Alternative & Complementary Therapies has a review of biofeedback by Dr. Sala Horowitz. In it she includes a table that rates the value of biofeedback to treat selected conditions based on the available research.
Continue reading Rating the value of biofeedback to treat diseases
The Cancer Integrative Medicine Program at Rush University Medical Center focuses on dealing with the emotional, psychological, and spiritual effects of cancer. Continue reading Integrating CAM into traditional cancer treatments in Chicago
Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) dysfunction involves face pain, clicking sounds, and limited movement of the jaw. About 33% of the population has it; fewer need treatment.
This study suggests that cognitive behavioral therapy plus biofeedback is cost-effective treatment.
Continue reading Behavioral training and biofeedback to treat temporomandibular dysfunction
Three criteria determine drug reimbursement decisions: therapeutic value, cost effectiveness, and burden of disease. Now, an article from Erasmus University in The Netherlands questions whether it’s sufficient for a drug to meet these criteria, and proposes a 4th hurdle.
Consider how CAM would hold up under such scrutiny based on what we know today. Continue reading Is CAM cost effective treatment?
Narcotic drugs (opioids) are commonly prescribed for short-term relief of chronic back pain, but their long-term (greater than 16 weeks) effectiveness has never been proved.
Also, opioid abuse occurs in 24% of cases.
What’s this got to do with CAM?
Continue reading Limits of long-term narcotic use to treat back pain and CAM options
Earlier posts here, here, and here, discussed biofeedback and constipation. Here’s a study in people with incontinence where more than 70% demonstrated improvement.
The researchers start by telling us “biofeedback is well established as a treatment for fecal incontinence.” This study assessed short-term outcomes and predictors of treatment success.”
First the details.
And the results.
Treatment success was more likely in women, older people, and people with more severe incontinence.
5/5/07 15:57 JR
Two recently published reviews on the treatment of migraine outline the role for CAM. Continue reading Defining a role for CAM in migraine
It claims to be “the most comprehensive, current, well-balanced, and trustworthy information available from both a scientific and a biblical perspective.”
Here’s the premise for Alternative Medicine: The Christian Handbook, by Donal O’Mathuna and Walt Larimore, MD
This is the second study in 2 months to report a positive effect with biofeedback to treat pelvic floor dyssynergia-type constipation.
A study from the University of Pennsylvania reports that transcendental meditation (TMed) “can be effective in improving the quality of life and functional capacity of African American CHF [congestive heart failure] patients.”
Continue reading Transcendental meditation in patients with congestive heart failure
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.
Rumination is the voluntary or involuntary regurgitation and rechewing of partially digested food that is either reswallowed or expelled.
Interestingly, in addition to diet, exercise, and possibly surgery, all treatments are complementary.
Continue reading Complementary treatments for rumination
Radical prostatectomy is an operation to remove the prostate gland and some of the tissue around it. It is done to treat prostate cancer, and up to half of all men who have a radical prostatectomy develop urinary incontinence.
Preoperative pelvic floor training (PFT) is used to strengthen the muscles and improve recovery of continence following the operation.
Does adding biofeedback help?
Continue reading Does biofeedback reduce incontinence after prostate surgery?
A recent review of published studies concludes that practicing biofeedback is associated with a reduction in the frequency of migraine attacks. And better results are achieved when biofeedback is combined with home sessions.
OK, but let’s get specific.
Continue reading The status of biofeedback for treating migraine