Researchers from Istituto Dermopatico dell Immacolata in Rome, Italy report its effect on the risk for cutaneous melanoma — the cancer diagnosed in Senator McCain. Continue reading Mediterranean diet: Protective against melanoma
Category Archives: J. CONDITIONS TO TREAT
Acupuncture: What’s the evidence
Professor Ernst presents an overview of Cochrane reviews on acupuncture. Continue reading Acupuncture: What’s the evidence
Quality issues for some “natural” menopause products
ConsumerLab.com has reported the results of quality control tests on black cohosh supplements, soy and red clover isoflavone supplements, and progesterone creams.
Among the products tested, quality was inconsistent according to an article on HealthNewsDigest.com. Continue reading Quality issues for some “natural” menopause products
Benefits of vitamin A and zinc on malaria
 Researchers report positive effects when vitamin A and zinc were given to young children from the country of Burkina Faso in West Africa. Continue reading Benefits of vitamin A and zinc on malaria
Comparing benefits of massage vs touch in cancer patients
 Small studies suggest that massage therapy may relieve pain and other symptoms.
Here are results from a large study. Continue reading Comparing benefits of massage vs touch in cancer patients
ACP recommendations to prevent fractures
 The American College of Physicians (ACP) has published recommendations for the pharmacologic treatment of low bone density and prevention of fractures in people with osteoporosis.
Here’s their summary on calcium and vitamin D. Continue reading ACP recommendations to prevent fractures
Integrating CAM into pain management at the end of life
Dr. Perry Fine — an anesthesiologist from the University of Utah in Salt Lake City — has published an excellent review of this topic. It is essential reading for healthcare professionals as well as family and patient caregivers.
Among other issues, it provides good perspective on the role of CAM approaches to pain management in palliative care, which I have summarized here.
Continue reading Integrating CAM into pain management at the end of life
Lavender scent lowers dental anxiety
Researchers from King’s College in London report (page 163) “Lavender could … be used as effective ‘on-the-spot’ anxiety reduction in dentists’ waiting rooms.” Continue reading Lavender scent lowers dental anxiety
Hypnotherapy to treat rheumatoid arthritis
 Mental imagery and hypnotherapy helped alleviate pain in this study (page 55) by researchers at Bangor University in the UK presented during The British Psychological Society’s Division of Health Psychology Annual Conference. Continue reading Hypnotherapy to treat rheumatoid arthritis
Treating aggression in preschool children
 It “could be an easy and inexpensive way to decrease aggression and abnormal behavior among preschool children,” according to researchers at Uppsala University in Sweden. Continue reading Treating aggression in preschool children
Spinal manipulation in acute low back pain
British and American guidelines recommend early referral to spinal manipulation to reduce the proportion of patients developing chronic complaints. Dutch guidelines discourage it.
Now, Swiss researchers report it didn’t improve outcomes. Continue reading Spinal manipulation in acute low back pain
Mediterranean diet and the risk of death and disease
Researchers from Florence, Italy tell us if it changes the risk of death and the occurrence of Parkinson’s or Alzheimer’s diseases. Continue reading Mediterranean diet and the risk of death and disease
Hand washing and the risk of infection
Does it matter if you use antibacterial soap? Continue reading Hand washing and the risk of infection
Comparing chiropractic options for carpal tunnel syndrome
Researchers at the New York Chiropractic College in Seneca Falls compared Graston instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization (GISTM) vs soft tissue mobilization (STM) by hand. Continue reading Comparing chiropractic options for carpal tunnel syndrome
Adding yogurt to H pylori treatment
 Helicobacter pylori are bacteria that cause chronic low-level inflammation of the stomach lining and are linked to the development of duodenal and gastric ulcers and stomach cancer.
Researchers from the College of Medicine in Seoul, South Korea added a probiotic-containing yogurt to usual therapy. Continue reading Adding yogurt to H pylori treatment
Take your medicine with water
Dr. David Bailey from the University of Western Ontario in London, Canada reported the “grapefruit effect” more than 15 years ago — grapefruit juice increases levels of the high-blood-pressure drug felodipine (Plendil), causing potentially dangerous effects.
Now, during the National Meeting of the American Chemical Society, he reports more juice-drug interactions. Continue reading Take your medicine with water
Pistachios and risk factors for heart disease
 Eating nuts lowers cardiovascular disease risk.
But what about pistachios? Continue reading Pistachios and risk factors for heart disease
Behavioral and exercise therapies for fibromyalgia
This review finds limited evidence of benefit from cognitive-behavioral therapy and exercise training programs. Continue reading Behavioral and exercise therapies for fibromyalgia
The real value of the DASH diet
The Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet lowers blood pressure, But what is the effect on stroke and coronary heart disease?
Here’s an estimate from research reported during the American Heart Association 2007 Scientific Sessions and published on Medscape. Continue reading The real value of the DASH diet
How important is it to stop smoking?
Actually, very important.
“Around 40% of the fall in the number of deaths from cancer among U.S. men from 1991 to 2003 can be attributed to the decline in smoking,” say researchers from the American Cancer Society.