This is apparently the first study of pycnogenol (French maritime pine bark extract) to treat peri-menopausal symptoms. Continue reading Peri-menopausal symptoms treated with pycnogenol
Category Archives: J. CONDITIONS TO TREAT
Fewer calories or more exercise: Which is best for weight loss?
A study in The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism reveals that dieting alone is as effective at reducing weigh and fat as a combination of diet and exercise — as long as the calories consumed and burned are equal.
There was one important difference, however.
Here are the details.
Continue reading Fewer calories or more exercise: Which is best for weight loss?
Will adopting a healthy lifestyle in middle age improve your health?
The answer is yes — especially among people with high blood pressure, diabetes, or low socioeconomic status — according to researchers at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston. Continue reading Will adopting a healthy lifestyle in middle age improve your health?
Echinacea and the all too common cold
Taking echinacea after the onset of a cold shortens its duration or decreases the severity of symptoms, according to the results of most clinical trials. The best results are achieved using products containing alcoholic extracts and pressed juice preparations of the aerial (above ground) parts of the plant.
No evidence suggests echinacea can prevent the onset of the common cold or that it’s effective in children.
Mind-body interventions for chronic pain in older adults
Not much evidence is available. But here’s what 2 researchers from the University of Pittsburgh in Pennsylvania discovered during their review of 20 published studies. Continue reading Mind-body interventions for chronic pain in older adults
Music for pain and anxiety in children
Researchers from the University of Alberta in Edmonton, Canada report, that “music is effective in reducing anxiety and pain in children undergoing medical and dental procedures.” Continue reading Music for pain and anxiety in children
Cost effectiveness of OT in dementia
Researchers at Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre in the Netherlands compared the cost effectiveness of community-based occupational therapy (OT) to usual care in older patients with dementia and their caregivers. Continue reading Cost effectiveness of OT in dementia
Preventing falls in Canada
The Canadian Chiropractic Association (CCA) and its provincial associations are launching “Best Foot Forward” — a public education program aimed at preventing falls in seniors. Continue reading Preventing falls in Canada
Calcium lowers fracture risk … if you actually take it
And the difference in risk between taking calcium-only vs calcium with vitamin D is small and not statistically significant, according to researchers in Australia. Continue reading Calcium lowers fracture risk … if you actually take it
Benefits of a vegan diet for rheumatoid arthritis
Dietary manipulation helps people regain a sense of control over their disease.
In addition, researchers from the Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm, Sweden report changes that might be beneficial. Continue reading Benefits of a vegan diet for rheumatoid arthritis
Snoezelen for dementia
Snoezelen (or multi-sensory stimulation) is used to promote positive mood in older people with dementia, as well as manage maladaptive behaviors (eg, autism and other behaviors that interfere with everyday activities).
The Snoezelen (pronounced SNOOzelen) environment provides gentle stimulation of the primary senses. The objective is to overcome inhibitions, enhance self-esteem, and reduce tension.
A Cochrane review found no scientific support, but others disagree. Continue reading Snoezelen for dementia
Coffee and the risk of gout
Contrary to popular thinking, drinking more coffee appears to lower the risk. Continue reading Coffee and the risk of gout
The association between folic acid deficiency and cleft palate
Norway has one of the highest rates of facial clefts in Europe and does not allow foods to be fortified with folic acid.
Now, it appears that this decision was a fateful one.
Continue reading The association between folic acid deficiency and cleft palate
ACT and yoga for drug-refractory epilepsy
In patients with epilepsy that does not respond to drug therapy, researchers from the University of Uppsala in Sweden reported, “Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and yoga decrease seizure index and increase quality of life.” Continue reading ACT and yoga for drug-refractory epilepsy
An academic allopathic view of CAM options for arthritic pain
Dr. Eric Ruderman, Associate Professor of Medicine in the Division of Rheumatology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago has published a review on Medscape, with lots of space devoted to CAM: exercise, acupuncture, and nutritional supplements. Continue reading An academic allopathic view of CAM options for arthritic pain
The effect of transcendental meditation on blood pressure
“Adding Transcendental Medication is about equivalent to adding a second antihypertension agent to one’s current regimen only safer and less troublesome,” according to reviewers from the University of Kentucky. Continue reading The effect of transcendental meditation on blood pressure
Managing pelvic and back pain during pregnancy
There are lots of recommendations to prevent or treat this cause of back pain.
Here’s what the Cochrane Collaboration found.
Continue reading Managing pelvic and back pain during pregnancy
Using omega-3 fatty acid supplementation in patients with recurrent self-harm
This study concludes that omega 3 fatty acid supplementation contributes to substantial reductions in surrogate markers of suicidal behavior and improvements in well-being. Continue reading Using omega-3 fatty acid supplementation in patients with recurrent self-harm
Lung cancer associated with cannabis smoking
“Long-term cannabis use increases the risk of lung cancer in young adults,” according to this study from the Medical Research Institute of New Zealand in Wellington. Continue reading Lung cancer associated with cannabis smoking
Is dementia the Achilles heel of mainstream medicine?
Writing in Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine, Dr. Mark Hyman asserts, “We are at a crossroads where the old ideas we have about disease and diagnosis become less meaningful as we understand more and more about the importance of individual differences in determining illness.”
Alzheimer’s disease is the poster child for the limitations of allopathic medicine. Continue reading Is dementia the Achilles heel of mainstream medicine?