Dietary supplements are defined by the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act as a product that supplements a diet and contains one or more dietary ingredients, such as vitamins, minerals or herbs. Like other supplements, herbal dietary...
Hemorrhoids are swollen and twisted veins situated in your rectal and anal walls. The Merck Manuals Online Medical Library states that swollen veins occur in these areas due to rises in pressure, and that hemorrhoids -- which can cause pain or...
Herbal dietary supplements can help you achieve your weight loss goals faster than with diet and exercise alone. Some of these supplements do contain stimulants such as caffeine and other similar alkaloids, and they may not be for everyone. Herbal...
Your lymphatic system is an important network in your body responsible for regulating fluid levels and fighting infections. It transports a fluid called lymph throughout your body. Lymph is comprised of many different substances. If you are...
Vaginal bacterial infection, also called bacterial vaginosis or Gardnerella, is an imbalance of bacteria that are normally present in the vagina. This condition can cause redness, itching and abnormal discharge; however, about half of all women...
Herbal dietary supplements have been touted as an effective method to decrease the buildup of toxins in your body. Critics charge herbal cleansing remedies and similar detox products are a waste of money because the body eliminates toxins in a...
Your individual metabolism is unique, being controlled by a complex system of chemical and physical processes that convert food into energy. Your metabolism influences all your body's functions, including breathing, thinking, circulation of blood,...
Many different substances are used in herbal medicine and other dietary supplements. Some, like vitamins and minerals, have established roles in human health. Others may be of unproven benefit. Herbal medicines and dietary supplements are...
About 20 percent of all Americans use herbal remedies and other dietary supplements to enhance their health and well-being, according to the "Mayo Clinic Book of Alternative Medicine." Supplements are not meant to substitute for a healthy diet and...
Hypertension affects many Americans, and can lead to serious health complications if left uncontrolled. MedlinePlus states that blood pressure readings over 120/80 mm Hg may be a sign that you have hypertension. However, many factors can...
Herbal weight-loss remedies have grown increasingly popular in the United States. Dietary supplements accounted for 61 percent of sales in the $35 billion weight-loss industry in 2001, according to the Federal Trade Commission. Though the FTC says...
Irritable bowel syndrome remains the most common disorder seen by primary care physicians and the most common condition diagnosed by gastroenterologists, states the University of Virginia Health System. The condition affects the colon. IBS...
Anemia is most often caused by low iron or vitamin B levels in the blood. During pregnancy, the volume of blood in your body expands by about 50 percent, so you need extra iron to prevent anemia. According to the BabyCenter.com, you will need a...
Herbal appetite suppressors, or herbal appetite suppressants, are over-the-counter diet pills geared toward appetite reduction and weight loss. People may use the supplements to stimulate weight loss, prevent weight gain or to reduce excessive...
Ingredients in botanical dietary supplements are simply plants known to have certain medicinal or therapeutic properties. For example, we now know the fruit of the cranberry plant helps urinary tract health. You'll find many different dietary...
Your liver and kidneys are important organs that are housed in your abdomen. MedlinePlus notes that many abdominal organs, including your liver and kidneys, can generate pain or cause significant discomfort if they are not functioning properly....
Chicken pox, a condition caused by the varicella-zoster virus, is a common childhood disease. PubMed Health reports that itchy blisters are the most common symptom associated with this condition. In most cases, chicken pox occurs in children under...
Hoodia or Hoodia gordonii is a cactus from Africa. According to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine or NCCAM, the Kalahari San people have traditionally eaten the stems of this succulent plant to suppress hunger and...
Your temporomandibular joint, or TMJ, is the joint at which your jaw articulates with your skull. Your TMJ is a bilateral joint, or a joint that occurs on both the left and right sides of your head. Approximately 75 percent of people in the United...
Stevia Rebaudiana is a member of the chrysanthemum family and grows as a wild herb in parts of South America. Naturally 200 to 250 times sweeter than sugar, the Japanese started cultivating stevia for use as a food sweetener in the 1970s. Stevia...
Despite the advertising of some health products, supplements may not be a silver bullet for health conditions. According to “The New York Times,” nearly half of American adults use some form of dietary supplement, at a cost of up to...
Homeopathic supplements for energy are a natural source of steady vitality that the body can rely on throughout the day. Unlike caffeine and other substances found in popular energy drinks and pills, these natural alternatives do not provide a...
Diet supplements are an easy way to add vitamins that may be missing in your diet or boost your metabolism to help you lose weight faster, but are also associated with risks. Supplement manufacturers are responsible for conducting their own...
Influenza, or flu, is a contagious respiratory ailment caused by flu viruses. In extreme cases, influenza can cause death. In most cases, however, the flu causes mild to severe illness. Young children and the elderly are most susceptible to...
Valerie Saxion has developed a number of natural health products and supplements for a variety of health conditions. One popular item is Herbal Hormone Balance Plus, sold under the logo "Dr. Val's." It is available on the Valerie Saxion website,...
Pharmacies no longer offer sanitized tape worms as a means for rapid weight loss, but there is an abundance of herbal supplements on the market claiming to allow you to eat whatever you like and lose weight. The reality is that no magic pill has...
Anxiety is often described as feeling unsettled without knowledge of why there is a feeling of uneasiness. Many prescription medications are available to help alleviate the symptoms of anxiety and assist in maintaining levels of calmness. But most...
Ginkgo has been used for over a thousand years to treat various medical problems. Today, ginkgo remains one of the most popular herbal dietary supplements, primarily used to boost memory and ward off dementia. Although pregnant women already...
Your adrenal glands are triangular-shaped glands located in your abdomen, just above your kidneys. The University of Maryland Medical Center states that your adrenal glands work in conjunction with your hypothalamus and pituitary glands to produce...
