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

    Massage therapy for cancer palliative care

     Massage is a popular adjunct to cancer palliation.

    And, Prof. Ernst says “the evidence is encouraging.

    First, the details.

    • 6 databases were searched.
    • 14 studies of classical massage for cancer patients were worth including in the review.
    • Other types of massage such as reflexology and aromatherapy were excluded.

    And, the results.

    • Collectively, the results suggest that massage can alleviate a wide range of symptoms, including…
      • Pain
      • Nausea
      • Anxiety
      • Depression
      • Anger
      • Stress
      • Fatigue
    • However, the methodological quality of these studies was poor, which prevents definitive conclusions.

    The bottom line?
    The professor concludes that yes, “the evidence is… encouraging.” But it’s not “compelling,” and more studies are warranted.

    The Integrative Medicine Service at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York City agrees. Massage can be expected to “effectively and safely reduce physical and emotional symptoms.”

    Compared to pharmacologic treatments, “these therapies provide a favorable risk-benefit ratio and permit cancer survivors to help manage their own care.”

    1/17/09 16:48 JR

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