Narcotic drugs (opioids) are commonly prescribed for short-term relief of chronic back pain, but their long-term (greater than 16 weeks) effectiveness has never been proved.
Also, opioid abuse occurs in 24% of cases.
What’s this got to do with CAM?
Continue reading Limits of long-term narcotic use to treat back pain and CAM options
Danshen (Salvia miltiorrhiza) is used in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) to treat stroke, as well as heart disease, atherosclerosis, and blood clotting abnormalities.
The Cochrane Collaboration updated an earlier review of danshen to treat ischemic stroke — the most common kind of stroke, caused by an interruption in blood flow to the brain (as when a clot blocks a blood vessel). Continue reading Danshen safety and effectiveness to treat stroke
Fifteen years after enrollment of more than 600 people between 18 and 30 years of age, researchers from the Department of Preventive Medicine at the Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago report that higher magnesium intake is associated with a lower risk of the metabolic syndrome.
The results are interesting, but what’s the action plan for the average person?
My thought about this study is that considering the academic and research “pedigree” of the authors (ie, National Institute of Mental Health, National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine [NCCAM], National Institute for Dental and Craniofacial Research, and Columbia University), why did they settle for such a rudimentary study design?
When you get to the end of this post, consider if this study advanced the state of our knowledge on this topic. Continue reading Magnets for lower back pain?
High concentrations of fine particulate pollution — the type associated with secondhand smoke and, in developing countries, indoor cooking and heating fires — are linked to poorer health, according to researchers in Scotland. Continue reading Measuring the effect of poor indoor air quality on COPD
About 9% of US children age 8 to 15 meet the diagnostic criteria for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), but fewer than half receive treatment, according to a report in the September issue of Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine.
According to an earlier survey of more than 800 parents of children with ADHD. About 12% of children with diagnosed ADHD and 7% of those suspected of having ADHA use CAM.
What do they use?
And how they compare to the fentanyl (Duragesic) patch. Continue reading Comparing CAM options to treat osteoarthritis knee pain
Not all commercially available probiotics are effective in children with acute diarrhea, according to this study from researchers at the University of Naples Federico II in Italy. Continue reading Comparing probiotics to treat diarrhea
This report provides a reason to review the past few months of CAM studies and reviews on depression. Continue reading Deadly depression in people with heart failure
Reports from chiropractic journals say that manipulating the neck region helps reduce blood pressure in some people.
Prof. Jim Deuchars from the University of Leeds in the UK and coworkers have examined pathways between the neck and the brain to help define how neck muscles could play a crucial role in controlling blood pressure, heart rate, and breathing. Continue reading How might spinal manipulation lower blood pressure?
A spray has been developed from the major components of marijuana (cannabis), including tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) in alcohol. The formulation is sprayed under the tongue or in the cheek to relieve pain in multiple sclerosis.
This small study examined effects on the mucus membrane of the mouth. Continue reading Safety report on cannabis oral spray
No additional improvement in pain scores was reported in this study. Continue reading Adding acupuncture to physiotherapy to treat osteoarthritis of the knee
Earlier study results have been inconsistent. In this study, researchers from Nippon Medical School in Tokyo use higher doses to treat active Crohn’s disease (CD). Continue reading High-dose probiotic + prebiotic to treat Crohn’s disease
This is for residents of San Diego County in California. Continue reading Weight loss study uses the Internet
About 23% or 62 million Americans have some form of cardiovascular disease (CVD; eg, heart disease, stroke, atherosclerosis, coronary heart disease, angina, coronary artery disease, high blood pressure, or heart failure).
The Women’s Antioxidant Cardiovascular Study concluded, “There were no overall effects of ascorbic acid [vitamin C], vitamin E, or beta carotene on cardiovascular events among women at high risk for CVD.”
But read on to see those who did benefit. Continue reading Some benefit from antioxidant vitamins on the risk of cardiovascular disease
The FDA warns to avoid these “natural” treatments for high cholesterol. Continue reading Consumer Alert: 3 red yeast products
Drs. Luigi Gori and Fabio Firenzuoli from the Center of Natural Medicine, S. Giuseppe Hospital in Italy think the European Medicines Agency (EMEA) and the Committee on Herbal Medicinal Products (HMPC) erred in their assessment of the risk of liver toxicity to Cimicifugae racemosae rhizoma (black cohosh, root). Continue reading Differing point of view on black cohosh and liver toxicity
Researchers from Chang Gung University College of Medicine in Taiwan reassessed the results (meta-analysis) from 10 double blind, placebo-controlled studies in more than 300 patients with mood disorders treated with omega-3 PUFAs for at least 4 weeks.
Here’s what they found. Continue reading Reviewing the antidepressant effects of omega-3 fatty acids
In this study, dietary cod protein improved insulin sensitivity in insulin-resistant individuals. The researchers think it could help “prevent type 2 diabetes by reducing the metabolic complications related to insulin resistance.” Continue reading Cod protein improves insulin sensitivity
The results using lactobacilli are mostly positive, but this is not the final word, based on a review of the medical literature by researchers at the Alfa Institute of Biomedical Sciences in Greece. Continue reading Probiotics to treat and prevent bacterial vaginosis