Rumination is the voluntary or involuntary regurgitation and rechewing of partially digested food that is either reswallowed or expelled.
Interestingly, in addition to diet, exercise, and possibly surgery, all treatments are complementary.
Continue reading Complementary treatments for rumination
Probiotics have been studied to prevent recurrences of vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC).
Despite mixed reports on their effectiveness probiotics might have a role under limited circumstances.
A survey of university hospitals in Germany uncovered the typical findings in people who experience vertebral artery dissection (VAD) following chiropractic neck manipulation.
Continue reading The signs and symptoms of stroke following neck manipulation
A small study out of Sweden suggests it might.
Continue reading Might ankylosing spondylitis respond to omega-3 fatty acids?
The treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) usually includes lifestyle modifications. These include dietary changes such as avoidance of chocolate, mints, citrus, fatty food, carbonated beverages, tobacco, as well as coffee/caffeinated products. Patients are also advised to lose weight, avoid late evening meals and postprandial recumbent position, and to sleep with their right side down.
Are any of these recommendations useful?
As part of an integrative program there are three options for psychosocial support.
Continue reading Psychosocial support for recovering alcohol-dependent patients
Here are the results of a study in 301 women experiencing climacteric complaints with psychological symptoms.
The women were treated with black cohosh (Cimicifuga racemosa) and St. John’s wort (Hypericum perforatum) extracts, or a placebo for 16 weeks.
The results
Continue reading Black cohosh and St. John’s wort in women during the climacteric
In the past year, several studies on this topic have appeared. The results are positive.
So, let’s review.
Continue reading Pycnogenol treatment of venous insufficiency
The FDA is cracking down on companies that sell quinine-containing products such as Qualaquin for non-approved uses. Their concern is over the risks of quinine to treat leg cramps.
What’s the risk?
Continue reading FDA warns against using quinine to treat leg cramps. Options, please?
Vitamin E is the second most commonly used supplement after mutivitamins. About 10% of people in the US take vitamin E supplements every day.
Well, they’re about to get some bad news.
Continue reading Long-term vitamin E study shows no brain benefits
A rather small expenditure of time resulted in improved quality of life in a group of more than 800 patients with arthritis.
But not everybody thinks it was worth the effort.
Continue reading The value of self-management of arthritis
According to these study results, yoga complements the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome (IBD).
Continue reading Yoga for adolescents with irritable bowel syndrome
Healthcare is expensive, but there is nothing more expensive than paying for drugs that just don’t work.
That appears to be the case with policosanol — at least for anyone living outside Cuba.
The “gateway theory” says that each type of drug is associated with certain specific risk factors that can lead to subsequent drug abuse. For example, cigarettes or alcohol lead to marijuana, which leads to cocaine, etc.
A study by Dr. Ralph Tarter from the University of Pittsburgh suggests that environmental factors have a stronger influence on which type of substance is used. For example, if it’s easier for a teens to get marijuana than beer, then they will be more likely to smoke pot.
Continue reading Study disputes the role of marijuana on subsequent drug abuse
As a follow-up to an earlier post about horny goat weed here is a positive clinical study using horny goat weed in the management of erectile dysfunction.
One caveat: this study has not been published in a peer-reviewed journal, but on a website that sells horny goat weed. That said, the study design and results are interesting.
Continue reading Horny goat weed: An unpublished clinical trial
During a seminar at the American Heart Association 2006 meeting titled “The Science Behind Popular Nutrition Claims,” medical researchers summarized the research on a number of complementary options to “help maintain a healthy heart.”
Here is a summary of the Medscape article. Links to more info are highlighted.
Continue reading CAM for heart disease: Current state of the evidence
Most tobacco smokers have a decline in fertility. In some the decline is significant.
A study presented during the 2006 American Society of Reproductive Medicine meeting reported that for smokers who can’t quit, a synthetic cannabinoid called AM-1346 might improve their fertilizing capacity.
Here’s what they did.
Continue reading A synthetic cannabinoid might improve fertility in some smokers
Here are the results. Would you say that aromatherapy was effective?
Continue reading Testing aromatherapy to treat pain after surgery
Radical prostatectomy is an operation to remove the prostate gland and some of the tissue around it. It is done to treat prostate cancer, and up to half of all men who have a radical prostatectomy develop urinary incontinence.
Preoperative pelvic floor training (PFT) is used to strengthen the muscles and improve recovery of continence following the operation.
Does adding biofeedback help?
Continue reading Does biofeedback reduce incontinence after prostate surgery?
In the treatment of severe malaria, injecting artesunate directly into a vein results in more rapid action than quinine given the same way. It’s safer and simpler to administer. And a clinical study also shows it reduces the risk of death from this disease.
Details here.
Continue reading Comparing artesunate to quinine as treatment for malaria