The placebo effect explains any measurable, observable improvement in health that cannot be directly attributed to medical treatment or drugs. The placebo effect can commonly be seen in hypnosis, such as when a smoker’s cravings for nicotine...
Most women know that no form of birth control, even the pill, is 100 percent effective. And a woman taking the pill might have reason to wonder at some point if she might be pregnant. She might also wonder if the results of a pregnancy test can be...
Honey is a sweet and thick fluid honeybees produce from flower nectar. Your body easily absorbs honey. Honey is made up of approximately 70 to 80 percent sugar. The rest is made up of water, minerals and traces of protein, acids and other...
Eczema is a word for inflammation of the skin. It can have a number of causes and presentations, but at its core, it's an immune-system reaction. Adults experience the condition, but it's often seen in infants, and the vast majority of eczema...
The popular saying "mind over matter" holds true in your workouts as well. Pushing your body to its maximum threshold requires more than cardiovascular endurance and muscular strength. Oftentimes, your mind sends signals to your body that its...
The goals of treatment for bronchitis and asthma are to relieve the symptoms and ease breathing. Individuals who suffer from this combination of symptoms must address both factors in order to feel better and be healthy again. A combination of...
Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo is one of many brands of birth-control pills on the market. The contraceptive is classified as triphasic, which means the hormone level in the pills changes three times during a woman's menstrual cycle.
Caffeinated coffee and other beverages containing caffeine can make it harder for diabetics to control their blood sugar. No evidence shows that unsweetened decaffeinated coffee has negative effects on diabetics, however. Diabetics who drink...
According to Mayo Clinic obstetrician and gynecologist Rosalina Abboud, women who wish to put off having their period may safely do so by using birth control pills. Women on the birth control pill do not have normal periods. Instead, they...
Ginger isn't just a spicy, hot root you can add to a stir fry or a flavoring for ginger ale. The Chinese have used it medicinally for over 2,000 years, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. It also has a long history of use in...
Lovastatin is a prescription drug used to lower cholesterol. Lovastatin works in the liver by blocking the action of an enzyme that the liver uses to make cholesterol. This forces the liver to pull circulating cholesterol out of the bloodstream...
Vitamins may have an effect on your appetite. Studies in the British Journal of Nutrition indicate the possibility of a connection between taking certain vitamins and appetite suppression. Alternately, vitamin deficiencies can cause loss of...
The root of the Amorphophallus konjac plant contains glucomannan, a substance that may work as a bulk-forming laxative. As a water-soluble dietary fiber, glucomannan creates larger, bulkier stool that moves through the colon more smoothly,...
Moderate coffee intake on a regular basis may reduce your risk of heart disease, liver cancer, Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease. High daily coffee intake may even reduce your risk of developing Type 2 diabetes. For those who already...
Hot flashes, a common menopause symptom, can range from mild to severe. You may experience a damp upper lip or sweat heavily for several minutes at a time. Hot flashes, even mild ones, can prove uncomfortable and embarrassing. You may find relief...
Two separate grapefruit studies show the weight loss properties of the citrus fruit. One, led by Erin Mulvihill of the University of Western Ontario, reveals the fat-burning abilities of a flavonoid present in grapefruit. Another, led by Ken...
According to the National Mental Health Association, depression and anxiety are common psychiatric conditions. Depression and anxiety may be associated with an imbalance in, or lack of, the chemical messengers known as neurotransmitters in the...
With 68 percent of Americans overweight or obese as of 2008, according to the Centers for Disease Control, the diet pill industry has become big business. However, research shows that weight-loss supplements aren't a "magic bullet" and only work...
If you want to get a little extra support in your slim-down efforts, you may be tempted to reach for some of the highly advertised weight loss supplements on the market. But before you risk your health and money on these products, consider...
The Seminole tribe of Florida have used the white berries of the saw palmetto plant as both food and medicine going back hundreds of years. Today, millions of people use saw palmetto as an herbal treatment for prostate problems, pelvic pain,...
Osteoarthritis is a chronic degenerative disease that affects the cartilage in joints. It's the most common form of arthritis and may be caused by aging, heredity, joint stress or obesity, according to the Mayo Clinic. Conventional treatment for...
Introduction: There are many reasons for a woman to change or alter her menstrual cycle--vacations, weddings or other important events are all common reasons. A woman's average menstrual cycle lasts 28 days--from the first day of one period to the...
Infertility is when a couple is unable to conceive a child after one year of trying. About 40 percent of infertility issues in a couple is caused by the male partner, according to the Fertility-Facts website. Male infertility is related sperm...
According to Mayo Clinic, the body needs copper to maintain health. The mineral plays a role in bone growth and nerve function, as well as aids the body in using iron. Basically, a person can get copper by consuming dietary sources such as liver,...
MonaVie is a line of liquid dietary supplements, marketed as a powerful means of improving immune function, joint health and overall wellness. Though some MonaVie ingredients, such as acai berry, may provide nutritional benefits, the specific...
Homeopathic medicine was created by German physician Samuel Hahnemann in 1796. It is based on three principles: that like cures like; that the smaller the dilution, the more effective the remedy; and that one remedy can cure any number of...
Lecithin granules are a granular form of lecithin. Lecithin is a lipid, or fat, that contains choline, linoleic acid, phosphorus and inositol, a part of the vitamin B complex. Lecithin is found in the cells of all living organisms and is required...
A persistent cough, whether it's caused by an infection, allergies or environmental sensitivities, can be disruptive to restful sleep as well as everyday activities. Meanwhile, over-the-counter cough suppressants have been shown via a 2001 study...
For many years, those with bipolar disorder had few treatment options. If lithium was ineffective or caused unwanted side effects, there were few directions to turn. These days, many drugs initially synthesized to control seizures are now being...
