• Main Page
• Age on other Planets
• Aliens
• American Flag
• Annuals
• Avoiding Scams
• Awareness Ribbons
• Baileys Liqueur
• Bananas
• Banana Tree, Grand Nain
• Banana Tree, Ice Cream
• Banana Tree, Zebrina Rojo
• Beekeeping
• Bleach
• Boogaloo
• Bookmarks
• Boot Anatomy
• Boot Fit Guide - Cowboy
• Boot Glossary
• Boot Leathers
• Boot Makers
• Boot Retailers
• Boot Styles - Western
• Boot Toes & Heels - Western
• Boot Toes & Heels - Work
• Bullying
• Cats
• Chillicothe Businesses
• Christmas Tree
• Ciroc Vodka
• Coffee Pods
• Color Codes Chart
• Consumer Resources
• Consumer Resources - Elders
• Country Stars
• Cowboy Hats
• Cowboy Hat Etiquette
• Cowboy Hat Sizing
• Cowboy Sites
• Credit Score Checkers
• Credit Scores
• Disaronno Amaretto
• Donation
• Drug Test
• Eye Teasers
• Fonts
• Foods To Regrow
• Free For All Links
• Friend
• Funny Things
• Fun Stuff
• Giving
• Growing Blueberries
• Halloween
• Halloween Treats
• Health Pages
• Hello!!
• Home Bar
• Horse Sites
• House Plants
• Hunger Facts
• Interesting Facts
• Kinds of Tea
• Logger vs Lineman
• Lucky Bamboo
• Macaroni!!
• Missouri
• Missouri Prisons
• National Foundations
• Never Forget
• New Page Soon
• One Little Rose
• Orchid Growing
• Orchid Sources
• PayPal.Me
• Perennials
• Phobias A-Z
• Plant Care
• Plant Zone Map
• Propagating Plants
• Ragtime Music
• Recipes I like
• Roses
• Sadie & Beethoven
• Scam Calls
• Smile
• Speed Test
• Spices You Need
• Spices I Have
• Steel Toe vs. Comp. Toe
• Superstitions
• Symbols
• Tequila Rose
• The Ten Commandments
• Top Alcohol
• Top Animated Movies
• Top Comedy Movies
• Top Expensive Movies
• Top Modern Westerns
• Top 100 Westerns
• Toyota Yaris 2008
• Toyota Yaris 2012
• Tree, Calamondin Orange
• Tree, Meyer Lemon
• Tree, Persian Lime
• US Bill of Rights
• US Constitution
• US Declaration of Independence
• UV Vodka
• Weight on other Planets
• Wicca Pages
• Wine Clubs
• Wines
• Wines - Missouri

Needed to read PDF's

Adobe Reader

Awareness Ribbons

History Of Awareness Ribbons

The beginning of awareness ribbons may be traced to the 1970s, when they were popular as a sign of support and unity. The yellow ribbon rose to prominence during the Iranian Hostage Crisis as a symbol of support for the American captives. It was particularly tied around trees and poles. This led to a greater understanding of the ribbon's potency as a visual representation. The red ribbon gained widespread acceptance as an emblem of AIDS awareness in 1991, increasing public awareness of the disease and showing support for people who are affected by it. Since then, there have been many different colors of awareness ribbons, each of which stands for a different condition or cause, from pink for breast cancer to purple for Alzheimer's illness. These ribbons have broken down geographical and linguistic boundaries, bringing people together in their united commitment to promoting change and increasing awareness.

The history of awareness ribbons is not clear, but they take roots from the practices followed in medieval times when ladies gave knights their token of affection and love. A few people believe that ribbons first gained popularity in the United States during the Civil War. Women wore yellow ribbons to express gratitude for loved ones on the battlefield.

While there is little evidence regarding the Civil War theory, it was the first time that yellow ribbons were used in the United States. The first time in November 1979, Penney Laingen tied a yellow ribbon on a tree outside her house in support of Ambassador Bruce Laingen, her husband who had been taken hostage by Iranian revolutionaries when the American embassy was seized in Tehran. Her inspiration for this gesture was the old song, "Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree."

