Italian physicians, led by former Health Minister, Prof. Umberto Veronesi from the Istituto Europeo di Oncologia di Milano, claim “these therapies risk depriving patients of effective cures, unlike modern medicine, which is based on centuries of science.”
The doctors are particularly concerned about homeopathy, chiropractic, acupuncture, and herbal medicine as examples of “increasingly popular therapies whose usefulness is not certain.” Continue reading Pushing back against CAM in Italy
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has announced a nationwide recall of H S Joy of Love dietary supplement because it could interact with prescription drugs. Continue reading Consumer alert: Chinese herbal medicine Joy of Love is recalled
Dr. Laura Podewils from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, Georgia says “there is relatively consistent evidence suggesting that older persons who engage in regular or high levels of exercise have a decreased risk for dementia, particularly Alzheimer’s disease, compared to older persons who are inactive.”
OK, but her research shows that physical activity has no effect on the rate of lesion progression in elderly people with Alzheimer’s disease or mild cognitive impairment. Continue reading Exercise does not alter lesions in the brain of Alzheimer’s patients
Vascular dementia is the second most common form of dementia after Alzheimer’s disease. The condition is preventable. Therefore, early detection and implementation of effective treatment are important.
In order to assess the effect of acupuncture on this condition, a broad search for randomized, placebo-controlled studies testing acupuncture to treat vascular dementia was undertaken. Continue reading Trying to evaluate acupuncture to treat vascular dementia
Here is a website that tells you how many people in your neighborhood are as sick as you. Continue reading Who is sick?
Actually, they reviewed more than CAM, but that’s what will be covered here.
Continue reading British Association for Psychopharmacology rates CAM for dementia
Alcoholics who watch themselves after a bout of delirium tremens (DTs; a potentially fatal form of alcohol withdrawal), have less severe relapses and consume less alcohol.
Here are the details. Continue reading Using videotape to treat alcoholics with delirium tremens
The Associated Press is reporting a second tainted pet food ingredient, which has added more pet food products to the recall list.
The connection with CAM is that contamination is not a new or rare event when it comes to food imports from China or traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Continue reading The pet food recall and the CAM connection
Researchers at Rutgers University in New Jersey report that overweight premenopausal women don’t lose bone when they diet if they take the recommended amount of calcium.
Here are the details. Continue reading The value of calcium when premenopausal women diet
Over 3 decades, the potential health benefits of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids have been studied, debated, and explained.
If you’ve been looking for a single authoritative and well-documented source on this subject, look no further than this article in the Journal of Nurse Practitioners on Medscape. Continue reading A major review of omega 3 fatty acids
According to the manufacturer, this carbonated beverage, which contains green tea extract, calcium, and caffeine, burns about 100 calories for every three 12-ounce cans consumed. Continue reading Enviga burns a few extra calories, but will you lose weight?
Others have reported benefit with chondroitin in patients with hip or knee osteoarthritis, but this reanalysis of published studies came to a different conclusion. Continue reading Chondroitin does not reduce joint pain in osteoarthritis
Dr. Edward Creagen has recommendations for those living through grief. Continue reading In the wake of Virginia Tech
Health Canada is advising consumers not to use this product due to concerns about possible side effects. Continue reading Consumer alert: Lexscl Fat Rapid Loss capsules
It’s especially important considering that these product routinely have poor quality control and mislabeling problems, as noted here, here, here, and here.
Now, survey results from the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine document just how confused older Americans are about supplements. Continue reading Misperceptions about herbal and dietary supplements among older Americans
FoodNavigator.com has a article on the results of a report titled Attitudes to Food: Weight and Diet.
The findings are relevant to an earlier post about a 3rd attempt by US government agencies to get Americans to eat more fruits and veggies. Continue reading The secret to healthier eating in America
From 1988 to 1994, 27% of adults met the USDA guidelines for eating fruit and 35% met the guidelines for vegetables. In 1999 and 2002 the percentages were 28% and 32%, respectively.
Eating veggies actually went down, and only 11% of adults met USDA guidelines for both fruits and vegetables in 1988-1994 and 1999-2002.
How can this be? Continue reading Why aren’t Americans eating more fruits and veggies?
Overall, they are positive, at least at the University of Minnesota. Continue reading Attitudes of pharmacy faculty and students toward CAM
Remote access to patients with chronic heart failure (by telephone or telemonitoring) has a positive effect on health and wellbeing.
Researchers from Australia and Canada reviewed 14 studies of remote monitoring in more than 4000 patients.
Here are the results. Continue reading Using the telephone in place of clinic or home visits
As drug experts, pharmacists are expected to counsel patients on the safe and effective use medicine, which technically includes homeopathic products.
Considering that many pharmacists feel that homeopathy is based on unscientific theories that lack supporting evidence, is this a reasonable expectation? Continue reading Should homeopathy be included in pharmacy school curricula?