Ruta graveolens (rue, witchbane) is used as a mosquito repellant. Pick the flowering plant, crush it, and rub the oils over your skin.
But when the psoralens from rue come in contact with human skin and are exposed to ultraviolet A light, a photoirritant reaction can occur. Continue reading Phototoxicity from rue when used as a mosquito repellent
Withania somnifera Dunal, commonly known as ashwagandha and Indian ginseng, has a long list of uses in Ayurvedic medicine.
In the treatment of cancer, here’s what we know.
Continue reading Withania somnifera and its potential role in cancer treatment
OK. Stay with me on this.
Kevin Tracey, MD is director and CEO of The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research in New York. A well-respected researcher, Dr. Tracey discovered that the brain controls the immune system via the vagus nerve. Now he’s investigating the role of a molecule called tumor necrosis factor (TNF) as part of the immune system’s weapons against foreign invaders. TNF can cause pain and redness to an injury or infection. In excessive amounts, it can also cause shock and death.
What’s this got to do with CAM?
Continue reading A new tool to test the biological effects of biofeedback, meditation, and yoga
Dr. David Neubauer, assistant professor of psychiatry at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, has published an article on Medscape on the long-term treatment of insomnia.
Just ahead of drug treatments, he lists cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT).
Here’s why.
Proponents say butterbur (Petadolex; Petasites hybridus) reduces the frequency of migraines in adults, although it doesn’t treat them once they occur.
Here are the results of a study in children. Continue reading Butterbur for prevention of childhood migraine
Swedish massage for 8 weeks improved pain, stiffness, physical function, walking, and range of motion in a study of 68 men and women with osteoarthritis (OA) .
Importantly, the improvement was sustained for 16 weeks.
Continue reading Massage therapy reduces pain in patients with knee osteoarthritis
A recently published study concluded, “Selenium supplementation does not seem to prevent type 2 diabetes, and it may increase risk for the disease.”
The study was summarized here. Now, an article on HealthNotesNewswire by Dr. Allan Gaby, a specialist in nutrition and preventive medicine, lists criticisms of the research. Dr. Gaby’s article is instructive because in addition to the relevance of the criticisms to the selenium study, it provides a checklist of basic questions to ask when reading any retrospective review. Continue reading More thoughts on the role of selenium in preventing diabetes
According to this study from the National Yang-Ming University School of Medicine in Taiwan there is a response, but the degree of improvement is less than from inhalation bronchodilator therapy. Continue reading The response to acupuncture in people with asthma
Yes, there are benefits for people with irritable bowel syndrome. But it doesn’t seem to matter whether they receive real of sham acupuncture. Continue reading Acupuncture for irritable bowel syndrome
Researchers from Harvard School of Public Health in Boston believe, “the United States Food and Drug Administration and corresponding agencies in other countries should require heavy metal testing for all imported dietary supplements.”
The recommendation is based on what they found among people taking Ayurvedic medicines. Continue reading Ayurvedic lead poisoning results in greater toxicity than lead paint intoxication
STW 5 (Iberogast) is an herbal preparation containing 9 plant extracts (including Iberis amara [Candytuft] peppermint, and chamomile). In this study, it was better than placebo in treating functional dyspepsia — a chronic or recurrent pain or discomfort centered in the upper abdomen. Continue reading Treating functional dyspepsia with STW 5
A study in the British Medical Journal concludes that adding weekly cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) to treatment with the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) fluoxetine (Prozac) was no more beneficial for depressed adolescents than medication alone.
A closer look suggests the Adolescent Depression Antidepressant and Psychotherapy Trial (ADAPT) is not the definitive study on this subject.
Here’s why. Continue reading Should cognitive behavioral therapy be added to antidepressant therapy?
Does this come under the heading of complementary or alternative medicine?
According to Professor Mike Lean (yes, that’s really his name), clothes for fat children should come with information about where they can get advice to help them lose weight.
12/15/06 23:21 JR
Anael L’Esperance-Nascimento (photo) is the little boy from Quebec whose parents refused a second round of chemotherapy for his brain and spinal cord tumors. Instead, Anael will be treated at the Hippocrates Health Institute in Florida.
The intent of this post is to review wheatgrass, “an integral part” of the Hippocrates treatment. Continue reading Anael, his tumors, and the Hippocrates Health Institute
The report by the University of Alberta Evidence-based Practice Center (UAEPC) after reviewing the published literature on meditation practices for health were published here and discussed here.
The authors found so many flaws in the design of the studies that “conclusions on the effects of meditation practices in healthcare cannot be drawn based on the available evidence.” The report was funded by the NIH Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ). Continue reading Experts respond to the negative AHRQ report on meditation
GW Pharmaceuticals was able to prove that Sativex, their marijuana oral spray product, was safe and reliably contained sufficient tetrahydrocannabinol. But proof of effectiveness was lacking, in the view of the UK’s Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) Continue reading Insufficient proof of efficacy for marijuana spray to permit sale in the UK
Yes, there’s an association. And it doesn’t seem to matter whether the soda pop you drink is “regular” or diet.
But can we rely on these findings? Continue reading Soft drinks and the risk of the metabolic syndrome
Omega-3 fatty acid supplements might slow the cognitive decline (eg, perception, memory, judgment, and reasoning) in some people with very mild Alzheimer’s disease.
The same study showed no effect in people with more advanced cases. Continue reading Slowing cognitive decline with omega-3 fatty acids
In patients with polymyositis and dermatomyositis — conditions characterized by weakness and swelling of limb and neck muscles — taking creatine supplements enhanced the benefit of exercise. Continue reading Benefits from creatine reported outside sports medicine
Horny goat weed, also known as epimedium and yin yan huo, is a source of phytoestrogens.
Researchers at the Chinese University of Hong Kong report success using epimedium to prevent bone loss in postmenopausal women. Continue reading Horny goat weed to prevent bone loss during late postmenopause