Laingen and other hostages were then released in January 1981, but the awareness ribbons were meant to stay. The yellow ribbons are worn as a support for the soldiers at war in the United States. However, it may have different meanings in other parts of the world.

How to Show Awareness

Of course, you can wear a ribbon itself—but there are many more ways to show your support beyond a simple ribbon. For example, let’s take breast cancer, one of the most well-known health awareness causes. You can buy breast cancer awareness shirts and even compression socks, clogs and nursing bags. Not every cause, especially less well-known diseases, will have as many cause-specific options available.

Since many awareness campaigns share the same color or have multiple alternate colors (as you’ll notice from the list below), you might want to be ready to explain what specific cause you’re advocating for. Below, is a break down the many types of awareness ribbons by color family: red, yellow, blue, orange, green, purple, neutrals, color combinations and patterns.

Symbolism and Effect of Awareness Ribbons

The significance and influence of awareness ribbons on both people and society at large are deep. These modest yet potent symbols convey a wealth of meaning by standing for compassion, solidarity, and the desire for good change. People can indicate their support for a particular cause, such as a health problem, social injustice, or humanitarian disaster, by wearing or displaying an awareness ribbon. These ribbons' prominence acts as a conversation starter, igniting debate and spreading awareness among those who are directly affected and the general public. Individuals are reminded that they are not alone in their problems and that there is a community of support around them when wearing awareness ribbons, which foster a sense of solidarity and belonging.

Additionally, these ribbons have the ability to spur people to action, encouraging them to support the cause by volunteering, raising money, or speaking up for legislative changes. In the end, awareness ribbons function as potent symbols that cut across linguistic and cultural boundaries, promoting empathy and igniting constructive social change.

The Role of Awareness Ribbons in Healthcare

In the healthcare sector, the use of colored ribbons helps in creating public awareness to disability, medical conditions, health and other issues. An awareness ribbon is simply a short piece of colored ribbon that is folded in a loop. These ribbons are adorned by people from all over the globe such as United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, etc. as a support for the issue or cause,

While you may have seen an awareness ribbon, you may not be aware of how many they are, the different colors and patterns they represent. Over the passage of time, new awareness ribbons are being created each day in support of hundreds of causes. If you intend to support a cause by adorning an awareness ribbon, this guide will help.

You will encounter a variety of awareness ribbons in your day-to-day encounters, where each means something different from the other. For instance, green is in support for an environmental cause, red is for coronary diseases, blue is for bullying awareness, etc. Regardless of the color of the ribbon, the idea remains the same.

These ribbons are available in different forms. They can found as car magnets that are put on back bumpers, notebook stickers, or pins that we can attach to our clothes. Regardless of where you place them, you give an impression that you stand for a cause. Moreover, wearing these ribbons also encourages other to support the cause. Thereby, these ribbons promote a bigger mission.

I have sorted the awareness ribbons alphabetical by the cause each represents. With new movements increasing, awareness ribbons are also increasingly rapidly.

One Final Note..

All in all, awareness ribbons have demonstrated to be potent symbols of compassion, solidarity, and optimism in our world. These little, vibrant ribbon loops have sparked a great deal of change by drawing attention to pressing issues and inspiring vital dialogue. Awareness ribbons serve as a constant reminder of the strength that comes from unity and the effectiveness of group action, whether we wear them on our lapels, tie them around trees, or just communicate their significance through social media.

Understanding Awareness & Cancer Ribbons Colors

Are you curious about the meaning behind different ribbon colors?  Ribbon colors have become powerful symbols of awareness and support for various illnesses and causes.  Each color represents a specific cause, illness or type of cancer.  Wearing a color cancer ribbon is a great way to show solidarity with those affected and help spread awareness for the cause.  Here's a list of ribbons and what each color represents.

