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 'Meditation' Category

    Review: Benefits of CAM to help treat hypertension

    Thursday, April 25th, 2013

    HeartBeatingThe American Heart Association has summarized the blood pressure-lowering effects of several alternative approaches and provided recommendations for their use.

    Here’s what we know in people with blood pressure (BP) levels higher than 120/80 mmHg. (more…)

    CAM use among people with migraine

    Thursday, January 26th, 2012

    Researchers at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, in Boston, Massachusetts, report patterns and reasons for its use.

    It’s not what you think. (more…)

    Plan to treat fibromyalgia pain in advance

    Thursday, September 22nd, 2011

    MayoClinic.com tells us, “When fibromyalgia pain or fatigue is severe, you might not be thinking clearly… Having a plan to follow gives you a sense of control over your signs and symptoms.” (more…)

    Cost effective Transcendental Meditation

    Sunday, September 18th, 2011

    Dr. Robert Herron, an independent researcher, and director of the Center for Health Systems Analysis in Quebec, Canada, retrospectively assessed government payments to physicians for treating the TM and no-treatment (NT) groups. (more…)

    Spiritual retreat for depression in patients with heart disease

    Wednesday, August 3rd, 2011

    Researchers in the US compared the effects of a nondenominational spiritual retreat on depression and well-being following acute coronary syndrome — chest pain and other symptoms when the heart doesn’t get enough blood. (more…)

    Using CAM to improve the lives of cancer patients

    Wednesday, May 18th, 2011

    During the Clinical Oncological Society of Australia Annual Scientific Meeting, researchers at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, in Perth, Western Australia reported less distress, and improvements in pain, fatigue, nausea, appetite, sleep, breathing and bowel function. (more…)

    Effects of meditation on alexithymia and social skills

    Wednesday, February 9th, 2011

    Alexithymia is the inability to describe emotions in a verbal manner. Alexithymia is likely to be involved in the pain experience of cancer patients.

    Researchers at the Universidad de Almería, in Spain, report their preliminary findings using meditation (mindfulness). (more…)

    Review: Mind body therapies for menopausal symptoms

    Monday, January 17th, 2011

    Researchers from the University of Virginia Health System, in Charlottesville reviewed yoga and/or meditation-based programs, tai chi, and other relaxation practices, including muscle relaxation and breath-based techniques, relaxation response training, and low-frequency sound-wave therapy. (more…)

    Review: Meditation to treat ADHD

    Friday, December 17th, 2010

    Researchers at KhonKaen University, in KhonKaen, Thailand reviewed the evidence for this Cochrane report on attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). (more…)

    Mindfulness meditation for substance abuse

    Friday, December 10th, 2010

    meditationRelapse is common in substance use disorders, even among treated individuals.

    Researchers from the University of Wisconsin, in Madison reviewed the evidence supporting mindfulness meditation. (more…)

    Survey of American medical students about CAM

    Saturday, September 18th, 2010

    Researchers from several US medical schools surveyed the students. (more…)

    Effect of breathing rate on pain and emotion in women with fibromyalgia

    Wednesday, August 4th, 2010

    Researchers at Arizona State University, in Tempe studied the effects of breathing rate following thermal pain in women with fibromyalgia syndrome. (more…)

    Complementary therapies for patients with leukemia

    Monday, July 5th, 2010

    little guyThe Integrative Medicine Service, at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, in New York City offers their perspective. (more…)

    Vipassana: An ancient technique of meditation

    Wednesday, June 2nd, 2010

    The aim of Vipassana meditation is to reduce cognitive and emotional reactivity.

    Dr. Alberto Chiesa at the University of Bologna, in Italy, reviewed the evidence. (more…)

    Review: CAM treatment of depression and anxiety

    Thursday, April 15th, 2010

    Anxiety and depression are among the most common conditions cited by those seeking treatment with complementary and alternative therapies.

    Researchers from The Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University, in Greenville, North Carolina reviewed the evidence. (more…)

    Transendental Meditation in blood pressure control

    Tuesday, January 26th, 2010

    Researchers from Maharishi University of Management Research Institute, in Maharishi Vedic City, Iowa report. (more…)

    What we know about mindfulness meditation in substance use disorders

    Wednesday, January 20th, 2010

    Substance use disorders refer to conditions arising from the abuse of alcohol and psychoactive drugs.

    Researchers from the University of Wisconsin in Madison reviewed the existing evidence for using mindfulness meditation — the practice of directing your full attention to the present. (more…)

    Effects of spiritual meditation on migraines

    Monday, October 5th, 2009

    Migraine headaches are associated with symptoms of depression, anxiety, and low self-efficacy.

    Spiritual meditation helps ameliorate these traits, according to researchers at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center in Worcester. (more…)

    Short sleep duration and coronary artery calcification

    Thursday, August 13th, 2009

    Coronary artery calcification is the accumulation of calcified fatty deposits on the inside of the arteries that supply blood to the heart. Their presence  is a predictor of future coronary heart disease. Researchers from the University of Chicago in Illinois report that sleeping longer is associated with lower calcification.

    Let’s review the research and reviews from 2008 that looked at CAM options to treat insomnia. (more…)

    The use of prayer as CAM

    Friday, May 8th, 2009

    The use of prayer is rarely queried in surveys of CAM use. Here are the highlights from a Centers for Disease Control survey on the use of CAM. It’s based on interviews with more than 31,000 adults. The report is available here (then go to the “Barnes PM” link) and here. (more…)