Dr. Darrell Hulisz from Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine in Cleveland, Ohio reviews popular herbals.
Let’s focus on safety issues. Continue reading Safety review of popular herbal products
All posts by JR
Supportive care for chronic fatigue syndrome
Medscape has published a review written by clinicians from around the US.
Let’s focus on 6 supportive care options for chronic fatigue and immune dysfunction syndrome, aka chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) and myalgic encephalomyelitis. Continue reading Supportive care for chronic fatigue syndrome
Does vitamin E protect from cancer?
Except possibly for prostate cancer, the answer is no, according to researchers from the King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Continue reading Does vitamin E protect from cancer?
Use of Chinese medicine in HIV patients
This survey of male Chinese HIV patients provides an opportunity to review the risk for interactions between Chinese herbal medicine and drugs used to treat human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Continue reading Use of Chinese medicine in HIV patients
Effects of green tea on weight loss
 Researchers from the Maastricht University, in The Netherlands reviewed the evidence.
But, there are limits over what can be claimed by manufacturers. Continue reading Effects of green tea on weight loss
Multivitamins and the risk of death
 There’s little effect, according to researchers at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, in Seattle, Washington.
Should we be surprised? Continue reading Multivitamins and the risk of death
Healthy living lowers the risk of heart disease
The risk of heart failure at age 40 years is approximately 1 in 5.
Here are 6 steps to improving your odds, according to this study by researchers in Boston. Continue reading Healthy living lowers the risk of heart disease
Should we add CAM to Rx treatments?
 Researchers from the University of Queensland, in Australia evaluated the evidence for adding nutritional and herbal medicines to antidepressants, mood stabilizers, and benzodiazepines. Continue reading Should we add CAM to Rx treatments?
Kava and St. John’s wort: Evidence for mood and anxiety disorders
 A broad range of mood disorders were reviewed by researchers at the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, in Queensland, Australia. Continue reading Kava and St. John’s wort: Evidence for mood and anxiety disorders
The Women’s Antioxidant Cardiovascular Study
 The purpose was to investigate the long-term effects of taking vitamin C, vitamin E, and β-carotene to prevent type 2 diabetes. Continue reading The Women’s Antioxidant Cardiovascular Study
Debating how to reduce the risk of diabetes
 During the European Association for the Study of Diabetes 2008 Meeting, Dr. Paul Zimmet, who is Director of the International Diabetes Institute in Melbourne, Australia argued for greater reliance on drugs.
Dr. Nick Wareham, who is Director of the MRC Epidemiology Unit at the University of Cambridge in the UK advocated to control risk factors and support public health solutions. Continue reading Debating how to reduce the risk of diabetes
The Cure Within
Here’s a vignette from Anne Harrington’s book, The Cure Within: A History of Mind-Body Medicine, that sums the attraction of CAM for many people with cancer.
I’ve taken it from a review by Jerome Groopman in The New York Times. Continue reading The Cure Within
Hydrotherapy for fibromyalgia: 2 reviews
 There’s evidence that hydrotherapy has short-term beneficial effects on pain and quality of life, according to reviewers at Technische Universität München, in Germany. Continue reading Hydrotherapy for fibromyalgia: 2 reviews
Benefits of chondroitin in knee osteoarthritis
Following the negative report from the Glucosamine/Chondroitin Arthritis Intervention Trial (GAIT), researchers from the University of Utah reanalyzed the data on chondroitin and discovered there’s benefit in certain patients. Continue reading Benefits of chondroitin in knee osteoarthritis
Integrating CAM throughout the pharmacy curriculum
 The School of Pharmacy at Griffith University Gold Coast in Australia instituted an integrated approach to teaching evidence-based CAM during their pharmacy curriculum. Continue reading Integrating CAM throughout the pharmacy curriculum
In praise of mothers who forced their children to take cod liver oil
In a Medscape editorial, Dr. George Griffing from Saint Louis University in Missouri outlines the benefits. Continue reading In praise of mothers who forced their children to take cod liver oil
Behavioral counseling prevents sexually transmitted infections
Evidence suggests that behavioral counseling in sexually transmitted infections (STIs) clinics and primary care offices reduces STIs in “at-risk” adults and adolescents. Continue reading Behavioral counseling prevents sexually transmitted infections
Consumer Alert: “Natural” weight loss products
 The FDA has told Young You Corporation to recall its supplements sold under the following names. Continue reading Consumer Alert: “Natural” weight loss products
DHA effective in some people with Alzheimer’s disease
 During the Alzheimer’s Association 2009 International Conference on Alzheimer’s Disease, researchers from Oregon Health & Sciences University, in Portland reported that the benefits of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), an omega-3 essential fatty acid, were influenced by a patient’s genetic makeup. Continue reading DHA effective in some people with Alzheimer’s disease
Opportunities for CAM in healthcare reform
 Dr. Mark Hyman is Editor-in-Chief of Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine, a professional journal on integrative medicine and alternative medicine.
Here are his recommendations for any healthcare reform proposal being considered by lawmakers in Washington. Continue reading Opportunities for CAM in healthcare reform