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.

  • Recent Posts

  • Recent Comments

    Is there a role for meditation in treating rheumatoid arthritis?

    This study concludes, “Mindfulness meditation may complement medical disease management by improving psychological distress and strengthening well-being in patients with RA.”

    The objective of the study was to assess the effect of a meditation training program, Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), which combines mindfulness meditation and yoga.

    First, the details.

    • 63 patients were randomly assigned to MBSR as an 8-week course plus a 4-month maintenance program, or to a wait list control group.
    • All participants received usual care from their rheumatologists.

    And, the results based on patient-completed questionnaires.

    • At 2 months there were no significant differences between the groups.
    • At 6 months the MBSR group experienced significant improvement in psychological distress and well-being.
    • There was a 35% reduction in psychological distress among those treated.
    • MBSR had no impact on RA disease activity.

    The bottom line?
    It sounds like MBSR helps you cope if you’re willing to dedicate the time.

    10/16/07 21:04 JR

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