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ramonmercado Psycho Punk
Joined: 19 Aug 2003 Total posts: 17931 Location: Dublin Gender: Male |
 Posted: 04-10-2007 12:11 Post subject: |
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This one doesnt look too good for Herbal practicioners.
| Quote: | Tailored herbal medicine 'futile'
'No convincing evidence' that mixing these up makes you feel better
There is no evidence to suggest herbal medicines "tailored" to the individual work, and they may even do serious damage, according to a study.
Scientists writing in the Postgraduate Medical Journal examined what they said were the only three clinical trials to have been conducted on the treatments.
They expressed doubts as to the skills of those in the UK who offer treatments specially formulated for individuals.
But UK herbal practitioners said such treatments can make a real difference.
The UK is currently reviewing the law in relation to the regulation of this field, so at present it is unclear how many such practitioners there are in the country.
Drawing on Chinese and European traditions among others, the practitioners offer a wide variety of treatments for conditions ranging from minor skin ailments to cancer, using a multitude of herbs.
Expertise
The team from the Peninsula Medical School, a partnership between Exeter and Plymouth universities and the NHS in Devon and Cornwall, stressed that there were many herbs with health benefits, but that studies on these tended to involve standard preparations or single herb extracts.
They said they searched widely for randomised clinical trials of tailored treatments across the world in any language and contacted 15 professional bodies in the process, but were only able to find three trials.
One compared a tailored Chinese herbal preparation with a standard herbal preparation and a placebo for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
People often come to us having gone down the orthodox road with no luck, and find something that works for them
Alison Denham
NIMH
The other two compared tailored treatments with placebos for chemotherapy-related toxicity in cancer patients and osteoarthritis respectively.
There were no statistical differences between tailored and placebo in either the osteoarthritis or cancer study.
Tailored treatment did seem to work better than the placebo in IBS, but it was not as effective as the standard treatment.
And while these trials did not suggest that patients had suffered ill health as a result, Dr Peter Carter said there were serious risks attached to tailored treatment.
These included herbs interacting negatively with each other - a much greater risk with tailored treatment than retail herbal remedies given the number of herbs used in preparations - as well as with prescription drugs.
Funding required
Herbs could be contaminated or even toxic, and their strength misunderstood by the practitioner.
"There are lots of issues around expertise," said Dr Carter.
"Can the practitioner make a proper judgement, do they know when a client is displaying symptoms that really should be seen by a doctor?"
A spokesperson for the National Institute of Medical Herbalists said it was impossible to draw conclusions from three small studies with "questionable methodology", and that herbalists often found themselves unable to obtain the funding necessary to carry out rigorous trials.
"These treatments really can make a difference to people's health - that's why they have been used for such a long time," said Alison Denham.
"People often come to us having gone down the orthodox road with no luck, and find something that works for them.
"But there are certainly issues around the expertise of practitioners which need to be addressed, and we look forward to government regulation which imposes a high standard of training on anyone who wants to register."
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7024880.stm
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| rynner Location: Still above sea level Gender: Male |
| Posted: 05-01-2008 13:18 Post subject: |
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New laws to govern alternative medicine
Nigel Hawkes, Health Editor
Aromatherapy, homoeopathy and other popular complementary therapies are to be regulated for the first time under a government-backed scheme to be established this year.
The new Natural Healthcare Council – which is being backed by the Prince of Wales – will be able to strike off errant or incompetent practitioners. It will also set minimum standards for practitioners to ensure that therapists are properly qualified.
Patients will be able to complain to the council about practitioners and the new body will be modelled on the General Medical Council and other similar statutory bodies.
Millions of Britons currently spend £130 million a year on complementary treatments and it is estimated that this will reach £200 million over the next four years. Among the practices to be covered by the scheme would be aromatherapy, reflexology, massage, nutrition, shiatzu, reiki, naturopathy, yoga, homoeopathy, cranial osteopathy and the Alexander and Bowen techniques.
Research also shows that more than two thirds (68 per cent) of people in the UK believe that complementary medicine is as valid as conventional treatment.
However, there have been long-standing concerns over its regulation. At present anyone can set themselves up as an acupuncturist, homoeopath, herbalist, or other complementary therapist. However, a poll for The Times found that three quarters of people assumed that anyone practising complementary therapy is trained and registered by a professional body.
