Vitamin, Mineral & Herb Remedies
Dietary supplements can be surprisingly helpful for many common disorders. There is substantial science supporting the use of herbs, vitamins, minerals and other supplements.
Will a Big Dose of Vitamin D Give You Leg Cramps…
What have you heard about vitamin D? Maybe you recognize this compound by its popular nickname, the "sunshine vitamin." It is called that because human skin makes this hormone when it is exposed to su…
Do Glucosamine and Chondroitin Increase Your Cho…
What happens if you take something for a presumed benefit only to discover that it has a downside? This happens pretty frequently with pharmaceuticals; everyone is familiar with the idea of side effec…
Is Fish Oil Linked to Heart Rhythm Changes?
Could a supplement that people take for heart health actually lead to heart rhythm changes? Most people take fish oil with the expectation that it will lower their likelihood of a heart attack or stro…
St. John’s Wort Can Lift Mood, But May Dam…
About twenty years ago, people who were reluctant to take prescription antidepressants were excited to learn that the herbal medicine St. John's wort (Hypericum perforatum) could help alleviate mild t…
Do Gut Microbes Contribute to Symptoms of Lactos…
Lactose intolerance is a common complaint. Sufferers describe bloating, cramping, abdominal pain, flatulence and loose stools or outright diarrhea upon consuming dairy products. Presumably, the sugar …
Do Turmeric Supplements Have a Downside?
The yellow spice turmeric is extremely popular both as a food ingredient and as a supplement. When it is used to flavor food like yellow mustard or curry, turmeric is considered safe. Some case report…
Will Elderberry Extract Help You Recover from Fl…
Natural approaches to healing are getting extra attention right now, as people try hard to stay out of doctors' offices if they can. After all, if you don't have COVID-19, you don't want to go anywher…
Vitamin B12 Helps Ease Nerve Pain of Diabetes
People with type 2 diabetes often develop a painful nerve disorder called diabetic neuropathy. People with this condition may experience numbness, tingling, burning or pain in their hands or feet. The…
Will Precious Saffron Save Your Eyesight?
A diagnosis of a chronic condition that could lead to a severely diminished quality of life is terrifying. Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) can result in a significant loss of vision. Consequent…
Natural Approaches for Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is common and challenging to treat. People who have IBS may feel incredibly frustrated because often doctors tell them there is no observable problem. All the same, they…
Should You Be Taking Vitamin Supplements?
Vitamins were among the most exciting discoveries of the early 20th century. Since then, however, doctors have been expressing a lot of skepticism about the value of vitamin supplements. New research …
Zinc for the Common Cold
People have been searching for a cure for the common cold for centuries. To date, there is nothing that actually overcomes cold viruses the way antibiotics conquer bacteria. However, for years scienti…
What Is the Story on Calcium Supplements?
When the medical experts change their minds, it can be confusing for the rest of us. One such flip-flop that has puzzled a lot of people concerns calcium supplements. For years, doctors urged their ol…
Can Treated Licorice (DGL) Ease IBS Symptoms?
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) has long been a mystery to doctors. Sufferers experience cramps, bloating, gas, constipation or diarrhea and other digestive distress. Until recently gastroenterologists…
Will You Breathe Easier If You Take Less Iron?
Many people need to take iron supplements because they don't get quite enough of the mineral from their diets. Doctors may recommend supplements for people with restless leg syndrome (RLS) or extreme …
Is Magnesium a Miracle Mineral?
The body needs minerals to function. Without adequate levels of sodium, potassium, calcium and magnesium we would perish. Doctors often encourage patients to cut back on sodium and increase calcium. P…
What Supplements Could Help Ease IBS Symptoms?
Irritable bowel syndrome, or IBS, is a frustrating diagnosis. Doctors describe it as a "functional" GI disorder, meaning that they can't find any physiological reason for the patient's suffering. None…
Can You Take Quercetin for Your Allergies?
Quercetin is a flavonol, an antioxidant compound many plants make. Scientists have been studying this compound since 1857. Within the last decade, they have identified a number of health benefits it c…
Magnesium Supplement for Irregular Heart Rhythm
Do you have an irregular heart rhythm? Even preventricular contractions (PVCs) that are not believed to be dangerous can be disconcerting. A person is justified in becoming alarmed over more serious r…
Do Omega-3 Supplements Improve Cognitive Perform…
Experts have been debating the health benefits of omega-3 fatty acids found in fish oil. Marine oils contain both eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). A new study in the America…
Will Vitamin B1 Keep Mosquitoes from Biting You?
