ScienceDaily: Alternative Medicine News

Cardio and weight training reduces access to health care in seniors

Tue, 14 May 2013 18:53:53 EDT

Forget apples -- lifting weights and doing cardio can also keep the doctors away, according a new study.

Mind-body course has positive impact on well-being of medical students

Wed, 01 May 2013 19:32:32 EDT

A new study shows a mind-body class elective for medical students helps increase their self-compassion and ability to manage thoughts and tasks more effectively. The study also discusses how this innovative course may help medical students better manage stress and feel more empowered to use mind-body skills with their patients.

Study identifies genes, pathways altered during relaxation response practice

Wed, 01 May 2013 19:32:32 EDT

A new study finds that elicitation of the relaxation response -- a physiologic state of deep rest induced by practices such as meditation, deep breathing and prayer -- produces immediate changes in the expression of genes involved in immune function, energy metabolism and insulin secretion.

No benefit of evening primrose oil for treating eczema, review suggests

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 21:09:09 EDT

Research into the complementary therapies evening primrose oil and borage oil shows little, if any, benefit for people with eczema compared with placebo, according to a new systematic review. The authors conclude that further studies on the therapies would be difficult to justify.

Will green tea help you lose weight?

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 11:47:47 EDT

Green tea extract in tandem with an additional compound could be effective for body weight control and type 2 diabetes, a new study in mice indicates. Evidence has shown that green tea extract may be an effective herbal remedy useful for weight control and helping to regulate glucose in type 2 diabetes.

Alternative therapies may help lower blood pressure

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 17:57:57 EDT

Alternative therapies such as aerobic exercise, resistance or strength training and isometric hand grip exercises could help people reduce blood pressure. Biofeedback and device-guided slow breathing reduced blood pressure a small amount. Due to their modest effects, alternative therapies can be used with -- not as a replacement for -- standard treatment.

Alternative medicine use by MS patients now mapped

Fri, 19 Apr 2013 12:11:11 EDT

A major Nordic research project has, for the first time ever, mapped the use of alternative treatment among multiple sclerosis patients -- knowledge which is important for patients with chronic disease and the way in which society meets them.

No evidence drugs, vitamins, supplements help prevent cognitive decline in healthy older adults

Mon, 15 Apr 2013 15:14:14 EDT

A review has found no evidence that drugs, herbal products or vitamin supplements help prevent cognitive decline in healthy older adults.

New way to clear cholesterol from the blood

Wed, 10 Apr 2013 14:15:15 EDT

Researchers have identified a new potential therapeutic target for lowering cholesterol that could be an alternative or complementary therapy to statins.

Hands-on treatment improves chronic low back pain, reduces medication use

Mon, 18 Mar 2013 20:29:29 EDT

A new study used osteopathic manual treatment (OMT) and ultrasound therapy to treat chronic low back pain in 455 adults. Patients in the study who received ultrasound therapy did not see any improvement, but the patients who received OMT did see significant improvement in pain, used less prescription medication and were more satisfied with their care over the 12 weeks of the study than those patients who did not receive OMT.

Millions of people in Asia potentially exposed to health risks of popular herbal medicines

Mon, 18 Mar 2013 18:04:04 EDT

Scientists are warning that millions of people in Asia may be exposed to risk of developing kidney failure and bladder cancer by taking herbal medicines that are widely available in Asia. The medicines, used for a wide range of conditions including slimming, asthma and arthritis, are derived from a botanical compound containing aristolochic acids.

Coffee, green tea, may help lower stroke risk, research shows

Thu, 14 Mar 2013 18:01:01 EDT

Green tea and coffee may help lower your risks of having a stroke, especially when both are a regular part of your diet. People who drank either green tea or coffee daily had about approximately 20~30 percent lower risk for one type of stroke, compared to those who seldom drank them.

Series of studies first to examine acupuncture's mechanisms of action

Thu, 14 Mar 2013 08:55:55 EDT

While acupuncture is used widely to treat chronic stress, the mechanism of action leading to reported health benefits are not understood. In a series of studies, researchers are demonstrating how acupuncture can significantly reduce the stress hormone response in an animal model of chronic stress.

Paving the way for greater use of ancient medical knowledge

Wed, 13 Mar 2013 11:24:24 EDT

Scientists are reporting an advance toward overcoming a major barrier to tapping the potential of traditional Chinese medicine and India's Ayurvedic medicine in developing new and more effective modern drugs.

IV fluids used by NHS responsible for unnecessary deaths, review finds

Wed, 27 Feb 2013 22:56:56 EST

Starch-based IV fluids used by the NHS to treat seriously ill patients are causing unnecessary deaths, according to a new Cochrane systematic review by researchers at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine.