Although the scheme will initially be voluntary, it is hoped that all practitioners will be forced to join or lose business as the public will use the register as a guarantee of quality. The council will register only practitioners who are safe, have completed a recognised course, are insured and have signed up to codes of conduct.
Both alternative and complementary approaches to medicine — when a therapy is used as an alternative to conventional medicine and when it is used in conjunction with it — will be covered by the new regulator, although treatment without consideration of mainstream medicine is likely to come under greater scrutiny.
A number of high-profile cases in which therapists have assaulted clients have reached the courts in recent years. In 2000, a man claiming to be an aromatherapist was spared a jail sentence after being convicted of indecently assaulting a woman who came to him to treatment. An osteopath from Ipswich was jailed last February for seven and a half years after a series of sexual assaults.
But as the law stands, there is nothing to prevent such people setting up in practice again. By checking that they remain registered with the new council, patients will gain reassurance.
Only mainstream alternative therapies such as traditional Chinese medicine and acupuncture are to be the subject of statutory regulation. Osteopathy and chiropractic are already covered by such legislation.
The council, whose formation has been driven by the Prince of Wales’s Foundation for Integrated Health, will consist of lay people appointed through an independent process, with a clear division between it and the professional bodies representing the therapies that it will cover.
The work of setting up the council, which is likely to be finished by the spring, led by Dame Joan Higgins, has been funded by the Department of Health and it will follow the best-practice model set out by the department in its white paper on regulation, Trust, Assurance and Safety.
Ian Cambray-Smith, of the foundation, said: “Although it is a voluntary scheme, we believe that in dealing with misconduct by therapists it will be almost as robust as statutory regulation, and as tough as we can make it. Suspension from the register will be the ultimate sanction.
“It will be good for practitioners, good for patients, and even good for the NHS. If there is a complaint, the council will convene a board of lay people, plus two practitioners, to review the case. If it is proven, a second board will determine what disciplinary procedures to take.”
The NHS spends £50 million a year on complementary therapies that will be covered by the new council.
The council - eight people plus a chairman — will be financed by registration fees from practitioners and will have a permanent staff, who are in the process of being recruited.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/health/article3134337.ece |
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| ramonmercado Psycho Punk
Joined: 19 Aug 2003 Total posts: 17931 Location: Dublin Gender: Male |
| Posted: 09-02-2008 21:39 Post subject: |
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This looks nteresting. A useful application.
| Quote: | Alternative Treatments Show Promise With Hard-To-Treat Foot Problems
04 Feb 2008
A common flower that helps wipe out garden insects has also shown promise in eradicating stubborn warts, according to preliminary research presented by podiatrist Tracey Vlahovic at the American Academy of Dermatology's Annual Meeting on Feb. 1. Vlahovic is assistant professor at Temple University School of Podiatric Medicine.
Marigold Therapy, a line of creams, ointments, tinctures and oils developed and patented by chiropodist M. Taufiq Khan, contain extracts of several types of the marigold plant. Marigold has been used for nearly 30 years in the United Kingdom to treat a variety of foot issues, including bunions, tendonitis, plantar faciitis, fungal infections and verrucae, commonly known as plantar warts.
Vlahovic, who has a professional interest in phytotherapy - the use of plants for medicinal purposes - offers Marigold Therapy to her patients, and specifically investigated its use in three of her patients who had HIV as an alternative treatment for the small skin lesions called verrucae. She found that the treatments either cleared or greatly reduced the number and size of the warts in four to six sessions, after other treatments had failed to do so.
Plantar warts are a common occurrence among otherwise healthy adults, but in HIV patients, they are often harder to treat, more numerous and less receptive to common treatments such as cryotherapy or surgical removal.
"Mainstream treatments are sometimes not an option for HIV-positive patients because they have weakened immune systems and invasive procedures can further compromise them," Vlahovic said. "But alternative therapies like Marigold Therapy don't pose that threat." Further study is planned for a larger sample size with a standardized treatment regimen, she added.
While other generic marigold creams are available in most health food stores, only doctors certified by the Marigold Clinic at the Royal London Homeopathic Hospital can distribute Marigold Therapy products. Vlahovic is currently the only U.S. podiatrist with this certification.
"In Europe, alternative medicine is extremely popular and accepted in most medical circles," said Vlahovic, who blends phytotherapy with traditional Western medicine to treat her patients.
