Laboratory studies suggest that phytoestrogens, found in soy products such as tempe and tofu, could protect against cognitive (reasoning) decline. But an earlier study in humans suggested the opposite.
Here’s what researchers from Loughborough University in the UK found. Continue reading Tofu associated with worse memory
Providing a simplified tai-chi exercise program (STEP) in long-term care facilities can promote physical health in older adults.
That’s the conclusion from a study in Taiwan.
Continue reading Simplified tai-chi benefits the elderly in long-term care
Delta(9)- and Delta(8)-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) are potent inhibitors of mitochondrial respiration in human sperm, according to this study by researchers at the State University of New York, Upstate Medical University in Syracuse. Continue reading Negative effects of cannabinoids on human sperm
Actually, it hasn’t been studied very much.
But here’s what we know so far.
Continue reading Pain management during labor: Is there a role for CAM?
You won’t be surprised to learn that pain of longer duration and greater impairment make children more willing to use CAM.
But which CAM options do they choose? Continue reading CAM preferences among children with chronic pain
I was surprised to read it, but “one of the more common chronic pain syndromes in children is recurrent abdominal pain (RAP) — thought to affect 10% to 30% of all school-aged children.”
The results of this study show that “the response to guided imagery in.. children with RAP was rapid, sustained, clinically effective, and not associated with any apparent side effects.”
Let’s learn more.
Continue reading Using guided imagery to treat recurrent stomach pain in kids
Taking a specific dose of calcium in the absence of a specific dose of vitamin D reduced the risk of fractures in healthy individuals, according to researchers at Dartmouth Medical School in Lebanon, New Hampshire. Continue reading Calcium lowers the risk of fractures
Slow walking speed is a strong predictor of increased risk of incident ischemic stroke among postmenopausal women, according to researchers at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York City. Continue reading Walking speed and the risk of stroke
In the largest unselected, population-based study on this topic to date, researchers from Finland observed “Cannabis use is associated with prodromal symptoms of psychosis in adolescence.” Continue reading Cannabis and psychosis in adolescence
Researchers from the Universidade Federal do Paraná in Brazil report that Parkinson’s disease “patients taking fish oil, with or without antidepressants, presented improvement in depressive symptoms.” Continue reading Omega-3 to treat depression in Parkinson’s disease
Professor Ernst finds that “The value of reiki remains unproven.” Continue reading Is there a role for reiki in medicine?
Sprinkles is a nutritional supplement containing iron, zinc, vitamin A, folic acid, and vitamin C. Researchers from Cornell University in Ithaca, New York traveled to Haiti to do the study. Continue reading Using Sprinkles to reduce anemia in children
People living with heart failure have similar symptoms and levels of depression and spiritual well-being as patients with advanced lung and pancreatic cancer.
Dr. David Bekelman from the University of Colorado Denver School of Medicine thinks, “Perhaps we can do more to reduce [this] burden for heart failure patients.” Continue reading Palliative care for heart disease patients
Researchers from the Institute of Child Health in London tested the ketogenic diet in a randomized controlled trial. Continue reading Ketogenic diet improves drug-resistant epilepsy
This is the 2nd time in 2 days I’ve seen “palliative care†applied to the care or patients who are not at the end of life.
“If the relation with pain is causal, palliative care could increase the quality of life and range of activities in which people participate,” say researchers from Princeton University in New Jersey and Stony Brook, New York. Continue reading Applying palliative care to pain management
The American Thoracic Society has published recommendations for combining palliative with standard care in patients with chronic and advanced respiratory tract illnesses or critical disease.
These recommendations expand palliative care to include all patients with respiratory disease. The complementary recommendations are highlighted below. Continue reading Palliative care for all patients with lung disease
Researchers from Alfa Institute of Biomedical Sciences (AIBS) in Athens, Greece reviewed the evidence for probiotics in treating or preventing atopic dermatitis in children. Continue reading Probiotics and dermatitis: A review in infants and kids
The British Association for Psychopharmacology does not rank massage among CAM options for dementia. Apparently, there are too few studies available for them to evaluate.
Based on what is available, here’s what we know.
Continue reading The value of massage in patients with dementia
Two doctors from the VA Medical Center in Sepulveda, California have written a review of curcumin (turmeric) and Alzheimer’s disease (AD).
Anyone looking for evidence of the effectiveness of curcumin when taken by people with AD will be disappointed. Continue reading Status of curcumin for Alzheimer’s disease
Baby massage has a positive effect on the mood status of mothers, according to a recent