The bile ducts carry digestive fluid manufactured in the liver to the gallbladder for storage until needed to break down fats in the small intestine. If the ducts become blocked, bile builds up in the liver and causes jaundice.
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The term “fluid on the knee” refers to a condition called prepatellar bursitis, also known as knee effusion, water on the knee and housemaid’s knee. As these names suggest, this condition is characterized by inflammation of the protective layer of tissue that lines the patella, or kneecap.
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In herbal medicine, passionflower refers to Passiflora incarnate, one of several hundred species of flowering plants and vines that make up the Passiflora genus.
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Each year, according to The Skin Cancer Foundation, approximately 2 million Americans are diagnosed with basal cell carcinoma, the most common form of skin cancer. If treated early, a minor cosmetic flaw is usually the only consequence and regular screenings will ensure prompt detection of recurrence.
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Excessive levels of liver enzymes in your blood may signal inflammation in your liver. Liver damage can be caused by a wide variety of factors, including alcohol abuse, long-term use of certain medications, viral hepatitis and autoimmune disorders. Milk thistle has been used for thousands of years to protect the liver.
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Liver cysts are fluid-filled sacs that do not require treatment unless symptoms develop, such as abdominal bloating or pain. Even though liver cysts are benign and do not cause liver failure, they can signal the presence of an underlying disorder, such as polycystic liver disease or a parasitic infection.
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Stinging nettle is a prolific perennial plant that has hairs called trichomes lining its leaves and stems. As a defense strategy, these hairs act like tiny needles to inject chemicals into invading pests and predators – or your legs as you walk by.
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Biliary colic is the result of an inflamed gallbladder caused by a blocked bile or cystic duct. This condition is characterized by the rapid onset of intense pain on the right side under the rib cage, which may radiate to the upper back.
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Excessive sweating, clinically known as hyperhidrosis, is characterized by profuse sweating of the face, feet, underarms or, most commonly, the palms. Aside from discomfort, this condition can have significant emotional and social impact for some people.
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If you’re a woman, watching your lip hair change from light, downy fuzz to coarse, dark hair that rivals a man’s mustache can be very unsettling. Generally speaking, heredity and hormonal factors play a large role in this development, and there is usually no need for alarm.
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Ceylon cinnamon is a spice made from the ground inner bark of a tree native to Sri Lanka, which once was known as Ceylon. It has been used in traditional medicine for centuries, and modern research confirms its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant benefits.
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If you use store-bought hair gel, you may be coating your hair follicles and scalp with hazardous chemicals.
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Saw palmetto is a palm-like plant indigenous to the southeastern United States from South Carolina to Florida. Also known as shrub palmetto, this small, bushy tree produces purplish-black berries that are used in herbal medicine to treat enlarged prostate in men triggered by low testosterone.
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Ginger, a spice obtained from the root of Zingiber officinale, is native to southeastern Asia but now grows throughout the tropical regions of the Unites States, West Indies, China and India.
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Cayenne pepper is a chili pepper that belongs to the nightshade family of plants, which includes paprika, tomato and eggplant. The peppers are dried and powdered and used to make hot sauces and add spicy heat to foods, such as Buffalo-style chicken wings.
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Despite the name, the strawberry is not a true berry but a pseudocarp, which means some of the fruit’s flesh sprouted from nearby accessory tissue of the plant instead of an ovary. Nevertheless, the fruit provides sustenance for a variety of wildlife and a good reason for people to make jam.
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Noni seed oil is extracted from the seed of a small evergreen tree that grows in the tropical areas of Southeast Asia, Australia, New Zealand, New Guinea and the Polynesian islands. The plant has a long history of use as a dye in these regions.
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Learning how to cook pasta is likely the first lesson most away-from-home college students learn as a matter of survival. Sometimes, culinary experimentation is pursued, owing to enthusiasm or sheer boredom. The discovery that pasta can be cooked in liquids other than water is liberating to both chef and palate.
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Papaya and pineapple enzymes are both classified as proteolytic enzymes, meaning that they digest proteins. Papaya enzymes are extracted from the leaves and fruit of the papaya plant and are collectively known as papain.
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Eczema is a chronic inflammatory condition characterized by dryness and scaly patches of skin. It occurs most frequently in infants, although many people tend to “grow out of it” by their early twenties. Eczema also runs in families, indicating that genetics may play a role.
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