Herbalists recommend more than a dozen herbal remedies for acne and scarring, according to a recent article.
Unfortunately, only 1 of these herbals is supported by the results of a study in patients. Continue reading Acne: Recommendations are easy; data, scarce
I recently came across a website advocating herbals to treat or prevent acne.
The website isn’t important, but the results of my PubMed searches might be useful. Continue reading Ineffective herbal remedies for treating acne
Researchers in Winnipeg, Manitoba surveyed the prevalence of CAM use in patients with inflammatory bowel disease. Continue reading CAM use in the Manitoba IBD Cohort Study
Bastyr Center for Natural Health has published a review. Continue reading CAM options to treat eczema
Almost all babies go through a fussy period. When crying lasts for longer than about 3 hours a day and is not caused by a medical problem (such as a hernia or infection), it is called colic.
Prof. Ernst and colleagues evaluated nutritional supplements and other complementary and alternative medicines. Continue reading Review: CAM for infantile colic
Researchers from Atlanta, Georgia and Boston report from the National Birth Defects Prevention Study. Continue reading Herbals used by pregnant women
Drugs and Therapeutics Bulletin, which is published by the British Medical Journal, has published their review of the evidence. Continue reading Little evidence that herbals relieve menopause symptoms
2 faculty at the University of California at San Francisco and the University of Utah reviewed the evidence and make recommendations for treatment.
Let’s focus on complementary options. Continue reading Managing nausea and vomiting in pregnancy
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
Dr. Sharon Jacob from the University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Medical Center in Florida and colleagues reviewed the scientific support for herbals used by patients with psoriasis.
Here are the highlights.
Continue reading Herbals to treat psoriasis: A review of the evidence
Researchers at the University Science Center, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania report results from the first randomized controlled study of Matricaria recutita (chamomile) extract therapy for generalized mild to moderate anxiety disorder. Continue reading Chamomile extract therapy for generalized anxiety disorder
Dr. Darrell Hulisz from Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine in Cleveland, Ohio reviews popular herbals.
Let’s focus on safety issues. Continue reading Safety review of popular herbal products
Dr. Darrell Hulisz from Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine in Cleveland, Ohio has written a continuing education article on herbals.
Here are the author’s take-away points, with additional references added. Continue reading Key points about commonly used herbals
STW 5 (Iberogast) is an herbal preparation containing 9 plant extracts (including Iberis amara [Candytuft] peppermint, and chamomile). In this study, it was better than placebo in treating functional dyspepsia — a chronic or recurrent pain or discomfort centered in the upper abdomen. Continue reading Treating functional dyspepsia with STW 5
In 2003, Professor Edzard Ernst writing on the Cochrane Collaboration website concluded, “Compared with placebo, kava extract is an effective symptomatic treatment for anxiety although, at present, the size of the effect seems small.” Continue reading A critical review of herbals to treat anxiety and depression
In her book, The Natural History of Medicinal Plants, Dr. Judith Sumner states, “Now, about 40% of all medicinal prescriptions in the United States contain at least one plant-derived ingredient, and European physicians routinely recommend to their patients herbs such as chamomile and coneflower.”
Here’s a report from India that gives insight into the extensive work being done by just one group of researchers to identify new drugs from plants.
Continue reading The continuing search to discover medicines from plants
Reported earlier on the site was a study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which found that 36% of Americans use CAM ? 62% if prayer is included.
Now, here is an estimate of the use of CAM in one Central American country.
Continue reading The use of CAM among poor Central Americans