A member of the pepper family, the herb ashwagandha has an extensive history of use in ayurveda, the traditional Indian system of medicine.

Nitrate is a naturally occurring form of nitrogen found in many soils. According to "Staying Healthy With Nutrition” by Dr. Elson Haas, soils with heavy agricultural contaminants often measure high in nitrate levels. These high levels cause a variety of unhealthy side effects.

Types of peppers people use in cooking and salads include jalapenos, serranos, cayenne, banana peppers, szechwan and habaneeros. Many dishes such as Indian soups and curries and Jamaican menus contain these peppers.

As your torso, shoulders, elbows and wrists work together to compensate for a hurt foot or leg, you may begin to experience arm pain. This is especially the case if you're using your crutches improperly. You can improve your overall experience by adopting a few pain-reducing basics of crutch operation.

A skin abscess is another name for a skin boil, a severe, pus-filled infection deep in the skin. Skin abscesses often involve a hair follicle and occur in moist areas of the body, such as the groin area and back of the neck. Boils can take two weeks to fully heal, and most will not heal until they burst and drain.

Bacteria are the oldest and most abundant life form on Earth. These microscopic, single-celled organisms live in all environments -- including in and on the human body. A study published in May 2016 in the "Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the U.S.A."

Pau d’Arco is a supplement derived from the bark of the Tabebuia avellanedae tree. It contains the compounds lapachol and beta-lapachone, and has been used traditionally to treat fungal infections, inflammation and certain cancers.

For people with allergies, colds or sinus problems the use of a homemade sinus rinse may bring relief. Delivered to the sinuses by using a neti pot, a small ceramic pot similar to a teapot; a bulb syringe; or irrigation bottle, a homemade sinus rinse can help clear nasal passages and make breathing easier.

Gabapentin is an anticonvulsant that is sometimes used to treat epilepsy. It also may be used to lessen symptoms of postherpetic neuralgia, a complication of shingles that affects your nerve fibers and skin and causes burning pain.

If the laboratory results of your most recent blood work revealed a total cholesterol level of 225 mg/dL, your doctor will probably tell you that 225 is higher than she prefers to see, even though a total cholesterol level of 225 is just 25 points over what doctors consider safe.

Although water retention may be the symptom of a more severe medical condition, it is most often the result of a female issue -- menstruation. Arising approximately a week or two prior to a woman's period, premenstrual water retention can make you feel stodgy and unfeminine.

While a mildly injured or sprained thumb isn't a serious ailment, it is necessary to protect the your thumb from further damage by wrapping it with medical tape and a thumb splint. This keeps the thumb in place which, in turn, provides the thumb muscle ligaments enough time to heal.