Archive for June, 2008
Monday, June 30th, 2008
23 American and 2 foreign companies that market phony cancer cures on the Internet have been told to stop this activity by the FDA. (more…)
Chinese Medicine, Consumer Alert, FDA/FTC/CDC | Comments Off on Consumer Alert: FDA stops fake cancer cures
Monday, June 30th, 2008
Medical News Today reports that the Department of Health Steering Group recommends to regulate acupuncture, herbal medicine and traditional Chinese medicine.
It’s recommended that this happen as soon as possible. (more…)
Acupuncture/ pressure, CAM Politics, Chinese Medicine, Herbals | Comments Off on Regulating CAM in the UK
Monday, June 30th, 2008
Geoff Woodin, a homeopathic physicians from the UK, has an us-vs-them view of homeopathy and allopathic medicine.
It’s not surprising given the onslaught of criticism targeting his field in the UK. However, his perspective of allopathic medicine is inaccurate, I believe. (more…)
CAM Politics, Homeopathy | Comments Off on Misperceptions by a homeopathic physician
Sunday, June 29th, 2008
Lead, mercury, and (oh yeah) arsenic intoxication have been associated with Ayurvedic herbal medicines.
Here’s an account of one patent’s experience. (more…)
Ayurveda, Consumer Alert, Epilepsy/Seizures, Heavy Metals | Comments Off on Arsenic toxicity from Ayurvedic
Sunday, June 29th, 2008
Preliminary evidence supports the feasibility of mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) in women experiencing severe hot flashes, according to researchers at the University of Massachusetts Medical School. (more…)
Menopause, Mindfulness | Comments Off on Might mindfulness reduce the severity of hot flashes?
Saturday, June 28th, 2008
Laboratory studies suggest that phytoestrogens, found in soy products such as tempe and tofu, could protect against cognitive (reasoning) decline. But an earlier study in humans suggested the opposite.
Here’s what researchers from Loughborough University in the UK found. (more…)
Alzheimer's Dementia, Elderly, Phytoestrogens | Comments Off on Tofu associated with worse memory
Saturday, June 28th, 2008
Both beverages have antioxidant properties, and coffee may improve insulin sensitivity.
OK, but is there an association between coffee and tea consumption with the risk of stroke? (more…)
Coffee, Stroke, Tea | Comments Off on Coffee, tea, and the risk of stroke
Saturday, June 28th, 2008
“At this time, the benefits of acupuncture for treating fibromyalgia remain unclear and require well designed controlled trials to identify its potential role,” concludes Dr. Daniel Rooks from Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School in Boston in a review on Medscape.
Here’s a summary of his review.
(more…)
Acupuncture/ pressure, Anxiety (Panic)/Depression, Fibromyalgia | Comments Off on The status of acupuncture to treat fibromyalgia
Friday, June 27th, 2008
Providing a simplified tai-chi exercise program (STEP) in long-term care facilities can promote physical health in older adults.
That’s the conclusion from a study in Taiwan.
(more…)
Alzheimer's Dementia, Elderly, Tai Chi | Comments Off on Simplified tai-chi benefits the elderly in long-term care
Friday, June 27th, 2008
Recommendations to modify breathing patterns are commonly given to people with ordinary stress and tension, as well as to patients with anxiety disorders.
This study by researchers at Stanford University School of Medicine in Palo Alto, California used physiological measures to document changes in respiration to examine the physiological and psychological effects of breathing instructions. (more…)
Anxiety (Panic)/Depression, Breathing, Stress | Comments Off on Effect of breathing instruction on panic disorder and stress
Friday, June 27th, 2008
Researchers from Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore have reviewed natural health products (NHPs) and antiretroviral drugs (ARVs). Here are the results
(more…)
Cholesterol/Lipids, Diet-Vegan, Echinacea, Garlic, HIV/AIDS, Milk Thistle, Omega-3 Fatty Acids, St. John's Wort, Vitamins | Comments Off on Interactions between supplements and drugs used to treat AIDS
Thursday, June 26th, 2008
Researchers from the University of California, Davis Medical Center in Sacramento tell us “Despite [a] lack of scientific validation, many patients routinely use ‘medical marijuana,’ and in many cases this use is for pain related to nerve injury.”
In this study, “no effect on evoked pain was seen.” (more…)
Marijuana (Cannabinoids), Pain | Comments Off on A study of cannabis cigarettes for neuropathic pain
Thursday, June 26th, 2008
Growing evidence suggests that probiotics might serve as a functional food in the treatment of diarrhea.
Here’s what we know.
(more…)
Diarrhea/Constipation, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Pre, Pro, Synbiotics | Comments Off on Updating what we know about probiotics and diarrhea
Wednesday, June 25th, 2008
There’s some supporting evidence in animals, but what about in humans? (more…)
Marijuana (Cannabinoids), Pain, Tinnitus/Vertigo | Comments Off on Oral cannabis is not effective for acute pain
Tuesday, June 24th, 2008
Delta(9)- and Delta(8)-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) are potent inhibitors of mitochondrial respiration in human sperm, according to this study by researchers at the State University of New York, Upstate Medical University in Syracuse. (more…)
Marijuana (Cannabinoids), Pregnancy | Comments Off on Negative effects of cannabinoids on human sperm
Tuesday, June 24th, 2008
Actually, it hasn’t been studied very much.
But here’s what we know so far.
(more…)
Acupuncture/ pressure, Aromatherapy, Hypnosis, Massage, Mindfulness, Pain, Pregnancy | Comments Off on Pain management during labor: Is there a role for CAM?
Monday, June 23rd, 2008
Three members of the Integrative Medicine Service at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York City have published their views. (more…)
Acupuncture/ pressure, Art, Music, Dance, C. MIND-BODY THERAPIES, Cancer, Massage | Comments Off on CAM for cancer survivors: The Sloan-Kettering view
Monday, June 23rd, 2008
You won’t be surprised to learn that pain of longer duration and greater impairment make children more willing to use CAM.
But which CAM options do they choose? (more…)
Acupuncture/ pressure, Art, Music, Dance, Biofeedback, Children, Fibromyalgia, Guided Imagery, Hypnosis, Massage, Pain, Walking, Yoga | Comments Off on CAM preferences among children with chronic pain
Sunday, June 22nd, 2008
Researchers at The University of Tulsa in Oklahoma compared different forms of very short rest periods on subsequent performance. (more…)
Exercise | Comments Off on Rest periods and resistance exercise performance
Sunday, June 22nd, 2008
Dzherelo, is made from a combination of medicinal plants and used in Ukraine to treat tuberculosis (TB) and HIV infections.
In this study, Dzherelo had a positive effect on the immune status and viral burden in patients treated for TB. (more…)
G. BOTANICALS, Infection | Comments Off on Measuring the immune response to Dzherelo