The C.A.M. Report

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  • TENS for cancer pain
  • NCCAM-sponsored study of tai chi to treat fibromyalgia
  • Consumer Alert: TimeOut
  • Consumer Alert: Mr. Magic
  • Nonpharmacologic management of osteoporosis
  • Preventing prostate cancer progression with green tea
  • Acupuncture for chronic sinusitis. Worth the cost?
  • Wash your hands
  • Vitamin D supplementation and hip fracture risk
  • Changes in memory afer drinking blueberry juice
  • Effects of recreational drugs on sleep
  • Is napping “bad” for nighttime sleep?
  • Cannabis and the risk for developing psychosis
  • Hypnosis to help manage children in the dentist’s chair
  • Acupuncture treatment of polycystic ovarian syndrome
  • Consumer Alert: Prolatis
  • Prevalence of CAM use in England
  • CAM for spinal cord injury pain
  • Review of aromatherapy to treat high blood pressure
  • Placebo effect with homeopathic vs conventional drugs

Monthly Archives: August 2010

Cancer, Cochrane Library, Pain, TENS/FNS/VNS

TENS for cancer pain

08/31/2010 JR

Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) devices produce electrical currents to stimulate nerves through unbroken skin.

Here’s the Cochrane review. Continue reading TENS for cancer pain →

Exercise, Fibromyalgia, NCCAM, Tai Chi

NCCAM-sponsored study of tai chi to treat fibromyalgia

08/30/2010 JR

Researchers at Tufts Medical Center, in Boston reported their findings in that bastion of allopathic medicine, The New England Journal of Medicine. Continue reading NCCAM-sponsored study of tai chi to treat fibromyalgia →

Consumer Alert, Erectile Dysfunction, FDA/FTC/CDC

Consumer Alert: TimeOut

08/26/2010 JR

It’s labeled as “100% natural” and consumers may mistakenly assume the product is harmless and poses no health risk.

The FDA says, Not so fast, all you erectilely challenged people out there. Continue reading Consumer Alert: TimeOut →

Cholesterol/Lipids, Consumer Alert, Erectile Dysfunction, FDA/FTC/CDC, High Blood Pressure

Consumer Alert: Mr. Magic

08/24/2010 JR

According to the distributor, it will awaken your magical power.

But he FDA says Mr. Magic contains hydroxythiohomosildenafil and sulfoaildenafil, an analogue of sildenafil (Viagra), the FDA-approved drug  for male erectile dysfunction (ED), making this product an unapproved drug. Continue reading Consumer Alert: Mr. Magic →

Exercise, Osteoporosis, Vitamins

Nonpharmacologic management of osteoporosis

08/23/2010 JR

This Medscape review covers orthoses, exercise, calcium and vitamin D therapy, and kyphoplasty from an academic perspective. Continue reading Nonpharmacologic management of osteoporosis →

Cancer, Prostate, Tea

Preventing prostate cancer progression with green tea

08/22/2010 JR

Men with prostate cancer who consumed the active compounds in green tea demonstrated a reduction in test results that predict prostate cancer progression, according to researchers at LSU Health Sciences Center-Shreveport, in Louisiana. Continue reading Preventing prostate cancer progression with green tea →

Acupuncture/ pressure, Asthma/Allergy, Common Cold

Acupuncture for chronic sinusitis. Worth the cost?

08/21/2010 JR

It’s commonly used to treat chronic sinusitis, though there’s little documentation for any effect.

Researchers from Norway looked for evidence of improved quality of life. Continue reading Acupuncture for chronic sinusitis. Worth the cost? →

Alcohol Sanitizers, Infection

Wash your hands

08/18/2010 JR

Done properly, it’s “one of the best ways to avoid getting sick,” according to MayoClinic.com.

Continue reading Wash your hands →

Bone Fracture, Calcium, Vitamin D

Vitamin D supplementation and hip fracture risk

08/17/2010 JR

Researchers from Australia and the UK reviewed the evidence. Continue reading Vitamin D supplementation and hip fracture risk →

Alzheimer's Dementia, Elderly

Changes in memory afer drinking blueberry juice

08/17/2010 JR

Blueberries contain anthocyanins, which have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects.

Researchers at Tufts University, in Boston studied the effects of drinking wild blueberry juice in older adults with early memory changes. Continue reading Changes in memory afer drinking blueberry juice →

Marijuana (Cannabinoids), Sleep (Insomnia)

Effects of recreational drugs on sleep

08/16/2010 JR

This article by researchers at Freiburg University Medical Center in Germany reviews cocaine, ecstasy, and marijuana.

