How might spinal manipulation lower blood pressure?

Reports from chiropractic journals say that manipulating the neck region helps reduce blood pressure in some people.

Prof. Jim Deuchars from the University of Leeds in the UK and coworkers have examined pathways between the neck and the brain to help define how neck muscles could play a crucial role in controlling blood pressure, heart rate, and breathing. Continue reading How might spinal manipulation lower blood pressure?

Follow-up: Reported cost-savings with CAM-oriented primary care

In a previous entry it was reported that over 7 years, patients visiting chiropractors and other CAM-oriented primary care doctors had 60% fewer hospitalizations, 62% less outpatient surgery, and 85% lower pharmaceutical costs compared with total network HMO (health maintenance organization).

These findings are important, but there were some questions, which lead researcher, Dr. Richard Sarnat, graciously agreed to address. Continue reading Follow-up: Reported cost-savings with CAM-oriented primary care

Homeopathy and the memory of water

A long-time reader and valued critic of this site believes this post was not fair. OK. I accept the criticism and challenge him to do better, as stated in the comments below.

The preparation of treatments in homeopathy is based on extremely high dilutions (low concentrations) of substances in water — far lower than detectable. For this reason, it has been suggested that water could retain a “memory” of substances that have been dissolved in it before the successive dilutions.

The journal, Homeopathy has dedicated an entire issue to try to explain the concept. Continue reading Homeopathy and the memory of water

Some benefit from antioxidant vitamins on the risk of cardiovascular disease

About 23% or 62 million Americans have some form of cardiovascular disease (CVD; eg, heart disease, stroke, atherosclerosis, coronary heart disease, angina, coronary artery disease, high blood pressure, or heart failure).

The Women’s Antioxidant Cardiovascular Study concluded, “There were no overall effects of ascorbic acid [vitamin C], vitamin E, or beta carotene on cardiovascular events among women at high risk for CVD.”

But read on to see those who did benefit. Continue reading Some benefit from antioxidant vitamins on the risk of cardiovascular disease