Marigolds have long been used as a treatment for a variety of health problems. In ancient Greece and Rome, marigold tea was used to combat sleep disorders and calm nerves. During the Renaissance, the yellow plant was used to treat everything from headache, red eyes and toothaches to jaundice and skin problems.
The plant's effectiveness on foot issues had not been widely studied until about 30 years ago, when Khan, founder of the Marigold Clinic, identified the healing properties of more than 57 species of the marigold plant, and found that different mixtures were effective in treating different foot problems. Khan's mixtures are manufactured through Marigold Footcare, Ltd., in London.
Vlahovic received training at the Marigold Clinic at the Royal London Homeopathic Hospital to learn how to apply and dress the products, and to learn which combination of extracts would effectively treat each foot problem.
"All the mixtures work differently," said Vlahovic. "One mixture will have antiviral properties, which works best for treating a wart. Another mixture will have kerolytic qualities, which work best in treating corns and calluses."
In addition to Marigold Therapy, Vlahovic also offers a host of other natural treatments, such as Traumeel, a homeopathic medication, and Sarapin, made from the extracts of the pitcher plant, both used to relieve pain in overuse injuries. Vlahovic notes that these require little to no recovery time, and she can often treat a problem in just a few treatments.
"I enjoy being able to offer my patients a combination of nontraditional treatments with Western medicine to give them the greatest benefit," she said.
Vlahovic has even treated herself and family members with natural medicines.
Tony Vlahovic went to see his sister nearly five months ago in excruciating pain from plantar fasciitis, an overuse injury that affects the sole of the foot. Tony, a sports medicine therapist, told his sister that he could barely walk, and as a result, he couldn't function properly at his job as a physical therapist, or do any of the activities he enjoyed such as jogging.
Vlahovic treated her brother with Marigold Therapy once, and Tony said his pain was virtually gone afterward, and hasn't returned.
"I had tried things like Aleve and Advil, and did some reflexology to stretch out my foot," he said. "It took care of the pain in the short term, but within a few hours, it would come back, and with a vengeance. But now it's been five months, and I'm pain-free."
He noted that he was skeptical of trying an all-natural remedy, but decided to try it since it seemed to be the lease invasive and least inconvenient.
"If I hadn't tried this, I would have either had to wrap my foot or get injection therapies, and both options would have made it difficult for me to get around," said Tony. "But after my marigold treatment, I had complete mobility."
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Article adapted by Medical News Today from original press release.
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Other authors on this poster are M. Tariq Khan, BSc, MChs, DFHom, FLS, of the Royal London Homeopathic Hospital in England, and Otto H. Mills, Ph.D., of the Robert Wood Johnson Medical School in New Brunswick, N.J.. Vlahovic has a consultant agreement with JSJ Pharmaceuticals, which funded the production of the poster but did not fund research. Vlahovic has no investment, financial or consulting relationship with Marigold Footcare, Ltd.
Source: Renee Cree
Temple University
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Article URL: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/96029.php |
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| ramonmercado Psycho Punk
Joined: 19 Aug 2003 Total posts: 17931 Location: Dublin Gender: Male |
| Posted: 11-02-2008 17:38 Post subject: |
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Heres another interesting one.
But it may be placebo effect causing relaxation?
| Quote: | Acupuncture And Success Of IVF
11 Feb 2008
"Acupuncture can increase the chances of getting pregnant for women undergoing fertility treatment by 65%," according to The Guardian's news pages.
The Times, The Daily Telegraph and BBC News covered the story and quoted Edward Ernst, a professor of complementary medicine, who cautioned that the effect might be due to a placebo effect caused by the women expecting acupuncture to work. He said that the expectation might cause them to relax which would improve pregnancy rates.
The study behind this story is a systematic review which combined the results of "high quality" studies on acupuncture, rates of pregnancy and live birth in women undergoing in vitro fertilisation (IVF). Although the methods used by this study are robust, some possible biases cannot be ruled out. Studies that have negative results are less likely to be published and may therefore not have been included.
When interpreting the 65% increase in pregnancy rates, it should be remembered that the differences in pregnancy rates were quite small. The results actually mean that in order to achieve one additional successful pregnancy, 10 women would need to be treated with acupuncture. The cost associated with lack of effect for the other nine women is something to be considered by individuals and health care providers.
Finally, the study found that the additional benefit of acupuncture depended on how successful IVF was overall. Where pregnancy rates were high, acupuncture had little benefit.
Where did the story come from?
