Monthly Archives: May 2007

CAM Interactions, Chinese Medicine, Headache/Migraine, Heart Disease, High Blood Pressure, Kidney Disease, Lemon/Lime, Liver Disease, Nausea/Vomiting

Transplant patients are cautioned about taking Schisandra

Schisandra sphenanthera (Nan Wu Wei Zi, lemon-wood) is “commonly used in Chinese herbalism, where it is considered to be one of the 50 fundamental herbs.” I found no clinical study in humans to support the many claims for this Chinese herbal medicine.

Now, there’s a report of a drug interaction with tacrolimus (Prograf) — a drug used to suppress the immune system in order to prevent organ rejection of liver, kidney, or heart transplants. Continue reading Transplant patients are cautioned about taking Schisandra →

Cancer, Diarrhea/Constipation, Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Pre, Pro, Synbiotics

Using probiotics to lessen diarrhea after radiation therapy

Radiation therapy can disturb bacterial colonies in the intestines and cause radiation-induced enteritis and colitis, leading to diarrhea in cancer patients.

In this study, researchers at the San Camillo Hospital in Rome, Italy used probiotics to reduce this complication. Continue reading Using probiotics to lessen diarrhea after radiation therapy →

Bed Wetting, Black/Blue Cohosh, Bleeding Disorders, Chewing gum, Damiana Leaf, DHEA, Dong Quai, Kidney Disease, Menopause, Yam Extract

Zoft Menopause Gum

The Zoft Gum Company, which makes several herbal supplement chewing gums (eg, breast enlargement, weight reduction) has introduced a new gum to help manage the symptoms of menopause.

There are no studies of this gum for treating menopausal symptoms in women. And the discussion of the gum’s ingredients on the Zoft website is misleading.

This summary should provide balance. Continue reading Zoft Menopause Gum →

CAM Education

Are physicians prepared to educate patients about dietary supplements?

An article in Mayo Clinic Proceedings recently reported a disconnect between consumers’ use of herbals to treat certain conditions and the scientific support for their use.

The authors suggested that healthcare professionals take a proactive role in educating their patients. The results from this survey suggest doctors are not prepared for this responsibility without further training. Continue reading Are physicians prepared to educate patients about dietary supplements? →

Anxiety (Panic)/Depression, Mindfulness

Mindfulness does not have a reliable effect on depression and anxiety

That’s the conclusion from two researchers who reviewed 15 studies.

Here’s what they found.

  • Evidence for a beneficial effect of mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) on depression and anxiety was equivocal.
  • When active control groups were used, MBSR did not show an effect on depression and anxiety.
  • Adherence to the MBSR program was infrequently assessed. When it was, the relation between practicing mindfulness and changes in depression and anxiety was equivocal.

Dr. Irene asks, “What was included with the MBSR? MBSR is not used in isolation of other treatments ” Unfortunately, the abstract doesn’t say.

If you’re interested, here’s a link with background on mindfulness therapies.

5/22/07 20:48 JR