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 ADHD

    Complementary and alternative medicines (CAM) are frequently given to children and adolescents for reputed benefits for hyperkinetic and concentration disorders such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

    Researchers in Arizona and Australia assessed the evidence based on the results of studies providing an acceptable standard of evidence.

    First, the details.

    • 16 studies met the inclusion criteria.

    And, the results.

    • Support for the treatment of ADHD was found for the following:
      • Zinc
      • Iron
      • Pinus marinus (French maritime pine bark)
      • Chinese herbal formula (Ningdong)
    • Mixed (mainly inconclusive) evidence:
      • Omega-3
      • L-acetyl carnitine
    • Ineffective in treating ADHD:
      • Ginkgo biloba (ginkgo)
      • Hypericum perforatum (St. John’s wort)
    • Promising candidates for future research:
      • Bacopa monniera (brahmi) and Piper methysticum (kava) via a combination of cognitive enhancing and sedative effects.

    The bottom line?

    As you might expect, the authors concluded, “Only some CAM may be beneficial in ADHD, thus clinicians need to be aware of the current evidence.”

    For greater detail, this review can be purchased on line.

    8/28/11 21:31 JR

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