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Olive oil, the Mediterranean diet and arterial blood pressure: the Greek European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) study
20,343 people with no history of hypertension were investigated. A scale of 1 to 10 reflected adherence to the diet. The object of this study was to examine whether the Mediterranean diet (MD) as an entity and olive oil in particular reduces arterial blood pressure.
Results: MD score was significantly inversely associated with both systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Intakes of olive oil, fruit and vegetables were significantly inversely associated whereas cereals, meat, meat products and ethanol were positively associated. Olive oil appeared to have the dominant beneficial effect.
Conclusion: adherence to MD is inversely associated with arterial blood pressure even though it includes cereals which are positively associated. Olive oil intake per se is inversely associated with blood pressure.
American Journal of Clinical Nutrition Vol. 80 No. 4 October, 2004 p. 1012 - 1018
Soy May Block Prostate Cancer and Baldness
A molecule produced during the digestion of the soy isoflavone daidzein, blocks a male hormone involved in prostate cancer and male pattern baldness.
The molecule, equol, prevents the hormone dihydrotestosterone (DHT) from stimulating prostate growth and causing baldness.
DHT is created through the actions of an enzyme on testosterone. The hormone is active in the prostate gland and has also been implicated in baldness, as men with male pattern baldness have increased levels of the hormone in bald patches.
Equol doesn't stop dihydrotestosterone's formation but instead stops it from functioning. The molecule is a natural metabolite of soy. It works by preventing DHT from binding to a receptor.
Several human studies confirm the advantages of eating soy for reducing the risk of prostate cancer.
Biology of Reproduction, April 2004
Comment: The drug industry has been working hard to find a way to inhibit the conversion of testosterone to DHT. Some drugs have been developed but they have unpleasant side effects. Equol doesn’t block its formation but stops it from working.
Dietary Modifications Lower LDL Cholesterol as Much as Statin Drugs
Statins reduce low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol concentrations far more than dietary manipulations. But recently, recommendations have added plant sterols and viscous fibres to the diet, and the American Heart Association has emphasised the possible benefits of soy proteins and nuts. These dietary modifications have never been compared directly with a statin.
Therefore, a randomised controlled trial of 46 overweight high cholesterol adults, average age of 59 years was conducted
Participants were randomised to receive 1 of 3 interventions for 1 month: a control diet very low in saturated fat, based on milled whole-wheat cereals and low-fat dairy foods (control group); the same diet plus lovastatin; or a diet high in plant sterols, soy protein, viscous fibres, and almonds.
The researchers then measured fasting lipid (fat) and C-reactive protein (a marker of inflammation) levels, blood pressure; and body weight, at 0, 2, and 4 weeks in each of the groups.
The control group had an average decrease in LDL cholesterol of 8.0%, compared to 30.9%, and 28.6% for the statin and dietary modification groups, respectively. Reductions in C-reactive protein were 10.0%, 33.3%, and 28.2%, respectively.
Journal of the American Medical Association 2003;290:502-510
Comment: You need the right tools for any job. This also applies to our diets. Wheat fibre is just one of many kinds. The full complex is needed to carry out its 40 actions on digestive physiology. And that’s just fibre. There are thousands of chemicals found in plants that may impact on human health.
Not only can LDL cholesterol be lowered by diet, but the natural therapist has many tools to help such as garlic, vitamin C, pantethine and gamma linolenic acid, to name just a few.
Whole-grain breakfast may cut men's mortality risk
86,000 male physicians over the age of 40 were evaluated, along with self-reported information on breakfast cereal intake and lifestyle habits.
After 5½ years, there were 3,114 deaths from all causes, including 1,381 deaths from heart disease.
The more whole-grain cereal a man reported consuming, the less likely he was to die from any cause, or from heart or blood vessel disease such as heart attack or stroke, even after the investigators accounted for risk factors such as diabetes, obesity, smoking alcohol consumption and physical activity.
In fact, the authors found that men who reported eating the most whole-grain cereal - more than one serving per day - had a 17% lower risk of death from any cause than men who rarely or never ate whole-grain cereal. The men who ate the most whole-grain cereal also had a 20 percent lower risk of death from cardiovascular disease than those who consumed the least.
There was no benefit from eating refined breakfast cereals.
American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 2003;77:594-599
Comment: A recent study suggested eating breakfast has positive effects on health. We can do even better by eating whole grain cereals. It’s important to make sure it really is whole grain. Don’t just rely on the words on the packet. Look at the ingredients list. Whole grain or bran should be the first ingredient listed. It should supply at least 2 grams of fibre per serving.
Less meat - longer life, but not so good for vegans
A team from the Centre of Cancer Research in Germany monitored almost 2,000 people aged between 10 and 70, who ate either no meat, or less than average between 1978 and 1999.
Those studied were either vegans, who eat no meat, fish, eggs or dairy products; vegetarians, who eat eggs and dairy products, but no meat or fish; and occasional meat eaters.
Across the group, there was an average of 59 deaths for every 100 deaths in that age range in the general population during that period.
For every 100 deaths among vegans, there were 66 among vegetarians and 60 among occasional meat eaters.
Amongst smokers, the mortality rate was 70% higher than non-smokers, while those who took the most exercise reduced their mortality rates by more than 30%.
Moderate alcohol made no discernible difference to lifespan, the researchers concluded.
Dr Jenny Chang-Claude, of the Centre of Cancer Research, said: “Essentially, the key issue here is having a properly balanced diet.”
BBC News 10th March, 2003
Comment: Vegans haven’t come out too well. I’m sure they will be the first to point out flaws in the research. Nonetheless vegan diets have to be carefully planned otherwise they may be short on a number of nutrients, especially protein, vitamin B12, vitamin D, calcium, iron and zinc.
Organic foods fight cancer and heart disease
Researchers reported on 35 brands of vegetable soup, both organic and non-organic. On average, the organic brands contained nearly 6 times as much salicylic acid, a natural anti-inflammatory agent.
The 11 organic brands tested boasted an average of 117 nanograms per gram of salicylic acid, while the 24 non-organic brands only contained an average of 20 ng/g.
One soup in particular contained nearly 50 times the concentration of salicylic acid as in the average non-organic soup; the carrot and coriander from Scotland's Simply Organic contained 1040 ng/g.
Salicylic acid can help fight atherosclerosis and certain types of cancer. More and more studies are suggesting that the body's inflammatory response plays a critical role in many types of chronic disease.
The researchers theorise organic fruits and vegetables contain more salicylic acid because plants produce the substance as a natural defence mechanism. Without pesticides and other chemicals to keep insects and disease at bay, organically grown plants must protect themselves in order to thrive. This may explain why these plants contain so much more of this beneficial acid.
European Journal of Nutrition 2002; 40:289
Comment: People buy organic foods for what they don’t contain. It’s as well to remember they are worth buying for what they do contain.
Last week (March 7th) I reported that organic fruits and vegetables contain higher amounts of cancer protecting flavonoids. And some research suggests they contain higher amounts of some vitamins and minerals. This research suggests they also contain an additional heart and cancer protective agent.
Organic fruits and vegetables may be healthier
Organic fruits and vegetables may contain higher concentrations of cancer-fighting compounds.
In a sample of marionberries, strawberries and corn, investigators discovered those grown without chemicals had between 19% and 59% more of the cancer-fighting compounds known as flavonoids than conventionally grown produce.
Flavonoids, which are found in a variety of fruits and vegetables as well as in tea and red wine, are thought to boost health in part by combating oxidation, a process in which cell-damaging substances called free radicals accumulate.
Plants use flavonoids to protect themselves against outside stresses, such as insects, other creatures and ultraviolet radiation. For instance, when an insect starts eating a plant, the plant's flavonoid levels increase; when pesticides protect plants from these and others stresses, plants have less need to boost flavonoid levels.
Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 2003;51:1237-1241
Comment: It’s never been convincingly shown that organic food is nutritionally superior. Some research was publish a few years ago which showed that organic crops contained significantly more vitamin C, iron, magnesium and phosphorous. However the findings were disputed. The organic industry is very limited in the claims it can make for its products.
Whether freshly picked crops can be compared to what we end up eating by the time they find their way onto the shelves, is the unknown factor in this study. We also need to know exactly what the flavonoids are. Not all of them may be beneficial for human health.
Organic Diet Makes Rats Healthier
A team of scientists has found in an experiment that rats that ate organic food were much healthier than those that ate conventional diets.
Dr Kirsten Brandt of Newcastle University’s School of Agriculture, Food and Rural Development, helped colleagues at the Danish Institute of Agricultural Sciences design the experiment.
The scientists found that the organically-fed rats enjoyed several health benefits, in that they slept better, had stronger immune systems and were slimmer than rats fed conventional diets.
Similar tests would need to be carried out on humans to determine if organic food would have the same effect on them.
However, speaking to The Journal newspaper, Dr Brandt said: “What this research shows is that clearly there are links between food and health which is more to do than with just nutrients.
“We used to think that as long as food had adequate nutrients then it was all equally good.
“What this work has shown is that this is not the whole story and we can measure differences and that they are significant. Now we need to understand what is going on.
“If people think that eating organic food makes them feel better then they are probably right," said Dr Brandt, who earlier this month pinpointed the compound in carrots that prevents cancer from developing.
Science Daily 29th March, 2005
Fruit and Vegetables Reduce Stomach Cancer
A 10 year study involving 40,000 Japanese men and women found those ranking in the top 20% in terms of their weekly vegetable and fruit consumption had an overall 25% lower risk of developing stomach cancer, compared with those in the bottom 20%.
Some vegetables were more protective than others e.g individuals who ate “white” vegetables, such as Chinese cabbage or cucumber at least one day a week, had a 52% lower risk of stomach tumours compared with individuals who rarely ate these foods.
Slightly less effective were “yellow” vegetables such as carrots or pumpkin - individuals who ate these foods at least one day per week reduced their risk by 36%. Fruit consumption once a week or more caused stomach cancer risk to drop by about 30%.
International Journal of Cancer;102:39-44
Comment: Recently the noted scientist Bruce Ames wrote: “More that 200 studies ... show, with great consistency, an association between low consumption of fruits and vegetables and the incidence of cancer. The quarter of the population with the lowest dietary intake of fruits and vegetables has roughly twice the cancer rate for most types of cancer (lung, larynx, oral cavity, oesophagus, stomach, colon, rectum, bladder, pancreas, cervix, and ovary) when compared to the quarter with the highest intake.”
He went on to say that micronutrient deficiency can mimic radiation (or chemicals) in damaging DNA. These nutrients are folic acid, vitamins B12, B6, niacin, C, E, and the minerals iron, and zinc.
Nutrient-depleted diet leads to childhood behavioural problems
New research carried out at Oxford University reveals that high levels of school age children are suffering behavioural and learning disorders because their diets are deficient in vital nutrients.
The research, carried out under rigorously controlled conditions by Oxford University’s Department of Physiology, shows that the performance of underachieving children, some of whom were disruptive, improved dramatically when their diets were supplemented with fish oils.
The researchers found that some 40% of the children in the study made dramatic improvements in reading and spelling when given the fish oil supplements, which are high in omega-3 essential fats.
The data also shows a significant improvement in concentration and behaviour. Symptoms of the sort associated with attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) were reduced by an order of magnitude usually achieved with stimulants such as Ritalin. Parents reported that other health problems, such as eczema and asthma, also improved, although no specific data on these other conditions has been published in the study.
The research, which began in 2002, looked at 117 children aged five to 12 in 12 schools in Co Durham who were of normal ability but were underachieving and were suspected of having problems with coordination or motor skills.
The early results of the research, which began in 2002, were so dramatic that they attracted extensive media coverage before the codes to establish which group had been on the fish oils and which had been on placebos had been broken. Now that the full data has been analyzed it is clear that the diet of many school age children is badly deficient in essential nutrients.
Natural productsonline may 3rd, 2005
The Magic Of Honey
Nutritionists at the University of California, Davis, found antioxidant levels go up after people eat several tablespoons of honey a day.
"With honey consumption, we seem to be able to increase our body's defence system against oxidative stress," says Heidrun B. Gross, a university nutrition researcher.
"This definitely makes [the case] for including honey in a healthy diet."
In the new study, Gross and colleagues told 25 people to eat between 4 and 10 tablespoons of buckwheat honey, depending on their weight, each day for a month. They could eat the honey in almost any form, although it couldn't be baked or dissolved in tea. Some put honey on toast or combined it with bananas and peanut butter, but many chose to simply spoon it out of the jar and straight into their mouths, Gross says.
The scientists found levels of antioxidants rose in the people who ate honey. Experts believe antioxidants block certain types of cell damage caused by molecules called free radicals, which are caused by exposure to tobacco smoke and some chemicals.
Foods rich in antioxidants help destroy free radicals, and scientists think they reduce the risk of diseases such as cancer, heart disease and stroke.
"Honey has its place in a balanced, healthy diet, and should be included in a healthy diet," Gross says.
Another honey expert, Nicki J. Engeseth, a University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign associate professor, who has studied antioxidants and honey, agrees. The new study findings provide more evidence that honey is healthy even though 80% of it is sugar.
"It's loaded with different compounds that appear to have strong biologic activity," she says, and honey may even have germ-killing properties.
It's still not clear if all honey is equal. The flavour and colour of honey depends on which flowers are pollinated by the bees that produce it, and researchers don't know if some varieties are healthier to eat than others. In the case of this study, buckwheat honey comes from the buckwheat plant, is dark brown, and has a strong, distinct flavor.
Gross says her subjects didn't gain weight during the month they were on honey therapy. "I asked people if the honey consumption affected their eating habits, and most people answered that they felt more full after eating the honey for breakfast. It seems to keep the stomach full for a little longer, and definitely quenched their urge for sweet stuff."
As for the risk of extra cavities, Engeseth says studies suggest that honey isn't a major factor in teeth decay, even though it's sticky and sweet.
American Chemical Society Annual Meeting, March 29th, 2004
Comment: Ever since I read The Magic of Honey by Barbara Cartland and Folk Medicine by DC Jarvis many years ago, I’ve been a great fan and have it on my toast each morning. I’m sure some varieties are better than others and would recommend you visit your health food store where you’ll find honeys that have only be heated at low temperatures to maintain their enzymes.
Whole Tomato, not Lycopene, Fights Prostate Cancer
New animal research indicates that taking lycopene pills on their own does not protect against prostate cancer.
"In terms of preventing prostate cancer, the conclusion from our study is that taking a lycopene pill is not going to make up for a bad diet," said lead author Dr. Steven K. Clinton, from The Ohio State University in Columbus.
Regarding the findings from previous studies, Clinton noted that rather than actually protecting against prostate cancer, high lycopene levels may simply be a marker for high intake of tomato products.
"Tomatoes contain dozens of biologically active substances that may work together better than any one would work alone," Clinton noted.
The common belief "that we can take a complex food and say that the benefits come from just one of the components present is probably not the way we want to go in terms of nutrition and cancer prevention."
Journal of the National Cancer Institute, November 5, 2003
Comment: Engrave that last sentence into your minds. If you do, you won’t go far wrong when it comes to nutritional supplementation.
Take lycopene by all means if you are at risk of prostate cancer, but find a supplement that also includes tomato powder. You want the benefit of the whole plant, not an isolated fraction.