Dr Eric Manheimer, Grant Zhang, Laurence Udoff and colleagues from the University of Maryland School of Medicine, Georgetown University School of Medicine, Washington and the University of Amsterdam, Holland carried out the research.
Funding was provided by the National Centre for Complimentary and Alternative Medicine of the US National Institutes of Health. The study was published in the peer-reviewed: British Medical Journal.
What kind of scientific study was this?
The study was a systematic review of randomised controlled trials that compared needle acupuncture given within one day of women receiving IVF with sham (fake) treatment or no treatment at all. The researchers searched for published literature in databases and conference proceedings for studies that compared acupuncture given within one day of IVF treatment versus sham acupuncture (or no treatment). They assessed the quality of 108 potentially relevant studies they found, and of these, included seven trials in their analysis.
Only studies in which pregnancy had been confirmed (either by presence of gestational sac or heartbeat on ultrasound), ongoing pregnancy beyond 12 weeks gestation (confirmed through ultrasound), or a live birth, were included. The researchers also only included studies in which acupuncture needles were inserted into traditional meridian points (groups of points thought to have an effect upon a particular body part).
The researchers used meta-analysis (a statistical technique) to pool the studies. They were particularly interested in the difference in rates of pregnancy between women who received acupuncture and those who did not.
What were the results of the study?
The seven studies that the researchers included in their analysis were all randomised controlled trials. In six of the studies, an acupuncture session was given just before the fertilised embryo was implanted back into the mother and another straight after. One trial involved acupuncture only after implantation. Two studies gave a third session during different phases of the process.
The authors reported that IVF with acupuncture increased the odds of pregnancy by 65% (according to early evidence on ultrasound), increased the odds of ongoing pregnancy by 87% (according to ultrasound evidence of pregnancy at 12 weeks) and increased the odds of a live birth by 91% compared with IVF on its own.
When the researchers only looked at the three studies that showed similar rates of pregnancy to women in the UK, they found that acupuncture did not increase rates of pregnancy with IVF.
What interpretations did the researchers draw from these results?
The researchers conclude that their results suggest that acupuncture given with embryo transfer, improves rates of pregnancy and live birth in women who are undergoing in vitro fertilisation.
What does the NHS Knowledge Service make of this study?
- In four of the seven studies that were included, the women knew which treatment they were receiving (while in the other three the comparison was sham acupuncture). The researchers say that the placebo effect (i.e. where believing in the effect of the treatment affects the outcome whether or not treatment is received) is unlikely to have had any effect in this study because the "outcomes are entirely objective (i.e. pregnancy and births)". However, as mentioned in some newspapers, other researchers have said that it is possible that if women expect the treatment to be helpful then they may be more relaxed and this in turn could affect pregnancy rates.
- The researchers say that their findings are significant and clinically relevant, though they are "somewhat preliminary". They conclude by saying that the effectiveness of acupuncture depends on the previous rate of pregnancy in the population. They call for further research to investigate the relationship between the previous (baseline) rate of pregnancy and the effect of acupuncture. When they limited their analysis to studies that had the highest baseline rates of pregnancy, there was no significant effect of acupuncture on pregnancy success. The fact that the baseline rates of pregnancy varied across the studies is a weakness of the review.
- The reviewers also say that publication bias may have affected their results, despite their best efforts to ensure this was not the case. They cannot rule out that there were small studies with negative results that have not been published and therefore not included.
- The use of "odds ratios" to reflect the comparison is questionable. The authors themselves say that the odds ratio "significantly over-estimates the rate ratio" because the outcome of pregnancy is relatively frequent. A better reflection of the absolute benefit is to consider that these results mean that 10 women will need to be treated with acupuncture for there to be an extra successful pregnancy. In the other nine women, there would be no additional benefit. It is also worth noting that confirmed pregnancy rates were not very different between acupuncture and non-acupuncture groups in real terms (32% v. 27%). Presenting the results in these terms gives them a little more context.
The results of this review suggest that acupuncture has a positive effect of pregnancy rates when given with IVF. An interpretation of the 65% benefit quoted by the papers must be considered in light of the fact that they represent relatively small absolute benefits considering that the rates of pregnancy in the non-acupuncture groups were high.
