Metabolic syndrome consists of several conditions, or components, that occur together, including high blood pressure, elevated cholesterol and/or or triglyceride levels, insulin resistance, and excess body fat around the waist. Any and all of these conditions can increase the risk of diabetes, heart disease and stroke. If you have polycystic ovary syndrome, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease or sleep apnea, you have an increased risk of developing metabolic syndrome. Lifestyle plays an important role in preventing the conditions that cause metabolic syndrome. Regular exercise, maintaining a healthy weight, and adhering to a diet rich in vegetables, fruits, lean protein and whole grains is key.
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common endocrine disorder to affect women of childbearing age that is characterized by high levels of androgens (hyperandrogenism) and insulin resistance. Typical symptoms include increased body hair, acne, hair loss, unexplained weight gain, and infrequent or absent menstruation leading to infertility. Conventional therapies often present unwanted side effects. Oral contraceptive pills, for example, can increase heart rate, while Metformin may cause abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, lactic acidosis, metallic taste and vitamin B-12 deficiency. Chamomile (Matricaria recutita) is among the growing list of natural therapies used to treat the condit
Ginkgo biloba is a living fossil, meaning it is the oldest of tree species that dates back 270 million years and is without any living relatives. Native to China, Japan and the Koreas, Ginkgo is recognized by its fan-shaped leaves and also has the distinction of being the only plant to survive the Chernobyl disaster of 1986. As a medicinal herb, Ginkgo has been used for centuries to address a variety of conditions ranging from diabetes and arthritis to cognitive decline. More recently, researchers at Emory University have found that Ginkgo biloba seed extracts demonstrate antibacterial activity against several strains of bacteria responsible for acne, eczema, psoriasis and dermatitis. Base
Aconite (Acotinum napellus), also known as monkshood, wolfsbane, leopard's bane, devil's helmet, and various other common names, is a meadow flower and member of the buttercup family original to the mountainous regions of the northern hemisphere. Its common name of monkshood is a reference to the flower sepals, which resemble tiny hoods much like the cowls once worn by medieval monks. The plant is the source of aconitine, a highly potent neurotoxin that produces a burning, numbing sensation on the skin and, if taken internally, in the gastrointestinal tract. Just 20 ml of aconite tincture is enough to cause death within a few hours, either from respiratory failure or cardiac arrest. The pois