Cranberries Prevent Strokes
Cranberry extract is able to prevent the death of brain cells under conditions that would produce a stroke.
This is the first study to demonstrate a link between antioxidant-rich cranberries and possible stroke protection. Studies are under way to isolate the beneficial compound in cranberry juice.
Related studies found that blueberries, which are closely related to cranberries and are similarly rich in antioxidants, also reduce brain cell damage due to stroke.
Reuters 9th September, 2003
Comment: Although this was research on animal cells, it’s very likely to be appropriate to humans. Berries are very nutritious and high in antioxidants. This includes strawberries.
Strawberries Cut Cancer Risk
Researchers tested over 200 varieties of strawberries to examine their medicinal properties. While all varieties have heath benefits it seems native species are the most beneficial.
When put on cancer cells they slow their growth and even kill them.
The most powerful chemical in strawberries is Ellagaic acid, which is thought to activate the body's natural defences.
Scientists hope the fruit may be particularly effective against stomach, colon and bowel cancer.
Wild strawberries, which still grow in fields and hedgerows, seem to be the healthiest.
Craig Howat, of the Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust, said: “They are native to Britain. They look like a typical strawberry plant but the fruit is very, very small and very, very sweet. It would take quite a few wild strawberries to fill a punnet.”
BBC News 23rd June, 2003
Comment: Not only are strawberries high in protective plant chemicals like ellagaic acid, but they are high in antioxidants. Strawberries are traditional during Wimbledon fortnight, so do stock up. What you put in your mouth is likely to be far healthier than the stress of watching Tim Henman. But you never know do you?
Berries are best
Researchers randomly assigned 40 men to two diets. 20 ate 100 grams a day of blackcurrants, lingonberries and bilberries for 8 weeks, while the others ate as normal. While the men were eating the berries, their blood quercetin level increased 32% to 51% compared to men eating their normal diet. After 8 weeks, men eating berries were taking in about 12 milligrams per day of quercetin, compared to about 5.8 mg per day in the control group.
Quercetin is one of the most potent dietary antioxidants which combat cell-damaging free radicals.
European Journal of Clinical Nutrition 2003;57:37-42
Comment: Berries are probably the king of fruits with high levels of antioxidants, flavonoids and other protective chemicals. It’s well worth making the effort to have some berries each day. They lose some of their potency when heated, frozen or juiced but still remain valuable.
Chicken & Broccoli Fight Cancer
Eating certain foods together, such as chicken and broccoli or salmon and watercress could help fight cancer.
Combining 2 food components called sulforaphane and the mineral selenium make them up to 13 times more powerful in attacking cancer together than they are alone.
Sulforaphane is found at high concentrations in broccoli, sprouts, cabbage, watercress and salad rocket. Foods rich in selenium include nuts, poultry, fish, eggs, sunflower seeds and mushrooms.
Scientists from the Institute of Food Research in Norwich looked at genes that play an important role in the formation and development of tumours and the spread of tumour cells.
When combined, sulforaphane and selenium had a bigger impact on the genes than they did alone.
The research concentrated on cell cultures. Human trials begin next year.
BBC 31st March, 2003, Research published in Carcinogenesis
Comment: Selenium deficiency has been linked to the incidence of many types of cancer. But UK diets contain ½ the level of 20 years ago. The synergistic effect of this combination may mean much lower doses are needed to offer significant protection. There’s no need to wait for human trials. Plenty of evidence already exists for the protective effect of these nutrients.
Cranberry Juice reduces heart disease risk
19 volunteers with high cholesterol were given 1 - 3 glasses of cranberry juice a day for 3 months. 3 glasses raised high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol by an average of 10%. HDL is known as “good” cholesterol because unlike “bad” low density lipoprotein it protects against heart disease.
The increase corresponded to a reduction in heart disease risk of 40%.
At the same time the researchers found that the amount of antioxidants available to the body increased by up to 121% after 2 or 3 glasses of cranberry juice a day.
Antioxidants mop up dangerous free radicals and are also known to reduce the risk of heart disease, as well as cancer.
Professor Joe Vinson, from the University of Scranton in Pennsylvania, who led the research, said: “This study gives consumers another reason to consider drinking cranberry juice, which has more health benefits than previously believed.”
Ananova 25th March, 2003
Comment: It’s well known cranberries are good for urinary tract infections. We now have some good reasons to drink the juice every day.
Red Wine Extends Life
Molecules found in red wine, peanuts and other products of the plant world have for the first time been shown to mimic the life-extending effects of calorie restriction.
One of the molecules known as resveratrol, was shown in a study to extend the life span of yeast cells by up to 80%. Resveratrol exists naturally in grapes and red wine.
The molecules that were shown to extend life in yeast belong to a family of compounds known as polyphenols. These include resveratrol, which is already thought to make red wine healthy in moderate amounts.
The latest study may help explain why moderate consumption of red wine has been linked to lower incidence of heart disease and why resveratrol prevents cancer in mice.
Nature 2003, early online edition August 24, 2003
Comment: ‘Undernutrition without malnutrition’ is the best known method of extending the lifespan of insects and animals. It is believed it would work on humans too. But few people would want to be hungry all the time to achieve this.
If a few glasses of red wine every day could achieve something similar it would be a far more enjoyable option. For those who don’t drink red wine, resveratrol is also found in grapes, peanuts and berries.
Doctors Hand Out Prescriptions for Red Wine
Cardiac patients are being prescribed two glasses of red wine a day in the hope of preventing further heart complications.
William McCrea, a heart surgeon at the Great Western Hospital in Swindon, said the idea came from looking at the health statistics of France.
"As a nation they consume twice the amount of fat we do, they smoke more and don't do any more exercise than us, but their rate of deaths from heart attacks is half ours. What's the difference? They drink red wine like we drink tea."
Reuters 7th July, 2003
Comment: Was that a skipped beat? I’m moving to Swindon! McCrea believes cheaper red wines are best as they contain more antioxidants than top-quality wines that have been kept for years in the barrel. Pity. His favourites include Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz.
Association between coffee consumption and inflammatory markers in healthy persons: The ATTICA Study
1,514 men and 1,528 women with no history of cardiovascular disease were enrolled. Fasting blood samples were collected and dietary habits evaluated using a food frequency questionnaire.
Results: compared to non coffee drinkers, men (women) who consumed >200ml of coffee a day had a 50% (54%) higher interleukin 6 (IL-6), 30% (38%) higher C-Reactive Protein (CRP), 12% (28%) higher serum amyloid - A (SAA), 28% (28%) higher tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) concentration and 3% (4%) higher white blood cell (WBC) counts. These findings were significant even after controlling for age, sex, education, foods consumed, medications, smoking, body mass index, and activity levels.
Conclusion: a relationship exists between moderate to high coffee consumption and increased inflammatory processes. This could in part explain the effects seen on the cardiovascular system.
American Journal of Clinical Nutrition Vol. 80 No. 4 October, 2004 p. 862 - 867
Comment: All the inflammatory markers showed a linear dose response with coffee consumption. However this only reached statistical significance when >200ml was consumed. This isn’t very much coffee. It means just 2 cups is enough to push up the inflammatory markers to a significant degree. (I see another public health message coming our way!). The study was unable to tell if there is any difference between filtered and unfiltered coffee.
Type of wine and risk of lung cancer: a case-controlled study in Spain
This hospital based case control study was conducted on 319 subjects - mainly older men - 132 with lung cancer and 187 control patients hospitalised for minor surgery. All were interviewed about their lifestyle with particular reference to alcohol and tobacco use. Main outcome measure was risk of lung cancer with consumption of alcohol.
Findings: a slight but significant association was observed between risk of lung cancer and white wine. But there was a strong inverse association with red wine even when smoking and other lifestyle factors were taken into account. No apparent association with beer or spirits.
