If you're pregnant, one of the most important hormones in early pregnancy is hCG. If your hCG levels aren't high enough, you could lose your baby. If you're concerned that papaya enzyme supplements will lower your hCG levels, you needn't worry;...
Papaya enzyme is a popular supplement that you might have seen at health food stores or drugstores. While there are many rumors regarding the enzyme's potential, there's little scientific evidence to prove any claims. For instance, there's no...
Psyllium husk, derived from the seed of plants in the genus Plantago, was consumed as far back as 3,000 B.C. The commonly available light-colored psyllium, P. ovata, comes from India, while the French grow a black version, P. indica. A variety of...
Reishi mushrooms, Ganoderma lucidum, have been used for their purported benefits to health and longevity in Asian countries for 2,000 years. Reishi contain approximately 400 bioactive compounds -- molecules that can influence the function of your...
Colleges and universities across the country offer two- and four-year programs that prepare nurses for to practice in the health field. These schools offer nursing coursework in physiology, pharmacology, anatomy, nutrition, emergency treatment and...
Lapacho is also known as pau d'arco, ipe roxo, Tabebuia avellanedae and taheboo tree. Pau d'arco is the tree from which the chemical compound lapacho is derived. It is native to South America, where it has been used to treat a wide range of...
According to the Mayo Clinic website, women with waist measurements above 35 inches and men with waist measurements above 40 inches are at increased risk of certain diseases due to high amounts of fat in the abdominal area. Diseases associated...
Kava kava, also known as piper methysticum, is a plant grown in the Pacific Islands with heart-shaped leaves and flowers that grow on the branches at the stem point. Kava kava is cultivated and harvested for its roots. According to an article...
Choline bitartrate is a dietary supplement that is generally used to increase choline in your body. Choline is an essential nutrient to maintain optimum health. Supplements such as choline bitartrate can be taken, or consumption of certain foods...
Appetite suppressants act on the brain to create a feeling a fullness. Herbal supplements can be used along with a healthy diet and exercise to promote weight loss and general good health, according to the Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database;...
The normal range of potassium in the bloodstream is 3.5 to 5.1 mEq/L. Thus, high potassium levels are more than 5.1 mEq/L. Levels that reach as high as 6.5 mEq/L may interfere with the signals that travel from the nerves to the muscles. The...
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as of 2008, approximately one in every 10 American adults reports that they suffer with depression. One of the current theories concerning the reason for depression suggests that people...
Several types of remedies are available for people who have rashes. Steroid hormones can treat many rashes. Others can be treated with antibiotics. And some medications work by interfering with enzymes.
Broccoli sprouts have received star status in the realm of nutrition for their extremely high levels of certain antioxidant compounds called isothiocyanates. These sulfur-containing compounds are capable of modulating the body's immune response...
People need folic acid to make DNA and normal red blood cells, and the growing fetus must have it for the proper development of the nervous system. Bacteria must also have folic acid so they can carry out important functions within the cell....
Organ meats such as liver, brains, heart and pancreas are among the highest sources of dietary cholesterol. Cholesterol in your blood stream can accumulate on the inside of blood vessels. This build-up, called atherosclerosis, narrows the vessels...
There are several remedies that are currently available to treat joint inflammation. Some of the medications interfere with the enzymes that are involved in the inflammation process. Some inhibit enzymes that the cells need to function. Others...
It takes several steps to make dopamine and there are several enzymes involved. If you have problems creating any of the enzymes, there will be problems metabolizing dopamine. This may result in a dopamine deficiency. In Parkinson's disease, the...
Rose seed oil has been used to treat skin problems such as dermatitis, eczema, psoriasis, burns and premature aging. Add the healing ability of rose seed oil to toothpaste, and you may end up with a toothpaste able to effectively combat dental...
Thiazides are a type of diuretic, a class of drug that increases urination. In the kidneys, thiazides decrease sodium chloride absorption, resulting in forced removal of fluid from the body. According to the University of Kentucky Medical Center,...
Concern about the effects of pollution, pesticides, PCBs, food additives, caffeine and processed foods makes the interest in detox diets come as no surprise. The plethora of detox diets fills the demand of consumers who want to purify their...
According to Michael Castleman in his book, "The New Healing Herbs," Wu Long tea, also known as oolong tea, is one of the four traditional teas made from Camellia sinensis leaves. Camellia sinensis leaves are also used to make white, green and...
Environmental toxins are everywhere -- they are present in the air you breathe and the food you eat. You can reduce your exposure to these toxins by making healthy lifestyle choices, but proponents of the seven day detox diet claim that in order...
Although high blood pressure usually has no symptoms, it leads to inflammation of your blood vessels, which can cause narrowing of your arteries that blocks blood flow to your heart. Over time, high blood pressure increases your chance of heart...
The American Heart Association takes the position that drinking wine contributes to high blood pressure. But a study conducted by the Peter Munk Cardiac Centre in Toronto and reported by the American Journal of Physiology and ScienceDaily...
Pomegranate is a fruit of the Punica granatum tree that has been used for thousands of years to treat indigestion and improve heart health. People often drink pomegranate juice instead of fresh pomegranate, and drinking pomegranate juice might...
Ginseng was known to the ancient Chinese and Greek civilizations as a powerful herb for treating illnesses and promoting energy and stamina. In the past few decades, ginseng has been tested in the lab and clinical trials as a treatment for a...
Tea tree oil is a commonly used medicinal ingredient in soaps, lotions and even in toothpaste. Some people use tea tree oil to eradicate lice infestations, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine, or USNLM. Before you begin to use tea...
High blood pressure can lead to changes in the structure of the blood vessels and heart, which can result in an irregular heart rhythm, heart attack and congestive heart failure. It can cause a stroke from changes in a blood vessel in the brain;...
