Complementary and alternative medicines (CAM) are frequently given to children and adolescents for reputed benefits for hyperkinetic and concentration disorders such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Researchers in Arizona and Australia assessed the evidence based on the results of studies providing an acceptable standard of evidence. (more…)

Emily Matthews, a reader of this blog, provides this overview of depression and complementary treatment options.

About 20 million Americans suffer from clinical depression. Low levels of serotonin, a neurotransmitter, are thought to contribute to depression. Depression is also associated with diseases like diabetes, heart disease, chronic pain, hormonal imbalance, hypoglycemia, stress, impaired thyroid function, environmental toxins, and unhealthy lifestyles. (more…)

Researchers at the Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University, in Greenville, North Carolina tell us, “The number of people with psychiatric disorders who use CAM is on the rise,… estimates of CAM use range from 8% to 57%.” Most of this is to treat anxiety and depression.

Is it worth the effort? (more…)

Real and hypothetical concerns exist.

Dr. Mark Moyad (photo), who is Director of Preventive and Alternative Medicine at the University of Michigan Medical Center in Ann Arbor, puts it into perspective. (more…)

Evidence for CAM to treat depression, anxiety, sleep disorders, and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has been reviewed by researchers at Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, in Kenner.

Here’s what we know. (more…)

Approximately 6.8 million Americans suffer from generalized anxiety disorder. It’s not surprising then that there’s interest in finding effective natural treatments.

The Global Neuroscience Initiative Foundation, in Los Angeles, California, reviewed the evidence for passionflower, lysine, magnesium, kava, and St John’s wort, alone or in combination. (more…)

Cytochrome P450 2D6 (CYP2D6) is a liver enzyme responsible for the metabolism of approximately 30% of all drugs.

Researchers at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock studied the effect of CYP2D6 on the metabolism of several herbal supplements and the risk of drug interactions. (more…)

This is the first study of St. John’s wort + kava to treat major depressive disorder with underlying anxiety, according to researchers from The University of Queensland, Australia. (more…)

Does it matter whether the kava formulation is an aqueous, ethanolic, or acetonic extract?

Researchers from the Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University of Frankfurt/Main, in Germany tell us the risk of liver toxicity exists with all forms of kava. (more…)

Prof. Ernst reviewed popular herbal medicines.

It’s a long list. (more…)

 A broad range of mood disorders were reviewed by researchers at the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, in Queensland, Australia. (more…)

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…)

That’s the result from a survey of internal medicine residency programs in the US. (more…)

Piper methysticum (kava) has been withdrawn for sale in several countries due to concerns over liver toxicity.

The WHO recently recommended research into “aqueous” extracts of kava. Here are the results the Kava Anxiety Depression Spectrum Study (KADSS). (more…)

Researchers from the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota have reviewed the evidence and report that most interactions are confined to a relatively small number of drug classes and supplements. (more…)

OK, you’re scheduled for surgery, and you take herbals.

Does your surgeon know what you take?

Be smart. If you use any of the herbals on this list, tell your surgeon.

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Researchers from Goethe-University Frankfurt/Main in Germany took a detailed look at reports of liver toxicity associated with taking kava.

They uncover potential risks associated with taking this popular herbal. (more…)

Here’s a review of the evidence by researchers at the University of Western Australia in Perth. (more…)

Dr. Stephen Bent is Assistant Professor of Medicine at the Osher Center for Integrative Medicine at the University of California, San Francisco.

Here’s his view. (more…)

Sprinkles is a nutritional supplement containing iron, zinc, vitamin A, folic acid, and vitamin C. Researchers from Cornell University in Ithaca, New York traveled to Haiti to do the study. (more…)