Conclusion: consumption of red wine is negatively associated with the development of lung cancer.
Thorax Vol. 59 No. 11 November, 2004 p. 981 - 985
Comment: Red wine drinkers had a 57% lower risk of the disease than those who never drank wine. Overall, lung cancer risk declined 13% with each daily glass of red wine drunk. The reasons could only be speculated on but the researchers put it down to either tannins, antioxidants or resveratrol found only in red wine. Previous research suggests resveratrol might offer protection from emphysema and chronic bronchitis, so it may have a particular affinity for the lungs.
Considering that 90% of lung cancers are due to smoking, I’m not sure how practical the results of this study are. It would be more interesting to see if there’s a connection with other types of cancer.
Vitamins Cut Alzheimer’s Effect
Brain cells are thought to be particularly sensitive to damage caused by free radicals which are destructive molecules created by normal metabolism. Antioxidant nutrients such as vitamins C and E can protect against them.
4,740 people aged 65 years or older were enrolled. Of these 304 showed signs of Alzheimer's disease. Approximately 17% of the study participants reported taking vitamin E or C supplements. Another 20% used multivitamins, but without a high dosage of vitamin E or C.
People taking both vitamins were 78% less likely to show signs of Alzheimer's than those not taking the combination. They found no benefit from taking either of the vitamins in isolation, or from taking multivitamins alone.
It was possible that it was simply a dosage effect - taking two vitamins instead of just one meant more was circulating around the body. Lead researcher Dr Peter Zandi said: "These results are extremely exciting. Our study suggests that the regular use of vitamin E in nutritional supplement doses, especially in combination with vitamin C, may reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease."
"There is evidence of a synergistic effect between the activities of vitamin E and C. Vitamin C may act to recharge the antioxidant capacities of vitamin E so that the vitamin E can continue doing its job of soaking up free radicals and reducing oxidative stress."
BBC News 20th January, 2004
Comment: Multivitamins usually don’t have particularly high amounts of these 2 vitamins, maybe 22IU of E and 100mg of C, whereas you can get ten times as much buying them separately. In the study those taking supplements were more likely to be female, younger, better educated and be in better general health when compared to non-supplement users. However these factors were taken into account in assessing whether the vitamins were protective.
Vitamins Combat Age-Related Blindness
Researchers at the Johns Hopkins conclude there are 8 million Americans at least 55 years old thought to be at high risk for macular degeneration.
If all the people at risk took the supplements used in a study published in 2001, more than 300,000 of them would avoid advanced macular degeneration and any associated vision loss during the next 5 years.
"If even half of the individuals at high risk were identified and compliant with the recommended supplement, it is likely that more than 150,000 individuals would avoid vision loss for some time.
"These data suggest that the recommendation of such a supplement for these individuals should have a major impact on them as well as on the public health," the authors conclude.
Archives of Ophthalmology, November 2003
Comment: The nutrients in question are beta carotene, vitamins C and E and the mineral zinc. However, a more comprehensive approach would be a better option. See my article on Macular Degeneration
Vitamins Reduce Inherited High Cholesterol Effects in Children
Children and young adults who have inherited high cholesterol may reduce their risk of clogged arteries by taking vitamins C and E.
The vitamins improve blood flow through the arteries and may prevent the damage that leads to atherosclerosis. The study is also the first to show that vitamins can reverse the damage.
Drugs including statins work very well to lower cholesterol levels in adults but they can have severe side effects and are not usually recommended for children.
Diets rich in fruits and vegetables and low in fat, especially animal fat, have also been shown to lower cholesterol and the risk of heart disease, but most people do not eat this kind of diet.
15 children and young adults age 9 to 20 with high cholesterol levels were studied.
Half the children got daily does of 500mg of vitamin C and 400IU of vitamin E for 6 weeks. The other half got placebos. Then the groups were switched.
Better diet alone reduced LDL “bad” cholesterol by about 8%, but the vitamins, as expected, did not affect cholesterol levels.
The researchers measured how well the arteries were working by examining flow-mediated dilation (FMD) of the brachial artery. They were looking for signs of endothelial dysfunction, which can cause blood vessels to stiffen, meaning they do not stretch to accommodate increased blood flow. It is one of the earliest signs of atherosclerosis.
The endothelium is the inner lining of the blood vessels. It releases nitric oxide, which causes the blood vessels to open. The vitamins may restore this process in damaged arteries by reacting with charged particles known as free radicals that damage cells.
FMD of the brachial artery was around 6 at the start and for those patients given placebo or diet alone, but it was 9.5 after the children got the vitamins. Normal FMD of the brachial artery in children is 8 - 12%
Circulation, August, 2003
Comment: Actually it isn’t the first study to show nutrients can reverse heart disease. A study was published in 1997 by Rath and Niedzwiecki. A high strength multivitamin and mineral supplement demonstrated that “coronary heart disease is a preventable and essentially reversible condition.”
Vitamins and Minerals May Slash Cancer Risk
French scientists gave 13,000 men and women either a daily supplement containing 6mg of beta-carotene, 120mg of vitamin C, 90mg of vitamin E, 100mcg of selenium, and 20mg of zinc or a dummy capsule.
Over the next 7½ years, 103 men and 71 women died. In total, 56 men and 47 women died from various kinds of cancer while heart disease claimed the lives of 28 men and 5 women.
Taking the supplement had no effect on heart disease, and did not influence cancer rates in women.
But the scientists said a 31% reduction in the risk of all cancers was seen in men taking the antioxidants. And, overall, the death rate was 37% lower among men who took the supplement.
The researchers said women may not have received the same benefits because their diets were better than those of men.
bbc news 4th august, 2003
Comment: Bearing in mind the French eat better than the British, I can only assume taking antioxidant supplements would have an even bigger impact in the UK. Although it might be possible to get these levels of nutrients from “a well balanced diet”, getting 90mg of vitamin E would present quite a challenge. But if you’re willing to eat a kilogram of almonds everyday, good luck to you.
Antioxidant Supplements: Can They Slow Mental Decline?
Researchers studied almost 15,000 female nurses. Beginning in 1980, they collected data on several of the nurses' lifestyle factors, including the use of vitamin E and vitamin C supplements.
From 1995-2000 they then administered, by phone, cognitive function examinations - tests of mental performance - to the women who were 70-79 years of age at that time.
The researchers performed statistical analyses to determine if prior and/or current use of vitamin supplements had any association with mental function.
In doing so, they allowed for other factors that could potentially influence the outcome, such as education level, smoking, high blood pressure, and cardiovascular disease.
Long-term use of vitamins E plus C showed the most benefit
Women who were currently taking supplements of both vitamin E and vitamin C and had done so for several years performed better on the cognitive function test compared with women who had never taken vitamin E or C supplements.
Longer duration of supplement use was associated greater benefit. The benefit of supplement use was strongest among women who had low amounts of vitamin E in their diets, and was less pronounced among women taking just vitamin E with no vitamin C. There was no benefit observed among women taking just vitamin C.
American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 2003;77:975-984
Comment: Although the benefits were modest, when you take into account other studies which had similar findings, the health implications are substantial. There was a wide variation in the amounts taken by the nurses. If I wanted to reduce my risk of mental decline I’d take at least 500mg a day of vitamin C as mixed ascorbates and at least 200IU a day of vitamin E as mixed tocopherols.
Antioxidant supplements could ease asthma symptoms
Researchers measured the levels of antioxidants and oxidants in the blood of 38 men and women with asthma and compared them to levels in blood samples from 23 healthy people.
Asthmatic patients showed “alterations in a wide array of oxidants and antioxidants, with balance shifting toward increased oxidative stress in asthma.” The findings suggest boosting antioxidant defences of asthma patients could be beneficial.
Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology 2003;111:72-78
Comment: Antioxidants are a class of chemicals that neutralise oxidants, and include vitamins C and E and certain substances found in fruits and vegetables. Although not involved in this study, professor Anthony Seaton of the University Medical School, Aberdeen has been pressing the case for the lack of antioxidants as an important cause of asthma in genetically prone people for many years now.
Four in 10 mothers 'need vitamin pills'
Four out of 10 women need to supplement their diets with vitamins if they plan to have a baby, the Royal College of Midwives was told yesterday.
Dr Andrew Shennan, professor of obstetrics at St Thomas's Hospital in London, said that the importance of good nutrition for mothers and its effect on their babies had been known for more than 60 years.
``In an ideal world, a healthy balanced diet should provide pregnant women and their developing babies with all the nutrients required for optimum health,'' he said.
``But many mums-to-be who take care to eat healthily frequently fight sickness, nausea, heartburn and exhaustion, which reduces their appetite.
``Furthermore, we know that 40% of women have an unhealthy diet prior to pregnancy. It is clear that many women need to top up their essential nutrients.''
Speaking to the midwives' annual conference in Harrogate, Dr Shennan also mentioned previous findings that supplements of vitamins C and E might help women at risk of pre-eclampsia, a potentially life-threatening condition that affects up to 10% of pregnancies.
Dr Shennan is working with the World Health Organisation on a follow-up study he believes will further endorse the importance of vitamin supplements.
He said: ``Conditions such as pre-eclampsia are extremely hard to identify . . . micronutrient supplementation may be a way of reducing its impact, possibly in all women.''
According to Dr Shennan, pregnant women or those planning to have a baby should take multivitamins and folic acid as well as eating a healthy diet.
Netdoctor.co.uk 12th May, 2003
Vitamin C Reduces Risks Associated With Exposure to Second-hand Smoke
67 volunteers, all non-smokers, were divided into 3 groups. One group took 500mg of vitamin C a day for 2 months. A second group took vitamin C, vitamin E and the anti-oxidant alpha-lipoic acid, while the those in the third group took a dummy pill.
The researchers carried out blood tests on all the volunteers. They tested for levels of F2-isoprostanes, a sign of oxidative stress or cell damage.
They found levels dropped by 11% in the vitamin C group compared with those taking the dummy pill. People who took vitamin C in combination with other vitamins saw their levels fall by 12%.
bbc news 8th august, 2003
Comment: Results are hardly surprising. Vitamin C is an antioxidant. It therefore protects against the kind of oxidative stress caused by second hand smoke. Those who harangue against supplements should explain how we can get 500mg a day from food alone. 500mg is an awful lot of fruit!
Vitamin C Pills May Protect The Heart
85,118 women were surveyed about vitamin use and the foods they ate. They were then followed for 16 years to see if they developed heart problems. During the study period 1,356 women developed heart disease.
After taking into account the women's age, whether they smoked, and other factors, the researchers found the risk of heart disease dropped as vitamin C intake increased. Women who used vitamin C pills were 28% less likely to develop heart disease than women who didn't.
However, there appeared to be little benefit from consuming foods rich in vitamin C without also using supplements. When vitamin C supplements were not used, the amount of vitamin C consumed in foods had little effect on whether heart disease occurred.
The results suggest that use of vitamin C supplements may protect against heart disease. However, it may be that vitamin C pills are not actually beneficial, but rather people who choose to use such pills may simply represent a healthier segment of the population.
Journal of the American College of Cardiology July 16, 2003
Comment: Dr. Balz Frei notes in a related editorial that Vitamin C pills need to be compared with inactive "placebo" pills to prove that vitamin C protects the heart. However, comparative studies like that are "prohibitively expensive and impractical" and "we may never know with certainty whether" vitamin C is useful in preventing heart disease.
What a negative statement! I‘ve never heard a scientist say “we may never know”. If drugs can be compared to placebo, why can’t nutrients? There are plenty of blood parameters that can be looked at. And many studies looking at these parameters have shown vitamin C reduces the incidence of atherosclerosis.
Vitamin C from food alone will not give protection. 500 - 2000mg a day of vitamin C complex is required.
Vitamin C Can Help Beat Arthritis
Researchers studied about 25,000 people over 8 years to see the effect of diet on their arthritis risk.
They found 73 cases of the condition and when they looked at their food diaries they found that these people had a particularly low intake of fruit and vegetables.
Professor David Scott said “It seems there is a particularly strong link between the risk of developing some forms of arthritis and a low intake of vitamin C.”
BBC 26th May
Comment: Although the researchers noted the link with vitamin C, it’s important to realise there are thousands of chemicals within fruits and vegetables which may have resulted in these findings. The best way to avoid arthritis and other diseases is to eat plenty of fruits and vegetables and not just take vitamin C supplements.
Vitamin C may guard against premature delivery
52 women in their fifth month of pregnancy were given either an inactive placebo or 100 milligrams of vitamin C each day for three months.
Vitamin C levels in blood plasma decreased for all the women, which is normal, yet the white blood cell concentration of the vitamin decreased only among women given placebo. In fact, women who took vitamin C supplements experienced an increase in their white blood cell concentration of the vitamin.
At delivery, less than 5% of the women who received vitamin C supplements experienced premature membrane rupture, in comparison to nearly 25% of women taking placebo.
Reuters Health 17/2/03
Comment: Not only is vitamin C needed to prevent this complication but it also has a role in preventing miscarriages. Oxygen plays a key role in miscarriages. vitamin C (and vitamin E) are powerful antioxidants.
On a simple risk/reward evaluation, it’s clear pregnant women should be advised to take vitamin C. So why aren’t they?
Vitamin C may fight cancer in high IV doses
Vitamin C may have the potential to fight cancer but only in such high doses that it has to be injected intravenously, suggests new laboratory research.
The findings, reported yesterday by Dr Mark Levine and colleagues at the US National Institutes of Health, may have little impact on the supplement and functional food industry in the future but they do offer a potential explanation for the first theories surrounding vitamin C’s anti-cancer effects, which emerged several decades ago.
The idea that vitamin C could protect against cancer was investigated first by Linus Pauling in the late 1970s along with a Scottish surgeon Ewan Cameron. They reported that patients treated with high doses of vitamin C had survived three to four times longer than similar patients who did not receive vitamin C supplements.
However the trial methods were deemed flawed by other scientists and the theory discarded by most when another study on patients with advanced cancer failed to confirm the results.
In recent years other researchers have also investigated a potential protective effect from vitamin C supplements against the development of cancer but the evidence remains insufficient to support this theory.
In the new research, Levine’s team simulated clinical infusions of vitamin C on cancer cells. Injected vitamin C allows for much higher doses than the body would normally absorb when taken orally.
The researchers report in an early online issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (10.1073/pnas.0506390102) that when cancer cells were exposed to the ascorbate form of vitamin C, there was a 50 per cent decrease in survival in five out of nine cancer cell lines.
Normal cells also tested were unaffected.
The treatment probably works by boosting production of hydrogen peroxide, believe the US scientists.
When vitamin C is injected, it appears to diffuse outside of the bloodstream, allowing reactions to generate hydrogen peroxide. Hydrogen peroxide in the blood could do serious damage, says Levine, but outside the blood, there is the potential that it could work as a drug.
The study could influence future drug development, clearly a long way from the vitamin's nutritional use.
"These findings give plausibility to IV ascorbic acid in cancer treatment, and have unexpected implications for treatment of infections where hydrogen peroxide may be beneficial," write the researchers.
A phase 1 safety trial in patients with advanced cancer is “justified and underway," they say, as ascorbate is already widely available.