Colors

• Amber: Appendix Cancer
• Burgundy: Adhesions, Adults with Disabilities, Antiphospholipid Antibody Syndrome, AV Malformation, Brain Aneurysm, Cesarean Section, Cystic Hygroma, Disabled Adults, Factor V Leiden, Headaches, Hemangioma and Vascular Malformation, Hereditary Hemochromatosis, Hospice Care, Hughes Syndrome, Lymphatic Malformation, Meningitis, Meningococcal Meningitis, Migraine, Multiple Myeloma, PHACES, Post-Polio Syndrome, Sickle Cell Anemia, Sturge-Weber Syndrome, Thrombophilia and Williams Syndrome
• Cranberry: Fibromyalgia
• Peach: Endometrial Cancer, Uterine Cancer, Vaginal Cancer
• Pink: Breast Cancer, Birth Parents, Nursing Mothers
• Red: AIDS/HIV, Aplastic Anemia, Apert Syndrome, Blood Cancers and Disorders, Bronchiolitis Obliterans (BOS), Burn Victims, Cardiovascular Disease, Congenital Heart Defects, Congenital Heart Disease, Congestive Heart Failure, Courage and Inspiration, DARE, Diamond Blackfan Anemia, Driving under the Influence, Dysautonomia, Epidermolysis Bullosa, Evans Syndrome, Factor XI Deficiency, Heart Disease, Hemophilia, High Blood Pressure, Huffing, Hypertension, Inhalant Abuse, Long Q-T Syndrome, Love, Lymphoma, MADD, Marfan Syndrome, Poland Syndrome, Project Red Flag, Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy, Sniffing Abuse, Stroke, Substance Abuse, Supraventricular Tachycardia, Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura, Tuberculosis, Von Willebrand's Disease, Wegener's Granulomatosis, Wolf-Parkinson-White
• Yellow: Adenosarcoma, Adoptive Parents, Amber Alert, Bladder Cancer, Canadian Cancer Society, Carbon Monoxide Poisoning, Complementary/Alternative Medicine, Endometriosis, Equality, Ewing’s Sarcoma, Gulf War, Hydrocephalus, Liver Cancer, Liver Disease, Missing Children, Myxoid Liposarcoma, Osteosarcoma, Obesity, POW/MIA, Remembrance, Sarcoma, Spina Bifida, Suicide Awareness, Troop or Military Support
• Blue: Alopecia, Anal Cancer (alternate), Ankylosing Spondylitis, Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS), Anti-Bullying, Apraxia, Arthritis, Brachial Plexus Injuries, Child Abuse, Children’s Healthy Weight, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Colitis, Colon Cancer, Colorectal Cancer, Crime Victims’ Rights, Crohn’s Disease, Cru du Chat Syndrome, Drowning Awareness, Dysautonomia, Dystonia, Drunk Driving, Education, Epstein-Barr Virus, Erb’s Palsy, Familial Polyposis, Free Speech, Foster Care Awareness, Guillain Barre Syndrome, Hydrocephalus (U.S.), Huntington’s Disease, Hurricanes, Histiocytosis, Ichthyosis, Interstitial Cystitis, Juvenile Dermatomyositis, Juvenile Arthritis, Krabbe Disease, Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis, Leukodystrophies, ME/CFIDS, Myositis, Police Lost in Line of Duty, Prevent School Violence, Osteogenesis Imperfecta (IO), Pompe Disease (also denim blue), Restless Legs Syndrome, Steven Johnson Syndrome, Teens against Smoking, Transverse Myelitis, Usher’s Syndrome, Victim’s Rights, Victims of Hurricane Katrina, Save the Music, Water Accidents, Water Quality, Water Safety, West Nile Virus
