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b>Desiccate: To remove the moisture from a thing that
normally contains moisture, such as a plant; to dry out completely;
to preserve by drying. The process of desiccating a thing is called
desiccation; an agent used to bring about desiccation is called a
desiccant or a desiccator.
Manufacturers of dietary supplements and medicines desiccate some
products to extend their shelf life and to maintain purity. (Moisture
promotes spoilage and the growth of germs.) For example, desiccated
beef liver is a dietary supplement marketed in the form of powders
and tablets. Synthetic desiccated thyroid hormone is a medicine
marketed in the form of pills to treat thyroid conditions such as
myxedema, which can cause drowsiness, tissue swelling, tongue
enlargement and other symptoms because of insufficient hormone output
by the thyroid gland.
Many over-the-counter (OTC) dietary products termed by the U.S.
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as "inert glandular preparations"
consist of desiccated animal organs, including brains, hearts,
kidneys, ovaries, placentas, spleens and stomachs. FDA policy
dictates that these desiccated products should not be represented as
drugs or medications.
"Desiccate," "desiccation," and "desiccant" are all derived from
the Latin word "desiccare" (to dry completely).
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