The C.A.M. Report
Complementary and Alternative Medicine: Fair, Balanced, and to the Point

Archive for the 'B. MANIPULATIVE METHODS' Category

Hopelessness and the value of CAM in ovarian cancer

Tuesday, April 30th, 2013

ovarian-cancer-wristbands_normalIt’s reported that 55% of patients with ovarian cancer acknowledge a fear of dying, and 32% experience loss of hope in their fight against this illness.

Researchers at Harvard Medical School, in Boston, examined CAM and its influence on hopelessness in these patients. (more…)

Review: Benefits of CAM to help treat hypertension

Thursday, April 25th, 2013

HeartBeatingThe American Heart Association has summarized the blood pressure-lowering effects of several alternative approaches and provided recommendations for their use.

Here’s what we know in people with blood pressure (BP) levels higher than 120/80 mmHg. (more…)

Here’s what we know about vitamin C and the common cold

Thursday, February 14th, 2013

150px-Ascorbic_acid_structureVitamin C (ascorbic acid) for preventing and treating the common cold has been a subject of controversy for 70 years.

Now, The Cochrane Library has reviewed the data. (more…)

Advantages of adding exercise to statin treatment

Thursday, January 24th, 2013

beating_heartStatins are prescribed to treat high cholesterol and cardiovascular disease. Increased fitness is recommended as an essential part of promoting health.

Now, researchers at Georgetown University School of Medicine, in Washington DC, report the combined effects of fitness and statin treatment on mortality. (more…)

Results of nonpharmacological approaches to treating pain

Tuesday, January 1st, 2013

Researchers at Abbott Northwestern Hospital, in Chicago evaluated the effectiveness of an inpatient integrative medicine consult service for pain management. (more…)

Risk of injury to children who use trampolines

Tuesday, September 25th, 2012

Trampoline jumping is a beneficial and constructive physical exercise for children, but it has a significant risk for injuries.

Now, after reviewing the evidence, the American Academy of Pediatrics is discouraging recreational use of trampolines in the home. (more…)

Reducing the rate and risk of falling

Saturday, September 15th, 2012

Approximately 30% of people over 65 years of age living in the community fall each year.

This Cochrane review updates what we know. (more…)

Consumer Alert: Neti Pots

Monday, August 27th, 2012

They’re used to rinse the nasal passages with a saline (salt-based) solution, and are popular to treat congested sinuses, colds, and allergies, and to moisten nasal passages exposed to dry indoor air.

But, FDA has concerns about the risk of infection when neti pots are used improperly. (more…)

Contributions of the counselor in diabetes lifestyle education

Thursday, August 16th, 2012

Researchers in the Netherlands have reported their findings in the Active Prevention in High-Risk Individuals of Diabetes Type 2 in and Around Eindhoven (APHRODITE) study. (more…)

Kinesiology tape

Saturday, August 11th, 2012

During the Olympics, you may have noticed brightly colored kinesiology (aka Kinesin) tape attached to the legs, backs, arms and other body parts of athletes.

It’s meant to help stabilize tendons and joints and provide pressure relief. Researchers at the National Defense Academy, in Japan, studied its potential to alleviate muscle weakness. (more…)

SIT and the co-disciplinary pain clinic

Thursday, August 9th, 2012

Clinicians in California described their clinical practice, which uses the simultaneous interview technique (SIT). (more…)

Adverse response to exercise

Friday, June 1st, 2012

Dr. Claude Bouchard and colleagues from around the US and Finland tell us that people differ in their response to regular exercise.

Sometimes these differences contribute to adverse changes in cardiovascular and diabetes risk factors, according to this study. (more…)

Consumer Alert: “Bath Salts”

Tuesday, May 29th, 2012

Unlike traditional cosmetic bath salts, which are packaged and sold for adding to bath water for soaking and cleaning, drugs sold as “bath salts” have no legitimate use for bathing and are intended for substance abuse.

Confused? (more…)

CAM use in the Manitoba IBD Cohort Study

Monday, February 27th, 2012

Researchers in Winnipeg, Manitoba surveyed the prevalence of CAM use in patients with inflammatory bowel disease. (more…)

Support for exercise to preserve cognitive function

Monday, February 27th, 2012

Researchers at the Foundation of Public Health, Mutuelle Generale de l’Education Nationale, in Paris, reanalyzed data from the Women’s Antioxidant Cardiovascular Study (WACS), a cohort of women with prevalent vascular disease or 3 cardiovascular risk factors. (more…)

Does Pilates improved balance?

Tuesday, February 21st, 2012

Researchers at the University of Tasmania, in Launceston, evaluated the effects of a Pilates on balance and function in community-dwelling elderly adults. (more…)

Tai chi benefits in Parkinson’s disease

Monday, February 20th, 2012

Patients with Parkinson’s disease have impaired balance, which affects function and increases the risk of falling. Exercise is routinely encouraged by healthcare providers, but few programs have been proven effective.

Researchers at the Oregon Research Institute, in Eugene, studied whether a tailored tai chi program could improve postural control in patients with Parkinson’s disease. (more…)

Dangers of colon cleansing

Monday, February 20th, 2012

Colon cleansing (aka colonic irrigation or colonic hydrotherapy) works like an enema. The patient lies on a table and up to 60 liters of water (with or without herbs) are pumped through the rectum. Fluids and waste are expelled through a tube. The procedure may be repeated several times.

Researchers at Georgetown University School of Medicine, in Washington, DC, reviewed its use. (more…)

Exercise during pregnancy

Thursday, February 16th, 2012

Researchers at Norwegian University of Science and Technology, in Trondheim, assessed whether exercise during pregnancy might prevent gestational diabetes and improves insulin resistance. (more…)

Testing exercise to prevent falls in Parkinson’s disease

Tuesday, February 14th, 2012

Researchers at the University of Exeter, in the UK, evaluated the effectiveness of an exercise program in people with Parkinson’s disease who have a history of falls. (more…)