Gout is called a rheumatic, or inflammatory, disease because its symptoms develop when your blood level of uric acid is high, causing small, needle-like uric acid crystals to form in your joints and cause inflammation.
Read more →
An occasional early period can occur for a variety of reason, most of which pose no serious health risk.
Read more →
Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is a hormone the body makes during pregnancy, and is the chemical detected by urine pregnancy tests. However there are less common reasons -- outside of pregnancy -- when hCG may appear in the urine.
Read more →
Although you may use garlic and parsley in the kitchen to add flavor and taste to salads or cooked dishes, you might be unaware that both contain beneficial minerals and vitamins. Both are also part of traditional herbal medicine, where practitioners recommend them to boost health and treat illness.
Read more →
If you enjoy a cup of tea, you may be familiar with a type called Darjeeling that comes from India. Sometimes called the champagne of teas, Darjeeling is a black tea grown in the foothills of the Himalayan mountains and has a light, delicate flavor and aroma when brewed.
Read more →
Amino acids are building blocks of protein, used by your body to construct many different types of these essential compounds. But some amino acids, including one called L-ornithine -- or, more commonly, ornithine -- may have other important roles.
Read more →
Pregnancy is typically a time filled with anticipation and excitement as you wait for the new arrival. But if you develop left-sided abdominal pain, it can be worrisome and interfere with your sense of well-being.
Read more →
You probably know that testosterone is a male sex hormone and cholesterol is a substance that travels in your blood, but you may be unaware that the two compounds are chemically related and that testosterone might influence the amount and type of cholesterol your body produces.
Read more →
Scabies is caused by a tiny mite called Sarcoptes scabiei. A scabies infection is transmitted either person to person or by contact with contaminated bedding or clothing. The mite burrows under your skin to lay its eggs.
Read more →
During a typical monthly menstrual cycle, a woman ovulates and her uterine lining thickens to prepare for conception. If pregnancy does not occur, the built-up tissue of the uterine lining is shed with the menstrual flow and a new cycle begins.
Read more →
You may be familiar with thyme as a cooking herb, used in many recipes for different cuisines. But thyme is also a part of traditional herb medicine, thought in medieval times to provide courage and strength to those who consumed it. Today, thyme is recognized for several properties that may make it of medicinal value.
Read more →
A woman's vagina and cervix normally produce a small amount of mucoid fluid, or discharge, that appears clear to slightly white. Brown or reddish-brown discharge, commonly referred to as spotting, usually indicates the presence of blood in the fluid. In many cases, this doesn't signal a significant medical problem.
Read more →
You've probably heard reports that many Americans consume too much sodium for good health. Although reducing the amount of table salt in your meals is one remedy, it can be easy to forget that sodium is a natural part of many foods and also added to processed products, sometimes in high amounts.
Read more →
If you're regularly involved in strenuous exercise or are concerned about your cardiovascular health, you might find a supplement called L-citrulline malate of potential value. Citrulline is an amino acid that's considered nonessential because your body makes a sufficient supply and dietary intake isn't essential.
Read more →
If you're concerned about the health of your cardiovascular system, keeping your blood pressure low and blood cholesterol in a healthy range are important goals.
Read more →
When garlic comes to mind, you probably think of its pungent taste and usefulness in cooking. However, garlic has been part of traditional herbal medicine for centuries, and kyolic garlic, a type of aged garlic extract that's also odor free, is recommended by practitioners for many common ailments.
Read more →
In men, the prostate is a gland the size and shape of a walnut that surrounds part of the urethra, and makes some of the fluid portion of semen. The prostate can enlarge and cause urinary problems in a non-cancerous condition called benign prostatic hyperplasia, or BPH.
Read more →
A man's reproductive system has many functions, including ensuring his fertility and providing sex hormones that support his sexual well-being. Although problems that arise in the system are often treatable, several disorders can have potentially serious consequences.
Read more →
Practitioners of traditional herbal medicine have used the stinging nettle plant, or Urtica dioica, for many disorders. The plant originated in northern Europe and Asia, and now grows worldwide as a wild plant that is about 4 feet tall.
Read more →
If have irritable bowel syndrome, you know its symptoms can include abdominal pain. You might also experience abnormal bowel movements that lead to either diarrhea or constipation.
Read more →