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

Archive for the 'Ayurveda' Category

Herbal treatments for acne vulgaris

Monday, July 11th, 2016

Faculty members from Hamdard University in New Delhi, India have published a review on Medscape of treatment options for acne, with emphasis on herbal treatment options.

Here’s a summary of the herbal section. (more…)

Ayurvedic treatments for diabetes mellitus

Tuesday, January 31st, 2012

In this Cochrane review, researchers at the Child and Adolescent Care Centre, in Chennai, India, assessed the effects. (more…)

Absorbability of arsenic and lead in traditional Ayurvedic medicines

Monday, January 30th, 2012

Researchers at the Royal Military College of Canada, tested 42 medicines. (more…)

Lead poisoning associated with Ayurvedic drug treatment in India

Friday, March 11th, 2011

Using herbal/Ayurvedic medicine may lead to plumbism as heavy metals are often incorporated in such medications with the belief that the metals have medicinal properties.

Researchers at Maulana Azad Medical College, in Delhi, India, report the experience of 1 patient. (more…)

Detection of toxic heavy metals in herbal plants

Tuesday, January 11th, 2011

Researchers at the National Institute of Ayurvedic Pharmaceutical Research, in Punjab, India, report on a few local samples of certain herbs. (more…)

NCCAM reviews reiki and ayurvedic

Friday, April 2nd, 2010

 The National Center for Contemporary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) has updated their introductory reviews.

Here’s what’s important. (more…)

Mercury, arsenic, and lead levels in herbals

Monday, March 8th, 2010

Researchers from the Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, in The Netherlands measured levels in Asian traditional herbal preparations that are available on the Dutch market. (more…)

Traditional Indian medicine for HIV/AIDS

Wednesday, August 12th, 2009

Reviewers from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore, Maryland assessed the quality of scientific articles on traditional Indian medicine for HIV/AIDS treatment and care. (more…)

Herbals for arthritis and other musculoskeletal conditions

Wednesday, July 15th, 2009

Ms. Meenakshi Khatta is a nurse practitioner and associate professor at the University of Maryland in Baltimore. Nurse Khatta has reviewed the use of CAM to treat pain due to musculoskeletal conditions.

Here are her findings on herbal supplements used to treat fibromyalgia, osteoarthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis. (more…)

Herbals and lead levels in Americans

Saturday, July 4th, 2009

The relationship between supplements and lead levels in blood has been an ongoing project for researchers in Boston.

In this study, researchers from Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center report specific herbal supplements are associated with higher blood lead levels among women. (more…)

Fenugreek to treat diabetes

Friday, April 10th, 2009

Researchers from Huazhong University of Science and Technology, in Wuhan, China report improvement in fasting blood sugar levels and A1c when fenugreek was added to ongoing anti-diabetes (sulfonylurea) therapy. (more…)

Fenugreek to treat obesity?

Friday, April 10th, 2009

Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum graecum) is an ingredient in Indian-style spiced foods and a source of soluble fiber.

Researchers from the University of Minnesota, in St Paul studied its effects on satiety, blood sugar levels and insulin response, and energy intake in obese people. (more…)

Frankincense and myrrh

Wednesday, December 24th, 2008

 Laura Christman and Deb Peterson have written interesting articles on these resins, which became forever famous more than 2 centuries ago.

Highlights follow. (more…)

Treating kidney stones with Ayurvedic Herbmed

Tuesday, December 2nd, 2008

Herbmed is an ayurvedic medicine that contains Varuna (Crataeva nurvala) and banana stem (Musa paradisiaca).

Researchers from AMAI Trust Multispecialty Hospital in Pune, India report the results of preliminary research in treating kidney stones. (more…)

Making ayurveda an international medical system

Friday, November 21st, 2008

Dr. Raghunath Anant Mashelkar is the former Director General of the Council of Scientific & Industrial Research in India.

During the Second World Ayurveda Congress he shared his thoughts about bhasmas — the Ayurvedic “supplements” with the highest reported heavy metal (lead, tin, iron, arsenic) content. (more…)

Arsenic in modern medicine

Tuesday, November 11th, 2008

HemOnc Today has reviewed the historic and current role of arsenic in the mainstream treatment of cancer today.

Here’s a brief summary of its current use. (more…)

CAM and diabetes: An update of recent studies

Saturday, November 1st, 2008

The World Health Organization has predicted a 39% rise in the worldwide prevalence of diabetes by 2030. And an article in The Lancet indicates this might be an underestimation.

Since November is Diabetes Month, here’s a round-up of CAM options for people with diabetes from 2006 through March 2007.
(more…)

Ayurvedic treatment for knee osteoarthritis

Monday, October 27th, 2008

 Reporting at the American College of Rheumatology Annual Scientific Meeting, researchers from the Center For Rheumatic Diseases in Maharashtra, India concluded, Ayurvedic drugs may be safer and just as effective as glucosamine and celecoxib (Celebrex). (more…)

Ayurvedic and the risk of heavy metal poisoning

Saturday, October 25th, 2008

What’s been published recently suggests there’s likely to be a problem.

Have we reached a tipping point? (more…)

Herbs used to treat liver toxicity due to tuberculosis therapy

Wednesday, October 22nd, 2008

Drugs to protect the liver are prescribed in some countries as a routine part of tuberculosis treatment.

But do they work? (more…)