During a cruise last spring I took some classes in Pilates. We used blue spongy yoga mats, and I remember thinking to myself each time I picked one from the pile in the corner, “Are these things ever cleaned?

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Over the past decade, several British universities have offered bachelor of science (BSc) degrees in alternative medicine, including 6 that offer BSc degrees in homeopathy.

Many scientists and advocates of evidence-based medicine claim that giving homeopathy scientific status is unjustified.

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In an earlier entry the growing list of studies supporting the role of acupuncture in pregnancy clinics was summarized.

Now, there’s a study showing benefits of acupuncture for augmentation of labor after spontaneous rupture of membranes at term.

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In a previous post I quoted from a Chinese medicine website that proclaimed “after sifting through more than 1,000 plants for 13 years, the researchers found 150 herbs with medicinal properties that appeared active in fighting HIV … From there, they selected the bark from white mulberry roots and four other Chinese plants as basic elements of their compound drug.” (more…)

A special issue of Integrative Cancer Therapies questions the validity of evidence-based medicine (EBM) for evaluating CAM.

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In general, past entries on this topic were positive, although peppermint oil gets a “C” rating (inconsistent or limited-quality patient-oriented evidence) for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

Maybe so, but here is another supportive study that tested the effectiveness of enteric-coated peppermint oil in a well-defined group of patients. (more…)

To encourage discussions about CAM, the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) is offering free materials for doctors and consumers.

The rationale for the “Time to Talk” campaign is that physicians who discuss CAM with their patients are more likely to know which patients might try such supplements. (more…)

Here’s a CBS video on the subject.

It saddens me, but it’s instructive regarding the bias at CBS. Notice there’s no attempt to balance the report with any of the risks of marijuana or the lack of science on its “benefits.”

Go here for balance. (more…)

NORML, the medical marijuana advocacy group, thinks this is a positive study.

I don’t see it that way. (more…)

Here are the results of a study of Ayurvedic herbal treatment for health problems caused by exposure to the toxic chemicals at Ground Zero and in lower Manhattan following the September 11 attack on the World Trade Center.

Improvement during Ayurvedic herbal treatment was reported. (more…)

Researchers from Oregon Health and Science University in Portland have published an article on the evidence supporting treatment guidelines from the American Pain Society and American College of Physicians. (more…)

Researchers are studying the potential of snacks as vehicles to deliver more eicosapentaenoic acid, (EPA) plus docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) in snacks. (more…)

Researchers from Rush University Medical Center in Chicago have reported, “no relation between statin use and the risk of Alzheimer’s disease or a decline in thinking ability.”

In the absence of an allopathic silver bullet, it’s worthwhile to review what we know about complementary options to ease what author Eileen Shamy refers to as “the frightening and weary stages of Alzheimer’s disease.” (more…)

At the US News website, Avery Comarow has a positive report on CAM use in US hospitals. (more…)

In 2000, the House of Lords Select Committee’s Report on CAM recommended familiarization with CAM for medical students and doctors.

According to this article, little has been done. But it confirms an interest in greater exposure to CAM education among medical students in Wales. (more…)

The National Cancer Institute has reviewed the evidence. (more…)

Dan shen (Red sage, salvia miltiorrhiza, and radix salvis mitiorhiza) is an herbal medicine used to treat acute ischemic stroke in China. The condition is caused following blockage of blood flow to the brain and accounts for about 85% of all strokes.

Cochrane reviewed the published studies. (more…)

Dr. Dan Rudin from Statin Island University Hospital in New York looked at past studies and concluded it’s a “safe and cost-effective measure not to be overlooked.” (more…)

Alpha-linolenic acid is an omega-3 fatty acid found in many vegetable oils, including flaxseed, walnuts, and canola oil.

Researchers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Maryland reviewed data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). They focused on adults with diabetes who were evaluated for peripheral neuropathy. (more…)

Researchers from the University of Connecticut and Hartford Hospital in Connecticut reviewed the literature and found no benefits. (more…)