Diseases & Health Conditions

According to botanists at the UCLA Botanical Gardens, willow has been used in Europe for over 2,500 years, safely and reliably relieving pain and fever, but it occasionally can cause side effects. One of willow’s active ingredients is salicin, a…
Read more

Overview Polyphenols are a large family of structurally related natural compounds that are widely distributed in everyday plant foods. The most abundant antioxidants in the diet, polyphenols contribute to the beneficial health effects of fruits, vegetables and plant-derived beverages. Function…
Read more

Overview Cognitive-behavioral therapy is recognized as one of the most effective treatments for anxiety disorders. As the name suggests, it focuses on cognitions and behaviors and how they are related. Anxiety is produced by a cycle of negative thoughts and…
Read more

Chronic pulmonary disease, also known as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or COPD, is a group of serious lung diseases that obstructs the intake of air. This results in severe disability since there is no cure. The American Lung Association, or…
Read more

The lungs are a pair of organs in the chest responsible for respiration, a process that involves breathing in air and adding fresh oxygen to the blood, which then carries the oxygen to the cells. Many factors and conditions can…
Read more

Opiates are a class of drugs that includes heroin and morphine, and are narcotic substances derived from opium, which is made from poppy seeds. As medications, they are generally used for pain control. Opiates are also commonly used as potent…
Read more

Overview Maternal drug abuse with legal or illegal drugs has continued to rise over time. All drugs of abuse reach the fetus during pregnancy. Once the umbilical cord is cut in the delivery room, the baby must be closely monitored…
Read more

Scar tissue is nature’s repair work, but the cells that replace the damaged ones are more fibrous, denser and sometimes less flexible due to limited blood supply. Scars also may be a different color than the surrounding skin, usually paler…
Read more

1. Attack Your Sinus Symptoms If you’re looking for a natural approach to treating sinus infection symptoms that packs a punch, consider products from Sinus Buster. Based on natural capsicum, essential oils and salts, these nasal sprays and infusions get…
Read more

Overview Cigarettes contains nicotine, a drug that makes smoking highly addictive. In addition to nicotine, tobacco and cigarette smoke contain thousands of other chemicals, many of which are known carcinogens. Cigarette smoking is associated not only with cancer but also…
Read more

Overview Thanks to much deliberate planting, feverfew, a native of the Balkans, has naturalized throughout Europe, North America and Australia. Its daisy-like flowers make it a popular addition to perennial gardens. European folk healing traditions attribute a host of medicinal…
Read more

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention names prostate cancer as the most common cancer in men, second only to lung cancer in number of cancer deaths in the United States. Treatment for prostate cancer involves surgery, radiation therapy and…
Read more

Overview Acne and rosacea are both dermatological conditions that have similar symptoms and share some treatment options. However, other characteristics of these two conditions are different. Both of these conditions can sometimes be self-treated, but if the symptoms are persistent…
Read more

Overview Swine influenza is the common name for the novel strain of influenza virus first identified by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in April 2009. On June 11, 2009, the World Health Organization declared a swine influenza pandemic…
Read more

Runny or stuffy nose, sore throat, sneezing and coughing. All of these are symptoms of the common cold, or upper respiratory infection. The Children’s Hospital Boston estimates that Americans will suffer from more than 1 billion colds in one year….
Read more

The continuity of the lung airways with the external environment exacts a high level of risk for infection compared to other body organs. Bacteria, fungi and viruses can infect the upper and lower airways or the air sacs. Similar symptoms…
Read more

Childbirth, heavy lifting, straining during bowel movements or menopause can cause certain women to develop a condition called fallen bladder or cystocele, explains Rush University Medical Center. These events can cause the muscular bladder wall to abnormally protrude or fall…
Read more

Overview Every addictive substance alters the chemistry of the brain. This alteration produces the euphoric effects of the drug, but it also disrupts normal brain function when the addict stops using. In the case of amphetamine addiction, this disruption takes…
Read more

Anxiety manifests itself through constant worry and tension, possibly affecting success at work, school and day-to-day relationships, according to the Mayo Clinic. Dealing with anxiety can be complex, but consuming a balanced diet and limiting or avoiding certain foods may…
Read more

If you find yourself snacking compulsively when you’re not hungry, you may be using food as a distraction from everyday problems. The Mayo Clinic notes that emotional eating leads you to reach for a bite when you’re anxious, upset or…
Read more

Perhaps the most dangerous health risk of teenage smoking is that the potential harm will grow with age. Most adult tobacco users who never kick the habit began smoking in their teens. The International Agency on Cancer Research relates that…
Read more

Asperger’s syndrome is categorized by the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual as an autism spectrum disorder. The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) estimates that two in every 10,000 children develop Asperger’s syndrome, with boys more…
Read more

Overview Addicted avoidant personality disorder, or AvPD, encompasses the diagnosis of avoidant personality disorder and dual diagnosis. According to Sharon C. Ekleberry, MSW, LCSW, LSATP, an expert on co-occurring disorders, avoidant personality falls under the category of cluster C in…
Read more

Most painkillers classify as one of three types: narcotic analgesics, non-narcotic analgesics and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Doctors may prescribe other types of medicine to fight pain that are drugs primarily used for other conditions. Common painkillers include narcotics such as…
Read more

When patients are scheduled for surgery they are advised to quit smoking by their surgeons. Many patients feel this is unnecessary and do not take their doctor’s advice. But surgeons have seen the complications that occur in smokers after surgery…
Read more

Moles, or nevi, are small clusters of skin cells that are pigmented to look like brown spots on the skin’s surface. According to the Mayo Clinic, moles also can appear in a range of colors, from red to purple, anywhere…
Read more

Herpes is a family of highly contagious viral infections. A form of the disease, varicella, causes chickenpox and shingles. Another form, herpes simplex virus type 1, or HSV-1, is the usual cause of herpes infections above the waist, including oral…
Read more

Overview Acne and warts are both common skin conditions that are easily recognizable because they are characterized by lesions or growths. Pimples and warts look very different and have different causes, although they may show up in some of the…
Read more

Overview A mole may be any growth on your skin that contains nevus cells. It typically has a raised surface and may develop a stalk. Moles that have an especially high surface are hanging moles, also known as skin tags….
Read more

1. Consider Your Nature In some cases, depression is hardwired into the genetic structure and passes down from parent to child through the DNA. The biochemical balance in your brain is widely considered to be a contributing factor as well,…
Read more