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

    Review: CAM for arthritis

    Prof. Ernst and colleague evaluated the evidence on CAM treatment options for rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis.

    First, the details.

    • 5 systematic reviews met the inclusion criteria.

    And, the results.

    • All studies arrived at cautious conclusions.
    • 4 reviews were of high quality and one had a high risk of bias.

    The bottom line?

    The authors concluded, “The evidence to support the effectiveness of CAM as a treatment option for rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis is ambiguous.”

    In general, there isn’t enough scientific evidence to firmly establish that any CAM therapies are safe and effective for rheumatoid arthritis. Some mind-body therapies and dietary supplements may be beneficial additions to rheumatoid arthritis treatment regimens, but more high-quality research is needed before drawing conclusions.

    The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) agrees, and provides more detail here.

    On the other hand, The MayoClinic.com lists several CAM options for osteoarthritis.

    10/10/11 21:32 JR

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