Rose hips, also called rose haw, are the fruit of the rose plant. They have been gathered and used in perfumes, foods and medicines for centuries. They have a high antioxidant content and are rich in bioflavonoids, which may be effective in...
Ovulation is an essential part of the female reproductive process. Ovulation, the release of the ready-to-be-fertilized egg from the ovary, normally occurs around day 14 of a 28-day cycle. Wild yam, grown from a vine and scientifically called...
Red raspberry leaf tea, made from the leaf rather than the berries of the raspberry plant, has long been recommended as beneficial for women trying to get pregnant, as well as women already pregnant. Some practitioners use red raspberry leaf tea...
Phytoestrogens are substances found in plants that resemble the hormone estrogen. Although their effects on the body are not as strong as synthetic, pharmaceutical estrogen, phytoestrogens do appear to have an effect. Natural health expert Dr....
Herbal remedies have been used for centuries to promote and restore health. With a tea made by soaking herbs in hot water, you can extract properties that can benefit your health. There are different types of herbs, depending on their constituents...
Herbs serve as nourishing and toning agents for the female reproductive system, and they can help treat ailments related to menopause, vaginal discharges and other disorders. Herbs can also help alleviate premenstrual symptoms, including insomnia,...
Throughout a woman's menstrual cycle, she will most certainly encounter times of heavy menstrual bleeding. These heavier cycles may be a result of hormone changes or a hereditary infliction that has plagued every female in her lineage. There...
Interstitial lung disease, or ILD, refers to a collection of diseases that cause lung fibrosis, or gradual lung scarring. ILD's damage is irreversible, although prescription drugs may inhibit further damage to the lungs. If you have this...
Breastfeeding doesn't always come naturally to new moms. Many women have trouble with milk production or letdown, two essential elements for breastfeeding. Many herbs have a reputation as galactagogues, substances that increase milk supply. Most...
Red raspberry leaf tea is an herbal remedy sometimes recommended by naturopaths and alternative medicine practitioners. High in calcium, iron and vitamins A, B, C and E, raspberry leaf tea is recommended for pregnant women and believed to...
Liver tissue can be damaged by disease, alcohol and drug abuse, viruses such as hepatitis C and carcinogenic chemicals. Restoring and maintaining a healthy liver is possible in many cases, according to physician Sandra Cabot. Supplement your diet...
After a baby arrives, the mother's body must recover from pregnancy and childbirth. Abdominal muscles, including the uterus, need time to get back to a normal, non-pregnant size. These changes can cause intense abdominal pain for the first few...
Changing hormone levels during pregnancy create a tendency to retain fluids in spaces between the cells of soft tissue. Healthy women usually have some swelling, or edema. Dependent edema is when the feet and ankles become swollen due to...
Uterine fibroids are growths of non-cancerous tissue on the lining of the uterus. The growths can range from the size of a pea to five inches in diameter. Although they are not harmful, they can cause significant pain. According to the American...
Nettle, also called stinging nettle, has a long and varied history as a medicinal herb used all over the world. In ancient Greece, physicians, including the renowned Galen, recommended nettle leaves to treat edema, constipation and upper...
The use of herbs in pregnancy causes a great deal of controversy, with alternative practitioners often supporting their use and traditional medical practitioners advising against them. As many as 63 percent of nurse midwives use red raspberry tea...
Passion flower, or Passiflora incarnata, is an herbaceous climbing vine that blooms with large lavender, white or yellow flowers. The name "passion flower" came about in the 16th century, when a Spanish doctor living among the Incas envisioned the...
Hawthorn berries have a long history of use by herbalists to treat heart conditions, including high blood pressure. The question of whether hawthorn use is safe in pregnancy depends on whom you ask. Alternative medicine practitioners such as...
Group B streptococcal (GBS, or beta strep) bacterial infection during pregnancy can cause preterm birth and life-threatening disease in newborns. The CDC recommends screening for GBS in all near-term women and the administration of antibiotics in...
For many women, perimenopause begins with menstrual irregularity, due to erratic hormone levels. Changes may include shorter cycles, increased flow and premenstrual spotting. This combination can leave you with the perception that you are...
Cancer is a worldwide epidemic, with 1.5 million new cases diagnosed in 2010 in the United States alone. While medical researchers have made advances in cancer prevention and treatment, they continue to look for new cancer drugs. Fucoidan, one...
Valeriana officinalis, or valerian, is a perennial plant native to Europe and northern Asia, but it has been cultivated elsewhere for use as a calming agent and sleep aid. According to the Office of Dietary Supplements, it is not clear which of...
Interstitial lung disease (ILD) occurs when the alveoli, or small sacs in your lungs, become inflamed and unable to function properly. Oxygen flow to your body is inhibited, which in turn impair the workings of your body. An entire group of lung...
While many diets these days claim to purify a toxic liver, there is no scientific evidence that any sort of detoxification diet is effective, according to registered dietitian, Katherine Zeratsky, of MayoClinic.com. Liver tissue can be damaged,...
Bloating is the distressing sensation of abdominal fullness, brought on by intestinal gas, fluid retention, overeating, pregnancy or indigestion, to name a few causes. Diuretic and digestive herbs such as dandelion, cardamom, cinnamon, ginger and...
You can make a nourishing herbal tea from the leaves of the red raspberry plant, also known as Rubus idaeus. Raspberry leaves contain a multitude of nutrients including citric acid, iron, potassium, calcium and vitamins A, B, C and E. Raspberry...
Vitex agnes-castus, also called chaste tree, is a respected medicinal herb that is especially valuable in balancing female hormones. Up to 25 percent of menstruating women need treatment for premenstrual syndrome (PMS), according to a 2010 article...
Pregnancy lasts approximately 266 days from conception. A due date of 40 weeks from the first day of the last period is not exact. Kick counts and other tests can assess fetal well-being to see if it is safe to wait for natural labor to begin....
Pain and burning in the delicate tissues of the esophagus affect pregnant women at such a high rate that it is considered normal. Unless a woman has a history of gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD, before pregnancy, heartburn is a temporary...
