Vitamins and Supplements Medical Reference

Kava kava has been used in traditional Pacific Island medicine and ceremonies for hundreds of years. WebMD explains what conditions it treats, and whether it's safe.

Check NCI's list of cancer clinical trials for cancer CAM clinical trials on coenzyme Q10 that are actively enrolling patients. General information about clinical trials is available from the NCI Web site.

When considering complementary and alternative therapies, patients should ask their health care provider the following questions: What side effects can be expected?What are the risks associated with this therapy?Do the known benefits outweigh the risks?What benefits can be expected from this therapy?Will the therapy interfere with conventional treatment?Is this therapy part of a clinical trial?If so, who is sponsoring the trial?Will the therapy be covered by health insurance?

It is important that the same rigorous scientific evaluation used to assess conventional approaches be used to evaluate CAM therapies. The National Cancer Institute (NCI) and the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) are sponsoring a number of clinical trials (research studies) at medical centers to evaluate CAM therapies for cancer. Conventional approaches to cancer treatment have generally been studied for safety and effectiveness through a rigorous scientific process that includes clinical trials with large numbers of patients. Less is known about the safety and effectiveness of complementary and alternative methods. Few CAM therapies have undergone rigorous evaluation. A small number of CAM therapies originally considered to be purely alternative approaches are finding a place in cancer treatment—not as cures, but as complementary therapies that may help patients feel better and recover faster. One example is acupuncture. According to a panel of

What is coenzyme Q10?Coenzyme Q 10 is a compound that is made naturally in the body. The Q and the 10 in coenzyme Q10 refer to the groups of chemicals that make up the coenzyme. Coenzyme Q10 is also known by these other names:CoQ10.Q10.Vitamin Q10.Ubiquinone.Ubidecarenone. A coenzyme helps an enzyme do its job. An enzyme is a protein that speeds up the rate at which natural chemical reactions take place in cells of the body. The body's cells use coenzyme Q10 to make energy needed for the cells to grow and stay healthy. The body also uses coenzyme Q10 as an antioxidant. An antioxidant is a substance that protects cells from chemicals called free radicals. Free radicals can damage DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid). Genes, which are pieces of DNA, tell the cells how to work in the body and when to grow and divide. Damage to DNA has been linked to some kinds of cancer. By protecting cells against free radicals, antioxidants help protect the body against cancer.Coenzyme Q10 is found in most body

The PDQ cancer information summaries are reviewed regularly and updated as new information becomes available. This section describes the latest changes made to this summary as of the date above.Editorial changes were made to this summary.

About PDQPhysician Data Query (PDQ) is the National Cancer Institute's (NCI's) comprehensive cancer information database. The PDQ database contains summaries of the latest published information on cancer prevention, detection, genetics, treatment, supportive care, and complementary and alternative medicine. Most summaries come in two versions. The health professional versions have detailed information written in technical language. The patient versions are written in easy-to-understand, nontechnical language. Both versions have cancer information that is accurate and up to date and most versions are also available in Spanish.PDQ is a service of the NCI. The NCI is part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). NIH is the federal government's center of biomedical research. The PDQ summaries are based on an independent review of the medical literature. They are not policy statements of the NCI or the NIH.Purpose of This SummaryThis PDQ cancer information summary has current

This information is produced and provided by the National Cancer Institute (NCI). The information in this topic may have changed since it was written. For the most current information, contact the National Cancer Institute via the Internet web site at http://cancer.gov or call 1-800-4-CANCER.Coenzyme Q10

Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM)—also referred to as integrative medicine—includes a broad range of healing philosophies, approaches, and therapies. A therapy is generally called complementary when it is used in addition to conventional treatments; it is often called alternative when it is used instead of conventional treatment. (Conventional treatments are those that are widely accepted and practiced by the mainstream medical community.) Depending on how they are used, some therapies can be considered either complementary or alternative. Complementary and alternative therapies are used in an effort to prevent illness, reduce stress, prevent or reduce side effects and symptoms, or control or cure disease. Unlike conventional treatments for cancer, complementary and alternative therapies are often not covered by insurance companies. Patients should check with their insurance provider to find out about coverage for complementary and alternative therapies. Cancer patients

National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) facilitates research and evaluation of complementary and alternative practices, and provides information about a variety of approaches to health professionals and the public.NCCAM ClearinghousePost Office Box 7923 Gaithersburg, MD 20898–7923Telephone: 1–888–644–6226 (toll free) 301–519–3153 (for International callers)TTY (for deaf and hard of hearing callers): 1–866–464–3615Fax: 1–866–464–3616E-mail: info@nccam.nih.gov Web site: http://nccam.nih.govCAM on PubMedNCCAM and the NIH National Library of Medicine (NLM) jointly developed CAM on PubMed, a free and easy-to-use search tool for finding CAM-related journal citations. As a subset of the NLM's PubMed bibliographic database, CAM on PubMed features more than 230,000 references and abstracts for CAM-related articles from

ByHealthwise StaffPrimary Medical ReviewerE. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal MedicineSpecialist Medical ReviewerTheresa O'Young, PharmD - Clinical PharmacyCurrent as ofSeptember 9, 2014

AcetaminophenAntihistaminesAspirinCancer PainDecongestantsInfluenza (Seasonal Flu)Insect Bites and Stings and Spider BitesNonprescription Medicines and ProductsNonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs)Relieving A CoughSore Throat and Other Throat ProblemsTendon Injury (Tendinopathy)Tick Bites

A list of topics related to Minerals: Their Functions and Sources.

