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  • Does soy lower the risk of chronic disease?
  • Review of ginkgo to treat dementia
  • Might eating fish protect infants from eczema?
  • Acupuncture to treat dry eye
  • Effect of magnesium on blood pressure
  • Risk of liver toxicity from kava formulations
  • Vitamin D and the risk of heart disease
  • The red yeast rice alternative to statins
  • Arsenic, cadmium and lead in medicinal herbs
  • Targeted exercise programs in geriatric institutionalized people
  • Consumer Alert: Zicam cold remedies
  • Yoga to treat eating disorders
  • Worried about copper in your supplements?
  • Soy food and breast cancer risk
  • Acupuncture for allergic rhinitis, reviewed
  • Effect of vitamin D on weight loss
  • Vitamin D of no benefit in older patients with heart failure?
  • Cupping in patients with carpal tunnel syndrome
  • Melatonin treatment of insomnia in ADHD
  • Herbal use and adherence to steroids during asthma treatment

Monthly Archives: March 2010

CAM Politics, Cancer, Diet-Nutrition, Heart Disease, Pregnancy, Thyroid

Does soy lower the risk of chronic disease?

03/30/2010 JR

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? →

Alzheimer's Dementia, Elderly, Ginkgo

Review of ginkgo to treat dementia

03/29/2010 JR

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 →

Dermatitis, Diet-Nutrition, Infants, Omega-3 Fatty Acids

Might eating fish protect infants from eczema?

03/28/2010 JR

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? →

Acupuncture/ pressure

Acupuncture to treat dry eye

03/27/2010 JR

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 →

High Blood Pressure, Magnesium

Effect of magnesium on blood pressure

03/27/2010 JR

It lowered blood pressure in adults with hypertension, but not in people with normal blood pressure. Continue reading Effect of magnesium on blood pressure →

Kava

Risk of liver toxicity from kava formulations

03/27/2010 JR

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 →

Heart Disease, Kidney Disease, Vitamin D

Vitamin D and the risk of heart disease

03/26/2010 JR

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 →

Cholesterol/Lipids, Red Yeast Rice

The red yeast rice alternative to statins

03/26/2010 JR

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 →

Chamomile, ConsumerLab, Heavy Metals, Herbals, Hibiscus, Peppermint Oil

Arsenic, cadmium and lead in medicinal herbs

03/25/2010 JR

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 →

Alzheimer's Dementia, Elderly, Psychosis, Tai Chi

Targeted exercise programs in geriatric institutionalized people

03/25/2010 JR

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 →

Common Cold, Consumer Alert, FDA/FTC/CDC

Consumer Alert: Zicam cold remedies

03/25/2010 JR

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 →

Children, Diet-Nutrition, Yoga

Yoga to treat eating disorders

03/24/2010 JR

It holds promise in the overall management of eating disorders, according to researchers at Seattle Children’s Hospital, in Washington. Continue reading Yoga to treat eating disorders →

CAM Politics, Copper, Heavy Metals

Worried about copper in your supplements?

03/24/2010 JR

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has ruled that within limits, copper oxide can be safely used in food supplements. Continue reading Worried about copper in your supplements? →

Cancer, Flavonoids (Soy)

Soy food and breast cancer risk

03/23/2010 JR

Researchers from Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, in Nashville, Tennessee report the results from the Shanghai Women’s Health Study. Continue reading Soy food and breast cancer risk →

Acupuncture/ pressure, Asthma/Allergy

Acupuncture for allergic rhinitis, reviewed

03/23/2010 JR

Prof. Ernst reviewed its value for treating or preventing allergic rhinitis. Continue reading Acupuncture for allergic rhinitis, reviewed →

Diet-Nutrition, Obesity, Vitamin D

Effect of vitamin D on weight loss

03/23/2010 JR

During the Endocrine Society’s 91st Annual Meeting, researchers from the University of Minnesota reported that higher blood levels of vitamin D were associated with greater weight lose in obese volunteers on a calorie-restricted diet. Continue reading Effect of vitamin D on weight loss →

Elderly, Heart Disease, Vitamin D

Vitamin D of no benefit in older patients with heart failure?

03/22/2010 JR

Researchers from Ninewells Hospital, in Dundee, United Kingdom report no benefit from vitamin D in their patients. Continue reading Vitamin D of no benefit in older patients with heart failure? →

Cancer, Cupping, Infection, Pain-Back, Pain-Shoulder

Cupping in patients with carpal tunnel syndrome

03/22/2010 JR

Cupping is a treatment in which evacuated cups are applied to the skin to draw blood through the surface.

Researchers from Immanuel Hospital Berlin, in Germany reported the response to this traditional method of treating musculoskeletal pain. Continue reading Cupping in patients with carpal tunnel syndrome →

ADHD, Children, Melatonin, Sleep (Insomnia)

Melatonin treatment of insomnia in ADHD

03/21/2010 JR

Researchers from Duke University Hospital, in Durham, North Carolina found positive effects in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Continue reading Melatonin treatment of insomnia in ADHD →

Asthma/Allergy, Herbals

Herbal use and adherence to steroids during asthma treatment

03/20/2010 JR

Researchers from Mount Sinai School of Medicine, in New York, studied the association among herbal use, adherence to prescribed inhaled corticosteroids, and the effect on disease control. Continue reading Herbal use and adherence to steroids during asthma treatment →

Complementary and Alternative Medicine: Fair, Balanced, and to the Point

About this web log

This blog ran from 2006 to 2016 and was intended as an objective and dispassionate source of information on the latest CAM research. Since my background is in pharmacy and allopathic medicine, I view all CAM as advancing through the development pipeline to eventually become integrated into mainstream medical practice. Some will succeed while others fail. But all are treated fairly here.

About the author

John Russo, Jr., PharmD, is president of The MedCom Resource, Inc. Previously, he was senior vice president of medical communications at www.Vicus.com, a complementary and alternative medicine website.

Common sense considerations

The material on this weblog is for informational purposes. It is not medical advice or counsel. Be smart, consult your health professional before using CAM.

Recent Posts

  • Does soy lower the risk of chronic disease?
  • Review of ginkgo to treat dementia
  • Might eating fish protect infants from eczema?
  • Acupuncture to treat dry eye
  • Effect of magnesium on blood pressure
  • Risk of liver toxicity from kava formulations
  • Vitamin D and the risk of heart disease
  • The red yeast rice alternative to statins
  • Arsenic, cadmium and lead in medicinal herbs
  • Targeted exercise programs in geriatric institutionalized people
  • Consumer Alert: Zicam cold remedies
  • Yoga to treat eating disorders
  • Worried about copper in your supplements?
  • Soy food and breast cancer risk
  • Acupuncture for allergic rhinitis, reviewed
  • Effect of vitamin D on weight loss
  • Vitamin D of no benefit in older patients with heart failure?
  • Cupping in patients with carpal tunnel syndrome
  • Melatonin treatment of insomnia in ADHD
  • Herbal use and adherence to steroids during asthma treatment

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