• Light Blue: Addison’s Disease, Behcet’s Disease, Chronic Illness, Cushing Syndrome, DiGeorge Sequence, Graves’ Disease, Hyperaldosteronism, Hydrocephalus, Klinefelter’s Syndrome, Lymphedema, Men's Health, Pro Choice, Prostate Cancer, Scleroderma, Shprintzen Syndrome, Spay or Neuter Pets, Thyroid Disease, Trisomy 18, Velo-Cardio-Facial Syndrome
• Navy Blue: Alopecia, ARDS, Arthritis, Child Abuse, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Colitis, Colon Cancer, Colorectal Cancer, Crime Victims’ Rights, Crohn’s Disease, Drowning, Education, Epstein-Barr Virus, Erb’s Palsy, Free Speech, Guillain Barre Syndrome, Huntington’s Disease, Hurricane Katrina, Death of Police Officer on Duty, Mastocytosis, Rectal Cancer, Restless Legs Syndrome, Teens against Smoking, Victims’ Rights, Water Accidents, Water Quality and Water Safety
• Pale Blue: Achalasia Disease
• Periwinkle: Acid Reflux, Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa, Eating Disorders, Eosinophilic Disorders, Esophageal Cancer, Gastric Cancer, Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD), Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), Pulmonary Hypertension, Small Intestine Cancer, Stomach Cancer
• Robin’s Egg Blue: Pierre Robin Syndrome
• Royal Blue: Child Abuse Awareness, Transverse Myelitis, Syringomyelia
• Teal: Agoraphobia, Anxiety Disorder, Batten Disease, Cervical Cancer, Chiari Malformation, Dissociative Identity Disorder, Ectodermal Dysphasia, Food Allergies, Fragile X Syndrome, Hoarding, Marker X Syndrome, Martin-Bell Syndrome, Myasthenia Gravis, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Ovarian Cancer, Panic Disorder, Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD), Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Progressive Supranuclear Palsy, Rape, Sexual Assault, Substance Abuse, Tourette Syndrome, Trigeminal Neuralgia (TN), Tsunami Victims, Uterine Cancer, Vulvar Cancer
• Turquoise: Addiction Recovery, Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia (CDH), Interstitial Cystitis, Native American Reparation, Renal Cell Carcinoma
• Orange: Agent Orange, Cultural Diversity, Hunger, Leukemia, Lupus, Melanoma, Kidney Cancer (Renal Cell Carcinoma), Motorcycle Safety, Multiple Sclerosis (MS), Racial Tolerance, Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy Syndrome, Self-Injury, Sensory Processing Disorder, Spinal Cancer, Prader-Willi Syndrome
• Green: Adrenal Cancer, Bipolar Disorder, Bone Marrow Donation, Bronchiolitis Obliterans (BOS), Cerebral Palsy, Childhood Depression, Dwarfism Awareness, Depression, Environment, Eye Injury Prevention, Fanconi’s Syndrome, Fibrodysplasia Ossificans Progressiva, Freedom, Gastroparesis, Glaucoma, Growth and Rebuilding, Kidney Cancer and Disease, Kidney Donation, Leukemia, Literacy, Living Organ Donation, Manic Depression, Mental Health, Mental Illness (Bipolar), Mental Retardation, Missing Children Mitochondrial Disease, Nephrotic Syndrome, Neural Tube Defects, Neurofibromatosis, Organ Donation, Organ Transplant, Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis, Pruned Belly Syndrome, Safe Driving, Pedestrian Safety, Save Darfur, Spinal Cord Injury and Research, Stem Cell Donor and Research, Tissue Donation, Traumatic Brain Injury, Von Hippel Lindau, Worker Safety