Intense acupuncture can improve muscle recovery in patients with Bell palsy, study suggests

Mon, 25 Feb 2013 12:20:20 EST

Patients with Bell palsy who received acupuncture that achieves de qi, a type of intense stimulation, had improved facial muscle recovery, reduced disability and better quality of life, according to a randomized controlled trial.

Caffeine linked to low birth weight babies

Mon, 18 Feb 2013 20:15:15 EST

Maternal nutrition is important to a developing embryo and to the health of the child later in life. Supplementing the diet with specific vitamins is known to increase health of the fetus for example folic acid (vitamin B9) reduces the risk of spina bifida. However not everything an adult might consume is beneficial to a developing baby. New research shows that caffeine is linked to low birth weight babies and that caffeine from coffee in linked to increasing length of pregnancy.

Diclofenac used and recommended globally, despite cardiovascular risks

Tue, 12 Feb 2013 17:21:21 EST

A new study finds that the painkiller diclofenac (a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) in the same class as aspirin) is the most commonly used NSAID in the 15 countries studied and is included in the essential medicines lists of 74 low-, middle- and high-income countries, despite its known tendency to cause heart attacks and strokes in vulnerable patients.

Ziziphora effective in the battle against gastric cancer, study suggests

Tue, 12 Feb 2013 10:05:05 EST

A recent publication investigating the effects of aloe vera, ginger, saffron and ziziphora extracts as herbal remedies for gastric cancer suggests that the latter may be effective in the treatment of the fourth most common form of the disease.

Tai Chi exercise may reduce falls in adult stroke survivors

Wed, 06 Feb 2013 13:10:10 EST

Tai Chi exercise reduced falls among stroke survivors. The ancient Chinese martial art helped survivors achieve and maintain balance to aid stroke recovery.

Natural products could be as effective as synthetic drugs, although the odds are low

Tue, 05 Feb 2013 10:11:11 EST

In a first-ever comprehensive study of 124 natural product combinations, a team of researchers found that certain combinations of natural products can be as effective as human-made drugs in acting against specific disease processes. However, the chances of finding the effective combination of natural products could be as low as below 3 per cent.

The right massage can relax the body and improve health

Tue, 29 Jan 2013 17:13:13 EST

The benefits of massage therapy are both physical and mental; while some are immediate, others accumulate over time.

Parents numb to misuse of narcotic pain meds by youth, new poll shows

Wed, 23 Jan 2013 10:16:16 EST

Only 1 in 5 parents say they are very concerned about children and teens misusing narcotics, according to U-M's National Poll on Children's Health.

Mindfulness meditation may relieve chronic inflammation

Wed, 16 Jan 2013 16:35:35 EST

People suffering from chronic inflammatory conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease and asthma — in which psychological stress plays a major role — may benefit from mindfulness meditation techniques, according to a new study.

Alternative medicine use high among children with chronic conditions

Mon, 14 Jan 2013 09:26:26 EST

Children who regularly see specialists for chronic medical conditions are also using complementary medicine at a high rate, demonstrates recently published research.

Herbal treatments for postmenopausal symptoms may be recommended as an alternative to hormone replacement therapy

Thu, 10 Jan 2013 21:23:23 EST

Herbal and complementary treatments could be recommended as an alternative to hormone replacement therapy (HRT) for treating postmenopausal symptoms says a new review.

Red wine could mask testosterone levels, experts warn

Mon, 07 Jan 2013 16:14:14 EST

Red wine could give athletes and players a boost in the sports arena by increasing the amount of performance-enhancing hormone testosterone in their bodies, according to researchers in the UK.

Folk remedies often offered during breastfeeding, survey finds

Mon, 07 Jan 2013 08:26:26 EST

Breastfeeding advice has been passed down for generations and many new mothers are faced with a lot of information and folk remedies to sort through. Researchers set out to determine the most common advice about breastfeeding and what they found took many by surprise. It's also surprising that breastfeeding specialists in 29 different states relied on the same advice without any formal medical recommendations.

Eating asparagus may prevent a hangover, study suggests

Wed, 26 Dec 2012 10:12:12 EST

With New Year's Eve just around the corner, there is always plenty of good food and cheer. If you are drinking alcohol you may want to reach for some asparagus, according to a study that found asparagus may aid the body in accelerating the metabolism of alcohol.

