Overview The practice of reflexology revolves around the theory that reflex points in the hands and feet correspond to certain organs and areas of the body. Reflexologists chart and map these areas. For example, the top of the shoulder is…
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Affex (fluoxetine) is a prescription medication indicated for the treatment of symptoms associated with depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder and bulimia (an eating disorder). This medication is manufactured in Ireland and is marketed under the brand name Prozac in the United States….
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Nemours, a leading pediatric health system, defines repetitive stress injuries (RSIs) as injuries caused by repeating a motion that puts stress on a certain body part. Symptoms include inflammation, muscle strain and pain. Some RSIs can even lead to tissue…
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Back in the days of buckskin and buckboard wagons, colloidal silver was taken orally to treat medical conditions and infections such as epilepsy, gonorrhea and the common cold, according to Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. It remained in use until the…
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Overview Hippocrates promoted liver cleansing as an effective way to improve health. Basic detox methods remain relatively unchanged to this day, and many practitioners support the cleanses as a natural way to improve digestive health, energy and an array of…
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Overview Holistic medicine is a life practice involving the prevention and treatment of physical and mental conditions through the use of natural techniques. Three specific concepts of holistic medicine are: treating the whole person, both mind and body, by practicing…
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If you’ve been having trouble sleeping because your mind is racing with worries, some foods, particularly herbs, can help reduce your stress to a more manageable level so you can get to sleep more easily and handle stressful situations throughout…
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Overview Widely used for its minty fragrance and flavor, peppermint has a long history dating back to ancient Egypt and Greece. The name comes from the mythological Greek nymph Mintha, who turned herself into this plant. You can find peppermint…
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Starting as a small family business in the 1970s, Nature Sunshine is now a thriving direct market health supplement business. With distributors in more than 30 countries, it has a full line of herbs and minerals marketed to the medicinal…
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Overview Epsom salt is essential to the body’s ability to replenish potassium and to enzymatic activity. A bitter-tasting, white crystalline salt, it also plays an integral role in the transmission of neurochemicals and acts as a laxative. Epsom salt is…
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Overview A debt consolidation is one way to avoid bankruptcy and pay off your debts. Consultants at the Federal Trade Commission report that deciding to use a debt-management agency depends on how much debt you have, how disciplined you are…
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Indigenous to the Mediterranean region, the historically renowned liver tonic, milk thistle, has been introduced to various areas of Europe, North and South America and Southern Australia. Well-designed clinical research has shed light on the plant’s phytotherapeutic effects, particularly relating…
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Poor circulation is the most common cause of cold feet. It could stem from having low blood pressure or not enough exercise in your lifestyle. Severe causes of poor circulation include diabetes, thyroid disorders and atherosclerosis–and smoking also constricts the…
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Medicinal use of herbs to promote relaxation and manage stress is common practice in alternative and complementary medicine. Such uses are derived from folklore where herbs, such as lavender, were used for their aroma therapeutic relaxation benefits, and often used…
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As the number of synthetic and pharmaceutical sleep aids increases, many people are turning to the age-old tradition of herbal medicine for relieving stress and tension. While many herbs have been used for their calming properties, three in particular are…
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Overview Cloves and clove oil are used in alternative and conventional medicine to treat a variety of symptoms because of their antiseptic, anesthetic, anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. Cloves can be used to treat toothache, earache, indigestion, headache, respiratory difficulties, infections,…
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Monoamine oxidase inhibitors–also known as MAO inhibitors or MAOIs–are a group of drugs first developed in the late 1950s for the treatment of major depression. These drugs inhibit the enzyme monoamine oxidase, which is present in high concentrations in the…
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If you think essential oils just make your home smell good, you’re missing out on the potential health and beauty benefits they have to offer. There are several essential oils that are routinely used in hair-care products that can bring…
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Overview You pour just a few drops of essential oil into your bathwater and think you’ve used the oil with a low dilution. But did you? No you did not dilute the essential oil at all–no matter how much water…
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If your body is feeling the burn-out of stress, it’s up to you to get it under control. Stress is now recognized as a major detractor from a healthy lifestyle. Health researchers from the American Psychological Association to the National…
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If your child turns his nose up at your breakfast, it’s time to add some new hits to your repertoire. Toddlers tend to be picky eaters, says Dr. William Sears, pediatrician. Provide a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables, lean…
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During an aromatherapy facial, the skin is analyzed by a qualified esthetician, who will determine which essential oils will most benefit the individual’s skin type. The face may be steamed, a scrub or facial peel may be used to clean…
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Overview Ginger is a spice used in cooking and herbal medicine. Ginger tea as well as ginger in powder and capsule forms can be used to soothe the stomach, fight nausea, combat diarrhea, reduce inflammation related to osteoarthritis and rheumatoid…
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Overview Qigong is the practice of mindful meditation that can be initiated at any time during the day to relax the mind and body. There are thousands of qigong poses and movements, but the main adjustments include posture, breathing and…
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Overview Floating atop your cup of coffee, flavoring your cookies or spicing a morning bowl of oatmeal, cinnamon is common culinary accoutrement. While cinnamon certainly provides pleasant flavoring, you might find it surprising to know that it also has a…
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Efudex is a topical cream used in the treatment of actinic keratoses (or solar keratoses) and superficial basal cell carcinoma. The active ingredient of this medication is fluorouracil. Fluorouracil is a chemical compound that interferes with the synthesis of deoxyribonucleic…
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According to the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse (NDDIC), around 7 million Americans were infected with digestive diseases in 1996. In 2002, digestive diseases, including cancer, accounted for 234,000 deaths in the United States. Problems with one part of the…
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Overview Whether you were placed for adoption, have a long lost relative you have never met or are looking for a sibling that you were separated from at birth, there are resources in place to help you find people from…
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Containing naturally-occurring vitamins and minerals, the herb sage is best known as a culinary spice that adds flavor to poultry dishes. However, sage has been used for hundreds of years in folk medicine to treat a variety of different ailments….
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Sage is a common herb used in cooking, similar to the way basil, thyme and oregano are used to season foods. But it’s also got a place in herbal medicine, being used to treat problems in the digestive system, including…
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