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

    The effect of a familiar odor on newborns during an uncomfortable procedure

    Exposure to a familiar odor was associated with less crying.

    First, the details.

    • 44 newborns were exposed to vanillin (via their mother or crib) or no odor prior to sticking their heel with a needle.
    • On the day of the heel stick, infants were either exposed to the now familiar odor, an unfamiliar odor, or no odor before, during, and after the procedure.

    And, the results.

    • Infants exposed to a familiar odor displayed little distress and more oral movements during the procedure compared to the neonates exposed to an unfamiliar odor.
    • Whether the odor was learned via their mother or the crib made no difference.
    • Exposure to an unfamiliar odor or no odor did not lessen their distress.

    The bottom line?
    The authors concluded, “Olfactory support is a useful intervention that may potentially help minimize deleterious effects of neonatal pain.”

    I wonder if this form of aromatherapy would make parenting easier during the first few days after discharge from the hospital?

    10/3/07 14:50 JR

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