The C.A.M. Report
Complementary and Alternative Medicine: Fair, Balanced, and to the Point

Archive for April, 2010

Effects of omega-3 fatty acids in patients with rheumatoid arthrits

Sunday, April 25th, 2010

Researchers at State Hospital Muerzzuschlag, in Austria looked for changes in swollen and tender joints. (more…)

Little evidence supports CAM for childhood headaches

Friday, April 23rd, 2010

Dr. Stewart Tepper from the Cleveland Clinic Foundation in Ohio reports that “parents frequently ask healthcare professionals to provide ‘natural’ migraine care for their children.” (more…)

Strawberries: Complementary for cholesterol treatment

Friday, April 23rd, 2010

Researchers from Toronto, Canada studied the effect of adding strawberries, as a source of antioxidants, to improve the response to a cholesterol-lowering diet. (more…)

Acupuncture to treat pain after neck disscetion

Thursday, April 22nd, 2010

Researchers at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, in New York City studied whether acupuncture reduces pain and dysfunction in patients with squamous cell cancer and a history of neck dissection (photo) — a surgical procedure used to control neck lymph node metastasis. (more…)

Claims on chiropractic Internet sites that lack support

Thursday, April 22nd, 2010

Prof. Ernst criticizes chiropractic websites that make claims for treating conditions not support by research.

And, the CEO of the World Chiropractic Alliance responds.  (more…)

Burned out? Consider counseling

Tuesday, April 20th, 2010

Researchers from the University of Oslo in Norway studied physicians, but the findings are probably relevant for all healthcare professionals. (more…)

Vitamin E and the risk of bleeding

Tuesday, April 20th, 2010

Thanks to a barrage of recent studies and conflicting media messages, consumers are confused about the benefits (if any) from vitamin E supplements.

Until all this is sorted out, remember, high doses of vitamin E increase the risk of bleeding.

Here’s what we know about that. (more…)

Homeopathic Traumeel S to treat pain after bunion surgery?

Monday, April 19th, 2010

Researchers from Israel studied the effectiveness of this frequently prescribed  over-the-counter homeopathic product composed of extracts from a combination of plants and minerals.

It is widely sold in German, Switzerland, and Austria. (more…)

Long-term benefits of exercise during pregnancy

Monday, April 19th, 2010

Compared with women who stop weight-bearing exercising during pregnancy, women who exercise are more likely to continue their exercise routine afterward and enjoy the benefits of better cardiovascular health, according to researchers at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine in Cleveland Ohio. (more…)

Value of a cholesterol-lowering diet for hypercholesterolemia

Sunday, April 18th, 2010

A cholesterol-lowering diet has been suggested as a management approach — independently or in addition to drug therapy — in children and adults with familial (passed down through families) high cholesterol blood levels.

Researchers from the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, in Chandigarh, India, provide this Cochrane review of the evidence. (more…)

Lack of drug interactions with echinacea

Sunday, April 18th, 2010

Researchers from Georgetown University in Washington, DC report that when taken short term, Echinacea purpurea products (roots and/or aerial parts) do not appear to be a risk to consumers. (more…)

Re-evaluating the risk of liver toxicity from black cohosh

Saturday, April 17th, 2010

Researchers from Johann Wolfgang Goethe University of Frankfurt/Main, in Hanau, Germany, reviewed the evidence and believe the risk is less than suspected. (more…)

Inactivity is bad for patients with heart disease

Friday, April 16th, 2010

Abe Gubegna the Ethiopian novelist wrote, “It doesn’t matter whether you are a lion or a gazelle. When the sun comes up, you better be running.”

Now, researchers from California and Germany report that in patients with heart disease, there’s an increased risk of heart-related complications in people who are physically inactive as a result of being depressed. (more…)

Review: CAM treatment of depression and anxiety

Thursday, April 15th, 2010

Anxiety and depression are among the most common conditions cited by those seeking treatment with complementary and alternative therapies.

Researchers from The Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University, in Greenville, North Carolina reviewed the evidence. (more…)

Red clover to treat depressive symptoms in older women

Thursday, April 15th, 2010

Last year, a review of herbals to treat menopausal symptoms concluded that red clover provided no benefit.

A year later and researchers from the General Teaching Hospital Korneuburg, in Austria report more positive findings using red clover extracts (MF11RCE). (more…)

Effects of glucosamine + omega-3 on osteoporosis

Wednesday, April 14th, 2010

Researchers in Germany conducted the first study of this combination.

The aim was to see if the combination is more effective than glucosamine alone. (more…)

Effects of flaxseed on the metabolic syndrome and exercise

Wednesday, April 14th, 2010

The effects of taking flaxseed lignan complex during exercise in older adults were studied by researchers at the University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon. (more…)

Does sports massage affect recovery from exercise?

Wednesday, April 14th, 2010

Sports massage is a popular treatment to speed recovery after strenuous exercise.

Researchers from The Ohio State University in Columbus reviewed its effectiveness. (more…)

Review of acupuncture to treat alcohol dependence

Tuesday, April 13th, 2010

Acupuncture has been used in the treatment of substance-related disorders for the past 30 years.

Researchers at Kyung Hee University Medical Center, in Seoul, Korea, reviewed the evidence. (more…)

Music relieves anxiety in children during acupuncture

Tuesday, April 13th, 2010

At the Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital of Shenzhen, in China, researchers studied the effects of music on anxiety and pain during acupuncture treatment in children with cerebral palsy. (more…)