Chinese medicine yields secrets: Atomic mechanism of two-headed molecule derived from Chang Shan, a traditional chinese herb

Sun, 23 Dec 2012 15:24:24 EST

The mysterious inner workings of Chang Shan -- a Chinese herbal medicine used for thousands of years to treat fevers associated with malaria -- have been uncovered thanks to a high-resolution structure solved by scientists.

Hypnosis should be offered to patients with IBS, Swedish research suggests

Tue, 18 Dec 2012 09:42:42 EST

Hypnotherapy helps fight IBS symptoms, according to research from Sweden which proposes implementing this treatment method into the care of severe sufferers of this common disease.

Meditation combined with art therapy can change your brain and lower anxiety

Wed, 28 Nov 2012 18:27:27 EST

Cancer and stress go hand-in-hand, and high stress levels can lead to poorer health outcomes in cancer patients. The combined creative art therapy with a Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program for women with breast cancer and showed changes in brain activity associated with lower stress and anxiety after the eight-week program.

New behavioral strategies may help patients learn to better control chronic diseases

Tue, 27 Nov 2012 09:43:43 EST

Physicians should take a serious look at tools and strategies used in behavioral economics and social psychology to help motivate their patients to assert better control over chronic diseases. Breaking large goals into smaller, more manageable parts, for example, may help patients better manage diseases such as diabetes.

New behavioral strategies may help patients learn to better control chronic diseases

Tue, 27 Nov 2012 09:39:39 EST

One of the most important health problems in the United States is the failure of patients with chronic diseases to take their medications and do all that is necessary to control their illnesses. In a new study, researchers suggest that physicians take a serious look at tools and strategies used in behavioral economics and social psychology to help motivate their patients to assert better control over chronic diseases. Breaking large goals into smaller, more manageable parts, for example, may help patients better manage diseases such as diabetes, the researchers say.

Yoga shown effective for treating chronic neck pain

Tue, 27 Nov 2012 09:38:38 EST

A German study shows that yoga appears to be an effective treatment for neck pain and provides added benefits of improved psychological well being and quality of life.

Menopause: Relaxation good therapy for hot flushes

Thu, 22 Nov 2012 11:28:28 EST

Women who have undergone group therapy and learned to relax have reduced their menopausal troubles by half, according to new results.

Stress management counseling in the primary care setting is rare

Mon, 19 Nov 2012 16:32:32 EST

While stress may be a factor in 60 to 80 percent of all visits to primary care physicians, only three percent of patients actually receive stress management counseling, say researchers.

One week at a health spa improves your health, study shows

Mon, 19 Nov 2012 10:45:45 EST

Take off those Thanksgiving pounds with a week at a spa retreat. A new study shows that not only are they relaxing and nourishing, but are they safe and a week-long spa stay can correspond with marked changes in our physical and emotional well-being.

Evolving roles of hospice and palliative care

Wed, 14 Nov 2012 16:16:16 EST

Many people think hospice and palliative care come at the end of life, and while both often play a key role then, palliative care also can provide pain relief, symptom control, emotional comfort and spiritual support as patients recover from serious illnesses.

Hospital-based exercise programs benefit people with osteoarthritis, study finds

Sun, 11 Nov 2012 15:36:36 EST

A low-cost exercise program run by Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City has significantly improved pain, function and quality of life in participants with osteoarthritis, according to new research.

Fibromyalgia and the brain: New clues reveal how pain and therapies are processed

Sun, 11 Nov 2012 15:34:34 EST

According to new research, pain experienced by people with fibromyalgia may be caused by a problem with the way pain stimuli are processed in the brain. Abnormal pain signal processing may also be related to a lack of responsiveness to opioids, a common class of pain relievers.

Drinking green tea with starchy food may help lower blood sugar spikes

Fri, 09 Nov 2012 08:42:42 EST

An ingredient in green tea that helps reduce blood sugar spikes in mice may lead to new diet strategies for people, according to food scientists.

Low prevalence of type 2 diabetes among regular black tea drinkers

Wed, 07 Nov 2012 20:01:01 EST

The prevalence of type 2 diabetes is low in countries where consumption of black tea is high, suggests a mathematical analysis of data from 50 countries.

Green tea found to reduce rate of some GI cancers

Wed, 31 Oct 2012 11:07:07 EDT

Women who drink green tea may lower their risk of developing some digestive system cancers, especially cancers of the stomach/esophagus and colorectum, according to a new study.

Complementary and alternative therapy improved lives of arthritis patients, study suggests

Mon, 29 Oct 2012 08:13:13 EDT

Nearly a quarter of patients with rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis used complementary and alternative therapy (CAT) to help manage their condition, according to a new study.

