Serotonin functions as a chemical messenger in the brain. It regulates mood, sleep, appetite and the emotional perception of pain.

Intestinal parasites are worms that spend at least part of their life cycle in the human intestine. Common intestinal worms include tapeworms and roundworms, such as ascarids, hookworms, pinworms, Guinea worms, threadworms and whipworms.

Fiber is an important part of the diet and can help you maintain digestive health, as well as reduce the risk of heart disease. Although breastfeeding women need to follow a healthy diet, fiber has little effect on the nutrients in breast milk.

Any break in the skin is considered to be a wound, whether it occurs as the result of cutting yourself accidentally or from a surgical procedure. A wound can be a clean cut from a surgical incision or a jagged-edged laceration.

Post-pill amenorrhea is a condition where a woman does not get a menstrual period after going off birth control pills. This typically isn't a cause for alarm, and usually occurs because the body needs time to adjust back to its natural hormonal levels.

Triglyceride levels rise and fall depending on how much fat the body stores. Doctors are generally more concerned about high levels of triglyceride, described as a blood level of 150 mg/dL or higher, than they are about low triglyceride levels. Michael Miller, M.D.

Epsom salt is a popular treatment used for muscle soreness and other bodily aches and pains. According to the Epsom Salt Council, Epsom salt isn’t just folklore anymore as numerous studies show that Epsom salt is an effective over-the-counter remedy for treating a variety of conditions.

Dealing with the death of a loved one is a profoundly painful experience. It is so painful, those who are close to someone who is grieving are often at a loss for words. Offering support during this time is important, though. There are ways to tell your grieving friend or relative that you care.

As many as 80 percent of adults in the United States have lower back pain, making back pain the second most common reason people visit their doctors, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center.

Sleep is a period of deep relaxation needed for the health and functioning of the mind and body. In some instances, it may be necessary to prevent sleep to complete tasks like work or studying.

Tendons are often the first thing thought of with regard to joint pain, but there are also small cushioning sacs surrounding our joints called bursae that can become inflamed. According to Dr. Robert Rister in "Healing Without Medication," bursitis occurs when the bursae fill with extra fluid in response to trauma.

Female birth control pills are intended to prevent contraception in women. They are most often a combination of synthetic forms of both types of female hormones, estrogen and progesterone.