Previous studies on the effect of soy isoflavones on bone health have been disappointing. So, a positive response to soy isoflavones on the bone mineral density (BMD) of the lumbar spine and femoral neck is of interest.
Continue reading Effect of soy isoflavones on bone in postmenopausal women
The product is sold only in California. It comes in an opaque plastic container with no lot number or expiration date.
Continue reading Recall of Natural Tan Tan Tofu Panda Flavor Soybean Juice
MayoClinic.com has reviewed cold remedies that work and don’t.
Here’s a summary of useful CAM options.
It’s always a good idea to get a second opinion when it comes to your healthcare. Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) has been used, recommended, or studied for many conditions, but its use is controversial. Here are two websites that reviewed the literature and are ready to advise on the status of CoQ10 — MotherNature.com (MN) and MayoClinic.com (MC).
Here are comparative evaluations and ratings for three sample diseases.
The term ginseng refers to Panax genus (Korean, Japanese, and American ginseng) and Eleutherococcus genus (Siberian ginseng). Siberian ginseng is not a true ginseng and cannot be used in place of Panax ginseng.
Now some research results.
Dr. Steven Thomas and his team from the University of Bristol in the U.K. found that neither dietary modifications nor nutritional supplements such as vitamins, antioxidants, retinol, and garlic alter the disease course of patients with cancer or preinvasive (precancerous) lesions. Their conclusion is based on an analysis of 59 generally low quality trials.
“We should not,” Dr. Thomas concluded, “maintain the notion that nutritional interventions can be promoted because at least they will do no harm.”
Continue reading Lowering expectations for dietary supplements in patients with cancer
Since May, two publications (one here) have discussed the potential value of a low carbohydrate ketogenic diet in certain men with prostate cancer.
The February issue of The Journal of Pain will publish an article about the response to caffeine in 9 women following exercise.
It’s being picked up by lots of news websites, but until the article appears, Medical News Today has the best review.
Continue reading Using caffeine to ease the pain after exercise
Fibromyalgia is a pain syndrome caused by the brain’s inability to accurately interpret pain sensations due to the presence of psychosocial and behavioral factors. About 3.7 million adult Americans are afflicted. It primarily occurs in women of childbearing age, but children, the elderly, and men may also be affected.
Because of these psychosocial and behavioral factors, complementary treatments such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) are recommended here and here to optimize treatment.
Continue reading Cognitive behavioral therapy for fibromyalgia
The results from a just published study of U.S. girls (9 to 15 years of age) reveals that greater consumption of milk is associated with the severity of acne.
The journal Archives of Neurology just published a observational survey where it appears that “individuals who take in higher levels of the nutrient folate through both diet and supplements may have a reduced risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease.”
Before you take off for the Vitamin Shoppe, read on.
Continue reading Folate and the risk of Alzheimer’s disease
The Cochrane Collaboration has evaluated the effectiveness of herbal medicines for the treatment of low back pain.
Here’s what they found.
Continue reading Herbals worth considering to treat low back pain
In most patients with significant chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), weak muscles control their breathing. It’s possible to train these muscles. But which ones to train and are the benefits worth the effort?
Here’s what we know.
Continue reading Training people with chronic obstructive lung disease to breath better
Capsicum (Cayenne) is a category of plants used as spices, vegetables, and medicines. Think chili pepper, red or green pepper, bell pepper, and paprika.
In this study, capsicum plaster was applied at a classical Chinese acupoint to lessen pain in infants and children following surgery.
Continue reading Capsicum plaster to control pain following inguinal hernia repair in children
Reports about the association between the risk of breast cancer and folate intake or blood levels have been inconsistent.
Now, 3 heavy hitters from the Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm and the Harvard School of Public Health in Boston have reviewed the medical literature.
Continue reading More experts dispute the role of folate in lowering breast cancer risk
It’s an important area for CAM research. Last year there were 23 posts on this bog.
Click the “Alzheimer’s disease” link on the right to read more.
1/5/07 11:39 JR
Heathereen Cochran, MS, RN, an adult nurse practitioner at Oncology Care Associates in St. Joseph, Michigan, has published an informative review on non-drug treatment options for insomnia.
In light of the recent JAMA publication (discussed here) showing the superiority of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) over Imovane (zopiclone), it’s interesting to review the status of these non-drug treatment options.
7/7/06 23:26 JR
? For almost three-quarters of a century Alcoholics Anonymous has dominated the field of alcohol rehabilitation.
However, other options are available.
Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) is commonly used to control pain from many causes. TENS is popular because it’s cheap, safe, and can be self-administered. In Canada, the results from one survey of 50 hospitals estimated over 450,000 uses of TENS annually.
How effective is it?
The Palm Oil Council website states, palm oil is a “good replacement for partially hydrogenated oils for many reasons.”
So, what’s this got to do with Paul Newman?