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.

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  • Recent Comments

    Acupuncture as a treatment for PMS

    Acupuncture is often used in obstetrics and gynecology. But is it useful to treat premenstrual syndrome (PMS)?

    Researchers at Kyung Hee University, in Seoul, Korea, reviewed the evidence.

    First, the details.

    • 10 studies were included in the review.
    • The studies compared acupuncture vs sham acupuncture, medication, or no treatment.

    And, the results.

    • Acupuncture was significantly better than the other treatments or no treatment.
    • Meta-analysis of the data on the effects of acupuncture vs different doses of progestin (similar to progesterone) and/or anxiolytics (antipanic or antianxiety drugs) supported using acupuncture.
    • In addition, acupuncture significantly improved symptoms compared to sham acupuncture.
    • There was no evidence of harm resulting from acupuncture.
    • Most of the studies reviewed suffered from inferior design.

    The bottom line?

    The authors concluded, “Although acupuncture seems promising for symptom improvement in women with PMS, important methodological flaws in the included studies weaken the evidence.”

    “Considering the potential of acupuncture,” the authors continue, “further rigorous studies are needed.”

    6/30/11 20:51 JR

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