Dr. Brent Bauer is Director of the Mayo Clinic Complementary and Integrative Medicine Program. He was interviewed for a podcast on cholesterol-lowering supplements, which is available here. Continue reading Podcast review of cholesterol-lowering supplements
Monthly Archives: September 2007
The benefits of qigong and other CAM for fibromyalgia
A study at the University of Uppsala, Sweden reports that qigong (chee-kung) has positive and reliable effects regarding fibromyalgia.
Let’s look at these results and review other positive CAM studies in the past year. Continue reading The benefits of qigong and other CAM for fibromyalgia
Benefits of eating apples and fish during pregnancy
Here’s more evidence that the health of your offspring is influenced by what mom eats while pregnant.
This study appears to support a growing body of science that has linked diet to asthma. Continue reading Benefits of eating apples and fish during pregnancy
Carbon dioxide to treat acute nonspecific neck pain
Subcutaneous carbon dioxide (CO2) insufflation is popular in Central and Eastern Europe. It’s used mainly to treat musculoskeletal pain and vascular conditions.
But is it effective? Researchers from Germany set about to find out. Continue reading Carbon dioxide to treat acute nonspecific neck pain
Disputing the value of CAM courses in college
The Evening Standard reports that Complementary Medicine was among the lowest rated colleges courses in a survey of 177,000 college students that was funded by the UK government. Continue reading Disputing the value of CAM courses in college
CAM therapies should be subjected to more clinical research
But can we afford the cost? Continue reading CAM therapies should be subjected to more clinical research
Herb-drug interaction between baicalin and rosuvastatin
Baicalin (Chinese skullcap) comes from Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi. This anti-inflammatory herbal is used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat cancer, liver disease, allergies, skin conditions, and epilepsy. Rosuvastatin (Crestor) is a member of the stain class of drugs used to lower LDL (bad) cholesterol. Continue reading Herb-drug interaction between baicalin and rosuvastatin
How to recognize good chiropractic care
This is useful.
Dr. Peter Stanton, a chiropractic orthopedist from Burke, Virginia, offers these guidelines for identifying a chiropractic physician and the expected course of events during chiropractic care.
How does your chiropractor measure up? Continue reading How to recognize good chiropractic care
Is CAM cost effective treatment?
Three criteria determine drug reimbursement decisions: therapeutic value, cost effectiveness, and burden of disease. Now, an article from Erasmus University in The Netherlands questions whether it’s sufficient for a drug to meet these criteria, and proposes a 4th hurdle.
Consider how CAM would hold up under such scrutiny based on what we know today. Continue reading Is CAM cost effective treatment?
Negative results for folic acid plus B vitamin therapy in kidney disease
High concentrations of homocysteine in the blood (hyperhomocysteinemia) have been linked to an increased risk for cardiovascular (CV) disease for almost 40 years!
What’s this got to do with CAM? Continue reading Negative results for folic acid plus B vitamin therapy in kidney disease
Can I interest you in a probiotic smoothie?
Functional Ingredients reports that a California-based juice and smoothie manufacturer, Naked Juice, is selling “the first 100% juice smoothie with probiotics that aid in digestive and immune health.” Continue reading Can I interest you in a probiotic smoothie?
Vitamin D and the risk of dying
Ordinary doses of vitamin D supplements seem to be associated with lower mortality rates. Continue reading Vitamin D and the risk of dying
Sunflower therapy for dyslexia
It seems to improve self-esteem but not cognition (eg, perception, memory, judgment, and reasoning) or literacy, according to a recent study of 70 dyslexic children aged 6 to 13 years.
Call me skeptical, but…
Growing support for omega-3 benefits in multiple sclerosis
Hillary Freeman has multiple sclerosis (MS). She says, that within weeks of “regularly incorporating portions of salmon, mackerel, and sardines into my meal plans, the tingling and numbness I experienced on a daily basis subsided.”
Now, research on omega-3 fatty acids (containing eicosapentaenoic acid [EPA] and docosahexaenoic acid [DHA]) conducted at Oregon Health & Science University in Portland and presented during the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians annual meeting appears to provide a rationale for her experience. Continue reading Growing support for omega-3 benefits in multiple sclerosis
September is ADD/ADHA month
One objective is to increase awareness of this condition, and the National Institute of Mental Health has a broad ranging review. Continue reading September is ADD/ADHA month
A simple tool to calculate calories burned
Here’s a website that lets you calculate the number of calories burned after 15 minutes or one hour of ballroom dancing, or tap dancing, etc.
Calories burned while bicycling, running, fishing, and other activities can also be calculated using this helpful site.
7/29/06 18:44 JR
Yoga and quality of life in breast cancer patients
It appears to enhance emotional well-being and mood, according to researchers in New York. Continue reading Yoga and quality of life in breast cancer patients
Combining psychotherapy with antidepressants for acute major depression
Combination treatment does not have an advantage over psychotherapy alone, but it’s better than drugs alone, according to this study by researchers in The Netherlands. Continue reading Combining psychotherapy with antidepressants for acute major depression
Electroacupuncture to treat obesity
There are few clinical studies showing the effectiveness of acupuncture for weight loss.
Here’s one that does. Continue reading Electroacupuncture to treat obesity
Low use of CAM for weight reduction
Other than dietary supplements, the use of CAM for weight loss is relatively low, according to researchers at the University of South Carolina, Columbia.
How low? Continue reading Low use of CAM for weight reduction