Butterbur, or Petasites hybridus, is an herb that has been used in traditional medicine to soothe dry coughs. Today, butterbur extract is typically used for treating asthma, preventing migraines and easing allergy symptoms. Butterbur contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids, which are potentially…
Read more
Pennyroyal is a member of the mint family. It is typically provided as a tea or an essential oil. It can be lethal, so you should exercise extreme caution when considering its use. Sloan-Kettering and the National Institutes of Health…
Read more
Overview If you are going through menopause, you may want to look at alternative ways of treating your symptoms, such as hot flashes and bone density loss. Although herbal red clover treatments, available in tablet, capsule, standardized and liquid extracts,…
Read more
Overview Early American settlers once knew black cohosh as “squaw root” because the plant was a mainstay in Native American healing. Today, black cohosh root is mainly a medicinal herb used for women’s health. As with any herbal use for…
Read more
Tap water is filled with sodium, minerals, aluminum, fluoride and other trace elements. Each geographic region has its own combination of minerals and trace elements in the drinking water supply. Different filter types eliminate various kinds contaminants. Knowing the different…
Read more
Feverfew, which is also called Tanacetum parthenium, is a natural herbal supplement used to alleviate symptoms associated with arthritis, headache and fever. This supplement is administered orally and should not be taken by children younger than the age of 2….
Read more
Overview The fruit called acai comes from a South American palm with the scientific name Euterpe oleracea. This is the same tree that gives us edible hearts of palm. Acai fruit, which commonly called acai berry, is harvested from mature…
Read more
Overview A 2002 study published in “The New England Journal of Medicine” found that lack of fitness is a better predictor of death among men than all other established risk factors for heart diseases. The Centers for Disease Control and…
Read more
Vitamin deficiencies, also referred to as nutrient deficiencies, can stem from various causes, including chronic digestive illnesses, eating disorders and a low-nutrient dietary lifestyle. Since vitamins are vital to proper growth, function and wellness, vitamin deficiencies should be remedied with…
Read more
Overview When you’re sleeping, in a great mood or feel hungry, you have the neurotransmitter serotonin to thank. However, a lack of serotonin can result in adverse health effects. People often use negative behaviors to raise their serotonin levels, according…
Read more
Overview Most of us on public water systems don’t have to worry about water quality. If you’re served by a municipal water system, what comes out of your tap has been purified, filtered and treated to give you and your…
Read more
Hyperactivity, seen frequently in combination with attention deficit disorder, is a condition in which the body’s muscular activity exceeds normal levels. Growing evidence exists that supplements of certain herbs, vitamins or minerals can help to reduce hyperactive behavior. However, most…
Read more
Special pollen traps are placed in bee hives to collect pollen. The traps force bees to enter the hive through special openings, scraping pollen from the bees’ pollen baskets. According to Dr. Joseph Mercola’s website, “one teaspoon dose of pollen…
Read more
Overview Sodium nitrite is considered a food additive. It’s often used in cured and smoked meats, as well as pickling brines. It’s one of the main ingredients used to preserve the flavor and freshness of these types of products. While…
Read more
Many people add a slice or two of lemon to their glass of water, providing a tangy zing to the otherwise mundane yet healthy drink. There are many benefits other than taste, as adding lemon to your drinking water makes…
Read more
Sufficient sleep is an important way to ensure that a baby develops healthy sleeping habits. Sleep, particularly REM sleep, is essential to allow proper development, which occurs very rapidly in babies, reports Baby Center. However, babies tend to have irregular…
Read more
Overview 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 absorbing refrigerator…
Read more
Overview Zinc sulfate, also known commonly as white vitriol, is a chemical compound and is a primary source of the element zinc. Zinc sulfate is used in manufacturing and chemical processes in industrial applications, as an additive for both livestock…
Read more
Overview Lifters range from the weekend weight-room warrior to competitive powerlifting and weightlifting athletes. Regardless of the goal, success is largely dependent upon nutrition. Serious lifting is physically demanding. Necessary nutrients must be available to allow the lifter to optimally…
Read more
Overview Country ham is a staple of traditional southern breakfasts, but is also ideal for lunch and dinner. Country ham is rich in flavor and is great on sandwiches or as the centerpiece of an entrée. The meat is high…
Read more
Zocor is the brand name for simvastatin, one of the class of ‘statin’ drugs that lower blood cholesterol by blocking synthesis. Niacin is a vitamin, but when used in very high doses as a prescription drug, also lowers cholesterol. Doctors…
Read more
Overview Turmeric, scientifically known as Curcuma longa, is a shrub related to ginger. Grown across India and parts of Asia and Africa, the yellow, tuberous root is harvested for medicine, flavoring and fabric dye. You can find fresh, raw turmeric…
Read more
Overview Sodium bicarbonate is an antacid medication used to treat the symptoms of heartburn, acid indigestion and sour stomach. You also may take a sodium bicarbonate product to lower the acidity of your blood or urine or to relieve the…
Read more
Many people wonder how they will have enough energy to accomplish everything that they need to in a day. When depression and fatigue set in, some opt for a quick fix, generally involving caffeine and/or sugar. There are many factors…
Read more
Overview Natto is a 1,000-year-old Japanese dietary staple made from soybeans that have been soaked and fermented. The resulting product is sticky and has a stringy, web-like consistency. Though for many an acquired taste, this popular food may be served…
Read more
Water is good for you. Lemon juice is good for you. Put them together, and you’ve got a beverage that will help you to lose weight and stay full — and it packs a nice punch of vitamin C, too….
Read more
Overview Your levels of triglycerides, one of your blood’s two major fats, can be significantly increased or decreased by your diet. “The New Pritikin Program,” “Dr. Atkins’ New Diet Revolution,” the websites of several medical schools and “What Are Triglycerides,”…
Read more
Overview Liquid root stimulators are used to help plants grow strong roots. Unlike powdered rooting hormones, root stimulating liquids are meant to support existing roots, rather than encouraging new roots to form. They’re intended to be used when planting bare-root…
Read more
To be at their physical peak, athletes need proper nutrients and vitamins. Proper vitamin intake is extremely important for endurance athletes because vitamins are essential in the body’s metabolizing of carbohydrates and fats, which supply energy to the body during…
Read more
Oral thrush is caused by a fungus known as Candida albicans, which causes creamy white lesions along the lining of the mouth and tongue. Thrush can affect anyone, although babies, people who wear dentures, people who inhale corticosteroids and those…
Read more