Doxycycline is a medication in a class of drugs known as tetracycline antibiotics. It works by killing bacteria in the body. According to Drugs.com, doxycycline is used to treat urinary tract infections, acne, gonorrhea, chlamydia, periodontitis,...
An anal fistula is an abnormal tunnel or hole that occurs when the anal glands become blocked and filled with pus. After the blockage bursts or is drained by a physician, the drainage hole may not heal correctly and may remain open. The resulting...
Sodium bicarbonate for oral use comes in powder, tablets, capsules and granules and is an ingredient in electrolyte replacement products, antacids and toothpastes. It is available in grocery stores as baking soda and has household uses from...
Rectal bleeding after strenuous exercise -- although it may seem scary -- is usually not serious. Generally, the bleeding subsides on its own without medical treatment, though make sure to visit your doctor to rule out conditions such as colitis,...
The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases states that many people have small pouches of the large intestine that bulge outward through weak spots in the colon. Multiple pouches are called diverticula. Having diverticula...
Up to a million Americans are thought to have some form of inflammatory bowel disease, according to the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America (CCFA); about half of them have ulcerative colitis and the other half have Crohn's disease. Crohn's,...
Hemorrhoids are painful lesions that occur in the lower part of your anus or rectum. Your diet can affect your risk of developing hemorrhoids. Although eating cashews is not directly linked to hemorrhoid formation, a diet that is very heavy in...
A prostate biopsy occurs when a small amount of tissue is removed from the prostate gland and examined for abnormal cell changes. A transrectal biopsy is the most common type of prostate biopsy. During a transrectal prostate biopsy, a small...
Hemorrhoids are a common health complaint. MayoClinic.com states that by the age of 50, approximately half of American adults have experienced hemorrhoids and their symptoms, which include anal itching, discomfort and bleeding. Hemorrhoids --...
Glutamine also known as L-glutamine is an amino acid that is produced by the body and naturally found in blood plasma and muscles. It is also found in a variety of foods and dietary supplements. According to the University of Maryland Medical...
Food provides essential nutrients for normal body functions. The bioactive compounds that foods contain either promote or destroy a patient's health. According to a study published by the "American Journal of Clinical Nutrition" in September 2003,...
Metamucil is a natural laxative product that is commonly used to treat digestive system problems such as diarrhea and constipation. Scientific research indicates, however, that Metamucil use may also be an effective way of lowering high...
Crohn's disease is a chronic disorder characterized by an ongoing inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract, most commonly the colon and the lower portion of the small intestine, known as the ileum. The inflammation of the lining of the small...
Hemorrhoids can develop inside the rectal area or they can protrude outside the body. A hemorrhoid is the result of swelling in the anus or rectum, explains FamilyDoctor.org. This condition is often caused by constipation, frequent diarrhea and...
There are numerous rare colon diseases. According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health, the colon, also known as the large intestine, is a long, hollow tube at the terminal end of a person's digestive...
Doxycycline is an antibiotic in the tetracycline family that works by inhibiting bacterial growth in the body. Doctors prescribe doxycycline to fight bacterial infections, such as pneumonia, respiratory or urinary tract infections, Chlamydia,...
Colesevelam, sold as Welchol, is prescribed in the treatment of both high cholesterol and type II diabetes. It functions by combining with particles of food in the intestines. Since it can't be absorbed by your intestines, the food and the...
If you have hemorrhoids then you are in good company. MotherNature.com reports that 75 million Americans suffer from this uncomfortable and often painful condition characterized by swollen blood vessels and excess tissue that develops in the anal...
Magnesium hydroxide is both a laxative and one of the three major classes of antacids, which also include calcium carbonate and aluminum hydroxide. You can use magnesium hydroxide to treat constipation, upset stomach and heartburn. Pharmaceutical...
Constipation can result in hard, dry stools that are difficult for a baby to pass. When looking for a remedy to improve baby constipation, many parents turn to time-tested mineral oil. This readily available, over-the-counter laxative works by...
The prostate is a gland near the rectum. It is a part of the male reproductive system. The prostate releases fluid that makes up a component of semen, and prevents the flow of urine during ejaculation. Prostate cancer develops when cells in the...
Hemorrhoids are a painful swelling and irritation of veins in and around the rectal area. Also known as piles, the temporarily distended veins have a variety of causes, including pregnancy, strain while having a bowel movement and frequent...
Proctocort (generic name: hydrocortisone rectal) is a medication used to manage the symptoms of hemorrhoids, proctitis (rectal inflammation), ulcerative colitis (an inflammatory bowel disorder) and other inflammatory disorders of the intestines or...
The stem and flower of the plant called passionflower has purported medicinal uses that may help aid stomach discomfort, emotional upset, sleep difficulties and withdrawal from narcotics. Other uses of this herbal type plant includes asthma...
The digestive system consists of the mouth, esophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine, rectum, anus, liver, pancreas and gall bladder. It functions to break down food particles, transport them through the digestive tract and absorb the...
Nonoxynol-9 is a common ingredient found in all spermicide in the United States, according to the Mayo Clinic. Spermicides containing nonoxynol-9 can be used alone or with condoms, cervical caps and other contraceptive methods. Nonoxynol-9 works...
Psyllium, also known as isphagula, is a bulk-forming laxative that comes from the Middle Eastern plant Plantago ovata. The part of the plant used is the husk or seed coating. It has been used as an effective cure for constipation for hundreds of...
Zyrtec, sold generically as certirizine, is a medication used to treat hay fever, allergies and cold symptoms such as runny nose and sneezing. If you like to drink wine or other alcohol-containing beverages with your meals, it is important to...
Antibacterial agents fight infections and kill bacteria or prevent their growth on foods and other surfaces. The extract from bilimbi fruit may have some antibacterial properties and make it an attractive alternative to synthetic chemicals....