Links to the headlines
Acupuncture after IVF 'could boost pregnancy'. The Daily Telegraph, February 08 2008
Acupuncture during IVF boosts a woman's chance of conceiving by 65 per cent. Daily Mail, February 08 2008
Acupuncture 'boosts IVF chances'. BBC News, February 08 2008
Links to the science
Effects of acupuncture on rates of pregnancy and live birth among women undergoing in vitro fertilisation: systematic review and meta-analysis.
Manheimer E, Zhang G, Udoff L, et al.
BMJ 2008; Feb 7
Article URL: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/96762.php |
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| ramonmercado Psycho Punk
Joined: 19 Aug 2003 Total posts: 17931 Location: Dublin Gender: Male |
| Posted: 05-03-2008 18:50 Post subject: |
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So at least it makes you feel better.
| Quote: | Aromatherapy May Improve Mood But Will Not Make You Better
05 Mar 2008
A recent US study on a small group of people found that aromatherapy oils had no physiological effect although they may improve mood for some people.
The study is the work of researchers at Ohio State University and appears in the April issue of the journal Psychoneuroendocrinology.
Described by a doctor speaking on the CBS News Early Show on Tuesday as one of the few studies to take "a very scientific look at aromatherapy", the study found that the two most popular aromatherapy oils, lemon and lavender, failed to show any improvement in wound healing, immune status, blood pressure, stress hormones, or pain control.
Full story: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/99506.php |
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| ramonmercado Psycho Punk
Joined: 19 Aug 2003 Total posts: 17931 Location: Dublin Gender: Male |
| Posted: 05-03-2008 19:18 Post subject: |
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More bad news for the herbies.
| Quote: | Popular Alternative Therapy For Psoriasis Performs No Better Than Placebo
03 Mar 2008
Anecdotal evidence touting the healing power of the Indian spice turmeric for psoriasis received a setback in a prospective study published this month by a leading dermatology journal stating that the low response rate of patients who ingested the active ingredient of the exotic spice was probably a result of the placebo effect.
Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine found that despite strong scientific evidence in the laboratory demonstrating the ability of curcumin (the active ingredient in the spice turmeric) to inhibit a critical pathway of psoriasis, the positive response in patients was so low that scientists suggest the placebo effect or the disease's natural remission might be the reason. The study was published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.
"Alternative and complementary websites and newspapers publish anecdotal reports that the Indian spice has been successfully used to treat psoriasis," says Joel M. Gelfand, MD, MSCE, of The University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. "However, spontaneous improvements in psoriasis are common, and based on our study, until larger, placebo-controlled trials are conducted, oral curcumin should not be recommended for the treatment of psoriasis given lack of proven efficacy."
But the researchers do not discount entirely the potential of curmumin as a treatment for psoriasis.
They recognize that current traditional pharmacologic approaches in the treatment of psoriasis are costly and have their limitations, including the risk of infections and possibly malignancies with long-term use resulting in many patients with the disease unable to achieve effective long-term control. Turning to complementary and alternative therapies is understandable, they say. In fact, of the estimated 7 million diagnosed with psoriasis, it is estimated that 51% use complementary and alternative medicine therapies to treat their skin.
The excellent responses that were observed in two of the 12 patients in the study suggest that curcumin may have promise for a small subset of patients with psoriasis. Large, placebo-controlled trials are necessary to definitively prove or disprove oral curcumin as a potential therapeutic agent for psoriasis. "What is needed is scientific data to assess the safety and efficacy of these treatments so that we may more rationally inform patients of their treatment options," says Gelfand.
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/99179.php |
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| gncxx King-Size Canary
Great Old One Joined: 25 Aug 2001 Total posts: 13561 Location: Eh? Gender: Male |
| Posted: 27-03-2008 19:25 Post subject: |
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New fad:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7314531.stm
| Quote: | Demi hails blood-sucking therapy
Actress Demi Moore has confessed to indulging in an unusual alternative therapy - blood-sucking leeches.
The 45-year-old told US talk show host David Letterman she tried the treatment in Austria as part of a detox plan.
She said: "You watch it swell up on your blood... then when it's super drunk it just kind of rolls over like it is stumbling out of the bar."
Leeches have been used in medicine for centuries and are often used today in reconstructive surgery.
The anticoagulant secreted by the creatures fights blood clots and helps restore blood flow to inflamed body parts.
'Bite down'
But Moore said the leeches were allowed to bite her to release a "detox enzyme".
"It detoxifies your blood... generally you bleed for quite a bit and your health is optimised, and I'm feeling very detoxified right now!
