Lactulose is a synthetic sugar used as a prescription laxative and, in a different role, to lower blood ammonia in people with liver disease. It works because your small intestine cannot absorb it. Instead, it travels intact to the colon, where gut bacteria break it down and change how the bowel behaves. That single fact … Read more

Rhodiola rosea is an adaptogenic herb marketed for stress, fatigue, and athletic performance. Some supplement sellers also claim it raises testosterone. The evidence for that specific claim is thin. A small number of human studies have looked at rhodiola and testosterone, and the results do not consistently show a meaningful increase in healthy men. Most … Read more

Co-sleeping means sharing a sleep surface or sleep space with your baby. The Safe Sleep Seven is a set of seven conditions developed by breastfeeding and sleep researchers to describe when bed-sharing is considered lower risk. It is not a guarantee of safety, and it does not replace the safe sleep guidance from pediatric authorities, … Read more

Titers are blood tests that measure antibodies in your blood. You can get them done at a doctor’s office, a laboratory draw site, some pharmacies, and a growing number of public health clinics. The catch is that not every lab offers every type of titer, and whether your insurance pays depends entirely on why you … Read more

Thirty-seven weeks equals about 8.5 months of pregnancy. Pregnancy months are counted in different ways, and that is why the number can feel confusing. If you divide 37 weeks by the average 4.3 weeks in a month, you get roughly 8.6 months. Most pregnancy calendars, though, place 37 weeks at the start of the ninth … Read more

A THC pen is a battery-powered device that heats a concentrated cannabis oil and turns it into vapor you inhale. The oil is far more potent than the plant material people smoke, and the vapor delivers THC to the brain within seconds to minutes. The main risks are impaired driving and coordination, short-term memory problems, … Read more

If you have hemorrhoids, the single most useful thing you can do is keep your stool soft and your bowel movements regular. That means enough fiber and fluid, and not straining or sitting on the toilet for long stretches. Fiber is the best-studied dietary approach, and it helps most people with mild symptoms. For pain … Read more

Ovulation happens once per cycle, usually about midway through, and it leaves behind several physical clues. The most reliable body signs are a rise in basal body temperature that stays up for days, a change in cervical mucus from thick to clear and slippery, and a shift in the position and feel of the cervix. … Read more

Hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) is a common viral illness that clears up on its own in most people within 7 to 10 days. There is no antiviral treatment that cures it and no medication that shortens the illness. What you can do is manage the symptoms — treat fever and pain with over-the-counter … Read more

Your liver already does the work. It filters your blood, breaks down fats, stores vitamins and minerals, and processes drugs and toxins — all without you thinking about it. The most effective way to help it function better naturally is to remove the burdens that damage it: excess alcohol, excess body weight, and unnecessary medications … Read more