Dr. Paul White from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas has reviewed the medical literature and published a summary of the state of the art of acupuncture to manage pain. Continue reading Summarizing benefits of acupuncture
Adding yoga to schizophrenia treatment
Yoga instructor Janette Scott wrote in Yoga Magazine, “Yoga has been shown to give many positive benefits to people with the disease for maintaining balance and harmony in their lives.” She also knew, “there needs to be a lot of further research and verification of the effects and benefits of yoga for this condition.”
Now, 10 years later, here’s a study from the National Institute of Mental Health and NeuroSciences in Bangalore, India. Continue reading Adding yoga to schizophrenia treatment
Kampo medicine to treat atopic dermatitis
Hochu-ekki-to (TJ-41) is an herbal medicine that contains a mixture of 10 medicinal plants (listed below). It’s produced by Tsumura Co., Ltd. in Tokyo, which specializes in selling Kampo medicine — the adaptation of traditional Chinese medicine to Japanese culture.
In this study, the use of topical medicines (steroids and/or tacrolimus [Protopic]) decreased when patients with atopic dermatitis took Hochu-ekki-to. Continue reading Kampo medicine to treat atopic dermatitis
The benefits of probiotics in endurance athletes
If an elite athlete takes something that enhances the immune system, does that make it a performance enhancement drug? Continue reading The benefits of probiotics in endurance athletes
The facts about fish oil and omega-3 fatty acids
The Canadian Medical Association Journal has published all you really need to know about omega-3 fatty acids and heart health.
And, it took just one page to do it. Continue reading The facts about fish oil and omega-3 fatty acids
Brain changes in OCD associated with CBT
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is an established treatment for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). It is equal or perhaps superior to pharmacotherapy.
Now researchers from the University of California at Los Angeles and San Diego have identified changes in the brain that might explain how this happens. Continue reading Brain changes in OCD associated with CBT
The value of music therapy for substance abuse treatment
According to researchers at the University of Queensland in Australia, music therapy is a promising approach to improving engagement in substance abuse treatment groups. Continue reading The value of music therapy for substance abuse treatment
Consumer alert: IcyHot
 This qualifies for mention here because this product contains menthol. Continue reading Consumer alert: IcyHot
Improved quality of acupuncture studies
First published in 1966, CONSORT (CONsolidated Standards of Reporting Trials) is intended to improve the reporting of medical research. Authors use it as a checklist when they submit articles for publication. By standardizing the information that must appear in a research article, this should help assure that the studies are well designed and the results are useful to readers.
Has it helped improve acupuncture studies? Continue reading Improved quality of acupuncture studies
What we know about black cohosh
A continuing education article on Medscape presents a nice summary on the use of black cohosh to treat the symptoms of menopause. Continue reading What we know about black cohosh
More on teaching CAM in medical schools
Medscape printed an article last year that was critical of CAM and any role it might have in the education of medical students. I summarized it here.
Now, a reasoned reply has been published. Continue reading More on teaching CAM in medical schools
Should you consider kava to treat anxiety?
The results of a combined analysis of 3 studies of kava kava (Piper methysticum) to treat anxiety do not support the use of kava in DSM-IV generalized anxiety disorder.
Well then, where does the support for kava come from?
The inaccuracy of CAM information on the Web
Researchers from MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas focused on breast cancer information. Continue reading The inaccuracy of CAM information on the Web
A possible role for yoga as a complementary therapy for HIV
One of the complications of HIV infection is the loss of complex motor coordination. This can be evaluated using the mirror star-tracing task. There are variations on this test, but essentially the patient traces a star using the outline in a mirror.
Now, a study in 26 healthy people shows that one month of yoga was associated in fewer errors in a modification of the star-tracing task where the star was six pointed with the outline made up of 60 circles (4 mm in diameter).
Continue reading A possible role for yoga as a complementary therapy for HIV
Dolly Parton has back pain
It’s so bad that she canceled her concert tour.
Here’s the state-of-the-art (not including pharmacology and surgery) for treating lower back pain (LBP) from the North American Spine Society. Continue reading Dolly Parton has back pain
Best treatments for neck pain
The findings come from a report by the Task Force on Neck Pain and Its Associated Disorders, sanctioned by the United Nations and the World Health Organization.
Here’s a summary of their conclusions regarding noninvasive treatments. It’s based on a review of the medical literature. Continue reading Best treatments for neck pain
Group music therapy for schizophrenia
Musical activity diminished negative symptoms and improved interpersonal contact, according to researchers in Bedburg-Hau, Germany. Continue reading Group music therapy for schizophrenia
Using music therapy to treat depression
There’s not much information available, but it appears that music therapy is accepted by patients and improves their mood. Continue reading Using music therapy to treat depression
Homeopathic treatment and the need for pain medicine following knee surgery
Homeopathic treatment was not better than placebo in reducing morphine use after knee ligament reconstruction, according to researchers at INSERM in Grenoble, France. Continue reading Homeopathic treatment and the need for pain medicine following knee surgery
Are Canadian academics opposed to organic farming?
Earlier this year a report from the University of Alberta concluded that the environmental impact of food-miles racked up by organic produce when making the trip from farm to grocery store cancels out the benefits of growing it according to organic principals.
Now, there’s this from a technician at Malaspina University College in British Columbia, Canada. Continue reading Are Canadian academics opposed to organic farming?