Progesterone is one of the two primary female hormones. As the name implies, progesterone prepares ("pro") the uterus for pregnancy (gestation). Progesterone works in tandem with /tnp/pg000269 21506 doc estrogen ; indeed, if estrogen is taken as a medication without being balanced by progesterone (so called unopposed estrogen), there is an increase...
More than 200 plant species belong to the genus Valeriana, but the one most commonly used as an herb is Valeriana officinalis. The root is used for medicinal purposes. Galen recommended valerian for insomnia in the second century AD. From the sixteenth century onward, this herb became popular as a sedative in Europe (and later, the United States). ...
Pregnenolone has been called "the grandmother of all steroid hormones." The body manufactures it from cholesterol, and then uses it to make testosterone, cortisone, /tnp/pg000833 doc 21813 progesterone , estrogen, /tnp/pg000497 doc 21678 DHEA , /tnp/pg000252 doc 21491 androstenedione , aldosterone, and all other hormones in the "steroid" family. On...
Acupuncture has been part of the medical mainstream in countries such as China and Japan for centuries. It is also one of the most widely utilized forms of alternative therapy in the United States. More than 10 million acupuncture treatments are administered annually in the US alone. In addition, third-party insurance reimbursement and managed care...
Osteopathic medicine originated as a 19th century alternative medical approach emphasizing the physical manipulation of the neuromusculoskeletal system. Today, doctors of osteopathic medicine study and practice the same types of medical and surgical techniques as their conventional MD colleagues with the addition of osteopathic manipulative treatm...
The pancreas is an organ that creates enzymes necessary to properly digest starch, protein, and fat. In addition, cells responsible for creating insulin are also found in the pancreas. Pancreatitis is a condition in which the pancreas is inflamed. When pancreatitis is prolonged, pancreatic function declines, leading to malabsorption of nutrients an...
Diarrhea, or loose bowel movements, can occur for many reasons. Food poisoning and infections are the most common causes of acute (short-lived) diarrhea. Chronic diarrhea may be caused by ongoing illnesses of the digestive tract, such as /tnp/condition/ibd doc 39023 inflammatory bowel disease and /tnp/pg000616 doc 21736 irritable bowel syndrome . C...
Sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) is a method of treating allergies that closely resembles conventional "allergy shots." In both of these methods, small amounts of allergenic substances are administered periodically and over a long period of time, via a route different from that in which the body ordinarily encounters them. For example, plant polle...
When specific causes of symptoms aren t known, doctors sometimes refer to conditions simply by naming the symptoms. Such is the case for so-called soft tissue pain. The term soft tissue pain simply refers to discomfort somewhere in the interconnected system of muscles, tendons, and ligaments, as opposed to the bones, and says nothing about the pa...
Psyllium is a fiber that comes from a plant called Plantago ovata (blonde psyllium). The plant has tiny, gel-coated seeds. Psyllium is found in the seeds husk. Psyllium is soluble, meaning that it can dissolve in water. When preparing psyllium for commercial use, the seeds are first harvested and cleaned. In some formulations, the husks are separa...
Score: 95%
Page 1 of 4
EBSCO Information Services is fully accredited by URAC. URAC is an independent, nonprofit health care accrediting organization dedicated to promoting health care quality through accreditation, certification and commendation.
This content is reviewed regularly and is updated when new and relevant evidence is made available. This information is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with questions regarding a medical condition.
To send comments or feedback to our Editorial Team regarding the content please email us at healthlibrarysupport@ebsco.com. Our Health Library Support team will respond to your email request within 2 business days.
