PRNewswire-USNewswire reports that the Appeals Court for the State of Pennsylvania has ruled against Stephen Barrett (photo), a long-time critic of chiropractic and alternative health care. The judge refused to overturn a 2005 decision against Barrett.
Here’s the history behind the case. Continue reading Stephen Barrett loses appeal to court case against chiropractor
On the positive side, green tea is cheap, widely available, and has low toxicity. Now, we just need some good studies of efficacy.
Writing in the Mayo Clinic Proceedings, 5 researchers summarized what we know so far. Continue reading The potential of green tea for cancer prevention and treatment
The New York Times reports, “The [FDA] advisory panel voted unanimously, 14 to 0, against recommending the drug [rimonabant, Acomplia, Zimulti], saying there was inadequate evidence of its safety. The FDA is not required to follow this advice, but it typically does.”
The report is interesting to this blog because rimonabant works by blocking cannabinoids receptors in the brain. Continue reading Cannabinoid-receptor blocker will probably not be sold in the US
Dr. Lynn Webster of the Lifetree Pain Clinic in Salt Lake City, Utah reports from the American Academy of Pain Medicine meeting.
Effective? Continue reading Status of cannabinoids for pain management
Dr. Philip Calder from the Institute of Human Nutrition at the University of Southampton, United Kingdom has written a scholarly review on this relationship.
Here are the key points. Continue reading The effect of omega-3 fatty acid intake on inflammation
MayoClinic.com gives milk thistle (Silybum marianum seed extract [silymarin]) a “C” grade for its role in the treatment of diabetes. In other words, there is “unclear scientific evidence for this use.”
But this might change as a result of this study on the effect of milk thistle on A1c in people with type 2 diabetes.
Continue reading Milk thistle improves A1c in people with diabetes
Study results presented during the 2006 North American Association for the Study of Obesity meeting confirm the commonly held belief that eating slowly reduces your intake of food.
Jonathan Waxman is professor of oncology at the Imperial College in London. He asks, “Why is it that patients change their diet” after they are diagnosed with cancer? He’s frustrated that his patients trust “snake oil salesman.”
And dietary supplements? Heh, don’t get him started!
He obviously has anger issues.
He also makes a good point.
In a study of 60 nurses working in an Australian hospital 15 minutes of massage therapy once each week for 5 weeks reportedly reduced psychological stress levels compared to no massage.
“When I pushed on it, stuff would come out the holes”
“It was real hard for me to open my mouth; it was hard for me to chew and stuff like that. It was just unbearable; I couldn’t sleep on it or anything.”
Yea, it’s hard to overeat when you can’t open your mouth!
Here’s the bottom line from the Mayo Clinic.
Occupational therapy (OT) reportedly helped a group of 135 patients with mild-to-moderate dementia (averaging 78 years old) to perform daily activities.
Continue reading Using occupational therapy to treat mild-to-moderate dementia
Elevated triglyceride blood levels are a common finding in people with HIV. And the levels tend to get higher during treatment with highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART).
A new study shows the effectiveness of taking omega-3 fatty acid supplements in these patients.
Continue reading Omega-3 lowers triglycerides in men with HIV
The INTERMAP study (INTERnational collaborative of MAcronutrients and blood Pressure) examines correlations between nutrients and worldwide patterns of blood pressure.
The abstract is obtuse, but Medscape has a decent review. Continue reading Effect of dietary omega-3 fatty acid on blood pressure: The INTERMAP study.
I was reading another blog that listed Picrorhiza kurroa (Pk; Kutaki) Royle ex Benth as an effective treatment for ascites. I can’t find a study in people to support it for ascites, but here’s a study where this Ayurvedic medicine was used to treat acute viral hepatitis. Continue reading Picrorhiza kurroa to treat acute viral hepatitis
Young adults with higher magnesium intake have a lower risk of developing the metabolic syndrome. This is the conclusion from an April 2006 article published in the journal Circulation.
Here are the details. Continue reading Magnesium and the metabolic syndrome
Not based on what we know right now.
Here’s an overview.
Continue reading Is there a role for herbal medicines in treating infections?
For the treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), triple therapy that combines splinting with nerve-gliding exercises and ultrasound is superior to dual therapy that includes splinting plus nerve-gliding exercises or ultrasound. Continue reading Gliding exercises to treat carpal tunnel syndrome
Heavy smokers who cut down but fail to quit do not appear to significantly reduce their risk for death.
Here are the details.
It has been more than a decade since shark cartilage was first promoted as a potential cure for cancer.
Now, a large study presented during the 43rd American Society of Oncology meeting reports that in patients with non?small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), shark cartilage added to chemotherapy and radiation treatment had no effect on survival. Continue reading Shark cartilage: Negative results in lung cancer patients
Tina Juan is an author, TV host, and health club owner. On her