"I did it in some woman's house lying on her bed. We did a little sampler first, which is in the belly button.
"It crawls in and you feel it bite down on you... Then you relax and work on your Lamaze breathing just to kind of relax."
She joked: "These aren't just swamp leeches though - we are talking about highly trained medical leeches."
The actress, who was previously married to Die Hard star Bruce Willis, says she is convinced the treatment worked and plans more.
"I only got four leeches and I felt a bit cheated," she added.
But Mr Andrew Wilmshurst, consultant plastic surgeon at Ninewells Hospital, near Dundee, said he was doubtful leeches would have a "detoxifying" effect on the body.
"Leeches are used as standard treatment in plastic surgery units around the UK, but only in two very specific areas," he said.
"Alternative therapies are not based on scientific fact... and it sounds like a load of mumbo jumbo to me." |
Keith Richards could have saved himself a lot of trouble: instead of having his blood replaced, he could have got a few leeches in. |
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| ramonmercado Psycho Punk
Joined: 19 Aug 2003 Total posts: 17931 Location: Dublin Gender: Male |
| Posted: 28-08-2008 14:43 Post subject: |
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| Quote: | Indian herbal medicines queried
A fifth of Indian herbal medicines sold on the net could be harmful
A fifth of Indian herbal medicines sold on the internet contain potentially lethal substances, according to a new study in the United States.
The study at Boston university analysed 193 products and found that 20% of them contained lead, mercury or arsenic.
Herbal medicine has been used in India for thousands of years and is growing in popularity in the West.
The researchers said their findings showed that there should be stronger control of herbal supplements.
Writing in the Journal of the American Medical Association, lead researcher Dr Robert Saper said there was some evidence that herbs used in ayurvedic (Indian herbal) medicines could help against diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol.
"But the key thing is we need to separate out what's helpful and.... what needs to be looked at and perhaps set aside," he added.
"Our first priority must be the safety of the public. Herbs and supplements with high levels of lead, mercury, and arsenic should not be available for sale on the internet or elsewhere."
The researchers discovered the presence of toxic metals in ayurvedic medicines made both in India and the US.
Two types
Some of the tested products, they said, would result in eating toxic materials as much as 10,000 times more than acceptable levels.
According to the study, there are two types of ayurvedic medicines.
One of these combines herbs with metals, minerals and gems, and its proponents argue it is safe when properly prepared and administered.
But Dr Saper said there had been more than 80 reported cases of lead poisoning in the world through such remedies in the past 30 years.
The UK has already started a registration system for herbal medicines.
In three years it will be illegal to sell unlicensed herbal remedies but that still does not apply to manufacturers outside the UK.
In 2005, the British drug regulator said toxic materials in herbal medicines could cause severe nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain and, in extreme cases, even lead to kidney damage, convulsions and coma.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7583573.stm |
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| ramonmercado Psycho Punk
Joined: 19 Aug 2003 Total posts: 17931 Location: Dublin Gender: Male |
| Posted: 08-09-2008 11:54 Post subject: |
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More at link.
| Quote: | ME Sufferers Rely On Alternative Medicines
08 Sep 2008
More than a third of patients with long-term fatigue conditions like Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME) believe complementary and alternative medicines (CAMs) are more effective than traditional medicine in treating their illness, research launched at the British Pharmaceutical Conference (BPC) in Manchester reveals.
98% of patients believed alternative therapy should be available through the NHS.
Researchers from Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen found that sufferers of chronic conditions had relief from their symptoms when they used CAMs.
The findings showed:
- About 34% of participants believed that CAMs were more effective in alleviating their symptoms (including pain and malaise, or a general feeling of low energy and of being unwell) than traditional medicines;
- 60% believed that taking CAMs kept them well;
- 73% of participants who reported using CAMs believed that it had improved their health;
- Of those who reported using chiropractics, 83% said they very satisfied with the treatment
- 46% believed that a combination of CAM and orthodox medicine was better than using traditional medicine alone.
Lead researcher, Dr Yash Kumarasamy said: "Many patients who have a long-term fatigue condition turn to alternative therapies because they feel that orthodox treatments failed to work for them, or because they experienced a lack of support from their healthcare team."
"Patients need to know how important it is to consult a healthcare professional before they take complementary or alternative medicines, or stop taking prescription medication. Pharmacists don't just dispense medicines - they are healthcare professionals with a broad range of knowledge and can help people with expert advice and support in managing their health."
