The C.A.M. Report
Complementary and Alternative Medicine: Fair, Balanced, and to the Point

Archive for April, 2013

Hopelessness and the value of CAM in ovarian cancer

Tuesday, April 30th, 2013

ovarian-cancer-wristbands_normalIt’s reported that 55% of patients with ovarian cancer acknowledge a fear of dying, and 32% experience loss of hope in their fight against this illness.

Researchers at Harvard Medical School, in Boston, examined CAM and its influence on hopelessness in these patients. (more…)

Increased risk of type 2 diabetes associated with sugar-sweetened drinks

Friday, April 26th, 2013

images-104x150It’s been shown in the US.

Now, researchers from Imperial College London and the InterAct consortium report an association with type 2 diabetes in Europeans who drink sugar-sweetened soft drinks. (more…)

Review: Benefits of CAM to help treat hypertension

Thursday, April 25th, 2013

HeartBeatingThe American Heart Association has summarized the blood pressure-lowering effects of several alternative approaches and provided recommendations for their use.

Here’s what we know in people with blood pressure (BP) levels higher than 120/80 mmHg. (more…)

Pain sensitivity as a predictor of response to sham acupuncture

Friday, April 19th, 2013

acupunctureMan111Studies of acupuncture to treat chronic pain have largely failed to demonstrate an advantage of traditional acupuncture over sham acupuncture.

Researchers at the University of Michigan and Harvard Medical School studied whether the degree of enhanced sensitivity to experimental-pressure pain (hyperalgesia) may be a factor in determining whether a patient responds to sham acupuncture treatment. (more…)

Curcumin to treat gingivitis

Tuesday, April 9th, 2013

dentalCariesPeriodontal diseases often lead to tooth loss. The most common forms include gingivitis and periodontitis, which are caused by plaque bacteria around the gums.

Researchers at Rangoonwala College of Dental Sciences and Research Centre, in Maharashtra, India, studied the effects of curcumin mouthwash. Here are their results and a summary of other recent studies. (more…)

Consumers’ thoughts on pharmacists regarding complementary meds

Wednesday, April 3rd, 2013

little-guy2Researchers at the University of South Australia, in Adelaide, explored consumer expectations, perceptions, and satisfaction of their pharmacist. (more…)