Let’s focus on the one purported CAM, marijuana. Continue reading Effects of recreational drugs on sleep →

Diabetes Mellitus, Elderly, Obesity, Sleep (Insomnia)

Is napping “bad” for nighttime sleep?

08/16/2010 JR

Two published studies conclude it is not. Continue reading Is napping “bad” for nighttime sleep? →

Marijuana (Cannabinoids), Schizophrenia

Cannabis and the risk for developing psychosis

08/15/2010 JR

Researchers at the University of Amsterdam, in the Netherlands, hypothesized that cannabis use (or a cannabis use disorder) at a younger age relates to a high-risk symptoms at a younger age.

And a second study comes to rather odd conclusions about marijuana and schizophrenia severity. Continue reading Cannabis and the risk for developing psychosis →

Children, Cochrane Library, Hypnosis

Hypnosis to help manage children in the dentist’s chair

08/15/2010 JR

It’s a challenge.

In this Cochrane review, researchers at the Military Dental Centre in Seeb, Oman, reviewed the evidence for hypnosis (with or without sedation). Continue reading Hypnosis to help manage children in the dentist’s chair →

Acupuncture/ pressure, Pregnancy, Uterine Bleeding

Acupuncture treatment of polycystic ovarian syndrome

08/14/2010 JR

It’s the most common hormonal disorder among women of reproductive age. The cause is unknown, but afflicted women have difficulty becoming pregnant.

Researchers at the University of New South Wales, in Sydney, Australia reviewed the evidence for acupuncture. Continue reading Acupuncture treatment of polycystic ovarian syndrome →

Cholesterol/Lipids, Consumer Alert, Diabetes Mellitus, Erectile Dysfunction, FDA/FTC/CDC, Heart Disease, High Blood Pressure

Consumer Alert: Prolatis

08/13/2010 JR

The distributor of this product recommends to, “Be ready when the time is right!”

The FDA says not so fast. Prolatis contains “sulfoaildenafil, an analogue of sildenafil [Viagra],… making Prolatis an unapproved drug.” Continue reading Consumer Alert: Prolatis →

Acupuncture/ pressure, Aromatherapy, CAM Politics, CAM Use, Massage, Prof. Ernst

Prevalence of CAM use in England

08/13/2010 JR

The English commonly combine CAM with prescription drugs.

Let’s compare these findings by Prof. Ernst and colleagues to CAM use in other countries. Continue reading Prevalence of CAM use in England →

Acupuncture/ pressure, Exercise, Magnets, Marijuana (Cannabinoids), Massage, Pain, Physiotherapy, Spinal Cord, TENS/FNS/VNS

CAM for spinal cord injury pain

08/12/2010 JR

Researchers at the University Medical Centre Utrecht and De Hoogstraat, in The Netherlands surveyed the use of CAM in a large group of Dutch patients with spinal cord injury. Continue reading CAM for spinal cord injury pain →

Aromatherapy, High Blood Pressure, Prof. Ernst

Review of aromatherapy to treat high blood pressure

08/12/2010 JR

Prof. Ernst reviewed the evidence and finds that more is needed. Continue reading Review of aromatherapy to treat high blood pressure →

CAM Politics, Homeopathy

Placebo effect with homeopathic vs conventional drugs

08/12/2010 JR

Wikipedia states, “Claims of homeopathy’s efficacy beyond the placebo effect are unsupported by the collective weight of scientific and clinical evidence.”

But this study from Germany concludes that the evidence doesn’t support this belief. Continue reading Placebo effect with homeopathic vs conventional drugs →

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

  • TENS for cancer pain
  • NCCAM-sponsored study of tai chi to treat fibromyalgia
  • Consumer Alert: TimeOut
  • Consumer Alert: Mr. Magic
  • Nonpharmacologic management of osteoporosis
  • Preventing prostate cancer progression with green tea
  • Acupuncture for chronic sinusitis. Worth the cost?
  • Wash your hands
  • Vitamin D supplementation and hip fracture risk
  • Changes in memory afer drinking blueberry juice
  • Effects of recreational drugs on sleep
  • Is napping “bad” for nighttime sleep?
  • Cannabis and the risk for developing psychosis
  • Hypnosis to help manage children in the dentist’s chair
  • Acupuncture treatment of polycystic ovarian syndrome
  • Consumer Alert: Prolatis
  • Prevalence of CAM use in England
  • CAM for spinal cord injury pain
  • Review of aromatherapy to treat high blood pressure
  • Placebo effect with homeopathic vs conventional drugs

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