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.
Bentonite is a type of absorbent clay that is usually refined from volcanic ash. Its high absorbency makes it a useful substance in industrial applications, in products like kitty litter and even in natural medicine.
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Butcher's broom (Ruscus aculeatus), a medicinal herb native to the Mediterranean and once popular for making brooms, provides several modern medicinal benefits. People have used the herb for centuries, once even consuming it as a vegetable.
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Probiotics, also known as “good bacteria,” are living microorganisms similar to those that populate the human intestines. Lactobacillus acidophilus, commonly known as acidophilus or L. acidophilus, is a particular strain of probiotic.
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Harvested from mackerel, tuna, salmon, sturgeon, mullet, bluefish, anchovy, sardines, herring, trout and menhaden, fish oil is used for a variety of health conditions.
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Native to Mexico, damiana (Turnera diffusa) is an aromatic, flowering herb that belongs to the Turneraceae plant family. Also known as old woman's broom, the leaves of this herb are used for therapeutic and culinary purposes. Damiana leaf is available in various forms, including capsules, liquid extract and herbal tea.
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Fucus vesiculosus, a type of seaweed known as bladderwrack, has a role in alternative medicine for treating many health disorders. Fucus vesiculosus is available as a supplement in tablets, capsules and extract, and people also use this vegetable in salads, soups and stews.
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Horney goat weed is an herb traditionally used in Chinese medicine and alternative medicine circles to correct erectile dysfunction in men and to promote increased libido and sex drive in both men and women.
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Rose hips are the fruit of rose bushes and, when fresh, can have more than 60 times as much vitamin C as one orange. The rose hips valued for their medicinal use in folk medicine come from two rose varieties: Rosa gallica and Rosa canina, which are native to Asia, Northern Africa and Europe.
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The dietary supplement liquid chlorophyll is a green-colored chemical produced by plants. Sources for liquid chlorophyll include alfalfa, algae, barley grass, blue-green algae called spirulina and wheat grass.
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A dry cough is both irritating and potentially painful. Afflicted with a dry cough, you may desire a remedy that does not involve medications and chemicals. A variety of home or natural remedies exist to treat a dry cough. On the list of these remedies is cider vinegar, also known as apple cider vinegar.
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Derived from seeds of the plant Oenothera biennis, evening primrose oil is a traditional herbal memory for several health conditions.
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As a natural fruit-derived additive to foods and beverages, bergamot oil brings a distinctive citrus flavor to items such as Earl Grey tea.
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Wild yam has been used for centuries by Native Americans and early Americans for treatment of a variety of ailments. The herb, also known as colic root, has a relaxing effect. As the name suggests, an early use was to relieve colic in babies.
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Tiger Balm is a topical pain reliever made from herbal and plant-based sources. It is promoted as a remedy for joint and muscle pain associated with arthritis and minor injury, as well as headaches and muscle tension.
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Melatonin supplements are frequently used as a sleep aid for insomnia, work shift sleep disorder, and jet lag. The supplements are available at most pharmacies and drugstores and are typically regarded safe for short-term use; however, patients should take note of possible negative side effects.
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Wounds heal in a pattern--the bleeding stops, the body sends special chemicals to the injured site to repair cells, blood vessels regrow and new tissue forms.
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According to the American Apitherapy Association, apitherapy, or "bee therapy" is the medicinal use of products made by honeybees, such as honey, pollen and venom. Bee venom therapy uses the venom from bees to treat ailments that don't respond to traditional Western medicine.
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Senna, an herbal stimulant laxative, is commonly used as a short-term treatment for constipation. Teas made from this harsh laxative enable bowel movements by irritating the lining of the colon, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center.
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Açaí berry powder: Since we wouldn't want our strawberries powdered, let's not make a special deal out of açaí berry powder.
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Vitiligo is a genetic, autoimmune skin disorder in which a loss of skin pigmentation results in white patches on various parts of the body. Current treatments are aimed at stopping or slowing the progression of lost pigment. Manipulating one's diet may be helpful in managing certain skin conditions, such as vitiligo.
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