Know the benefits and side effects of a medicine before taking it. Use medicines only if nondrug approaches are not working.Follow these over-the-counter medicine precautions.Carefully read and follow all directions on the medicine bottle and box. Or let your doctor know why you think you should take the medicine in a different way.Take the minimum effective dose. When using a liquid drug, use the measuring device that comes with the drug.Call your doctor if you think you are having a problem with your medicine. If you have been told to avoid a medicine, call your doctor before you take it.Do not take a medicine if you have had an allergic reaction to it in the past.If you are or could be pregnant, call your doctor before taking any medicine.Keep a list of all your medicines(What is a PDF document?), including over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and supplements. And share the list with your doctor.Here are some safety tips about giving children medicines:Do not give aspirin to

A list of contributors to the topic on Vitamins: Their Functions and Sources.

Both prescription and nonprescription medicines, as well as dietary supplements, can cause bloating and gas as side effects. Examples include:Narcotic pain medicines.Medicines that are used to treat diarrhea, such as Imodium, Kaopectate, and Lomotil.Fiber supplements that contain psyllium, such as Fiberall or Metamucil. These supplements often cause a feeling of bloating and gas, especially if ...

The tables below list the vitamins,what they do in the body (their functions),and their sources in food. Water-soluble vitamins Water-soluble vitamins travel freely through the body,and excess amounts usually are excreted by the kidneys. The body needs water-soluble vitamins in frequent,small doses. These vitamins are not as likely as fat-soluble vitamins to reach toxic levels. But ...

The body needs many minerals; these are called essential minerals. Essential minerals are sometimes divided up into major minerals (macrominerals) and trace minerals (microminerals). These two groups of minerals are equally important,but trace minerals are needed in smaller amounts than major minerals. The amounts needed in the body are not an indication of their importance. A balanced diet ...

What are glucosamine and chondroitin?Glucosamine and chondroitin are part of normal cartilage. Cartilage acts as a cushion between the bones in a joint. Glucosamine, also called chitosamine, is a natural substance that is found in the covering of shellfish. It is available in different forms, including glucosamine hydrochloride, N - acetyl - glucosamine (NAG), and glucosamine sulfate, which is a .

What is Chinese medicine?Chinese medicine is a philosophy of medicine partly based on the idea that an energy, called qi (pronounced "chee"), flows along pathways in the body called meridians. In this belief, if the flow of qi along these meridians is blocked or unbalanced, illness can occur. In China, doctors have practiced Chinese medicine for thousands of years, and it is gaining in popularity

Coenzyme Q 10 is a compound that is made naturally in the body. The body uses it for cell growth and to protect cells from damage that could lead to cancer (see Question 1). Animal studies have shown that coenzyme Q 10 helps the immune system work better and makes the body better able to resist certain infections and types of cancer (see Question 5). Clinical trials have shown that coenzyme Q ...

What is arnica? Arnica,also called Arnica montana,is a plant that is native to the mountainous regions of Europe and southern Russia. The flowers and leaves of this plant have many traditional medicinal uses. Arnica is available as an ointment or gel and can be found in most health food stores. What is it used for? People use arnica as a cream or gel for soothing muscle aches and ...

Iron Deficiency Anemia

What is iron toxicity?Iron toxicity occurs when the body has too much iron. The most common cause of iron toxicity is accidental overdose of iron pills.How can you prevent it?In childrenKeep iron pills and all medicines out of the reach of children. Iron pills often attract children because they look like candy.If your child is taking iron pills, follow your doctor's instructions on how much to take and for how long and whether your child needs any testing for iron levels. If you miss giving a pill on time, don't give your child a double dose of iron. In adultsIf you think you have anemia, don't try to treat yourself. Don't take iron pills on your own without seeing your doctor first. If you take iron pills without talking with your doctor first, the pills may cause you to have too much iron in your blood, or even iron toxicity.If you are taking iron pills, follow your doctor's instructions on how much to take and for how long. If you miss taking a pill on time, don't take a double

ByHealthwise StaffPrimary Medical ReviewerE. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal MedicineSpecialist Medical ReviewerBrian Leber, MDCM, FRCPC - HematologyLast RevisedNovember 27, 2012