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 Holistic Health Encyclopedia
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Kava Kava
Kava Kava is the non-dependant, all-natural, mild sedative that relaxes the body without harmful side effects. It helps reduce anxiety, restlessness and stress.
Taken at night, Kava Kava alleviates sleeplessness and insomnia. And it relaxes your muscles, effectively reducing the pain caused by muscle cramping and spasms.
In addition, Kava Kava helps improve circulation, mental alertness, memory and concentration. It also calms nervousness, suppresses the appetite and alleviates menstrual cramping.
(Avoid Kava Kava if you are pregnant or nursing, operating machinery, mixing with alcohol or taking anti-depressants. Long term use may cause liver damage.)
Keloids
An overgrowth of fibrous tissue (scar) on the skin. Keloids can appear anywhere on the skin, but most commonly appear on the breastbone, upper back and shoulder. They usually arise in an area of injury (such as after a burn or from severe acne), but sometimes arise from a very minor scratch. Keloids are more frequent in black people than in white people.
Keloids occur due to a defective or overactive healing process in which an excess of collagen forms at the site of a healing scar. Underlying cause is unknown.
Signs and Symptoms
- Firm, raised, hard scars that are slightly pink.
- Scars may itch, cause pain, or are tender to the touch.
- Scars may continue to grow and develop claw-like projections over a period of time.
Kelp
Kelp, commonly referred to as seaweed, grows along the coastlines. It is solely dependant upon receiving its nutrients from the ocean and can grow up to two feet in one day. Kelp is an abundant source of natural vitamins, minerals and some amino acids.
Kelp is a nutritional source that is used to promote healthy glandular functions, focusing especially on the thyroid. By regulating the thyroid, kelp helps stimulate and balance the metabolism. The large amounts of iodine found in kelp are important in the treatment of an under-active thyroid. Consequently, kelp may contribute to weight loss if the weight gain is directly related to thyroid disorders.
Containing align, a fiber that absorbs toxins and nutrients from the digestive system, kelp helps improve digestion, stimulate kidney function, increase circulation and purify the blood.
Kelp has also been known to treat inflamed joints and tissues caused by arthritis and rheumatism. Furthermore, kelp enhances the immune system and eliminates the negative effects that stress may have on the body.
(Due to its high iodine content, Kelp should be used sparingly if a thyroid condition exists and consult your health care professional.)
Keratin
Keratinization
Maturation process of the keratinocyte (skin cell).
Keratinocyte
Cells that make up the largest part of the skin.
Ketosis
A state that is achieved with a high-protein, low-carbohydrate diet. The high protein diets of our early Type O ancestors forced the burning of fat for energy and the production of ketones—a sign of rapid metabolic activity. The state of ketosis allowed early humans to maintain high energy, metabolic efficiency, and physical strength—all qualities needed for hunting game.
Kidney
one of a pair of vertebrate organs situated in the body cavity near the spinal column that excrete waste products of metabolism, in man are bean-shaped organs about 4-1/2 inches long lying behind the peritoneum in a mass of fatty tissue, and consist chiefly of nephrons by which urine is secreted, collected, and discharged into a main cavity whence it is conveyed by the ureter to the bladder.
Kidney Stone
A stone that forms in the collecting system of the kidney.
Kinase
Most second messengers act by switching on a protein kinase that in turn regulates the activity of other proteins by covalently tagging them with phosphates at specific amino-acid residues. Kinase signalling is normally terminated by a protein phosphatase, that snips off the phosphate groups.
In tubules, CAP2b stimulated cGMP signalling is mediated by cGMP-dependent protein kinases.
Kinesiology
See Applied Kinesiology
Klamath Weed
See St. John's Wort
Korean Ginseng
See Panax Ginseng
Krebs Cycle
Cell respiration
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