The Oncology Nursing Society has posted a table that summarizes CAM studies on the treatment of nausea and vomiting in cancer patients. The studies were published between 1988 and 2005.
Here’s a summary of their findings.
Continue reading Evaluating CAM to treat nausea and vomiting in cancer patients
Researchers from the department of complementary medicine at the University of Exeter in the UK evaluated the results of 91 studies.
Here are the their findings where more than one study was available.
Continue reading A review of homeopathy for childhood and adolescence ailments
Revista Brasileira de Psiquiatria has an exhaustive review.
I summarize it here.
These researchers observed an association between anxiety disorders and substance abuse. They also observed that substance abusers tend to have poor dietary habits.
Here’s what they did.
Continue reading Using omega-3 fatty acids to treat anxiety in substance abusers
Arnica (Arnica montana) is used in herbal medicine for relief of bruises, stiffness, and muscle soreness.
Here’s a study that looked at the potential for homeopathic arnica to reduce swelling and pain following 3 different operations in patients who required knee surgery.
The details.
It’s not clear to me why it worked in one group but not in the other two.
But we’ll accept it for what it is.
2/8/07 23:03 JR
Using soy foods to replace foods high in animal protein that contain fat and cholesterol might help improve cholesterol levels and confer benefits to cardiovascular health in postmenopausal women.
Lipids Online has a good summary of a study just published in the journal, Menopause.
Continue reading Soy protein improves cholesterol in postmenopausal women
Policosanol is available in the United States as a nutritional supplement with claims that it lowers cholesterol levels. It has been covered extensively on this blog.
With the increase in combination therapy to control hypercholesterolemia, its now been tried and failed when used in combination with atorvastatin (Lipitor).
Continue reading More evidence that policosanol does not lower cholesterol
Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is characterized by chronic anxiety and exaggerated worry and tension even when there is little or nothing to provoke it.
Based on the results of clinical studies, psychological therapy based on cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) principles is effective treatment for (GAD) — at least short-term.
Continue reading Using behavioral therapy to treat generalized anxiety disorder
Agitated behavior occurs in nearly half of patients with dementia. It can be the difference between a person qualifying for different levels (and cost) of nursing home care.
The problem is that the nursing staff is limited in using drugs to control it.
Now, the results of a small study at the National Yang-Ming University in Taipei, Taiwan suggest that acupressure might be a useful alternative.
Continue reading Acupressure to treat agitation in people with dementia
A recent study in The Lancet medical journal found that over the long term, it appears that taking folic acid improves cognitive function (eg, perception, memory, judgment, and reasoning) in older adults.
Not so fast.
Continue reading Taking folic acid to slow cognitive decline? Hold off for a while.
There’s evidence that blood levels of coenzyme Q10 decrease in people with advanced chronic heart failure.
Now we know that CoQ10 supplements help and exercise helps more.
Continue reading Coenzyme Q supplements benefit patients with heart failure
During the most recent meeting of the American College of Chest Physicians Dr. Paul Blanc from the University of California at San Francisco reported that half of all people with asthma use CAM.
Here are the highlights from Medscape.
Omega-3 fatty acid consumption has been linked to reductions in the risk of death from heart disease.
Now, researchers from the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine report that omega-3 acts directly on the heart rather than acting through the vagus nerve, which normally regulates the heart rhythm.
Continue reading The direct effects of omega-3 fatty acids on the heart
Research conducted in Malaysia and at Brandeis University shows that a new method of modifying fat in commercial products to replace unhealthy trans fats actually raises blood sugar levels and lowers insulin in humans — common precursors to diabetes.
Oh yea, one more thing.
Continue reading Replacing trans fats? Be careful what you use
Medical News Today has the 10 most common myths about diet and exercise.
Here’s one example.
Chronic pancreatitis is most often caused by alcoholism and alcohol abuse. The ability to get these patients to commit and stick with yoga classes twice weekly for 12 weeks is a major accomplishment. Improved quality of life is a bonus.
Here are the results from two studies.
Continue reading Yoga improves quality of life in patients with chronic pancreatitis
A quick Google search (“soy” and “blood pressure”) reveals the predominant view that soy has positive effects on the heart and significant (but mild) blood pressure lowering action in people with high blood pressure.
Here is another view.
Continue reading A contrarian view on soy protein and blood pressure
This is the first study of this form of acupuncture in patients having surgery in an outpatient setting.
Continue reading Auricular acupuncture reduces pain after surgery, but does it matter?
Helicobacter pylori is a common infection of the stomach. Although most people have no symptoms, it’s related to the development of ulcers and is probably related to cancers involving the stomach.
Currently, H pylori infection is treated with a proton pump inhibitor plus two antibiotics — called triple therapy. Adding a probiotic food to triple therapy does not appear to help eliminate this bacteria in children.
Continue reading Trying to treat stomach infections with probiotics
Another group has reviewed the literature and concluded there is moderate evidence for its use to treat neck pain.
“Moderate” evidence that acupuncture?
These conclusions are based on the results of 10 clinical studies. It agrees with an earlier Cochrane review.
1/17/07 19:04 JR