The C.A.M. Report
Complementary and Alternative Medicine: Fair, Balanced, and to the Point
  • About this web log

    This blog ran from 2006 to 2016 and was intended as an objective and dispassionate source of information on the latest CAM research. Since my background is in pharmacy and allopathic medicine, I view all CAM as advancing through the development pipeline to eventually become integrated into mainstream medical practice. Some will succeed while others fail. But all are treated fairly here.

  • About the author

    John Russo, Jr., PharmD, is president of The MedCom Resource, Inc. Previously, he was senior vice president of medical communications at www.Vicus.com, a complementary and alternative medicine website.

  • Common sense considerations

    The material on this weblog is for informational purposes. It is not medical advice or counsel. Be smart, consult your health professional before using CAM.

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  • Recent Comments

    CDC reviews CAM options to minimize jet lag

    The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has released its biennial revision of “the yellow book,” a health guide for international travel.

    It’s comprehensive. The focus here is on Chapter 6: Jet Lag.

    To minimize jet lag

    • Avoid large meals or dehydration.
    • Limit caffeine and alcohol consumption during the flight.
    • Optimize exposure to sunlight following arrival.
    • Break up the journey with a stopover.

    To treat jet lag

    • Seek bright light in the morning if going east, and in the afternoon when going west.
    • Adjustment to the new time zone generally is faster when more time is spent outdoors during the first several days following travel.
    • Outside daylight, even on cloudy days, is more intense than interior lighting.
    • Light visors or lamps mimicking daylight have been proposed to stimulate normal circadian rhythms in travelers or shift workers.
    • The Argonne diet alternates high- and low-calorie days before departure, but has not been formally studied.

    Melatonin

    • No results from rigorous studies are available.
    • Limited evidence suggests melatonin is well tolerated, and doses of 0.5-5 mg may promote sleep and decrease jet lag symptoms in travelers crossing 5 or more time zones.
    • Begin treatment 3 to 4 days before departure.
    • Adverse effects include sedation or a disorienting “rocking” feeling.
    • Travelers with epilepsy, or taking warfarin (Coumadin) or other oral anticoagulants, and children should consult with a healthcare provider prior to its use.

    7/16/07 13:23 JR

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