Several medicinal herbs have been used historically to "purify" the bloodstream and to flush pollutants from the body. In modern naturopathy, integrative practitioners widely recommend these detox herbal teas, but there is little notable scientific evidence supporting their use.

Boils are pimple-like bumps that fill up with pus and become infected. They are unsightly, and if not treated properly the infection in a boil can spread. Once you know what a boil looks like, you should take steps to rid yourself of it carefully before it grows any larger and becomes more complicated to remove.

After pregnancy, you might be surprised to learn that you have to continue watching what you eat and drink if you are breastfeeding. This is because the things you consume are passed to your baby through your breast milk.

You add hot, spicy foods to your diet because you enjoy the flavor, but you might be unaware of the possible health benefits of capsaicin, one of the natural compounds in these foods.

Maca plants are native to the Andes Mountains in Peru. Maca is available in four varieties -- cream, black, red or purple -- with none being medicinally superior to the others, according to the University of Michigan Health System.

Anxiety is a general reaction that helps an individual cope with stress. However, excessive, irrational reactions in response to simple, everyday situations are categorized under anxiety disorders.

Excess weight is a major health concern in North America, because weight problems are linked with complications like diabetes, heart disease, cancer, fatty liver, osteoarthritis, reproductive dysfunctions and psychological problems.

Tea tree oil comes from the leaves of the tea tree, scientifically known as the Melaleuca alternifolia, a tree native to Australia. Some people use tea tree oil on their skin as a method of treating bacterial and fungal infections, or they add the oil to warm bathwater to help congestion and coughs.

The recent discovery that you are pregnant may bring equal parts excitement and worry. One of the most common worries among pregnant women is miscarriage, or the loss of the baby. Your obstetrician is a useful resource in learning more about what to avoid to reduce your risk of miscarriage.

Undertaking a cleanse for weight loss is meant to jump-start weight loss by cleaning out the colon, though claims that cleansing or detoxing promotes weight loss remain unfounded, as of 2011. Daily laxative use as part of a cleanse can result in dehydration, electrolyte depletion and impairment of bowel function.

Milk thistle and dandelion are marketed together as herbal supplements beneficial to the liver. Milk thistle has a 2,000-year tradition as an herbal treatment for many conditions, especially diseases of the liver.

Trigger thumb, medically known as stenosing tenosynovitis, is a condition in which your thumb catches in a bent position, then straightens abruptly, sometimes with a snap.