The study will be published in the 20 September issue of the journal (vol 102, pp 13604-13609).
Nutraingredients 13th September, 2005
Vitamin D Supplements Lowers Risk of Multiple Sclerosis
Women who take vitamin D supplements through multivitamins are 40 percent less likely to develop multiple sclerosis (MS) than women who do not take supplements,
"Because the number of cases of MS increases the farther you get from the equator, one hypothesis has been that sunlight exposure and high levels of vitamin D may reduce the risk of MS," said study author Kassandra Munger, MSc, of Harvard School of Public Health in Boston, MA. "This is the first prospective study to look at this question.
"These results need to be confirmed with additional research, but it's exciting to think that something as simple as taking a multivitamin could reduce your risk of developing MS."
The study found those with the highest intake of vitamin D from supplements (400 IU or more per day) were 40 percent less likely to develop MS than those who used no supplements.
The risk of developing MS was lower both for those high in intake of vitamin D from supplements only and for those high in intake from both supplements and food. However, those whose intake of vitamin D was from food only did not have any lesser risk of developing MS.
Other studies have shown that people with MS tend to have insufficient levels of vitamin D, and that periods of low vitamin D occur before times of high disease activity, and periods of high vitamin D precede times of low disease activity.
docguide.com 13th January, 2004
Comment: Many factors have been proposed to explain what causes or triggers MS. These included sunlight, altitude, climate and radiation exposure. A strong case can and has been made for vitamin D from sunlight as the key environmental factor. This study supports that view although I suspect dietary factors play a prominent part.
Pregnant Women and Children Should Take Vitamin D Supplements
Several current lifestyle factors may be responsible for the emergence of rickets.
These include exclusive breastfeeding for long periods without vitamin D supplementation; female modesty and fear of skin cancer.
Diet becomes an important source of vitamin D only when there is inadequate exposure to sunshine, the case in much of the northern hemisphere. A new report shows very low vitamin D intakes of UK children. Even though most of the intake is from fortified foods, such as cereals or yellow spreads, most children would need supplements to reach the recommended daily allowance, yet only half take dietary supplements, write the researchers.
All pregnant women are urged to receive a supplement of 10-25 ug of vitamin D daily during the second and third trimester of pregnancy. Children should also take supplements up to the age of puberty, especially those from communities with low consumption of milk.
Lancet 2003; 362: 1389-1400 
Comment: It’s incredible to think a vitamin deficiency disease could be making a comeback. Orthodox religious groups who cover up their skin are at risk as are the elderly especially those living in nursing homes where 1 in 3 are deficient. I’m sure Department of Health guidelines already exist for those under 3 and those over 65 to be supplemented. It seems few are aware of them.
Babies should get vitamin D supplement
While breast milk is the best nutrition for babies, it may not contain enough vitamin D to meet babies' needs, particularly when youngsters are protected from sunlight, a natural source of the vitamin.
All infant formula sold in the U.S. contains added vitamin D, but if a baby drinks less than 17 ounces of formula each day they should also receive supplements.
Vitamin D supplements are also recommended in children and teens who do not drink at least 17 ounces each day of milk fortified with vitamin D.
Supplements of vitamin D come in liquid form, and just a few drops in the baby's mouth before nursing will give a child all the vitamin D he or she needs.
Supplementation should begin within the first 2 months of life, and achieve an intake of 200 International Units (IU) of vitamin D per day.
Sunlight is a major source of vitamin D, and early humans likely had skin that was better suited to their environment, which enabled them to spend enough time in the sunlight to make lots of vitamin D without worrying about skin cancer.
Nowadays, humans have moved all over the world, often to places where their skin no longer matches their environment.
Furthermore, the depletion of the ozone has forced humans to use sunscreen to protect themselves from sunlight's ultraviolet rays, and sunscreen also prevents the skin from using sunlight to make vitamin D.
Infants who are both dark-skinned and breastfed are at greater risk of developing vitamin D deficiency than other babies.
Pediatrics 2003;111:908-910
Comment: In the UK rickets is making a comeback because young Asians are embracing stricter religious values, covering up their skin. The problem is also seen among orthodox Jews particularly in the north of England. Yet existing Government guidelines recommend Asian babies and children up to the age of 3 be given vitamin D supplements of 10 micrograms a day.
Vitamin D deficiency is believed to be a serious problem, especially among the elderly who live in nursing homes, where 1 in 3 is deficient.
Vitamin D cuts fractures
2,686 men and women aged 65-85 were given large doses (100,000 IU) of vitamin D, once every four months for 5 years, or placebo.
Total fracture incidence was reduced by 22% and fractures in major osteroporotic sites by 33%.
Women taking the supplement were 32% less likely to have a fracture, while 17% fewer men broke bones if they took the supplement.
British Medical Journal 1/3/03
Comment: In the first 5 years after menopause women can lose up to 15% of their total bone mass. Since this intervention would cost less than £1 a year for each person, it’s difficult to see why this shouldn’t become public policy.
Heart failure linked to a lack of vitamin D 54 patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) were compared with 34 healthy people, and found that vitamin D levels were up to 50% lower in the blood of CHF patients. And the more severe the vitamin D deficiency, the worse the symptoms of heart failure appeared to be.
It’s believed that vitamin D plays a central role in regulating calcium concentration in cells of the heart muscle. If calcium levels are not precisely controlled, the muscle cells are unable to expand and contract properly, and thus blood cannot be pumped effectively around the body.
Journal of the American College of Cardiology, 3/03
Comment: It’s not certain whether this is cause or effect. Since vitamin D comes from sunlight you’d expect people in climates with greater sunlight to have less CHF. I’m not aware they do. The explanation is plausible nonetheless. The obvious next step is to give such patients vitamin D supplements and see what happens.
Association between serum concentrations of 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 and periodontal disease in the US population
Data was examined from the 3rd National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. It involved 11,202 subjects aged 20 or more. Adjustments were made for age, race, ethnicity, smoking, diabetes, income, bmi, oestrogen use and gingival bleeding.
Results: vitamin D was significantly and inversely associated with periodontal attachment loss (AL) in men and women aged 50 or more. Compared with men in the highest quintile, those in the lowest had a mean AL that was 0.39mm higher. In women the difference was 0.26mm. In those younger than 50 there was no association. The bone mineral density of the total femoral region was not associated with AL.
Conclusion: Low serum 25 (OH) D3 concentrations may be associated with periodontal disease independently of bone mineral density. Given the high prevalence of periodontal disease and vitamin D deficiency these findings may have important public health implications.
American Journal of Clinical Nutrition Vol. 80 No. 1 July, 2004 p. 108 - 113
Comment: The authors believe the results of this study cannot be explained by the affect of vitamin D on bone mineral density. They think it is concerned with the anti-inflammatory effects of the vitamin which has been found to inhibit cytokine production and cell proliferation in various tissues. This could affect the inflammatory resorption of alveolar bone.
We are told to keep out of the sun in spite of the fact that vitamin D deficiency is now so common, doctors are seeing cases of rickets. The fact that the vitamin has been shown to protect against colon, breast, prostate and other cancers is ignored by policy makers.
As professor Garland from the University of California at San Diego School of Medicine said last year, people in the UK should get 10 - 15 minutes exposure to sunlight every day. They cannot synthesise vitamin D from November to the end of March. He suggested those aged from 1 - 70 should supplement with 400IU a day and those aged 71+ should take 600IU a day. Professor of Dermatology Michael Holick reiterated the importance of healthy sun exposure in June. The result? He lost his job.
Dietary Vitamin E Cuts Risk Of Bladder Cancer
A diet rich in vitamin E appears to protect against both prostate cancer and bladder cancer, according to new research.
