There are many herbal and inexpensive concoctions that people claim can help to fight cancer. One example is Essiac tea, a mixture of plant ingredients that may have some anti-carcinogenic effects, although this remains unproven. What is this mysterious brown liquid? Essiac tea is a traditional Native American formula that was rediscovered by a cancer…
Experts consider tenesmus to be both a physical and mental condition. It feels as if there is stool to pass, but there usually isn't. Tenesmus is different than diarrhea because when you go to the bathroom not much, or nothing at all comes out. The sensation of needing to poop can be caused by faulty…
Did your stomach start cramping and feeling a bit off after you ate that beef burger? Did you sprint to the bathroom after enjoying that romaine lettuce salad? You may have an intestinal infection caused by E. coli — one of the most dreaded foodborne illnesses in the world. Learn more about E. coli and…
When most people think of tonsillitis, they envision a child with swollen glands who has to get his or her tonsils removed. From there, it's all visions of ice cream and jello and a reason to miss school while eating dessert for a meal. The fact is that tonsillitis affects more than just children — and surgery…
Esophagitis is inflammation of the esophagus (the muscular tube connecting your mouth to your stomach). It causes pain or difficulty swallowing food and pills, and can make eating very uncomfortable. When it goes untreated, esophagitis can lead to changes in the esophagus that can make it hard to swallow food without choking. (1) There are…
After a convention of the American Legion in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1976, hundreds of attendees fell ill with pneumonia-like symptoms and fevers reaching 107 degrees. More than 200 fell ill and 34 died. The outbreak caused panic throughout the country; some thought it was domestic terrorism while Congress held hearings to push for answers. It…
Diverticulitis is a painful and upsetting disturbance in the digestive tract, a colon disease, which can be effectively treated with the diverticulitis diet. While some individuals experience constant discomfort, others experience diverticulitis symptoms that wane and then flare up. Diet and a variety of risk factors can increase your chances of suffering from diverticulitis, especially…
If you've ever had a hoarse voice or barking cough, you might have experienced laryngitis symptoms. Laryngitis is an inflammation of the vocal cords. Laryngitis can be an uncomfortable condition, especially when it comes with other illnesses like the common cold or flu. In most cases of laryngitis, home treatment is all that you need. By using soothing and anti-inflammatory…
In the United States, about 200,000 people are hospitalized for diverticulitis each year. Diverticular disease can be a painful and upsetting disturbance in the digestive tract, and in severe cases, it can lead to hospitalization and surgery due to complications from diverticulitis symptoms. The foods you eat and a variety of other risk factors can…
Wondering if your recurring digestive issues might mean you have irritable bowl syndrome (IBS)? As you'll learn, IBS symptoms vary a lot from person to person and tend to come and go with stress and other lifestyle changes. Each person's experience with IBS is a bit different, and certain symptoms often seem to be stronger or…