Bean used in Chinese food could protect against sepsis

Fri, 26 Oct 2012 12:51:51 EDT

Researchers have discovered that a bean commonly used in Chinese cuisine protects against the life-threatening condition sepsis.

Dietary supplements can cause liver injury, says hepatologist

Fri, 26 Oct 2012 12:48:48 EDT

Niacin, comfrey, Kava and even green tea in high doses can cause liver injury, according to an expert.

Nearly 80 million Americans won't need vitamin D supplements under new guidelines

Wed, 24 Oct 2012 17:52:52 EDT

Nearly 80 million Americans would no longer need to take vitamin D supplements under new Institute of Medicine guidelines, according to a new study.

Clinical hypnosis can reduce hot flashes after menopause

Wed, 24 Oct 2012 11:15:15 EDT

Clinical hypnosis can effectively reduce hot flashes and associated symptoms among post-menopausal women, according to a new study.

Herbal and dietary supplements can adversely affect prescribed drugs, says extensive review

Wed, 24 Oct 2012 10:17:17 EDT

A number of herbs and dietary supplements (HDS) can cause potentially harmful drug interactions, particularly among people receiving medication for problems with their central nervous or cardiovascular systems. Researchers examined 54 review articles and 31 original studies. They found that the greatest problems were caused by interactions between prescribed drugs and HDS that included ingredients such as St John's Wort, magnesium, calcium, iron or ginkgo.

Acupuncture relieves symptoms of a dry mouth caused by radiotherapy for head and neck cancers, study suggests

Tue, 23 Oct 2012 20:46:46 EDT

Patients who have received radiotherapy for head and neck cancer often suffer from the unpleasant and distressing side-effect of a dry mouth, caused by damage to their salivary glands from the radiation.

Greater parental stress linked to children's obesity, fast food use, reduced activity

Mon, 22 Oct 2012 12:17:17 EDT

Parents with a higher number of stressors in their lives are more likely to have obese children, according to a new study. Children also ate fast food more often if their parents perceived themselves as stressed.

Chronic electrical stimulation at acupressure points may relieve stomach woes for diabetics

Mon, 22 Oct 2012 08:12:12 EDT

Diabetic patients who suffer from a common complication of diabetes called gastroparesis may find that chronic electrical stimulation (ES) at specific acupuncture points could relieve gastroparesis symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, early satiety, abdominal fullness, upper abdominal pain and bloating, according to new study.

Mechanisms of action for green tea extract in breast cancer prevention identified

Thu, 18 Oct 2012 15:19:19 EDT

An oral green tea extract, Polyphenon E, appears to inhibit vascular endothelial growth factor and hepatocyte growth factor, both of which promote tumor cell growth, migration and invasion.

Green tea reduced inflammation, may inhibit prostate cancer tumor growth, research finds

Thu, 18 Oct 2012 12:19:19 EDT

Men with prostate cancer who consumed green tea prior to undergoing prostatectomy had reductions in markers of inflammation, according to new data

A new chapter for Chinese medicine

Fri, 05 Oct 2012 13:43:43 EDT

When comes to minor complaints, chronic conditions and even fatal illnesses, people sometimes turn to ginseng and other herbal remedies. Scientists have now been working on a new approach to drug development involving chemistry, biotechnology, mathematics, computer power and 5000-year ancient practices in Chinese medicine.

Marathon runners may be at risk for incontinence

Thu, 04 Oct 2012 16:28:28 EDT

While many marathon runners may be preoccupied with shin splints, chafing and blisters come race day, one thing they may not consider is their bladder health.

Ensuring high-quality dietary supplements with 'quality-by-design'

Wed, 03 Oct 2012 15:09:09 EDT

If applied to the $5-billion-per-year dietary supplement industry, "quality by design" -- a mindset that helped revolutionize the manufacture of cars and hundreds of other products -- could ease concerns about the safety and integrity of the herbal products used by 80 percent of the world's population.

New evidence on easing inflammation of brain cells for Alzheimer's disease

Wed, 03 Oct 2012 15:09:09 EDT

New research proves the validity of one of the most promising approaches for combating Alzheimer's disease with medicines that treat not just some of the symptoms, but actually stop or prevent the disease itself, scientists are reporting. The study also identifies a potential new oral drug that the scientists say could lead the way.

Governments failing to address 'global pandemic of untreated cancer pain'

Sun, 30 Sep 2012 14:20:20 EDT

Governments around the world are leaving hundreds of millions of cancer patients to suffer needlessly because of their failure to ensure adequate access to pain-relieving drugs, an unprecedented new international survey reveals.