• Jade: Hepatitis B, Liver Cancer
• Light Green: Celiac Disease, Chronic Pelvic Pain, Human Papilloma Virus, Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STD)
• Lime Green: Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, Gastroschisis, Lyme Disease, Lymphoma, Muscular Dystrophy, Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma (Lymph Node Cancer), Sandhoff Disease, Spinal Cord Injuries
• Mint Green: Autosomal Recessive Polycystic Kidney Disease, Congenital Hepatic Fibrosis, Genetic Disorders, Ivemark Syndrome
• Lavender: Cancer (unspecified), Caregiver Appreciation, Epilepsy, Foster Care, Gynecological Cancer, Hypokalemic Periodic Paralysis, Infantile Spasms, Rett Syndrome
• Orchid: Testicular Cancer
• Purple: ADD, ADHD, Alzheimer’s, Animal Abuse, Anti-Violence, Arnold Chiari Malformation, Chronic Pain, Colitis, Crohn’s Disease, Cystic Fibrosis, Domestic Violence, Epilepsy, Fibromyalgia, Fibromyalgia in Men, GI Cancer (Intestinal), Harmony, Homelessness, Leiomyosarcoma, Lupus, Macular Degeneration, Mesh Survivor, Migraines (1st choice: alternate burgundy), Mucolipidosis, Neuropathy Awareness, No Unattended Kids in Cars, Pancreatic Cancer, Pancreatitis (Chronic), Religious Tolerance, Rett Syndrome, Sarcoidosis, Sjogren’s Syndrome, Thymoma Cancer, Thyroid Cancer, Victims of 9/11
• Violet Ribbon: Hodgkin’s Disease, Testicular Cancer
• Black: Accidents, Amish Support, Anti-Terrorism, Gang Prevention, Gun Control, Melanoma, Mourning, Narcolepsy, POW/MIA, Primary Biliary Cirrhosis, Sleep Apnea, Sleep Disorders, Students for Gun Control, Trauma
• Brown: Anti-Tobacco, Colon Cancer, Colorectal Cancer, Familia Polyposis, Tobacco Awareness
• Copper: Herpes Simplex Virus
• Cream: Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD), Paralysis, Spinal Cord Injuries, Spinal Disorders, Spinal Muscular Atrophy
• Gold: Alveolar Rhabdomyosarcoma, Childhood Cancer, COPD, Embryonal Rhabdomyosarcoma, Neuroblastoma, Osteosarcoma
• Grey: Allergies, Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency, Aphasia, Asthma, Brain Cancer, Brain Tumors, Diabetes, Mental Illness (Borderline Personality Disorder)
• Pearl: Emphysema, Lung Cancer, Lung Disease, Mesothelioma, Multiple Sclerosis, Waldenstrom's Macroglobulinemia
  Silver: Brain Disabilities, Brain Disorders, Campaign for the Brain, Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT), Disabled Children, Dyslexia, Elderly Abuse, Encephalitis, Niemann-Pick, Parkinson’s Disease, Schizophrenia, Sciatic Pain, VACTERL, Young Onset Parkinson’s Association (YOPA)
• White: Adoptee, Adoption, Anti-Child Pornography, Anti-Pornography, Anti-War, Blindness, Bone Cancer, Bone Disease, Child Exploitation, Child Sexual Abuse/Assault, Community Support, Congenital Cataracts, Elderly Affairs, Hernia, Holocaust Remembrance, Hope and Support, Innocence, Multiple Hereditary Exostoses, Molestation Survivor, Online Sexual Predator Awareness and Internet Safety, Osteoporosis, Peace, Postpartum Depression, Retinoblastoma, Right to Life, Safe Motherhood, Salvation Army, Scoliosis, Stalking, Student Sexual Abuse, Teen Pregnancy Prevention, Victims of Terrorism

