The 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…)

Vitamin 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…)

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

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

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…)

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

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

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…)

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…)

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…)

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…)

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…)

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…)

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

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

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

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…)

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…)

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…)

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…)

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…)