A case-control study found that diets high in alpha-tocopherol, the most potent part of the vitamin E family, could more than halve the risk of bladder cancer compared to people with a low intake. Other findings reported suggest vitamin E from both diet and supplements offers strong protection against prostate cancer.
"High intake of vitamin E from dietary sources alone was associated with a 42 per cent reduced risk of bladder cancer, whereas high intake of vitamin E from dietary sources and supplements combined reduced the risk by 44 per cent," said researcher Ladia M. Hernandez.
In a second study, researchers found that both alpha and gamma tocopherol lowered the risk of prostate cancer by as much as 53% and 39% respectively.
Dietary vitamin E comes from nuts and seeds, wholegrain products, vegetable oils, salad dressings, margarine, beans and other vegetables. Spinach, green and red peppers and sunflower seeds were found to be excellent sources of alpha-tocopherol.
American Association for Cancer Research annual meeting 29th March, 2004
Comment: This is the first reported evidence for vitamin E’s role against bladder cancer. It’s not easy to get highly protective amounts of the vitamin from the diet alone, supplementation is needed. Vitamin E covers a number of compounds. We have a lot more to learn about this vitamin.
Vitamin E Supplements Effective for Mild Hypertension
70 patients, aged 20 to 60 years with high blood pressure were randomly divided into 2 groups; one received 200IU of vitamin E, and the other a placebo for a period of 27 weeks.
Subjects who received vitamin E supplements had a 24% decrease in systolic blood pressure compared to a 1.6% decrease among placebo controls. A less significant decrease was seen in diastolic blood pressure, with a 12.5% decrease in the supplement group and a 6.2% decrease in the placebo group. Patients who received vitamin E had a greater decrease in heart rate than placebo controls.
Doctor’s Guide 6th October, 2003
Comment: There has always been a great deal of controversy surrounding vitamin E and its role in cardiovascular health. I can’t think why since it is clearly important. And vitamin E in sufficient amounts is not easily obtainable from food. Supplementation as mixed tocopherols/tocotrienols together with a multivitamin/mineral is highly recommended.
Vitamin E and respiratory tract infections in elderly nursing home residents. A randomised controlled trial
Researchers followed 617 elderly nursing home residents for approximately one year, and asked half to take a 200IU capsule of vitamin E daily - a dose shown in previous research to boost immune functioning in the elderly. They also took a supplement containing half the RDA of essential vitamins and minerals.
The researchers found that people who received vitamin E were just as likely to develop a respiratory tract infection as non-supplement users, and the infections lasted equally long in both groups.
Supplement users were also just as likely to have to take antibiotics, visit the emergency department and be hospitalized for respiratory tract infections as non-users.
However, slightly fewer supplement users developed one or more respiratory tract infections during the study period, and vitamin-takers were 20% less likely to develop a common cold.
Journal of the American Medical Association Vol. 292 No. 7 18th August, 2004 p. 828 - 836
Comment: Previous studies have shown that vitamin E can boost the immune system of the elderly. In this study, which used the synthetic dl alpha tocopherol, those who completed the study had significantly fewer colds and a 20% lower risk of acquiring a cold versus placebo.
“Common colds are frequent and associated with increased morbidity in this age group, and if confirmed, these findings suggest important implications for the well-being of the elderly.”
The lead author, in an interview noted that previous research had demonstrated vitamin E to be particularly good at fighting viruses. She recommended, because of its effect on the upper respiratory tract, that nursing home residents receive vitamin E supplements.
Folic Acid Reduces Stroke Risk in Men
43,732 men between the ages of 40 and 75 were followed for 14 years. What they ate was noted and whether they developed ischemic (poor blood supply) or hemorrhagic (bleeding) strokes.
During the follow-up period, 725 strokes occurred, 455 of which were ischemic. Men who consumed the most folic acid (half of them had intakes over 821 micrograms per day) had a significantly lower risk (nearly 30%) of ischemic stroke than men who consumed the least amount folic acid (around 262 micrograms each day or less).
Folic acid intake had no effect on men's risk of hemorragic stroke.
The study author explained that folic acid may have had no effect on the risk of hemorrhagic stroke because the two types of stroke occur for very different reasons, and homocysteine (toxic by-product of protein metabolism) plays a role primarily in ischemic stroke. Folic acid lowers homocysteine.
A high intake of vitamin B12 also appeared to reduce the risk of ischemic stroke.
The study author said the results appear conclusive and consistent enough to suggest that men change their behaviour to protect their health. “I believe we should recommend men to increase their intake of folate to reduce stroke risk,” He said.
Stroke, January 2004
Comment: I’m impressed that so many men had diets consisting of such high amounts of folic acid. Another recent study published in the British Medical Journal (24th Jan) asks whether it is the ultimate functional food component for disease prevention. It says “few nutrients can claim to modulate, if not overtly benefit, such a wide array of clinical conditions.”
It goes on: “it is not hard to envisage a new era in preventive medicine that has even greater emphasis on diet as a means to a long and healthy life—indeed, a return to Hippocrates' famous “Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food” philosophy.
There’s hope for us all yet!
Lack of Folic Acid Linked to Depression
Dr. Ingvar Bjelland of the University of Bergen. and colleagues scanned blood samples from 5,948 people between the ages of 46 and 49, and screened them for depression and anxiety.
The researchers found that people who had relatively high levels of homocysteine in their blood were almost twice as likely to be depressed, relative to people with the lowest blood levels of homocysteine.
According to the report, depression was also linked to a form of the gene for a folate-processing enzyme associated with poorer efficiency in the breakdown of folate.
Explaining why folate might play a role in depression, the researcher said the body may need the B vitamin to build important substances in the brain - a lack of which may cause depression and other mental disorders.
To Bjelland, the current study supports a simple message: get your vitamins.
"Vitamins are important, not only for the physical health, but for the mental health as well," the researcher said.
Archives of General Psychiatry 2003;60:618-626
Comment: Is there no end to the important roles of folic acid? High levels of the chemical homocysteine are toxic. Folic acid lowers it. I must applaud Dr Bjelland for not doing what every other researcher does i.e warn people that they must get their vitamins from food and not supplements.
Folic acid cuts child cancer risk
Researchers from the Institute of Cancer Research, looked at whether the folic acid levels children were exposed to in the womb influenced their chance of developing leukaemia.
They focussed on an enzyme called MTHFR which breaks down folic acid and reduces its levels. But some people inherit a variant of MTHFR gene which makes the enzyme inactive, so they have higher levels of folic acid because their bodies cannot break it down.
Scientists studied 253 British children who were diagnosed with leukaemia from 1992 until 1998 and compared them with healthy children.
It was found that those who inherited the inactive enzyme had a significantly lower risk of leukaemia compared with those with a normal MTHFR gene.
Dr David Grant, science director of the Leukaemia Research Fund which funded the research, said it showed some children who developed leukaemia were “almost certainly born with defective blood cells which go on to become leukaemic cells.”
He added: “The realisation that damage to the DNA in these cells can be reduced with folate supplements in pregnancy is extremely exciting and could help to reduce the number of cases of this terrible disease in children.”
A second study from Australia found if mothers took folic acid during pregnancy, it almost halved the risk of their children of developing leukaemia.
Women are currently advised to take folic acid supplements while trying to conceive, and in the first three months of pregnancy.
BBC 24th April, 2003
Comment: I’ve lost count of the number of times folic acid has appeared in these news stories. This is the same folic acid the Food Standards Agency recently refused to allow flour to be fortified with, because it might possibly hide a B12 deficiency anaemia in some elderly people.
Folic acid cuts risk of Down's syndrome
Children born to families with a high risk of neural-tube defects could also be at an increased risk of Down's syndrome and vice versa, suggesting there is a link between the two conditions.
