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 'Cranberry' Category

    Is the risk of a cranberry juice and warfarin interaction significant?

    Monday, August 5th, 2013

    CranberryHoWA researcher from Bangalore, India, reviewed the evidence and sees a difference between what’s seen in the lab and what’s reported in practice.

    Here’s what we know. (more…)

    Cranberry-containing products to prevent urinary tract infections

    Wednesday, October 17th, 2012

    Cranberry-containing products are a folk remedy to prevent UTIs.

    Researchers in Taipei and Boston evaluated their value and factors influencing their effectiveness. (more…)

    Everything you wanted to know about cranberry

    Tuesday, June 12th, 2012

    Drs. Catherine Neto and Joe Vinson from the University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth and the University of Scranton, in Pennsylvania, contributed a chapter on cranberry in the textbook, Herbal Medicine: Biomolecular and Clinical Aspects. 2nd edition, 2011.

    Most of the chapter is detailed biochemistry — their specialty. But, they also review the status of cranberry in cancer therapy and managing urinary tract infections.

    Let’s focus on urinary tract infections. (more…)

    Effects of cranberry polyphenols on dental health

    Thursday, February 2nd, 2012

    Several studies report that the polyphenols (a source of antioxidants) in cranberries have properties that may be beneficial for treating and/or preventing dental caries and periodontal disease.

    Researchers at Laval University, in Quebec, summarized the scientific evidence supporting the potential of cranberry polyphenols to prevent and/or treat diseases of the mouth. (more…)

    Use of herbal supplements by pregnant women

    Monday, January 2nd, 2012

    Researchers at the University of Oslo, in Norway, studied the use of herbal supplements by pregnant Norwegian women. (more…)

    Cranberries vs antibiotics to prevent urinary tract infection

    Tuesday, July 26th, 2011

    Concern over the risk of resistance to antimicrobial agents has stimulated interest in cranberries to prevent recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIs).

    Researchers in the Netherlands compared trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX) (Septra, Bactrim) to cranberry capsules. (more…)

    Cranberry juice to prevent catheter-associated urinary tract infection

    Monday, June 20th, 2011

    Catheter-associated bacteriuria is the most common healthcare–associated infection worldwide. It’s due to the widespread use of urinary catheterization.

    An Expert Panel of the Infectious Diseases Society of America reviewed the evidence and made recommendations to minimize this risk. Here’s what they say about cranberry juice. (more…)

    The final word on the warfarin-cranberry interaction?

    Friday, April 22nd, 2011

    “The warning that there is a potential to enhance the effect of warfarin… with cranberry juice intake is mostly based on faulty reports.”

    That’s the conclusion by researchers at Lenox Hill Hospital, in New York City. (more…)

    The risk of thrombocytopenia with CAM

    Friday, March 4th, 2011

    When the number of platelets in the blood is low — thrombocytopenia — it’s more difficult for blood to clot. Early signs of thrombocytopenia include bruising, and bleeding from the nose or into the gastrointestinal tract.

    Researchers from the College of Medicine University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, in Oklahoma City reviewed interactions between platelets and CAM, herbals, nutritional supplements, foods, and beverages. (more…)

    Cranberry juice fails to prevent recurrent urinary tract infection

    Thursday, January 20th, 2011

    Researchers at the University of Michigan School of Public Health, in Ann Arbor, recorded the effects in college women presenting with an acute urinary tract infection (UTI). (more…)

    Effect of cranberry extract on lipids

    Sunday, September 12th, 2010

    Researchers from the Taichung Veterans General Hospital, in Taiwan examined the effect of cranberry ingestion on cholesterol in Type 2 diabetic patients taking anti-diabetes medicine. (more…)

    Review: Cranberry and urinary tract infections in spinal cord injury patients

    Thursday, September 9th, 2010

    Urinary tract infections are the most common medical complication in people with spinal cord injury.

    Researchers at the University of Guelph, in Ontario, reviewed the evidence for cranberry to prevent or treat these infections and found it lacking. (more…)

    Effectiveness of cranberry in people with ileal enterocystoplasty

    Friday, July 30th, 2010

    A diseased urinary bladder with low capacity and low compliance (ability to urinate) may require ileal enterocystoplasty (remove a part of the small intestine and attach it to the bladder to enlarge it and improve function [photo]).

    Researchers at Hospital Foch, in Suresnes, France, studied a cranberry preparation with high levels of proanthocyanidin A (inhibits bacteria from sticking to tissue) to prevent repeated bacteriuria in people with an ileal enterocystoplasty. (more…)

    Effect of high-dose cranberry juice on warfarin

    Thursday, June 17th, 2010

    Researchers at the Northern Arizona VA Health Care System, in Prescott, Arizona report that no interaction occurred.

    How should we consider these findings in light of other research showing an interaction? (more…)

    Warfarin and cranberry interaction

    Tuesday, June 8th, 2010

    Researchers from the University of Sydney in Australia investigated the possible impact of two commonly used herbal medicines, garlic and cranberry, on the anticoagulant, warfarin (Coumadin). (more…)

    Cranberry juice to prevent urinary tract infections in children

    Tuesday, December 8th, 2009

    CranberryHoWCranberry juice was compared to Lactobacillus in children with recurrent urinary tract infections by researchers at the Catholic University, in Rome, Italy. (more…)

    Safety of cranberry during pregnancy and lactation

    Tuesday, October 6th, 2009

    Women experience urinary tract infections with greater frequency during pregnancy.

    It’s not clear if cranberries are helpful to prevent urinary tract infections, but since many people think they are, it’s worth taking a look. (more…)

    Is there a cranberry:beta-lactam interaction?

    Thursday, July 2nd, 2009

     Drinking cranberry juice is often recommended along with taking low-dose antibiotics to prevent recurrent urinary tract infection.

    Researchers from the University of Washington, in Seattle evaluated the potential risk of an interaction between cranberry juice and the β-lactam antibiotics, amoxicillin (amoxicilline, Amoxil) and cefaclor (Ceclor) that might lower the effectiveness of the antibiotics. (more…)

    Review: Cranberry and urinary tract infections

    Saturday, May 16th, 2009

    Dr. David Guay from the University of Minnesota, in Minneapolis has reviewed the evidence. (more…)

    How do cranberries prevent urinary tract infection?

    Friday, March 13th, 2009

    Researchers from Worcester Polytechnic Institute, in Massachusetts went into the lab to seek the answer. (more…)