Melatonin is a hormone secreted by your pineal gland, a small pea-shaped gland within your brain. Melatonin acts as a regulator of other hormones and manages your biological clock. It can be taken as a supplement and has proven helpful in many...
Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease is a rare and deadly brain disorder that currently has no cure. Unfortunately, the most reliable way to diagnose cases of CJD is through a brain biopsy, which can be extremely risky to the patient, and by autopsy. Since...
Arthritis is a condition that causes inflammation in your joints. The inflammation may affect the joint lining or the cartilage, depending on the type of arthritis. 5-Hydroxytryptophan, or 5-HTP, is a substance that may provide relief from...
The Mayo Clinic states that "depression is one of the most common health conditions in the world." Depression is a serious mood disorder that affects both emotions and behaviors, and can alter the patient's quality of life. Without proper...
Hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar, is characterized by low blood glucose levels. This condition may be caused by genetic abnormalities, stress or overdependence on processed flours and sugars, caffeine or alcohol, according to Dr. James F. Balch,...
Whether you want to fly for business or pleasure, you may experience anxiety about taking to the skies. Purdue University's Cooperative Extension Service notes that 9 percent of Americans suffer from a phobia of flying known as pteromerhanophobia....
Kava kava was historically popular in the Pacific islands as a ceremonial beverage because it has similar effects to alcohol. Kava roots are chewed or ground and mixed with water to make into tea form. Today this herb is used as a natural...
The January 2008 edition of "Internal Medicine Journal" published an Australian study in which a reported 11.7 percent of participants suffered from chronic daytime sleepiness. Although the study notes that chronic sleepiness may be a result of...
Asthma is a common chronic disorder that affects children. Asthmatic children have unusually active immune systems, which can cause dangerous inflammation of the airways in response to certain triggers. Prednisolone is often used as a treatment...
Ever since Prozac (generic name fluoxetine) hit the pharmaceutical market in 1987, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, or SSRIs, have become a popular type of antidepressant medication. Unfortunately, side effects from SSRIs include a host of...
While the emotional symptoms of major depression are easily recognizable, patients experiencing this condition may have some physical side effects. A study published in the October 2009 edition of the journal Psychosomatic Medicine found that...
Depression isn't just the sadness people experience when things go wrong. It's an actual illness that impacts both the mind and body. Symptoms include feelings of sadness, frustration, insomnia, agitation and fatigue. Despite the suffering it...
L-tryptophan is an amino acid that has been linked to the calming effects you may feel after eating Thanksgiving turkey. L-tryptophan is a precursor to the brain chemical serotonin, which helps regulate mood and promote calm and sleep. Available...
Fibromyalgia is a challenging condition to live with. It is a chronic condition that currently has no cure. It can cause widespread pain, extreme fatigue, memory problems, insomnia, depression and many other symptoms. Treatment often includes...
According to the National Institutes of Health, Americans use meditation as a complementary treatment for various conditions, including anxiety, pain, insomnia and depression. With regular practice, meditation can help you maintain focus, manage...
Sugar-free Jell-O contains the artificial sweetener aspartame, which is commercially marketed as NutraSweet or Equal. Many health advocates have questioned the safety of aspartame, including the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, FDA. Though the...
Trigeminal neuralgia is a type of neuropathic facial pain that usually strikes at random. The Facial Pain Association -- formerly known as the Trigeminal Neuralgia Association -- states that this condition may involve painful electric shock-like...
Depression goes beyond feeling a little down every now and then. It can cause a persistent feeling of despondency that gets in the way of your ability to function.The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) says major depressive disorder...
Hair loss in women is increased by aging, hormones, or a variety of medical conditions. Genetics play a role, as well. Certain medications have been shown to increase hair loss in women, especially antibiotics and steroids. Bacterial infections...
Progesterone is naturally secreted by the ovaries during the second week of a woman's menstrual cycle, by the testes in men and in a smaller quantity in the brain, adrenal glands and the glial cells of both sexes, according to...
Saw palmetto is used primarily for prostate health, but women sometimes use it for excessive hair growth and/or male pattern baldness associated with polycystic ovarian syndrome, bladder irritation, stomach and intestinal distress. It's made from...
Alcoholism, as defined by the Mayo Clinic, is a chronic disease that makes your body dependent on alcohol. Despite the problems it may cause in the life of the alcoholic--personal, professional or legal--he is unable to control his habit. Help is...
Lavender is a flower native to many parts of the United States, particularly the plains and prairies of the Midwest. It is best-known as a subtle fragrance frequently used in soaps, shampoos and air fresheners. However, lavender also has...
Tryptophan, also known as L-tryptophan, is an amino acid that people take in through the diet. People consume tryptophan from plant as well as animal sources. People take tryptophan supplements to treat multiple conditions including insomnia,...
Lavender has been traditionally used for its healing properties for centuries. The National Institute of Health's Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine reports that lavender was even used in the process of mummifying bodies in ancient...
One of the most common ways to identify signs of Parkinson's Disease, a neurological disorder, is to look for trembling in your hands, arms, legs, jaws or face. This is caused by damage to nerve cells in the part of your brain that controls muscle...
Particles from plants make useful additions as culinary ingredients and medicinal herbs. Many of these same vegetative substances also provide benefits as cosmetic additives in lotions, shampoos and conditioners. Biota is just one name for an...
The peripheral, sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems in your body are responsible for calming the nervous system. The peripheral system controls involuntary nervous responses such as heartbeat and digestion, the sympathetic system...
Insomnia trouble falling and staying asleep. According to the Mayo Clinic, 10 to 15 percent of adults currently suffer from the disorder, and 1/3 of adults suffer from the sleep disorder during their lifetime. Insomnia affects work, family life...
Relieve stress in the head and face by learning how to massage the heart meridian with shiatsu massage in this free video clip.
Post traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, is an psychiatric disorder most often associated with any serious psychological trauma. Learn more about the causes, symptoms and treatments for PTSD in this medical video.
Nearly everyone has occasional sleepless nights, perhaps due to stress, heartburn, or drinking too much caffeine or alcohol. Chronic insomnia is defined by problems falling asleep, maintaining sleep, or experiencing regular non-restorative sleep....