“Spiritual beliefs and values often shape one’s understandings of health, disease, and healing, and thus can influence healthcare decision-making as well as one’s ability to cope with illness, dying, and death.”
Dr. Christina Puchalski from The George Washington University Medical Center addresses what’s involved in serving patients and providing compassionate care.
Continue reading The physician’s role in providing spiritual care
Dr. Mark Moyad (photo) is Director of Preventive and Alternative Medicine at the University of Michigan Medical Center in Ann Arbor. His thoughts about the FDA’s plan to establish good manufacturing regulations for dietary supplements are published in Urology Times.
He also looks to the next big issue that will confront the supplement industry.
Once you know the issues, you can play the role of the pharmaceutical executive and decide if your product “Best Prostate Health” should be withdrawn from the market. Continue reading The next big issue facing dietary supplements — You be the CEO
In this study, dietary cod protein improved insulin sensitivity in insulin-resistant individuals. The researchers think it could help “prevent type 2 diabetes by reducing the metabolic complications related to insulin resistance.” Continue reading Cod protein improves insulin sensitivity
The results using lactobacilli are mostly positive, but this is not the final word, based on a review of the medical literature by researchers at the Alfa Institute of Biomedical Sciences in Greece. Continue reading Probiotics to treat and prevent bacterial vaginosis
Ruta graveolens (rue, witchbane) is used as a mosquito repellant. Pick the flowering plant, crush it, and rub the oils over your skin.
But when the psoralens from rue come in contact with human skin and are exposed to ultraviolet A light, a photoirritant reaction can occur. Continue reading Phototoxicity from rue when used as a mosquito repellent
In an editorial on Medscape, Dan Hurley, author of the book Natural Causes says, “It’s time for physicians to face [the fact] that the majority of their patients use supplements.” Continue reading Medscape editorial and The C.A.M. Report
A computer model was programed to simulate the natural history of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and patterns of ophthalmic service among 20 million Americans age 50 to 100 years or until death. Continue reading Computer simulation and vitamin therapy for macular degeneration
It’s commonly recommended that exercising adults and athletes avoid caffeine because it’s a diuretic, and might exacerbate dehydration and hyperthermia.
Researchers from the University of Connecticut reviewed the literature. Continue reading Defining the effects of caffeine in exercising adults
Withania somnifera Dunal, commonly known as ashwagandha and Indian ginseng, has a long list of uses in Ayurvedic medicine.
In the treatment of cancer, here’s what we know.
Continue reading Withania somnifera and its potential role in cancer treatment
OK. Stay with me on this.
Kevin Tracey, MD is director and CEO of The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research in New York. A well-respected researcher, Dr. Tracey discovered that the brain controls the immune system via the vagus nerve. Now he’s investigating the role of a molecule called tumor necrosis factor (TNF) as part of the immune system’s weapons against foreign invaders. TNF can cause pain and redness to an injury or infection. In excessive amounts, it can also cause shock and death.
What’s this got to do with CAM?
Continue reading A new tool to test the biological effects of biofeedback, meditation, and yoga
Dr. David Neubauer, assistant professor of psychiatry at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, has published an article on Medscape on the long-term treatment of insomnia.
Just ahead of drug treatments, he lists cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT).
Here’s why.
Proponents say butterbur (Petadolex; Petasites hybridus) reduces the frequency of migraines in adults, although it doesn’t treat them once they occur.
Here are the results of a study in children. Continue reading Butterbur for prevention of childhood migraine
Swedish massage for 8 weeks improved pain, stiffness, physical function, walking, and range of motion in a study of 68 men and women with osteoarthritis (OA) .
Importantly, the improvement was sustained for 16 weeks.
Continue reading Massage therapy reduces pain in patients with knee osteoarthritis
The American College of Sports Medicine and the American Heart Association have updated their physical activity guidelines. Continue reading Activity guidelines for healthy adults under age 65
Soursops (aka graviola; Annona muricata) are aromatic fruits with white juicy flesh that are native to tropical North and South America. More than a decade ago researchers from Purdue University isolated 5 active components of graviola and found they were toxic to cancer cells.
What’s happened since then? Continue reading Update on graviola
A recently published study concluded, “Selenium supplementation does not seem to prevent type 2 diabetes, and it may increase risk for the disease.”
The study was summarized here. Now, an article on HealthNotesNewswire by Dr. Allan Gaby, a specialist in nutrition and preventive medicine, lists criticisms of the research. Dr. Gaby’s article is instructive because in addition to the relevance of the criticisms to the selenium study, it provides a checklist of basic questions to ask when reading any retrospective review. Continue reading More thoughts on the role of selenium in preventing diabetes
According to this study from the National Yang-Ming University School of Medicine in Taiwan there is a response, but the degree of improvement is less than from inhalation bronchodilator therapy. Continue reading The response to acupuncture in people with asthma
Yes, there are benefits for people with irritable bowel syndrome. But it doesn’t seem to matter whether they receive real of sham acupuncture. Continue reading Acupuncture for irritable bowel syndrome
Researchers from Harvard School of Public Health in Boston believe, “the United States Food and Drug Administration and corresponding agencies in other countries should require heavy metal testing for all imported dietary supplements.”
The recommendation is based on what they found among people taking Ayurvedic medicines. Continue reading Ayurvedic lead poisoning results in greater toxicity than lead paint intoxication
STW 5 (Iberogast) is an herbal preparation containing 9 plant extracts (including Iberis amara [Candytuft] peppermint, and chamomile). In this study, it was better than placebo in treating functional dyspepsia — a chronic or recurrent pain or discomfort centered in the upper abdomen. Continue reading Treating functional dyspepsia with STW 5