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 'Bleeding Disorders' Category

    Interaction of Ginkgo biloba with antiplatelet drugs

    Monday, September 9th, 2013

    little-guy2Back in the ‘90s there were several reports of serious interactions in people who used Ginkgo biloba with other “blood thinners” to treat peripheral vascular disease (ie, dementia and claudication).

    Researchers at Inje University College of Medicine, in Busan, Republic of Korea, evaluated the effects of G. biloba extracts on the pharmacokinetics of the antiplatelet drug cilostazol (Pletal) and its metabolites. (more…)

    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…)

    Topical sesame/rose geranium oil treats hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia

    Tuesday, February 26th, 2013

    flashcard-body parts-nose-01People with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) have abnormalities in their blood vessels. The most common manifestation is spontaneous and recurrent nosebleeds (epistaxis). More on HHT is here.

    Researchers at the Johns Hopkins Sinus Center, in Baltimore, Maryland, studied the effects of sesame/rose geranium oil. (more…)

    Risks due to energy drinks

    Saturday, November 17th, 2012

    In 2009, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration reported that more than 13,000 emergency room visits were associated with energy drinks.

    Now, The New York Times tells us, FDA reports the caffeine drink, 5-hour Energy, may have been involved in 13 deaths over the past four years.

    There’s no absolute proof that these drinks were the sole cause of these events. And the makers of 5-Hour Energy and Monster Energy insist their products are safe and unrelated to the problems reported to the FDA.

    Regardless. (more…)

    Safety of acupuncture in children

    Tuesday, November 22nd, 2011

    Researchers at the University of Alberta, in Edmonton, reviewed the adverse events associated with needle acupuncture in children. (more…)

    Marijuana interaction with warfarin reported

    Wednesday, September 7th, 2011

    Researchers from the Cheyenne Veterans Affairs Medical Center, in Wyoming report that when taken together, 1 patient experienced bleeding from the blood “thinner” warfarin (Coumadin). (more…)

    Risk of interactions between supplements and blood thinners

    Thursday, July 14th, 2011

    Dr. Jennifer Strohecker at the Intermountain Medical Center, in Salt Lake City, Utah, tells us the safety of warfarin (Coumadin) use can be compromised by many popular herbal and nonherbal supplements.

    Here’s what we know from her research. (more…)

    Is acupuncture safe for children with cancer and low platelet counts?

    Wednesday, June 22nd, 2011

    Acupuncture is frequently used to manage the side effects associated with cancer therapy.

    Researchers at Columbia University Medical Center, in New York City, studied the safety of acupuncture in patients with cancer treatment-related thrombocytopenia. (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…)

    Use of herbal supplements by people taking blood thinners

    Friday, May 6th, 2011

    During the American Heart Association meeting, Dr. Jennifer Strohecker, at the Intermountain Medical Center, in Salt Lake City, Utah, reported that documentation of supplement use in the medical chart is poor. (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…)

    Fish oil and the risk of bleeding following surgery

    Wednesday, March 23rd, 2011

    Concern over bleeding due to changes in platelet function has led to prohibiting omega-3 supplements before surgery.

    Researchers at the Hospital for Special Surgery, in New York City, reviewed the records of spinal surgery patients in order to determine the risk of bleeding. (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…)

    Electro-acupuncture treatment of polycystic ovarian syndrome

    Tuesday, February 8th, 2011

    Polycystic ovary syndrome is a common female endocrine disorder affecting about 5% to 10% of women of reproductive age a leading causes of reduced fertility.

    Researchers in Sweden studied the response to low-frequency electro-acupuncture in these women. (more…)

    Should acupuncture be used in people with hemophilia?

    Friday, January 14th, 2011

    Hemophilia refers to bleeding disorders in which it takes a long time for the blood to clot. Patients suffer from acute pain due to bleeding into a joint and chronic arthritic pain from repeated bleeding episodes.

    During the Hemophilia 2010 World Congress, researchers from the Henry Ford Health System, in Detroit, Michigan, reported their results. (more…)

    Music therapy to treat acquired brain injury

    Wednesday, January 5th, 2011

    Acquired brain injury is caused by stroke, an aneurysm, or an infection and may result in problems with movement, language, sensation, thinking, or emotion.

    In this Cochrane Review, researchers in the US and UK evaluated the efficacy of music therapy as an option for rehabilitation. (more…)

    The ginseng/warfarin interaction debate

    Sunday, October 3rd, 2010

    Researchers from Kyung Hee University in Seoul, Republic of Korea studied Asian ginseng (Panax ginseng) and found no interaction with the blood thinner, warfarin (Coumadin). (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…)

    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…)