The C.A.M. Report
Complementary and Alternative Medicine: Fair, Balanced, and to the Point

Archive for the 'Garlic' Category

Resveratrol flawed science, and more

Thursday, January 12th, 2012

The University of Connecticut reports that Dr. Dipak Das falsified the results of some studies of resveratrol.

But the CAM connection goes deeper. (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…)

Risk of drug interactions with dietary supplements

Monday, September 12th, 2011

Researchers in the US reviewed the incidence and severity of potential interactions between prescription medicine and dietary supplements. (more…)

Garlic and blood pressure control: Does study design matter?

Thursday, August 18th, 2011

Researchers at Radboud University Medical Centre, in Nijmegen, The Netherlands, believe that flawed study design may contribute to confusion on the value of garlic to control hypertension. (more…)

Herbal supplements: Caveat Emptor

Thursday, August 11th, 2011

Researchers at the University of Leeds, in Woodhouse, evaluated written information provided with commonly used herbal products in the UK in advance of a European Union Directive that tightens regulations for some herbal products, including requirements to provide safety information. (more…)

Effects of herbals on warfarin therapy

Sunday, June 12th, 2011

Researchers at the University of Hong Kong, in China, studied the risk for an herbal:warfarin interaction in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation. (more…)

Risk of death and the use of supplements

Friday, June 3rd, 2011

Researchers at the University of Washington, in Seattle, evaluated whether 13 vitamin and mineral supplements and glucosamine, chondroitin, saw palmetto, Ginkgo biloba, garlic, fish-oil, and fiber supplements were associated with total mortality.

The results with glucosamine and chondroitin are most interesting. (more…)

CAM use among African American breast cancer survivors

Wednesday, April 20th, 2011

Researchers in Boston and Washington, DC, determined the prevalence of multivitamins, folic acid, and herbal supplement use. (more…)

World’s first clinical trial

Sunday, March 13th, 2011

The website called Common Ground has an article about the Canadian healthcare system, CAM, and the Body Heals Conference, which will take place later this month.

As an intro, author Alan Cassels tells about the first clinical trial. (more…)

Do we overhype drug-supplement interactions?

Sunday, March 13th, 2011

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…)

Treating hypertension with time-released garlic tablets

Saturday, July 24th, 2010

Researchers from the Russian Academy of Natural Sciences, in Moscow report that time-released tablets (Allicor) are more effective than regular garlic supplements (Kwai). (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…)

Growing evidence supports garlic to treat hepatopulmonary syndrome

Wednesday, May 5th, 2010

It occurs in up to 20% of patients with cirrhosis of the liver and should be considered in anyone who develops difficulty breathing or shortness of breath.

In 1992, researchers from the University of Florida published a report of a patient with hepatopulmonary syndrome who failed drug therapy, refused surgery, but improved while taking garlic supplements.

Here’s the latest study from the Medical College Calcutta, in India. (more…)

Risk of taking herbals in people with heart disease

Monday, April 5th, 2010

Researchers from the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota and Arizona collaborated to review the risks of herbal:drug interactions.

The abstract is a bit skimpy on details, but the American Pharmaceutical Association has a nice summary, which will be summarized further here. (more…)

Functional foods and cardiovascular risk

Sunday, April 4th, 2010

Researchers from the University of Milano, Italy, list what we know. (more…)

Drug-herbal interaction review

Saturday, March 20th, 2010

Prof. Ernst reviewed popular herbal medicines.

It’s a long list. (more…)

Garlic: Is it more than a food and a spice?

Wednesday, March 10th, 2010

It’s one of the best-researched, best-selling herbal remedies. But what do we really know?

Researchers from the University of Naples Federico II, in Italy reviewed the evidence. (more…)

The risk of taking herbals by patients with heart disease

Tuesday, February 2nd, 2010

Researchers from the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota and Scottsdale, Arizona  reviewed the risks. (more…)

The growing incidence of drug-supplement interactions

Saturday, November 21st, 2009

The combined use of supplements with prescription and non-prescription drugs is increasing along with the potential for significant interactions.

Here’s the evidence. (more…)

Treating kids with high cholesterol

Monday, November 9th, 2009

Recently, the American Academy of Pediatrics published guidelines for screening children for high cholesterol blood levels.

Now, researchers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, Georgia have estimated the number that might need treatment. (more…)