Color Combinations

• Black and Blue: loss of a brother, loss of a male child, mourning a brother, mourning a son
• Black and Pink: loss of a sister, loss of a female child, mourning a sister, mourning a daughter
• Black and Red: murder victims, murdered children, loss of a firefighter on duty
• Black and White: Anti-Racism, Carcinoid Cancer, Diversity, Gifted Education, Transitions, Vaccine Awareness
• Blue and Green: Anal Cancer, Pseudotumor Cerebri, a.k.a. intracranial hypertension
• Blue and Purple: Pediatric Stroke, Rheumatoid Arthritis
• Blue and Red: Congenital Heart Defects and Disease, Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome, Osler Weber Rendu Syndrome (HHT), Noonan’s Syndrome, Pulmonary Fibrosis, Rare Lung Diseases, SADS
• Blue and Yellow: Designated Drivers, Down Syndrome, Thoracic Outlet Syndrome
• Burgundy and Ivory: oral head and neck cancers, Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma, Throat Cancer, Laryngeal Cancer, Pharyngeal Cancer
• Burgundy and Purple: Arachnoiditis
• Dark Blue, Orange and Orchid: Psoriatic Arthritis
• Gold and Silver: Hearing Disorders, Hearing Impairments, Meniere's Disease, Tinnitus
• Light Green, Light Blue and Pink: Hypotonia
• Marigold, Blue and Purple: Bladder Cancer
• Orange and White: Bicycle Safety, Bike Helmet Safety
• Orchid and Orange: Eczema, Psoriasis
• Periwinkle and White: Esophageal Atresia/Tracheoesophageal Fistula 9EA/TEF
• Pink and Blue: Amniotic Fluid Embolism, Baby Safe Haven, Birth Defects, Male Breast Cancer, Hyperemesis Gravidarum, Hyperammonemia, Infant Loss, Infertility, Miscarriage, Pregnancy Loss, Premature Birth, Stillbirth, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), Twin to Twin Transfusion Syndrome, Turner Syndrome, ChILD (Pediatric Bronchiolitis Obliterans)
• Pink, Purple and Teal: Thyroid Cancer
• Purple and Black: Tracheostomy, Necrotizing Enterocolitis
• Purple and Green: Stickler Syndrome, Schizencephaly
• Purple, Teal and Green: Medullary Sponge Kidney (Cacchi-Ricci disease)
• Purple and Yellow: Autoimmune Hepatitis, Chemical Injury and Lupus, Endometriosis
• Red and Gold: Neonatal Alloimmune Thrombocytopenia (NAIT) Awareness
• Red and Orange: Adiposis Dolorosa (Dercum's Disease)
• Red and Pearl: Latex Allergy
• Red and White: Aplastic Anemia, DVT, Head and Neck Cancer, Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia, Oral Cancer, Squamous Cell Carcinoma
• Red, White and Black: Pernicious Anaemia and B12 Deficiency
• Red and Yellow: Hepatitis C, HIV/HCV Co-Infection, surviving family members of suicide victims
• Red, Yellow and Blue: all forms of Trisomy
• Silver and Blue: Corpus Callosum
• Teal and Purple: Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault
• Teal and White: Cervical Cancer

Patterns Ribbon Meaning

• Cow Print: Omphalocele
• Beige with Giraffe Print: Tethered Spinal Cord Syndrome
• Beige with Royal Blue Trim: Hip Dysplasia
• Black and White Stripes: Breast Implant Illness
• Blue, Pink and Yellow with Clouds: Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia
• Brown with Pink Dots: Persistent Cloaca
• Gold and Blue with Diamond: Bohring-Opitz Syndrome
• Grey with Red Heart: Juvenile Diabetes
• Ivory with Rose: Spinal Muscular Atrophy
• Light Green with Dark Blue Trim: Body-focused Repetitive Behavior (BFRB)
• Multi-Colored Flame: Complex Regional Pain Syndrome
• Orange with Fox Tail: FOXG1
• Purple and Teal with White Stars: Necrotizing Fasciitis
• Purple and White Stripe: Relapsing Polychondritis
• Puzzle: Autism and Asperger Syndrome
• Quilt Design: Dissociative Identity Disorder
• Rainbow: Adrenocortical Carcinoma,Gay Pride, Same Sex Marriage
• Red with White Border: Chronic Venous Insufficiency Awareness
• Royal Blue with Yellow Border: Mandibulofacial Dysostosis with Microcephaly
• USA Flag: National Support, Fireworks Safety, Flag, World Trade Center Victims and Heroes
• White with Blue Outline: Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy
• White and Red Polka Dots: Autoimmune Progesterone Dermatitis
• White with Navy Pinstripe: Lou Gehrig’s disease (ALS)
• White with Violet Polka Dots: Cold Urticaria
• Yellow and Multicolored: Gilbert’s Syndrome
• Zebra Stripe: Carcinoid and Neuroendocrine Tumors, Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, Endocrine Cancer, Primary Immunodeficiency,
• Rare Disease Awareness, Stiff Person Syndrome, Vaccine Awareness
• Zebra Stripes with Red: Hashimoto’s Encephalitis

- - - - Printer Friendly Version - - - -

Find me on Social Media

Don't forget to bookmark me to see updates.. Contact Page Copyright © 2000 - 2025    K. Kerr Most recent revision July 26, 2025 11:50:42 AM   **DISCLAIMER: THIS WEBSITE DOES NOT PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE: The information, including but not limited to, text, graphics, images and other material contained on this website are for informational purposes only. No material on this site is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment and before undertaking a new health care regimen, and never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website.