About Myalgic Encephalomyelitis
Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME) is a chronic, inflammatory, primarily neurological disease that affects the central nervous system, the immune system, the cardiovascular system, the endocrinological system and muscoskeletal system. It can cause a wide variety of symptoms, including changes in sensory tolerance, visual problems, exertional muscle weakness, difficulties with co-ordination and speech, severe fatigue, cognitive impairment, problems with balance, subnormal or poor body temperature control and pain.
Article URL: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/120639.php |
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| ramonmercado Psycho Punk
Joined: 19 Aug 2003 Total posts: 17931 Location: Dublin Gender: Male |
| Posted: 18-09-2008 16:15 Post subject: |
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| Quote: | Latest Survey Shows More Hospitals Offering Complementary And Alternative Medicine Services
17 Sep 2008
Hospitals across the nation are responding to patient demand and integrating complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) services with the conventional services they normally provide, according to the results of a new survey released today by Health Forum, a subsidiary of the American Hospital Association (AHA). The survey shows that more than 37 percent of responding hospitals indicated they offer one or more CAM therapies, up from 26.5 percent in 2005. Additionally, hospitals in the southern Atlantic states led the nation in offering CAM services to the patients they serve, followed by east north central states and those in the middle Atlantic.
CAM is not based solely on traditional western allopathic medical teachings, and can include acupuncture, chiropractic, homeopathy, diet and lifestyle changes, herbal medicine, massage therapy and more. CAM services also reflect hospitals' desire to treat the whole person-body, mind and spirit.
"Complementary and alternative medicine has shown great promise in supporting and stimulating healing," said AHA President and CEO Rich Umbdenstock. "It's one of the many tools hospitals look to as they continue to create optimal healing environments for the patients they serve."
According to the survey, 84 percent of hospitals indicated patient demand as the primary rationale in offering CAM services and 67 percent of survey respondents stated clinical effectiveness as their top reason.
"Today's patients have better access to health information and are demanding more personalized care," said study author Sita Ananth. "The survey results reinforce the fact that patients want the best that both traditional and alternative medicine can offer."
Other survey results include:
- Massage therapy is in the top two services provided in both outpatient and inpatient settings;
- The majority of hospitals that offered CAM were urban hospitals (72 percent) and were medium-sized (100-299 beds); and
- Most CAM services are not reimbursable by insurance and are paid for out-of-pocket by patients.
The third biannual survey was mailed in November 2007 to 6,439 U.S. hospitals. The report is available online at http://www.healthforumonlinestore.com (click on the Data Products tab in the right upper corner) or by calling 800-242-2626.
Article URL: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/121662.php |
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| ramonmercado Psycho Punk
Joined: 19 Aug 2003 Total posts: 17931 Location: Dublin Gender: Male |
| Posted: 23-09-2008 15:43 Post subject: |
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| Quote: | Toxic herbs 'kill 13 in S Africa'
Thirteen members of the same family have been found dead in South Africa after apparently taking herbal medicine, local media have reported.
The family had been taking part in a traditional ritual and may have taken the wrong herbs, Sapa news agency cited police as saying.
Five of the dead were young children, including a two-week-old baby.
Many South Africans use herbal medicine and consult traditional healers as well as modern doctors.
Post-mortem examinations were being conducted to determine the exact cause of death of the victims, who were found dead in their home near Port Shepstone in KwaZulu-Natal province.
"It is alleged that one family member who was trained as a traditional healer gave them a certain herbal medicine, which is suspected to have been the cause of the deaths," Sapa quoted police official Zandra Wiid as saying.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7631172.stm |
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| ramonmercado Psycho Punk
Joined: 19 Aug 2003 Total posts: 17931 Location: Dublin Gender: Male |
| Posted: 26-09-2008 11:36 Post subject: |
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| Quote: | Acupuncture Taking The Pressure Off Today's Emotional Stresses
26 Sep 2008
The British Acupuncture Council (BAcC) has found that more people are turning to traditional acupuncture to alleviate symptoms caused by the emotional strains of everyday life.
A recent survey reveals that the tolls of the 21st century are affecting younger people with under-40s seeking traditional acupuncture treatment for emotional issues such as depression, stress and anxiety. 57% of those citing emotional issues are under 40 - a third of who are men - with Londoners representing the highest proportion of sufferers than elsewhere in the UK.
