Mucuna pruriens, pronounced: moo-KOO-nuh, proo-REE-yens, an annual climbing herb, is native to South and Southeastern Asia. Self-pollinating, it bears seeds in long pords with pubescent hairs called "spicules." In India, the Philippines,...
Tenuate, also known as diethylpropion, is a short-term sympathomimetic appetite suppressant given to help people lose weight in the first weeks of a weight loss program. Diethylpropion works by helping to reduce the appetite. It is approved for...
Acute confusion means the sudden and severe onset of a disoriented mental state. While people may feel confused because of medications or debilitating illnesses such as Alzheimer's disease, that type of confusion occurs gradually in most cases....
According to the National Institutes of Health, marijuana is the most abused illegal drug in the United States. Derived from the hemp plant Cannabis sativa, the active ingredient in marijuana is delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, which is also called...
Methamphetamine is a highly addictive drug that can be taken orally, smoked, snorted or injected. It's a very powerful stimulant that's long lasting in your system. Meth is easy to make and is often manufactured in small, illegal labs in people's...
Controversy continues over the use of marijuana as medicine. Advocates state that marijuana works effectively to aid conditions where pain relief and appetite stimulation prove necessary, and also helps chemotherapy patients and those with AIDS....
Americans spend over $40 billion annually on weight loss products, the National Eating Disorders Association reports, diet pills included. Designed to enhance weight loss, diet pills typically work by reducing your appetite, boosting your energy...
Bromide is chemical compound that contains exactly two elements, one of which is the element bromine. A study in the journal Toxicology Letters suggests that bromide levels in your blood may be about 1.05 mg/l. An article in the American Journal...
Psychosis is an abnormal condition of the mind that can be diagnosed as mild to severe and is considered a general term for a variety of mental states. People with psychosis may experience confusion, hallucinations or delusional beliefs and can...
Alcoholism is a syndrome consisting of two phases: problem drinking and alcohol addiction. The repetitive use of alcohol to alleviate anxiety or solve other emotional problems can lead to a true addiction similar to what occurs with repeated...
Depression is a chronic medical illness involving both the mind and body, affecting how a person thinks, feels and acts, that can lead to an array of physical and emotional concerns. It is often associated with feelings of sadness, despondency,...
Vitamin D exists in several forms, but the active form in the human body, calcitriol, helps regulate calcium levels. By increasing calcium absorption from the intestine, calcitriol plays a role in proper bone formation. High blood levels of...