Living with a ragweed allergy can make life absolutely miserable for a good chunk of the year. The worst part? The most intense ragweed allergy symptoms seem to hit right when you should be enjoying the best of what the warmer months have to offer. When you're dealing with ragweed allergies, poolside relaxation, vacationing by…
Vasculitis is a group of inflammatory disorders that affect the blood vessels. Vasculitis can affect both small or large arteries. This includes major blood vessels like the aorta, as well as capillaries, medium-sized veins. Or it can include a combination of different sized blood vessels. In some cases, vasculitis causes only a portion of an…
Do you have swollen and tender red streaks that start at an opening in the skin and radiate to the armpit or groin? If so, you may be suffering from lymphangitis, a bacterial infection that is commonly caused by the same bacteria that causes strep throat and cellulitis. Lymphangitis is an infection that can spread…
Thyme oil comes from the perennial herb known as Thymus vulgaris. This herb is a member of the mint family, and it's used for cooking, mouthwashes, potpourri and aromatherapy. It's native to southern Europe from the western Mediterranean to southern Italy. Due to the herb's essential oils, it has a number of health benefits; in fact, these benefits have…
Today, the average adult living in the U.S. consumes about 22 teaspoons of added sugars every single day, including from hidden sugar foods they might actually believe are "healthy." Compare this to the amount of added sugar recommended by authorities such as the World Health Organization and American Heart Association: no more than six teaspoons…
Unbeknownst to most, healthy fats in your diet, including long-feared cholesterol, are proving to be key players in brain and psychological health. In previous generations, people believed cholesterol clogged arteries and caused heart problems. However, today we understand that the standard Western diet, which contains a large amount of hydrogenated fats and refined carbohydrates, leads to…
Hippocrates, the founder of modern medicine and the food is medicine concept, once said, "All disease begins in the gut." Today, more than ever, we know this is true as we hear scientists connecting disease after disease to microbiome disruption. This assault on your gut — largely triggered by eating danger foods — often leads to a…
Alopecia areata affects 2 percent of the worldwide population. And although it doesn't cause physical pain or make you feel sick, it can be a psychologically devastating disease. This autoimmune disease involves the loss of hair around the scalp, face and parts of the body. It can come on at any time, without warning. It's…
Anyone who experiences a fungal infection knows just how frustrating it can be. Fungal infections can often cause much discomfort or even embarrassment (think stinky feet), but they rarely threaten your health in a serious way. There are many types of fungal infections, but some more common ones are athlete’s foot, toenail or fingernail fungus,…