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.

  • Recent Posts

  • Recent Comments

    Archive for the 'F. BIOLOGICALS' Category

    CAM use among people with high blood pressure

    Wednesday, September 5th, 2012

    The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that the overall prevalence of hypertension among US adults between 2003 and 2010 was 30%, or about 67 million people. About 36 million (54%) had uncontrolled hypertension.

    Researchers at Wake Forest University School of Medicine, in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, examined the prevalence of CAM use among older adults with and without diagnosed high blood pressure and the degree to which CAM is used specifically for the treatment of high blood pressure. (more…)

    Safety of energy drinks

    Wednesday, August 22nd, 2012

    Energy drinks are consumed by 30% to 50% of adolescents and young adults. The manufacturers claim they are safe.

    Researchers at the University of Miami, in Florida reviewed the evidence and came to a different conclusion. (more…)

    CAM use in the Manitoba IBD Cohort Study

    Monday, February 27th, 2012

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

    CAM for the common cold?

    Tuesday, January 3rd, 2012

    While rhinoviruses cause upto half of colds, up to 200 other viruses have been implicated.

    Researchers at the University of Ottawa, in Ontario, reviewed the evidence for CAM to treat and prevent the common cold. (more…)

    Maggot therapy for wound debridement

    Monday, December 26th, 2011

    Researchers at the Universitaire de Caen, in France, studied the effects of bagged larvae on wound debridement compared with conventional treatment. (more…)

    Calcium, probiotics, and cholesterol metabolism

    Tuesday, November 8th, 2011

    Researchers at Friedrich Schiller University, in Jena, Germany, studied the influence of a probiotic supplement alone and combined with a calcium supplement on lowering blood cholesterol levels. (more…)

    Maggots help heal wounds in diabetic patients

    Sunday, September 25th, 2011

    Diabetic patients face lower limb amputation when lesion on the foot or leg don”t heal.

    During the meeting of the American Society for Microbiology, researchers at the University of Hawaii in Honolulu, reported the response to biosurgery using the sterile larvae of the green blow-fly (Lucilia sericata). (more…)

    Probiotics improve a person’s health

    Thursday, September 22nd, 2011

    This Cochrane Review assessed the effectiveness and safety of probiotics for preventing acute upper respiratory infections (URTIs). (more…)

    CAM options to treat eczema

    Tuesday, September 13th, 2011

    Bastyr Center for Natural Health has published a review. (more…)

    CAM options to treat menopausal symptoms

    Friday, June 17th, 2011

    Prof. Ernst has reviewed the evidence.

    Here’s what we know. (more…)

    Treating mastitis with probiotics

    Thursday, May 26th, 2011

    Mastitis is an infection of breast tissue that results in breast pain, swelling, warmth, and redness of the breast. It’s a common infection during lactation.

    Researchers at the Universidad Complutense de Madrid, in Spain compared 2 lactobacilli strains isolated from breast milk to antibiotic therapy of lactational mastitis. (more…)

    Synbiotics and the risk of common winter diseases in kids

    Monday, May 23rd, 2011

    Daily supplementation with a synbiotic preparation lowered this risk, according to researchers at Universita di Roma Tor Vergata, in Italy. (more…)

    Leeches to treat tennis elbow

    Wednesday, May 11th, 2011

    Chronic epicondylitis (tennis elbow) is a painful condition with few treatments.  It’s caused by overuse of the extensor muscles of the forearm.

    Researchers in Germany tested whether leech therapy might provide symptomatic relief. (more…)

    Should L-carnitine be taken to treat angina pectoris?

    Sunday, May 8th, 2011

    Dr. Gayle Nicholas Scott at Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, Virginia, reviewed the evidence on Medscape . (more…)

    Review: Probiotics to treat diarrhea

    Saturday, April 30th, 2011

    Here are 2 Cochrane reviews that evaluate the evidence for using probiotics to treat persistent diarrhea, and the value of probiotics + rehydration to treat diarrhea.

    (more…)

    Review: Peppermint (Manta piperita)

    Sunday, April 10th, 2011

    It’s a popular herb used in many forms (ie, oil, leaf, leaf extract, and leaf water).

    Researchers at the San Diego-Rady Children’s Hospital, in California, compiled what’s known. (more…)

    CAM use among women with vaginitis

    Sunday, April 3rd, 2011

    Researchers in the US and Israel describe the use of CAM in women with chronic vaginitis and the epidemiologic factors associated with these treatments. (more…)

    Contact dermatitis from lip balms that contain peppermint oil

    Tuesday, February 8th, 2011

    Researchers at McMaster University, in Hamilton, Ontario,  describe 4 patients with allergic contact cheilitis (inflammation of the lip) following exposure to peppermint oil contained in a lip balm product. (more…)

    Are maggots cost-effect for leg ulcers?

    Saturday, January 8th, 2011

    No, according to researchers in the UK who conducted the VenUS II study.

    But should that be the ultimate measure of its value in patients with venous ulcers? (more…)

    Synbiotics and preventing asthma-like symptoms in infants

    Wednesday, December 15th, 2010

    Researchers at the Academic Medical Center, in Amsterdam, the Netherlands studied symbiotic therapy to prevent asthma-like symptoms in infants with atopic dermatitis–chronic inflammation of the skin. (more…)