that causes inflammation of the blood vessels, particularly medium-sized arteries like the coronary arteries, the vessels that supply blood to the heart muscle. It is also called mucocutaneous lymph node...
Ranexa (generic name ranolazine) is a medication used to treat severe chest pain, medically known as angina. According to Drugs.com, Ranexa allows better blood flow to your heart. Ranexa is an extended-release tablet that is typically taken two...
Constipation can cause the stool in the colon and rectum to become dry and hard, making it uncomfortable to have a bowel movement. Stool softeners can be used to soften the stool and make it easier to pass out of the digestive tract. However,...
Breast cancer is a debilitating disease in which cells rapidly grow and form tumors. Left unchecked, this form of cancer can prove potentially fatal. The Mayo Clinic says that some signs of breast cancer include a breast lump or thickening, a...
Pravastatin is type of HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor, or statin. Pravastatin is used to reduce the levels of cholesterol and fatty substances within the body. This drug works by decreasing the production of the fatty materials. Pravastatin helps...
Pulmicort is a brand name for the prescribed medication budesonide turbuhaler. This commonly used medication is in the corticosteroid class of medications and is used as an inhaled drug to treat asthma. Pulmicort is a preventative medication and...
Horsetail, or Equisetum arvense--also known as bottle brush, field horsetail and shave grass--is a silicon-rich plant that has been used as an herbal medicine since ancient Greece. The German Commission E, an internationally-regarded alternative...
The dietary supplement liquid chlorophyll is a green-colored chemical produced by plants. Sources for liquid chlorophyll include alfalfa, algae, barley grass, blue-green algae called spirulina and wheat grass. Health claims associated with liquid...
Fish oil is a dietary supplement containing high levels of omega-3 fatty acids. People take fish oil for a variety of health benefits, including prevention of heart disease and Alzheimer's disease. Although fish oil supplements are generally safe...
Allergic reaction may result from consuming the skin or pulp of green or dried figs, from the commercial extract of figs or from fresh fig fruit. It is also possible for a sensitivity to be caused by inhaling pollen from figs or fig trees or by...
Spearmint is commonly used in mints, gum and foods to add flavor. It is also used medically to treat gastrointestinal issues, such as bloating, heartburn and an upset stomach, but may cause mild to severe complications if you're allergic to...
Aside from adding distinctive flavors to many dishes, spices provide a wide range of nutritional and health benefits and some assist in food preservation. As with any ingested substance, however, allergies and adverse reactions, including...
Multivitamins are taken to help meet the daily required nutrition to remain healthy. Some vitamins can help prevent ailments or even treat existing ones. Since multivitamins are in capsule form and not in natural food form, there may be additives...
Bacterial vaginosis is an infection that occurs when certain bacteria accumulate in the vaginal tissues. Douching or sexual intercourse with a new partner may lead to this condition, as the normal balance of the bacteria can be affected, according...
Cancer refers to a potentially fatal disease in which cells within the body multiply at a fast rate. Sometimes, cancer cells can form tumors and spread to numerous parts of the body. Cancer drugs, also known as chemotherapy, are designed to...
According to the MayoClinic, food allergy is a problem that affects between 6 percent to 8 percent of children and 4 percent of adults. While most food allergies are related to milk, eggs, nuts, fish, shellfish, soy and wheat, an allergy can...
Allergy symptoms such as hives, rash, swelling and fever can occur in response to medications. In most cases, a reaction to a medication is not mediated by the immune system but is instead an undesired side effect of the medication. However, an...
Itching during exercise can cause an uncomfortable, distracting sensation, and stopping to scratch the itch often just makes you get itchier. Exercising in certain environmental conditions might cause or exacerbate itching, and people with...
The Mayo Clinic describes lupus as a chronic inflammatory disease that occurs when the body's immune system attacks its own organs and tissues. People suffering from this illness experience painful inflammation and tissue damage throughout the...
Doxil (doxorubicin HCL liposome injection) is an anthracycline agent used to treat ovarian cancer and AIDS-related Kaposi's sarcoma. Doxil is a drug used for chemotherapy. It is typically administered every four weeks. The Food and Drug...
Potassium sorbate is a potassium salt version of sorbic acid, a naturally occurring polyunsaturated fat. Discovered in the 1850s by the French, potassium sorbate was initially derived from the mountain ash tree. Today, potassium sorbate is created...