With people working longer hours and dealing with the economic and social pressures of today, many are finding it hard to cope. The BAcC research revealed that the top three emotional issues for which acupuncture treatment is sought are depression (18%), anxiety (13%) and insomnia (10%) with stress following closely behind.
At least one person in every six becomes depressed in the course of their lives. One in 20 is clinically depressed*. Complementary medicines are playing a bigger part in the way patients tackle mental health issues.
Gisela Norman, BAcC member and traditional acupuncture practitioner said: "Depression is actually one of the most common health issues we are approached about. An acupuncture session completely focuses on the patient and hears what they experience. It involves one-to-one time in order to understand them as an individual with their treatment plan specifically tailor made. This, in combination with the needling to lift mood and give much needed relief, can be very powerful."
Conducted across the whole of the UK, the survey reported that depression features in the top five health problems amongst acupuncture patients alongside back pain, fertility, headaches and skin problems.
About the BAcC
The British Acupuncture Council (BAcC) has a membership of over 2,800 professionally qualified acupuncturists. It is the UK's largest professional body for the practice of acupuncture.
BAcC members practise a traditional, holistic style of acupuncture diagnosis and treatment based on a system developed and refined over 2,000 years. To achieve BAcC membership, practitioners must first undertake extensive training in traditional acupuncture (minimum three years full-time or part-time equivalent), which includes physiology, anatomy and other biomedical sciences appropriate to the practice of acupuncture.
What is traditional acupuncture?
Traditional acupuncture is an Oriental therapy that aims to improve the overall wellbeing of the patient, rather than treating specific symptoms in isolation. Traditional Chinese philosophy states that our health is dependent on the body's motivating energy - known as Qi - moving in a smooth and balanced way through a series of meridians (channels) beneath the skin.
For any number of reasons the flow of Qi can be disturbed leading to ill-health. By inserting fine needles into the channels of energy or Qi, an acupuncturist can stimulate the body's own healing response and help restore its natural balance.
About the research
A total of 2,495 existing and prospective patients voluntarily took part in an online survey positioned on the British Acupuncture Council's website.
British Acupuncture Council
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Article URL: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/123097.php |
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| rynner2 What a Cad!
Great Old One Joined: 13 Dec 2008 Total posts: 21365 Location: Under the moon Gender: Male |
| Posted: 25-06-2009 09:08 Post subject: |
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This is a bit extreme... 
Chinese woman boiled man's head to cure daughter's psychiatric problems
A Chinese woman boiled a man's head in a soup because she believed it would cure her daughter's psychiatric problems, a local newspaper reported on Tuesday.
Published: 11:20PM BST 23 Jun 2009
Lin Zongxiu, from the southwestern province of Sichuan, heard in 2008 that soup made with a man’s head could help cure her daughter who had suffered from psychiatric problems for years, the Chengdu Commercial newspaper reported.
Lin and her husband decided to enlist the help of a man in December who knocked unconscious a drunk 76-year-old passer-by before beheading him, the paper claimed.
The couple then gave their 25-year-old daughter soup made from the man’s head, and duck.
A local court sentenced the murderer to death with a two-year reprieve on Monday, and Lin was convicted of helping to destroy evidence that included the culprit’s bloody clothes and shoes, the paper said.
The murderer’s reprieve means that his sentence will likely be commuted to life in prison as long as he commits no further offences in the next two years.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/china/5617094/Chinese-woman-boiled-mans-head-to-cure-daugthers-psychiatric-problems.html |
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| shiner Grey Joined: 08 Aug 2009 Total posts: 10 Location: On the Right Side of Wrong Gender: Unknown |
| Posted: 09-08-2009 00:33 Post subject: |
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Edited; out of date details.
Last edited by shiner on 25-03-2012 02:44; edited 1 time in total |
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| MsQkxyz Mermaid.
Great Old One Joined: 01 Aug 2009 Total posts: 183 Location: Sydney Age: 43 Gender: Female |
| Posted: 13-08-2009 15:33 Post subject: |
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^Yes, I pretty much only use alternative therapies on the odd occasion that I need to. Vitamin C megadoses, chiropractic, massage and some more unusual ones too - colloidal silver, zappers, elanra ioniser... I have barely been sick for more than a few hours since 1991 though thanks to these!
I was a bit skeptical about Reiki until I tried it earlier this year - amazing! |
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