Archive for June, 2007
Wednesday, June 27th, 2007
There are doctors in Germany who are working overtime to convince us that black cohosh is a valuable treatment for menopausal symptoms.
I’m not buying it. But then, I’m not in menopause. (more…)
Black/Blue Cohosh, Menopause, St. John's Wort | Comments Off on Trying hard to generate positive research results for black cohosh
Tuesday, June 26th, 2007
These recommendations, from a group of experts, take a narrow view of Alzheimer’s disease. They focus on early detection and the use of existing prescription drugs.
That’s fine as far as it goes, but what about those with advanced Alzheimer’s? Why not develop a more comprehensive approach?
If I might quote Paul Harvey, “here’s the rest of the story.” (more…)
Alzheimer's Dementia, Anxiety (Panic)/Depression, Aromatherapy, Art, Music, Dance, Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, Copper, Diet-Mediterranean, Exercise, Ginkgo, Massage, Omega-3 Fatty Acids, Trans Fats | Comments Off on Dissapointing recommendations to treat Alzheimer’s disease
Tuesday, June 26th, 2007
It’s is the third time this year the FDA has identified a “natural” product sold via the Internet for the treatment of impotence (erectile dysfunction) that was adulterated with the prescription drug tadalafil (Cialis). (more…)
Angina Pectoris, Consumer Alert, Erectile Dysfunction, FDA/FTC/CDC, Tinnitus/Vertigo | Comments Off on Consumer alert: FDA recalls Long Weekend
Monday, June 25th, 2007
Has your worst nightmare become real, or is this the start of sanity for the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994 (DSHEA)?
It’s not necessary to comment on this. More importantly… (more…)
CAM Politics, ConsumerLab, FDA/FTC/CDC | Comments Off on FDA takes control
Monday, June 25th, 2007
This review was presented previously at the American College of Clinical Pharmacology meeting and is reported here. It’s now been published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases.
However, since there’s no abstract available, I’ve used the article published on Inthenews.co.uk. (more…)
Common Cold, Echinacea, Infection | Comments Off on A positive review for echinacea and the common cold
Sunday, June 24th, 2007
Drs. Victoria Catenacci and Holly Wyatt from the University of Colorado at Denver reviewed the literature and came to the following conclusions. (more…)
Exercise, Obesity | Comments Off on The contribution of physical activity to weight loss
Sunday, June 24th, 2007
The Consumer Reports website rates volumetrics as the number one diet in terms of sustainable weight loss.
And, of course, there’s a book to get you started. Lynda Lippin reviewed The Volumetrics Eating Plan by Dr. Barbara Rolls (photo), and was impressed.
(more…)
Diet-Energy Density, Fiber | Comments Off on Looking for a new diet? Highest rating goes to Volumetrics
Friday, June 22nd, 2007
SARS, of course, is severe acute respiratory syndrome — a viral pneumonia. There was one major epidemic in late 2002 where about 10% of those infected died.
In this study, a concoction of natural herbal medicines (NHM) plus routine western treatment appeared to be safe, with evidence of benefit over western treatment alone. (more…)
Chinese Medicine, Infection | Comments Off on Natural herbal medicine used to complement SARS treatment
Thursday, June 21st, 2007
Time Magazine named the Himalayan Goji berry as the breakout superfruit of the year!
It’s promoted to
- protect the liver
- help eyesight
- improve sexual function and fertility
- strengthen the legs
- boost immune function
- improve circulation
- promote longevity
Wow! That’s enough for me..
…to look for evidenced-based support.
(more…)
Cancer, Goji Berries | Comments Off on Goji berries: super fruit or super hype?
Wednesday, June 20th, 2007
With financial support from the Australian government, the institute will develop national priorities for complementary medical research and coordinate work on these priorities with other research bodies. (more…)
Uncategorized | Comments Off on Australia will initiate a National Institute for Complementary Medicine
Tuesday, June 19th, 2007
Researchers have cloned a gene from wild wheat that increases its protein, zinc, and iron content. The impact of this research could improve nutrition, worldwide.
(more…)
Diet-Nutrition, Genetics, Iron, Zinc | Comments Off on Increased protein and mineral content from genetically engineered wheat
Monday, June 18th, 2007
An anal fissure is a painful condition affecting the far end of the intestines. The antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and pain relieving properties of clove oil provide a rationale for its use in this study. (more…)
Clove Oil, Fistulas | Comments Off on Treating anal fistulas with clove oil
Monday, June 18th, 2007
There’s growing interest in the potential effect of omega-3 fatty acids on depression and subsequent afflictions such as heart disease.
Here’s a study using the granddaddy of omega-3 formulations — cod-liver oil. (more…)
Anxiety (Panic)/Depression, Cod-liver oil, Omega-3 Fatty Acids | Comments Off on Using cod-liver oil to lower the risk of depression
Monday, June 18th, 2007
So many options, so little success.
You can follow any program you want. But here are some common sense recommendations from NutritionData.com. (more…)
Diet-Nutrition, Exercise, Obesity | Comments Off on Sound advice for achieving weight loss
Sunday, June 17th, 2007
ACE (angiotensin-converting enzyme) inhibitors are a group of drugs used to treat high blood pressure and congestive heart failure. In most cases they are drugs of first choice.
Now, a study by Dr. Frank Flachskampf and colleagues concludes that acupuncture likely represents an attractive option. (more…)
Acupuncture/ pressure, High Blood Pressure | Comments Off on Acupuncture is comparable to ACE inhibitors to lower blood pressure
Sunday, June 17th, 2007
Health Canada has advised consumers not to use these products.
They contain clonazepam (Klonopin), a benzodiazepine drug (think Valium, Atavin, Restoril), which can be habit-forming when used for as little as a few months. (more…)
Uncategorized | Comments Off on Consumer alert: Optimum Health Care SleePlus TCM or BYL SleePlus
Saturday, June 16th, 2007
At the end of 2006 I listed milk thistle as a supplement worth additional research. This was because of a study in people with diabetes where milk thistle was associated with a decline in A1c circuclating in blood.
Now, ConsumerLab.com has tested 12 milk thistle products. (more…)
ConsumerLab, Milk Thistle | Comments Off on Poor quality control with milk thistle supplements
Friday, June 15th, 2007
PRNewswire-USNewswire reports that the Appeals Court for the State of Pennsylvania has ruled against Stephen Barrett (photo), a long-time critic of chiropractic and alternative health care. The judge refused to overturn a 2005 decision against Barrett.
Here’s the history behind the case. (more…)
Chiropractic | Comments Off on Stephen Barrett loses appeal to court case against chiropractor
Friday, June 15th, 2007
On the positive side, green tea is cheap, widely available, and has low toxicity. Now, we just need some good studies of efficacy.
Writing in the Mayo Clinic Proceedings, 5 researchers summarized what we know so far. (more…)
Cancer, Tea | Comments Off on The potential of green tea for cancer prevention and treatment
Friday, June 15th, 2007
The New York Times reports, “The [FDA] advisory panel voted unanimously, 14 to 0, against recommending the drug [rimonabant, Acomplia, Zimulti], saying there was inadequate evidence of its safety. The FDA is not required to follow this advice, but it typically does.”
The report is interesting to this blog because rimonabant works by blocking cannabinoids receptors in the brain. (more…)
Anxiety (Panic)/Depression, Marijuana (Cannabinoids), Psychosis, Stress | Comments Off on Cannabinoid-receptor blocker will probably not be sold in the US