More data from the University of California, San Francisco in support of CAM in the care of cancer patients.
Continue reading Using massage and acupuncture to help control symptoms after cancer surgery
Category Archives: Acupuncture/ pressure
Reviewing CAM to treat Meniere’s disease
Meniere’s disease is characterized by deafness, ringing in the ears, dizziness, and nausea. Because the precise cause is unknown, most treatments are limited to treating symptoms.
Here’s a summary of CAM options from a review in The Internet Journal of Otorhinolaryngology.
Self-care for peripheral neuropathy in HIV/AIDS
Peripheral neuropathy is the most common neurological complication in HIV, and it’s often associated with antiretroviral therapy. Patients experience muscle weakness and atrophy, pain, and numbness.
Here’s what people use to manage the discomfort. Continue reading Self-care for peripheral neuropathy in HIV/AIDS
The importance of choice in healthcare
Researchers at Osher Institute at Harvard investigated the effectiveness and cost-of-care based on patients’ choice of acupuncture, chiropractic, or massage therapy compared with usual care to treat acute low back pain.
Pain medicine and the risk of high blood pressure: Other options
You might have read about the study where acetaminophen (Tylenol, paracetamol), nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (eg, ibuprofen; Advil and Motrin), and aspirin were associated with development of high blood pressure.
What should you do if you take these drugs regularly and have high blood pressure?
Continue reading Pain medicine and the risk of high blood pressure: Other options
Acupuncture for chronic low back pain
This observational study conducted by the Technische Universitat Munchen in Germany concluded “Acupuncture treatment is associated with clinically relevant improvements in patients suffering from chronic low back pain.”
Here are the details.
Acupuncture for chronic neck pain
I Evaluating CAM to treat nausea and vomiting in cancer patients
The Oncology Nursing Society has posted a table that summarizes CAM studies on the treatment of nausea and vomiting in cancer patients. The studies were published between 1988 and 2005.
Here’s a summary of their findings.
Continue reading Evaluating CAM to treat nausea and vomiting in cancer patients
Medical students support CAM
Medical students have a long-standing interest in learning more about CAM.
Here’s what they think at Georgetown University School of Medicine in Washington, DC.
Pregnancy and acupuncture
In one California fertility clinic acupuncture is standard therapy for 85% of women. Now, three clinical trials published this year report an improved rate of pregnancy among women undergoing in vitro fertilization and acupuncture.
Acupressure to treat agitation in people with dementia
Agitated behavior occurs in nearly half of patients with dementia. It can be the difference between a person qualifying for different levels (and cost) of nursing home care.
The problem is that the nursing staff is limited in using drugs to control it.
Now, the results of a small study at the National Yang-Ming University in Taipei, Taiwan suggest that acupressure might be a useful alternative.
Continue reading Acupressure to treat agitation in people with dementia
The use of CAM by people with asthma
During the most recent meeting of the American College of Chest Physicians Dr. Paul Blanc from the University of California at San Francisco reported that half of all people with asthma use CAM.
Here are the highlights from Medscape.
Acupuncture and TCM now regulated in Ontario
Last year, legislation was submitted in Ontario, Canada that would regulate acupuncture and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) in that province.
The deed is done.
Continue reading Acupuncture and TCM now regulated in Ontario
Auricular acupuncture reduces pain after surgery, but does it matter?
This is the first study of this form of acupuncture in patients having surgery in an outpatient setting.
Continue reading Auricular acupuncture reduces pain after surgery, but does it matter?
More support for acupuncture treatment of neck pain
Another group has reviewed the literature and concluded there is moderate evidence for its use to treat neck pain.
“Moderate” evidence that acupuncture?
- Relieves pain better than some sham treatments when measured at the end of the treatment
- Is associated with less pain — short-term follow-up — than those on a waiting list
- Is more effective than inactive treatments for relieving pain as measured immediately post treatment and during short-term follow-up.
These conclusions are based on the results of 10 clinical studies. It agrees with an earlier Cochrane review.
1/17/07 19:04 JR
The winner in CAM for 2006
Winner: If you can stick a pin in it, researchers are eager to study acupuncture.
Profiling cancer patients who use CAM
Here is a profile of CAM users among patients with cancer who live in Washington State. The data come from an insurance survey. So, it’s limited to what people submit for reimbursement.
The use of homeopathy among celebrities
I was surprised to learn of the popularity of homeopathy among today’s luminaries.
Here’s a list.
State-of-the-art: Acupuncture to treat nausea and vomiting
In a published review, the effectiveness of acupuncture was evaluated in postoperative nausea and vomiting, chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting, and pregnancy-related nausea and vomiting.
Continue reading State-of-the-art: Acupuncture to treat nausea and vomiting
CAM for smoking cessation?
A survey of more than a thousand people trying to quit smoking reveals those treatments most commonly used and most often perceived to be effective.
I listed them here with a brief comment on the scientific support.