The C.A.M. Report
Complementary and Alternative Medicine: Fair, Balanced, and to the Point

Archive for the 'Cochrane Library' Category

Does it matter how you stop smoking?

Wednesday, July 24th, 2013

e-cigThe typical way to stop smoking is to quit abruptly, but some smokers opt to reduce smoking before quitting as an alternative approach to cessation.

Researchers from the UK and Vermont reviewed the evidence in this Cochrane review. (more…)

Here’s what we know about vitamin C and the common cold

Thursday, February 14th, 2013

150px-Ascorbic_acid_structureVitamin C (ascorbic acid) for preventing and treating the common cold has been a subject of controversy for 70 years.

Now, The Cochrane Library has reviewed the data. (more…)

Reducing the rate and risk of falling

Saturday, September 15th, 2012

Approximately 30% of people over 65 years of age living in the community fall each year.

This Cochrane review updates what we know. (more…)

Omega-3 for cystic fibrosis

Sunday, February 19th, 2012

In this Cochrane review, researchers at the Sydney Children’s Hospital, in New South Wales, Australia, evaluated the evidence that omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid supplementation reduces morbidity and mortality. (more…)

Ayurvedic treatments for diabetes mellitus

Tuesday, January 31st, 2012

In this Cochrane review, researchers at the Child and Adolescent Care Centre, in Chennai, India, assessed the effects. (more…)

Spinal manipulation for chronic low back pain

Sunday, January 29th, 2012

Here are the findings of a Cochrane review. (more…)

Finally, sanity in the salt wars

Monday, January 9th, 2012

For decades, politicians like Mayor Michael Bloomberg of NYC have tried to get Americans to eat less salt.

Now Scientific American asks, “But if the US does conquer salt, what will we gain?”

Answer: bland french fries. (more…)

Might vitamin D prevent death?

Wednesday, November 16th, 2011

In this Cochrane review, researchers at the University of Nis, in Serbia, assessed the beneficial and harmful effects of vitamin D for prevention of mortality in adults. (more…)

Noninvasive brain stimulation to treat chronic pain

Wednesday, November 2nd, 2011

In this Cochrane review, researchers in Australia and the UK evaluated the evidence for directly altering brain activity with electrical stimulation to reduce chronic pain. (more…)

Review: Acupuncture to treat ADHD

Wednesday, November 2nd, 2011

In this Cochrane review, researchers at Sichuan University, in Chengdu, China, looked for evidence supporting the use of acupuncture in children and adolescents with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). (more…)

Review: Acupuncture for autism spectrum disorders

Monday, October 31st, 2011

Autism spectrum disorders are characterized by impaired social interaction and communication, and lack of flexibility of thought and behavior.

In this Cochrane review, researchers at The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, in China, report on the effectiveness of acupuncture to improve autistic features. (more…)

Failure of saw palmetto to reduce BPH symptoms

Wednesday, October 12th, 2011

Saw palmetto (Serenoa repens) fruit extracts are used for treat lower urinary tract symptoms attributed to benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).

Researchers in the Complementary and Alternative Medicine for Urological Symptoms (CAMUS) Study Group report the response to increasing doses. (more…)

Review: Acupuncture to treat pain

Monday, October 10th, 2011

Prof. Ernst and a colleague reviewed previous Cochrane reviews. (more…)

Probiotics improve a person’s health

Thursday, September 22nd, 2011

This Cochrane Review assessed the effectiveness and safety of probiotics for preventing acute upper respiratory infections (URTIs). (more…)

Red tea doesn’t lower blood pressure

Wednesday, August 17th, 2011

Cochrane reviewed the effect of roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa) on blood pressure in hypertensive adults. (more…)

Benefits of music therapy for cancer patients

Thursday, August 11th, 2011

Having cancer may result in emotional, physical, and social suffering. Music interventions have been used to alleviate symptoms and treatment side effects in cancer patients.

The authors of this Cochrane review report the response to music among cancer patients. (more…)

Aromatherapy for pain during labor?

Sunday, July 17th, 2011

Many women want to avoid pharmacological or invasive methods of pain management during labor, and this may contribute towards the popularity of complementary methods of pain management.

In this Cochrane review, researchers at the University of Western Sydney, in Australia, evaluated the evidence supporting the aromatherapy for pain management in labor. (more…)

Does ginseng aid cognition?

Tuesday, June 21st, 2011

It’s suggested, based on laboratory and clinical studies, that ginseng may have beneficial effects on cognitive performance (reasoning).

This Cochrane review evaluated the evidence in healthy people. (more…)

Review: Probiotics to treat diarrhea

Saturday, April 30th, 2011

Here are 2 Cochrane reviews that evaluate the evidence for using probiotics to treat persistent diarrhea, and the value of probiotics + rehydration to treat diarrhea.

(more…)

Traditional Chinese herbals to treat stable angina

Sunday, April 24th, 2011

Here’s a summary of a Cochrane review of herbals to treat stable angina — aka chronic angina.

In stable angina, chest pain occurs with activity or stress. The pain begins slowly and gets worse over several minutes before going away. (more…)