Many people today try natural products promoted to "boost or support the immune system." Some of the herbs and vitamins that are available today to best prepare us for the winter cold and flu season are discussed in this article today. Are you ready to explore the natural world for the best herbs and vitamins available today to combat winter illnesses?

Worms are many-celled animals unlike single-celled bacteria and protozoa which are the other main parasites of humans. Parasitic roundworms and tapeworms that cause disease in humans come from unsanitary living conditions and unhygienic preparation of food. They vary in size and shapes and in their life-cycles. The following types of roundworms are significant: Filariae - these cause elephantiasis, loa loa and river blindness. These worms are round, and can be transferred from person to person by a blood-sucking insect.

Wind is a build up of excessive gas in the stomach or intestines which can cause cramps and discomfort.

What to look for

· abdominal bloating and pain.

· belching.

· flatulence

Gas is a normal part of your digestive process, however it can still be painful and embarrassing. You can usually prevent and treat gas and gas pains without professional care, but if you have other symptoms, you should consult with a doctor to find out if you have a more serious health problem.

This is a highly infectious bacterial disease characterised by a strange ‘whoop’ sound upon coughing.

What to look for

· a runny nose, cough, mild fever and loss of appetite.

· conjunctivitis

· spasms of coughing - with the characteristic ‘whoop’ at the end.

· vomiting after coughing episodes.

If you are breathing through bronchial passages that are narrow or constricted due to a build up of mucus, you may experience difficulties and are likely to make whistling sounds which are a characteristic of wheezing. Because you are having difficulties in breathing, you may become worried and this makes your breathing worse.

What to look for

The appearance of warts depends on wear they appear on the body.

· On the palm of hands - hard, raised skin with conical projections. The colour is pink to brown.

· On the hands, knees or face - many in number, flat.

· On the face or neck - thin and elongated.

It is not known what causes vitiligo, although it is suspected that it is hereditary. Emotional stress may the onset of vitiligo.

In essence what happens in the body is that the cells stop producing melanin which gives the skin and hair its colour. There are several possibilities one is that this is an autoimmune disease in which the cells attack there own cells, perceiving them as foreign. The problem can cause distress and embarrassment and can affect people’s self esteem.

Nearsightedness, or myopia occurs when images are focused in front of the retina instead of on it as in normal vision. Consequently, objects in the distance appear blurred. You may find that you have to sit very close to blackboards to see what is written on them properly and you have difficulties seeing to the front in large auditoriums.

The opposite of nearsightedness is far-sightedness, or hyperopia. With this disorder, the lens of the eye focuses images behind the retina, making nearby objects appear blurry.

Astigmatism, happens when the eye lacks a single point of focus.

Varicose veins are usually fairly obvious and bulge out from under your skin. They usually affect your legs. Varicose veins can be superficial or deep. Superficial veins are visible and swollen. They are painful and can affect your circulation but usually harmless.

Deep varicose veins can be the cause of blood clots and inflammation as they form deeper within the leg.



Causes

People who suffer from varicose veins are thought to have defective valves in the leg. This is a result of too much blood pressure which makes the veins swell. The swollen veins then cause the valves not to seal properly. We rely on the valves to circulate the blood to the heart properly. If they do not function properly, the blood can’t keep flowing and starts to pool in the vein causing the swollen veins that are part of this condition.

The vagina is like a channel which connects the cervix to the outside area called the vulva. It generates mucus and secretions automatically. It does not need our help to clean it, the secretions flow down along with other dead cells and substances. Discharge is normal and occurs in most women. It is usually clear or white in colour.

Common problems which occur in the vagina region are yeast infections, vaginitis (inflammation), bacterial vaginosis, sexually transmitted diseases, abnormal discharge and vaginal infections.

Bacterial vaginosis commonly occurs in the reproductive years