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 'HIV/AIDS' Category

    Consumer Alert: Miracle Mineral Supplement aka MMS

    Monday, July 11th, 2016

    This product, when used as directed, produces an industrial bleach that can cause serious harm.

    Swallowing doses of this bleach, such as those recommended in the labeling can cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and symptoms of severe dehydration. (more…)

    Up in smoke: Medical marijuana debunked

    Tuesday, June 23rd, 2015

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    Proponents of the use of medical marijuana like to start speeches and articles by quickly stating that cannabinoids are of proven value in treating many diseases.

    Poppycock. This site has stated repeatedly: not true, not true, not true.

    Now the evidence is in, and we were right. JAMA confirms that the evidence supporting the effectiveness of cannabinoids is tenuous at best. And risk of side effects with cannabinoids to treat anything is high.

    (more…)

    Use of herbal medicines during HIV/AIDS treatment

    Thursday, February 2nd, 2012

    Researchers at Mbarara University of Science and Technology, in Uganda evaluated the use of herbal medicines among patients at the HIV clinic of Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital. (more…)

    CAM use in patients taking HAART

    Thursday, November 10th, 2011

    Amandah Hoogbruin, at Kwantlen Polytechnic University, in Surrey, British Columbia, reviewed the evidence in patients treated for HIV/AIDS with HAART (highly active anti-retroviral therapy). (more…)

    Does Echinacea interact with HIV drugs?

    Wednesday, May 4th, 2011

    Not much, according to researchers in Spain. (more…)

    Using mobile phones to improve HIV drug thearpy

    Saturday, April 30th, 2011

    Researchers in Kenya and Canada studied the effects of mobile phone communication between healthcare workers and patients starting antiretroviral (antiviral) therapy in Kenya. (more…)

    Importance of zinc supplements in HIV-infected patients

    Saturday, April 16th, 2011

    Zinc is critical for immune function. However, zinc deficiency occurs in more than 50% of HIV-infected adults.

    Researchers at Florida International University examined the effects of long-term zinc supplementation in relation to HIV disease. (more…)

    Benefits of zinc supplements in people with HIV

    Sunday, January 9th, 2011

    Adequate levels of zinc are critical for immune function.

    During the XVIII International AIDS Conference, researchers at Florida International University, in Miami, and other institutions in the US reported the benefits and safety of zinc supplementation in nutritional doses to prevent immunologic failure. (more…)

    Benefits of micronutrients in people with HIV

    Sunday, January 9th, 2011

    During the XVIII International AIDS Conference, researchers at Florida International University, in Miami, and other institutions in the US and Botswana reported the benefits of micronutrients. (more…)

    Benefits of antioxidant treatment in patients with HIV

    Saturday, January 8th, 2011

    HIV infection and the long-term use of antiretroviral drugs are associated with increased mitochondrial damage and oxidative stress.

    During the XVIII International AIDS Conference, researchers at Florida International University, in Miami, and other institutions in the US reported beneficial effects of antioxidant supplementation on immune function and reducing mitochondrial damage. (more…)

    Ginkgo-efavirenz interaction in patients with HIV

    Wednesday, August 11th, 2010

    Researchers from the Netherlands report a patient whose HIV viral load increased with the development of drug resistance because ginkgo biloba interacted with efavirenz (Sustiva). (more…)

    Massage patients with HIV/AIDs

    Tuesday, August 3rd, 2010

    Researchers from the University of South Australia (City East), in Adelaide, Australia reviewed the research. (more…)

    Benefits of omega-3 fatty acids in people with HIV

    Friday, July 23rd, 2010

    hiv_aidsThe effect of a dietary omega-3 fatty acids supplementation on triglycerides and markers of insulin sensitivity was investigated by researchers at Tufts University School of Medicine, in Boston. (more…)

    Observations on vitamin D deficiency in HIV

    Friday, June 4th, 2010

    Results from the Swiss HIV Cohort Study suggest that systematic screening should be considered. (more…)

    Vitamin D lowers risk of complications during pregnancy

    Saturday, May 1st, 2010

    During the Pediatric Academic Societies meeting, researchers from the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston reported their findings using a markedly higher dose than currently recommended. (more…)

    Zinc reduces diarrhea in HIV patients

    Friday, February 19th, 2010

    Zinc supplementation cut the episodes of diarrhea in half, according to researchers from Florida International University in Miami during the International AIDS Conference in Mexico City. (more…)

    Yoga to lower blood pressure in HIV adults

    Wednesday, January 13th, 2010

    People living with HIV infection are at increased risk for developing cardiovascular disease.

    Researchers from Washington University School of Medicine, in St Louis, Missouri evaluated the effects of yoga lifestyle intervention in HIV-infected adults. (more…)

    Prevalence of CAM use during HAART in HIV

    Tuesday, December 8th, 2009

    HAART is the acronym for Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy — aggressive treatment used to suppress HIV viral replication and the progression of HIV disease.

    Researchers from the Hospital San Pedro, in Spain surveyed the use of medicinal plants in HIV patients receiving HAART. (more…)

    Treating oral thrush in HIV/AIDS patients

    Monday, December 7th, 2009

    Researchers at Tshwane University of Technology, in Pretoria, South Africa compared lemon grass, lemon juice, and gentian violet. (more…)

    Vitamin D and mother-to-child transmission of HIV

    Tuesday, October 6th, 2009

    hiv-aidsThere is preliminary evidence of an association between low vitamin D blood levels and a higher risk, according to this study at Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. (more…)