Parkinson's disease is caused by death of specific cells in the brain that produce the neurotransmitter dopamine. The death of these cells results in difficulty controlling movements and other psychiatric problems. Increasing dopamine levels in...
During pregnancy you may notice a variety of changes to your skin. Some people may comment on the sudden glow on your face, a positive transformation reflecting your inner joy. Other changes, such as stretch marks, acne and varicose veins,...
Having a dark line running vertically through the navel and down toward the crotch in pregnancy is entirely normal and harmless. Known as the linea nigra -- literally, "dark line" -- it usually becomes visible around the 14th week of pregnancy and...
Diabetes is a chronic condition characterized by elevated levels of sugars in the blood. It can occur due to lower production of the hormone insulin by the pancreas, due to the reduced response of muscle, fat and liver cells to the hormone, or...
Located at the base of the forebrain, the basal ganglia are responsible for different functions, like voluntary movement. The different parts of the basal ganglia communicate with each other and transmit neurotransmitters to other parts of the...
Dopamine is a chemical that your brain and other parts of your body produce to exert various effects throughout your body. The striatum is one part of the brain where dopamine exerts an effect. Disturbances in the actions of dopamine are at the...
Dopamine is a chemical in your brain that affects your emotions, movements and your sensations of pleasure and pain. Dopamine neurotransmitters are located in the deep middle region of your brain called the substantia nigra. There are five...
Dopamine is a chemical that signals nerves and regulates a number of important functions in the brain. Imbalances in dopamine or miscommunication in dopamine signaling can result in a number of problems, including dyskinesias, which are trouble...
Parkinson's disease is a chronic, progressive brain disorder caused by loss of dopamine-producing brain cells. An estimated 500,000 men and women in the United States have Parkinson's disease, according to the National Institute of Neurological...
Parkinson's disease is a neurological disorder that attacks the motor system. The disease has four primary symptoms: tremors in the arms and hands, head and face and legs; stiffness in limbs and torso; slow movements, also known as bradykinesia;...
One berry with a reputation for antiviral properties is the elderberry. Sambucus nigra, also known as the European elder, is the most popular variety for medicinal usage, but several other species exist as well. The European elder is native to...
According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, Parkinson's disease is a disease of the nervous system that worsens over time. In people with Parkinson's disease, the neurons, or nerve cells, in a section of the brain known as the...
Dopamine is one of a number of chemicals known as a neurotransmitters that carry signals from various cells in the brain. Dopamine acts on several neurons and has been implicated in addiction and movement disorders. Learning where...
In Parkinson's disease, the nerve cells in the brain that release dopamine degenerate. Dopamine and acetylcholine are used by the nerves as neurotransmitters, or used to send signals from one nerve to another. Normally, dopamine and acetylcholine...
Parkinson's disease is a neurological disorder that affects 1 million Americans at any given time, according to the Parkinson's Disease Foundation. Some clinical studies have found a link between certain vitamin deficiencies and Parkinson's...
The brainstem projects from the center of the underside of the brain. This elongated structure connects the upper areas of the brain to the spinal cord. Evolutionarily, the brainstem is one of the oldest parts of the brain. It is responsible for...
Moles are pigment-based growths that appear at birth on your skin or develop at some later time. They are formally known as nevi. Moles can form anywhere on your body, including your face. In some cases, the presence of facial moles poses no cause...
Many people are plagued by motion sickness when traveling. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, people experience motion sickness due to real, anticipated or perceived movement, such as that which occurs due to simulated...
The black walnut tree, also known as Juglans nigra, produces the familiar nutmeats eaten as food but also leaves, hulls and bark that have been used in folk medicine since the time of the ancient Greeks and Romans. According to the American Cancer...
Elderberry, medically known as Sambucus nigra, is a fruit-bearing shrub native to Europe and North America. With a long history of use in folk medicine, elderberry has been researched in the past twenty years for its medicinal benefits, especially...
Parkinson's disease is a degenerative brain disorder interfering with the ability to start, stop or coordinate movement. Cells in the brain that produce a neurotransmitter called dopamine die during the course of Parkinson's disease. The amino...
Dementia itself is not a disease. According to Thomas D. Bird, writing in "Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine," it is a deterioration in mental abilities that impairs the successful performance of activities of daily living. Memory is the...
Elderberry, a large shrub that grows as tall as 30 feet, is native to Europe, Africa and Asia. Elderberry berries and flowers are used in traditional herbal medicine to treat a variety of ailments, notably respiratory illnesses and infections....
Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that the nerves use to send signals. A dopamine deficiency can be the result of trauma, a lack of oxygen, certain medications, toxins and disease. In Parkinson's disease, nerves in an area of the brain that release...
If you are interested in plant-based cancer treatment and prevention, elderberry may be a useful herbal medicine to consider. Used in traditional medicine as an immune stimulant and tonic, extracts made from elderberries also have cancer-fighting...
The basal ganglia is a group of nerve cells located at the base of the brain that control movement of the muscles. Damage to the basal ganglia affects a person's motor ability, or the ability to control bodily muscle movements. A number of...
Mycosis is an inflammatory disease caused by fungus. There are many different types of mycosis, all which come with their own set of symptoms and appearances, but they all affect the skin or tissues of the body. Mycosis may be systemic, meaning...
The brain stem links the spinal cord to the brain. Messages between the brain and the rest of the body pass through the brain stem in large nerve bundles. However, the brain stem is more than a nerve impulse highway. According to Dr. Richard...
Jiaogulan is a perennial vine belonging to the cucumber family that is native to China, Korea and Japan. Since the herb is similar to ginseng in terms of chemical composition, and grows so abundantly in southern China, jiaogulan is sometimes...
