Vitamins and supplements like melatonin and fish oil offer health benefits but can cause side effects if misused. Learn about the impact of saw palmetto on blood pressure and find the best multivitamins for young women and adults over 50.
For most people, acne starts in the teens when puberty hits. Hormones activate oil glands to start producing sebum for the first time. While the purpose of sebum is to lubricate the hair and skin, too much can clog pores, causing acne. Bacteria, dirt and dead skin cells can also clog pores.
Read more →
About 20 percent of people living in the United States use herbal products, and ginkgo biloba rates among the top 10, according to a June 2008 review in the "Journal of General and Internal Medicine." Ginkgo is far from a new kid on the block.
Read more →
DMAE, or 2-dimethylaminoethanol, is a chemical substance used most often for improving alertness and mental clarity. Similar to many other mind or mood-altering substances, DMAE may work by increasing the production of a neurotransmitter.
Read more →
Extracts of the medicinal herb rhodiola rosea have been used historically to boost stamina, mood and mental function. According to Dr. Andrew Weil, a naturopathic physician, studies increasingly suggest that this versatile herb can help treat a variety of common conditions.
Read more →
Soap making involves a chemical process known as saponification in which fats are combined with a caustic chemical such as sodium hydroxide, or lye. The process is fairly simple to do at home; however, use caution when working with lye.
Read more →
The medicinal herb rhodiola, also known as golden root, originates in the high-altitude regions of Northern Europe and Asia. Herbalists commonly regard rhodiola as an adaptogen.
Read more →
Black tar is a type of heroin that largely comes from Mexico into the United States. Unlike other forms of heroin, black tar takes on a sticky black form or a hard rock-like form, instead of a white or tan powder. However, like other forms of heroin, black tar can be either smoked or melted for intravenous injection.
Read more →
Oxygen-cleaning technology has been commercially marketed since the 1970s. Oxygen cleaners began to grow in popularity with consumers in the mid-1990s when the current “green” awareness began to grow. Oxygen cleaners work on organic stains, but have little effect on grease or petrochemical stains.
Read more →
Rhodiola rosea, also called golden root and roseroot, has a traditional medicinal role in the harsh mountainous climates of Russia, Scandinavia and Tibet. Rhodiola is considered an adaptogen, meaning it has non-specific qualities that help people deal with physical and mental stress.
Read more →
Amoxicillin belongs to a group of drugs called penicillins. Clavulanate potassium promotes the efficacy of amoxicillin by protecting it from being destroyed by certain bacteria. Amoxicillin and clavulanate potassium combined together form an antibiotic that treats many different infections caused by bacteria.
Read more →
Nettle is commonly known as stinging nettle because of the fine hairs on its leaves and stems that can cause skin irritation. The plant is very nutritious, and nettles have been eaten or used for hundreds of years as a treatment for painful joints and muscles, gout and anemia.
Read more →
The root of the Panax ginseng plant has been used for centuries as a component of traditional Chinese medicine, or TCM. TCM practitioners and Western herbalists widely promote Panax ginseng as an adaptogen, or an herb that enables a healthier response to physical or mental stress.
Read more →
Ashwagandha and ginseng are commonly used to help treat fatigue and stress, as well as other health problems. American and Panax, or Asian, ginseng, as well as ashwagandha, pose certain side effects that range from mild and temporary to potentially dangerous.
Read more →
Found in many local supermarkets and drug stores as an herbal supplement, thymol can be taken for the treatment of minor health ailments or for the promotion of overall health.
Read more →
Itβs never too early to protect yourself from health problems. Certain vitamins can lower your risk of several conditions, ranging from low iron levels and premenstrual syndrome to osteoporosis and breast cancer. If you think you need to take a vitamin supplement, talk it over with your doctor.
Read more →
HGH (human growth hormone) is a polypeptide made of 191 essential amino acids fundamentally responsible for the proper development of muscle, cartilage and bone in the body. It is created, stored and then released by the anterior pituitary gland.
Read more →
HGH (human growth hormone) is a polypeptide compound created, stored and released by the cell walls of the anterior pituitary gland. A composite of 191 amino acids, HGH is chiefly responsible for the proper development of bone, muscle and cartilage in children.
Read more →
While many supplements promise to build up your body and enhance physical ability and appearance, Focus Factor concentrates on your brain. This supplement contains a blend of 40 ingredients, which its manufacturer claims can improve your mental ability and enhance memory.
Read more →
Lecithin is also known as phosphatidylcholine. It is a fat, or lipid, material found in the membranes of all living cells and functions to regulate the entry and exit of cellular nutrients. While lecithin is found in many foods, either naturally or as a food additive, it is also sold as a dietary supplement.
Read more →
Sodium lauryl sulfate is a common ingredient in many shampoos that gives it a thick, foamy lather that seems to ensure TV commercial-clean hair. Although shampoos that contains this lathering agent might clean your hair well, they may also dry your scalp or strip the color from dyed hair.
Read more →