Conditions + Treatments

Dandelions are perennial plants that develop bright yellow flowers with fringed petals. They grow throughout North America and Europe. The flowers and young leaves are used for herbal teas and tonics and their roots are dried and ground into a powder for use in herbal medicine. Milk thistle is a perennial plant that produces purple flowers. The dried root is used for a number of disorders.

Sarcoptes scabiei is a parasitic mite that burrows under your skin causing scabies. Scabies is a contagious itchy skin rash that can occur anywhere on your skin. Scabies can spread quickly in congested areas such as nursing homes, hospitals, and within entire families. Scabies is so contagious that doctors advise entire families to undergo treatment for the skin condition.

Senior center services offer benefits to millions of elderly Americans. Involvement in senior center activities and services promotes health, independence, and a greater sense of inclusion and self worth in older adults. Yet in 2007, the Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services found that, “nationally less than 10 percent of older adults regularly participate in senior center activities.” Strategies to boost involvement in senior centers include eliminating barriers to participation, providing practical services and varied activities, advertising, and promoting leadership and volunteerism.

Protopic (tacrolimus), manufactured and marketed by Astellas Pharma, is a topical ointment used to treat of atopic dermatitis (eczema), the symptoms of which is dry, red, itchy skin that often develops scaly patches or blisters. After receiving numerous allegations of dangers posed by Protopic, the FDA in 2006 required its strongest “black box” safety label on Protopic packaging.

Cushing’s syndrome is a disorder caused by exposure to high levels of cortisol for an extended period of time, according to the National Institutes of Health. This disorder is also known as hypercortisolism and can cause obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes and discolored stretch marks. Cushing’s syndrome is a rare disorder that occurs in adults between the ages of 20 and 50, according to the National Institutes of Health. Treatment for Cushing’s Syndrome involves taking prescription cortisol-reducing medication, surgery or radiation therapy, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Cushing’s disease, also called Cushing’s syndrome, is a hormone disorder caused by exposure to high levels of cortisol. High cortisol can be caused by overproduction in the adrenal glands, or by taking oral corticosteroid medication. Cushing’s disease can cause changes in physical appearance, high blood pressure, osteoporosis and diabetes, and treatments can reduce the risk of developing those complications.

Oreganol, also called oil of oregano, is an essential oil that is extracted from remote, wild, pollution-free mountain Mediterranean oregano plants, and steam-distilled, cold-pressed and blended with extra-virgin olive oil as a carrier oil. It was introduced and marketed as Oreganol P73 by North American Herb and Spice, and its extensive medicinal properties and uses are extolled in two books by Dr. Cass Ingram, D.O.

Seeds from several species of cotton plants are harvested to make cottonseed oil. The oil is used in cooking, feed for animals and nonfood items, and as an ingredient in chips and snacks.

Gamma aminobutyric acid, or GABA, is one of a group of amino acids that works within the central nervous system and the digestive system. Abnormal GABA secretions can offset communications between the body’s central nervous system and digestive processes, resulting in constipation. Constipation relief occurs when GABA secretions and GABA receptors are functioning normally.

According to the Mayo Clinic, spinal cord injuries involve much of the body. The central nervous system is made up of the brain and the spinal cord, and controls the majority of body functions. The spinal cord runs from the brain to the waist, and carries messages from the brain to the rest of the body. The majority of spinal cord injuries are caused by car accidents, falls or sport injuries. The prognosis of recovery depends on the extent of the damage. But many treatments are available to minimize spinal cord damage and work toward gaining back body functions.