Folklore remedies for pain and inflammation support these bracelets to treat rheumatoid arthritis.

Researchers at The University of York, in the UK studied their effects. (more…)

Energy drinks are consumed by 30% to 50% of adolescents and young adults. The manufacturers claim they are safe.

Researchers at the University of Miami, in Florida reviewed the evidence and came to a different conclusion. (more…)

Qigong is often used by cancer patients to help manage their symptoms.

Researchers at The University of Hong Kong, in China, evaluated the effectiveness of qigong exercise in cancer care. (more…)

Aside from surgery, splinting, exercises, and other alternative therapies have been used.

Researchers at Oregon Health & Science University reviewed the evidence. (more…)

In this Cochrane review, researchers in Australia and the UK evaluated the evidence for directly altering brain activity with electrical stimulation to reduce chronic pain. (more…)

Past studies have been criticized because of poor study design, according to Prof. Ernst.

Researchers from Bastyr University tighten up the design and report their results. (more…)

There’s concern that the use of complementary and alternative medications (CAM) may replace recommended preventive health practices.

Researchers at Penn State College of Medicine, Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, in Pennsylvania conducted a survey to learn more. (more…)

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. (more…)

In this Cochrane review, researchers at the University of Malaya, in Kuala Lumpur, reviewed this common, chronic, recurring condition, which has a prevalence in the UK of 1.5 to 3 per 1000 and is estimated to cost the NHS £400m ($720m; €600m) a year. (more…)

Prof. Ernst and colleagues reviewed the evidence. (more…)

An external qigong healer uses gentle touch or non-contact treatment to reach the client’s life energy (qi) and bring it to balance.

It was used along with pharmacotherapy by researchers at the Mayo Clinic, in Rochester, Minnesota. (more…)

Researchers at Chulalongkorn University, in Bangkok, Thailand, reviewed research on exercise options to prevent and cure nonspecific neck pain. (more…)

Back pain is the second most common reason patients seek ambulatory medical care in the United States.

Researchers at Harvard Medical School, in Boston surveyed the nation about CAM use for back pain. (more…)

Prof. Ernst and colleagues reviewed the evidence and found it insufficient. (more…)

The Cochrane Library has reviewed allopathic and CAM nonhormonal options. (more…)

Researchers at the University Medical Centre Utrecht and De Hoogstraat, in The Netherlands surveyed the use of CAM in a large group of Dutch patients with spinal cord injury. (more…)

Researchers from the State University of New York, at Binghamton studied the response to kiko (video here), to prevent headaches.

Here are the results of the first study of this Japanese practice of qigong that uses repetitive coordinated breathing and movement. (more…)

Anxiety and depression are among the most common conditions cited by those seeking treatment with complementary and alternative therapies.

Researchers from The Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University, in Greenville, North Carolina reviewed the evidence. (more…)

The Mayo Clinic Health Letter makes the connection between static magnets and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS).

You’ll have to subscribe to read the whole article, but it’s interesting that Mayo places both treatments in the same category. (more…)

 The National Center for Contemporary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) has updated their introductory reviews.

Here’s what’s important. (more…)