During the American Society of Nephrology’s 43rd Annual Meeting and Scientific Exposition, researchers at Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, in Haifa, Israel reported their results in patients with chronic kidney disease. Continue reading Pomegranate juice for kidney dialysis patients
Review: Botanicals to reduce skin aging and wrinkling
Prof. Ernst tells us, “Although topical creams and other anti-aging products purport to reduce the appearance of aging and skin wrinkling, there has been no critical analysis in the scientific literature of their effectiveness.”
Get ready. Continue reading Review: Botanicals to reduce skin aging and wrinkling
Massage vs music therapy to relieve labor pain
During labor, women experience intense, stressful, and steady pain.
Researchers at Ilam University of Medical Sciences, in Iran compared 2 nonpharmacologic treatment options. Continue reading Massage vs music therapy to relieve labor pain
Diet and the risk of colorectal cancer
Researchers at Simmons College, in Boston compared the Alternate Mediterranean Diet (aMed) and the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet in middle-aged adults. Continue reading Diet and the risk of colorectal cancer
Hemp Seed Pill to treat functional constipation
Functional constipation doesn’t have an anatomical or hormonal cause.
Researchers at Hong Kong Baptist University, in China studied ma zi ren wan (Hemp Seed Pill), which is a branded product. Continue reading Hemp Seed Pill to treat functional constipation
Using mobile phones to improve HIV drug thearpy
Researchers in Kenya and Canada studied the effects of mobile phone communication between healthcare workers and patients starting antiretroviral (antiviral) therapy in Kenya. Continue reading Using mobile phones to improve HIV drug thearpy
Review: Probiotics to treat diarrhea
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.
Dalcroze eurhythmics reduces falls in the elderly
Falls occur mainly while walking or performing concurrent tasks.
Researcher in Switzerland studied whether a music-based multitask exercise program (Dalcroze eurhythmics) improves gait and balance and reduces fall risk in elderly individuals. Continue reading Dalcroze eurhythmics reduces falls in the elderly
Music therapy
Vitamin D3 vs D2: Comparison of potency
This year, 2 studies concluded that vitamin D3 is more potent. Continue reading Vitamin D3 vs D2: Comparison of potency
Qigong for women with breast cancer
Researchers at MD Anderson Cancer Center, in Houston, Texas, looked for evidence that external qigong treatment could shrink breast cancer tumors and improve quality of life in women with breast cancer awaiting surgery. Continue reading Qigong for women with breast cancer
Yoga for women with primary dysmenorrhea
Researchers at Islamic Azad University, in Rasht, Iran, studied the effect of yoga on dysmenorrhea — cramping pain in the lower abdomen occurring just before or during menstruation, in the absence of other diseases. Continue reading Yoga for women with primary dysmenorrhea
Dietary factors and the risk of atrial fibrillation
Researchers in Boston tell us there are conflicting reports about an association between dietary factors and the risk of atrial fibrillation — the most common type of irregular heartbeat found in about 2.2 million Americans.
They evaluated the potential associations between atrial fibrillation and several dietary factors. Continue reading Dietary factors and the risk of atrial fibrillation
Product review: CoQ10 and ubiquinol
CoQ10 and its activated form, ubiquinol, are popular supplements for treating or preventing a range of conditions including congestive heart failure, migraine headache, high blood pressure, and Parkinson’s disease — although none of the evidence is conclusive.
ConsumerLab.com tested 31 products for content and dosing. Continue reading Product review: CoQ10 and ubiquinol
Orange juice as a source of vitamin D
There’s a short list of food sources of vitamin D.
Researchers from Boston compared the bioavailability of vitamins D2 and D3 from orange juice vs capsules. Continue reading Orange juice as a source of vitamin D
Ten-Cha to treat house dust mite allergic rhinitis
In Japan and China, Ten-Cha is a commonly used complementary alternative medicine for allergic rhinitis.
Researchers in China studied Ten-Cha (Rubus suavissimus), which is commonly known as either Sweet Tea Extract or Chinese Blackberry Extract. Continue reading Ten-Cha to treat house dust mite allergic rhinitis
Limits of the benefits of exercise on depression
Researchers at Bispebjerg University Hospital, in Denmark, looked for long-term benefits of exercise in adults with clinical depression. Continue reading Limits of the benefits of exercise on depression
Traditional Chinese herbals to treat stable angina
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. Continue reading Traditional Chinese herbals to treat stable angina
False labeling casts a shadow on OTC vitamin D products
During the meeting of the Joint Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers and America’s Committee on Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis, researchers at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland, reported that actual content ranges between 1% and 82% of what’s on the label. Continue reading False labeling casts a shadow on OTC vitamin D products
Teleconferencing for fatigue managment in MS patients
Fatigue is a common symptom of multiple sclerosis (MS) that challenges patients in their daily activities.
Researchers at the University of Illinois at Chicago compared teleconference to face-to-face, group-based fatigue self-management. The results were reported during the Joint Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers and America’s Committee on Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis meeting. Continue reading Teleconferencing for fatigue managment in MS patients