Researchers from the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota and Arizona collaborated to review the risks of herbal:drug interactions.
The abstract is a bit skimpy on details, but the American Pharmaceutical Association has a nice summary, which will be summarized further here. Continue reading Risk of taking herbals in people with heart disease
Researchers from South Korea and California reviewed the evidence. Continue reading Web- and computer-based smoking cessation programs
Researchers from the University of Milano, Italy, list what we know. Continue reading Functional foods and cardiovascular risk
Researchers from the University of Cologne Medical Center, in Germany, evaluated the effects of traditional Chinese acupuncture in patients with persistent olfactory dysfunction following a viral infection. Continue reading Acupuncture to speed return of sense of smell after viral infection
During the Sleep 2009 meeting, researchers from Vanderbilt University, in Nashville, Tennessee reported that in children with autism spectrum disorders, low-dose melatonin may be an effective treatment for insomnia. Continue reading Melatonin to treat insomnia in autistic children
Researchers in Madrid, Spain have developed a new meat product — lycopene-enriched hamburger — by adding dry tomato peel to hamburger meat. Continue reading Converting hamburger into a functional food
Researchers from the David Geffen School of Medicine, at the University of California, in Los Angeles have reviewed the evidence. Continue reading Antidiabetic actions of herbals reviewed
The UK National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) has published a new guideline on the care and management of osteoarthritis.
It states that there’s insufficient evidence to recommend acupuncture. Continue reading Acupuncture and the NICE guideline on osteoarthritis
 The National Center for Contemporary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) has updated their introductory reviews.
Here’s what’s important. Continue reading NCCAM reviews reiki and ayurvedic
Epidemiological studies suggest that soy might be associated with a lower risk of certain chronic diseases. This has lead health regulatory agencies worldwide to approve food-labeling health claim for soy proteins.
Dr. Chao Wu Xiao at the University of Ottawa in Canada finds the data lacking. Continue reading Does soy lower the risk of chronic disease?
This one comes from researchers at Charite University Medicine, in Berlin, and Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz University, in Hannover, Germany. Continue reading Review of ginkgo to treat dementia
Researchers from Sweden studied the effects of foods and other factors on the risk of eczema at 1 year of age. Continue reading Might eating fish protect infants from eczema?
Prof. Ernst reviewed reviewed the evidence for treating xerophthalmia (Greek for dry eyes) or Sjögren syndrome (autoimmune disease were white blood cells attack moisture-producing glands). Continue reading Acupuncture to treat dry eye
It lowered blood pressure in adults with hypertension, but not in people with normal blood pressure. Continue reading Effect of magnesium on blood pressure
Does it matter whether the kava formulation is an aqueous, ethanolic, or acetonic extract?
Researchers from the Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University of Frankfurt/Main, in Germany tell us the risk of liver toxicity exists with all forms of kava. Continue reading Risk of liver toxicity from kava formulations
Researchers at the Intermountain Medical Center in Salt Lake City, Utah, looked at Vitamin D levels and found that about two-thirds of patients had low levels.
And, an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, according to results presented during the 59th Annual Scientific Sessions of the American College of Cardiology. Continue reading Vitamin D and the risk of heart disease
Red yeast rice decreases LDL (bad) cholesterol levels.
Researchers from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania studied it’s potential as an alternative treatment option in patients who cannot tolerate statins. Continue reading The red yeast rice alternative to statins
This study was conducted at the University of Sofia in Bulgaria using local herbals.
I don’t know the relevance to herbals in other parts of the world, but the results are disturbing. Continue reading Arsenic, cadmium and lead in medicinal herbs
Researchers from Faculté des Sciences du Sport, in Bordeaux, France compared the response to 2 exercise programs vs usual care. Continue reading Targeted exercise programs in geriatric institutionalized people
The FDA is advising people to discontinue using 3 Zicam Nasal Gel/Nasal Swab cold remedies because they’re associated with the loss of sense of smell that may be long-lasting or permanent. Continue reading Consumer Alert: Zicam cold remedies