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

    CAM use in the Manitoba IBD Cohort Study

    Researchers in Winnipeg, Manitoba surveyed the prevalence of CAM use in patients with inflammatory bowel disease.

    First, the details.

    • The Manitoba IBD Cohort Study is a study of determinants of health outcomes in people with IBD (inflammatory bowel disease).
    • Participants completed semi-annual surveys, and annual in-person interviews.

    And, the results.

    • 74% of respondents used a CAM service or product over 4.5 years.
      • 14% used CAM consistently.
    • There was a trend for women to use CAM more than men.
    • There was no difference in CAM use between patients with Crohn’s disease and those with ulcerative colitis.
    • The most often used CAM services:
      • Massage therapy (30%)
      • Chiropractic (14%)
      • Physiotherapy (4%)
      • Acupuncture (3.5%)
      • Naturopathy/homeopathy (3.5%)
    • Most commonly used CAM products:
      • Lactobacillus acidophilus (8%)
      • Fish and other oils (5.5%)
      • Glucosamine (4%)
      • Chamomile (3.5%)
    • On average, only 18% of consumers used CAM for their IBD.
      • Most chose it for other problems.
    • There were no differences in psychological variables between CAM users and non-users.

    The bottom line?

    The authors concluded, “Those with IBD commonly try CAM, although very few use these approaches regularly over the years. CAM is not usually used by patients with IBD for disease management.”

    8/14/11 22:35 JR

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