Mosquitoes are persistent insects. They are everywhere, from Maine to Alaska. In fact, Alaska Tour & Travel states: "Half-jokingly known as the Alaska state bird, mosquitos are a fact of summertim…
Does Vitamin D Help Prevent Colorectal Cancer?
Colorectal cancer rates have been declining since the mid 1980s. That may be due in part because of regular screening through colonoscopy. However, scientists have previously found evidence that vitam…
How Much Vitamin C Do You Need?
Vitamin C, isolated and named more than 100 years ago, is crucial for good health. Even before it was discovered, vitamin C entered history. A lack of fresh fruits and vegetables on long sea voyages m…
Can You Really Control Blood Pressure With Dande…
High blood pressure is a very common condition that is usually treated with one or more medications. For the most part, people don't have a lot of trouble with diuretics like hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ…
Will Boswellia with Turmeric Ease Your Joint Pai…
Millions of us suffer with joint pain, and the older we get, the more likely we are to have achy knees or sore hips. It is little wonder, then, that there are many home remedies or dietary supplements…
Preventing Sunburn from the Inside Out
Fifty years ago, it was hard to avoid sunburn. Sunscreens were crude. The most effective, zinc oxide cream, went on ghostly white. It looked funny, though it did keep lifeguards from burning their nos…
Can Magnesium Help Your Restless Legs Syndrome?
"Restless legs" hardly sounds like medical terminology, but it describes a neurological condition first described in the late 17th century. People with the condition describe sensations similar to som…
Can Coenzyme Q10 Control Severe Muscle Cramps?
We are always delighted when we learn about a new way to treat a common problem. If it doesn't require a prescription, so much the better! That's why we were excited to hear from a reader who found th…
Do Vitamin Pills Block Absorption of Levothyroxi…
If you take medicine every day, have you checked to see whether you are taking it in the optimal way? Some pills interact with foods, beverages or even supplements. We recently received a question fro…
Probiotic Can Help Prevent C. Diff Due to Antibi…
Have you ever experienced a bad bout of diarrhea after finishing a course of antibiotics? This reaction is not uncommon. Now, researchers are beginning to recognize that sometimes this problem is caus…
Are There Natural Ways to Reduce Allergy Symptom…
While some people revel in the glory of spring flowers and new green leaves, others suffer. Allergy symptoms such as itchy eyes, nasal. congestion and fatigue or fuzzy brain can be troublesome. Are th…
Show 1255: Natural Ways to Keep Your Immune Resp…
In the middle of a pandemic, it’s important to know how to stay healthy. Sleep, stress management, handwashing, exercise and a healthful diet (cutting back on refined flour and sugar) are all crucia…
Do Dietary Supplements Help Prevent COVID-19 Inf…
Could dietary supplements affect susceptibility to COVID infection? That was the question investigators attempted to answer in an article published this week in BMJ Nutrition, Prevention & Health.…
If You Take Zinc, Will Your Feet Not Stink?
Do your feet smell bad? Many of the remedies for unpleasant foot odor are topical: soak the feet in a solution of baking soda, vinegar, Epsom salts or very strong tea. Any of those approaches may be q…
Are You Missing Magnesium Because of Meds?
When you go to see a doctor for a routine physical, you can expect basic tests. You will be weighed and have your blood pressure measured. The doctor or nurse practitioner will listen to your heart an…
Can Alpha-Lipoic Acid Restore Post-COVID-19 Smel…
One of the early symptoms of a COVID-19 infection is losing the senses of smell and taste. This problem is not unique to COVID-19; other viral infections have also caused a disruption of these senses.…
What Are the Pros and Cons of Resveratrol?
Over the last decade, a polyphenol compound with the tongue-twisting name resveratrol has garnered a great deal of attention. Organisms such as yeast, worms, fruit flies and fish live longer when they…
Does Vitamin D3 Improve Survival of COVID-19 Pat…
Ever since the start of the pandemic, doctors have been looking for ways to improve survival of COVID-19 patients. They have explored several different treatments with varying results. Now two studies…
Taking Vitamins to Ease Symptoms of COVID-19 Lon…
COVID-19 has had devastating effects, not just in the US but around the world. Not only have more than two million people perished globally, but a significant proportion of survivors have long-lasting…
Will High-Dose Vitamin D Fight COVID-19?
Vitamin D has a reputation as a compound that can help bones stay strong. However, research has shown that immune system cells such as macrophages or monocytes rely on vitamin D as well (Reviews in Me…