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

Archive for the 'COPD' Category

Hospitalization rate based on changes in physical activity in people with COPD

Wednesday, March 12th, 2014

asthma-150x150Emphasis in this study by researchers in Spain was on walking, the most common form of physical activity. (more…)

Improvement in symptoms with acupuncture treatment of COPD

Monday, June 4th, 2012

Last year, the Canadian Thoracic Society clinical practice guidelines, advised there was insufficient evidence to support the routine use of acupuncture to treat chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Since then, 2 more studies have been published. (more…)

Treating COPD with vitamin D

Wednesday, January 18th, 2012

Low vitamin D levels are associated with reduced lung function (FEV1), impaired immunologic control, and increased airway inflammation.

Many patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) have vitamin D deficiency. So, researchers at the University Hospitals Leuven, in Belgium, studied whether supplementation with high doses of vitamin D could reduce the incidence of COPD exacerbations. (more…)

Limits of CAM: Dyspnea in patients with COPD

Tuesday, October 25th, 2011

Dyspnea (difficulty breathing) is a cardinal symptom of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Its severity and magnitude increase as the disease progresses, leading to significant disability and a negative effect on quality of life.

Here are the Canadian Thoracic Society clinical practice guidelines, with emphasis on CAM. (more…)

Lack of effect of an Echinacea cocktail on exacerbations of COPD

Saturday, May 21st, 2011

Upper respiratory tract infections frequently exacerbate chronic-obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Researchers in Indonesia and Switzerland evaluated the effect of Echinacea purpurea + micronutrients in order to reduce the severity of these infections. (more…)

Effects of retirement on chronic disease

Monday, January 24th, 2011

An international group of researchers looked for changes in the risk of chronic diseases, depressive symptoms, and fatigue. (more…)

Association between soy and COPD

Tuesday, October 19th, 2010

Researchers from Japan and Australia investigated the relationship between soy consumption and the risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and respiratory symptoms. (more…)

Adverse effects of non-medical cannabis

Sunday, October 17th, 2010

cannabis_leafFor over 2 decades, cannabis (marijuana) has been the most widely used illicit drug by young people in high-income countries, and has become popular on a global scale.

Researchers from the University of Queensland, in Herston, Australia reviewed the adverse effects. (more…)

Benefits of pulmonary rehabilitation on COPD

Wednesday, September 22nd, 2010

It improves quality of life even in patients with less-advanced cases of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Researchers from Maastricht University Medical Center, in the Netherlands reported their results during the annual meeting of the American Thoracic Society. (more…)

Reviewing pomegranate research

Sunday, July 11th, 2010

The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) told POM Wonderful that their UK billboard showing a bottle of pomegranate juice and a hangman’s noose, and proclaims the juice can “cheat death” must be taken down.

ASA says “We considered the evidence… but concluded that it fell short of showing any direct relation between consuming the product and a longer life.”

So, what’s the evidence? (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…)

Effects of marijuana on lung function

Thursday, March 4th, 2010

Some changes were reported in this study by researches at the University of Otago, in Dunedin, New Zealand.

But what does it mean for you and me? (more…)

Heart effects of alternate nostril breathing

Thursday, May 14th, 2009

Researchers at Nepal Medical College in Kathmandu measured the physiological effects of Nadi Sodhana (alternate nostril breathing). (more…)

CAM options to treat pain at the end of life

Wednesday, May 13th, 2009

Of the many symptoms experienced by those at the end of life, pain is one of the most common, feared, and often undertreated,

Dr. Perry Fine from the University of Utah in Salt Lake City reviews the treatment options, including CAM. Here’s a summary. (more…)

Marijuana and the risk of COPD

Thursday, April 16th, 2009

Researchers from Canada and the US studied the effects of marijuana and tobacco on the risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). (more…)

Non-pharmacological treatments for breathlessness

Monday, March 16th, 2009

 Here are the results of a Cochrane review of non-drug options in advanced stages of malignant and non-malignant diseases. (more…)

Breathing training for asthma patients

Sunday, December 14th, 2008

 Researchers at the University of Aberdeen in the UK report that it has benefits, but doesn’t change the underlying disease. (more…)

Music helps breathing in people with COPD

Saturday, November 15th, 2008

Get out your MP3 player if you have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

As the researchers from the University of Hamburg state in their ivory tower way, “Auditory distraction might… serve as an intervention for the reduction of dyspnea [difficulty breathing] during exercise in this patient group.” (more…)

Hypnotherapy for smoking cessation

Tuesday, November 11th, 2008

After 6 months, twice as many smokers who chose hypnotherapy remained smoke free compared to those going “cold turkey,” according to this report at last year’s meeting of the American College of Chest Physicians. (more…)

Christopher Columbus and the CAM connection

Monday, October 13th, 2008

The connection, of course, is bromelain, which comes from pineapples. (more…)