Problems in metabolising folic acid have been seen in mothers of babies with neural tube defects. It could also be a risk factor for a chromosomal abnormality which causes Down's syndrome.
493 Israeli families who had had a previous pregnancy which was affected by neural tube defects and 516 families from the Ukraine who had had a pregnancy affected by Down's were studied.
There were more than 5 times the number of pregnancies affected by Down's syndrome, a total of 11 in 1,492 pregnancies in the Israeli group compared with 1.87 expected for women of the same age.
There was also an increase in neural tube defect cases in the families at a higher risk of Down's syndrome. 7 cases were seen in 1,847 pregnancies, compared with an expected incidence of 1.37.
The Lancet 19th April, 2003
Comment: This is an important finding which stresses the importance of taking folic acid as a supplement at least a month before conception and a few months afterwards.
Folate-rich diet may cut cleft palate risk
179 families with a child having cleft palate, lip or both were compared with 204 families whose children did not have this birth defect.
women with a certain enzyme variation called MTHFR that affects folate metabolism had about a 6-fold increased risk of having a child with cleft palate, lip or both if they did not take folic acid supplements around the time of conception. About 25% of mothers of children with oral cleft had this gene variation compared with 16% of the mothers of healthy children.
The risk was about 3 times higher than normal in women with this particular variation if they did not get enough folate in the diet, and about 10 times higher than normal if they neither took supplements nor consumed enough dietary folate.
How a decrease in folate might increase the risk of cleft lip or palate is uncertain, but the results of the study suggest, that consuming more folate -- either in supplements, in food or both -- could counteract any increased risk caused by gene variations that impair folate metabolism.
Foods rich in folates include green, leafy vegetables, citrus fruits and juices, whole wheat bread and dried beans.
American Journal of Epidemiology 2003;157:583-591
Comment: Official advice for those intending to become pregnant is to take folic acid supplements. So even if women don’t have this particular enzyme variation, the advice should be heeded. It’s a pity the Food Standards Agency couldn’t bring themselves to allow flour to be fortified with folic acid. This simple measure would have saved many women from giving birth to children with neural tube and other defects.
Link found between folic acid and depression vulnerability
Folate deficiency and low folate status are linked in clinical studies to depression, persistent depressive symptoms, and poor antidepressant response.
Healthy subjects aged 15 to 39 whose red blood cell (RBC) folate concentrations had been measured were divided into 3 groups: 2,526 had no depression, 301 had major depression and 121 were diagnosed with dysthymia (less severe than ‘major depression’ but can also trigger major depressive episodes).
Results showed those with a lifetime diagnosis of major depression had lower blood folate levels than people who had never been depressed. Subjects diagnosed with dysthymia alone had lower RBC folate concentrations than never-depressed subjects.
Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics 2003;72:80-87 ?
Comment: Patients with low blood folate levels don’t respond well to antidepressants until these levels are raised. Some people may need much greater amount of folic acid than others. 10 years ago a study demonstrated folic acid can be as effective as drugs, but the amount used was over 100 times the usual daily requirement. To a doctor unfamiliar with nutritional therapy, this is not an option. Far safer - and less litigious - to use a recognised drug even if it has unpleasant side effects.
Folic Acid Reduces Risk Of Colon Cancer
In a study of 1,953 patients with colorectal cancer and more than 4,000 disease-free patients, researchers found an association between the amount of folate in the diet and the risk of cancer. Incidence of the disease was 40% higher for patients who were heavy drinkers and had diets deficient in folate and the essential amino acid methionine.
International Journal of Cancer 2002;102:545-547
Comment: This study confirms other research showing a strong association between this disease and folic acid. Best food sources are green leafy vegetables and whole grains. Good sources are orange juice, beans and peas.
Excess Iron Linked To Diabetes in Women
1,414 women provided blood samples for iron analysis. The study group included 698 women who developed diabetes during 10 years of follow-up and 716 similar subjects who remained diabetes-free.
As body levels of iron rose, so did the risk of diabetes, the authors found. Subjects with the highest levels of iron were nearly three times more likely to have diabetes than those with the lowest levels.
Moreover, iron levels remained a predictor of diabetes even after adjusting for a variety of diabetes risk factors, such as family history and total calorie intake.
Journal of the American Medical Association, February 11, 2004
Comment: Excess iron may well be cardiotoxic and carcinogenic. It also favours bacterial and fungal infection. Too great and too little is harmful. Absorption and utilisation of iron is highly complex. Without blood tests/hair analysis it’s unlikely that any of us knows what our iron status is.
Iron-rich diet may raise risk of Parkinson's
Researchers compared 250 people newly diagnosed with Parkinson's disease to 388 similar people who did not have the disease. All 638 people were asked about the foods they ate and the supplements they consumed.
Those who had the highest levels of dietary iron were 1.7 times more likely to have developed Parkinson's than people who consumed the least iron.
People who consumed higher than normal levels of iron and manganese were 1.9 times as likely to have developed Parkinson's as people with lower levels of the minerals in their diets.
People who consumed above-average levels of iron and took at least one multivitamin or iron supplement each day were about twice as likely to develop Parkinson's than people with below-average iron consumption who did not usually take supplements.
Iron and manganese can contribute to oxidative stress which results when toxic substances called free radicals are released as part of energy consumption and metabolism.
Some researchers suspect that oxidative stress may be involved in the degeneration of the dopamine cells, which occurs in this disease. The fact that iron and manganese raise the risk of Parkinson's suggests that oxidative stress may be part of the process.
Neurology 2003;60:1761-1766
Comment: Iron is mineral that is absolutely essential, yet too much can cause health problems. Iron supplements should only be taken for diagnosed iron deficiency anaemia. This is one mineral that should come from food. If uncertain about your iron intake, either too high or low, visit a nutrition consultant who can analyse your diet and requirement for this mineral.
Selenium May Offer Cancer Protection
The mineral selenium may protect some women from developing breast cancer. Studies suggest it can reduce the likelihood of other types of cancer, and some have linked it to a lowered chance of heart disease.
The latest study looked at tissue samples from more than 500 women who did not have breast cancer, and compared their genetic makeup with those in 79 breast cancer tissue samples.
Conclusion was that certain women - with a certain genetic makeup - might benefit from extra selenium in their diet to make sure their "cancer-fighting" enzyme worked properly.
However, the researchers stopped short of recommending selenium supplementation, saying that their research was at far too early a stage.
BBC News 16th June, 2003
Comment: There is overwhelming evidence from animal research that selenium offers cancer protection. Research on humans is highly suggestive. You always get the stock answer that supplements aren’t recommended because of toxicity problems and lack of hard evidence. Yet selenium is safe up to 400 micrograms a day with 200 micrograms a day being as much as most people would need to help protect themselves. Why not supplement? But if you don’t want to, best dietary source is brazil nuts.
The use of high selenium yeast to raise selenium status: how does it measure up?
Selenium-enriched yeast is a common form of selenium used to support the diet . But availability in the EU is under threat because of toxicity concerns. The review included an examination of these concerns.
Of around a dozen supplement studies examined, none showed evidence of toxicity even up to 800mcg a day over many years.
Conclusion: selenium-enriched yeast from reputable manufacturers shows no evidence of toxicity up to the EC tolerable upper limit intake of 300mcg/d.
British Journal of Nutrition Vol. 92 No. 4 October, 2004 p. 557 - 573
Comment: Selenium intake per day in the UK is a mere 29 - 39mcg. In the USA it’s 106mcg and in Japan 104 - 199mcg. The RDA’s vary from 30 - 70 in parts of Europe, to 60/75 in the UK and 70/85 in Australia.
The review looked at a number of factors and issues. They found no evidence that selenium built up in body tissues to toxic levels. They believed the problem in Europe was deficiency not toxicity, particularly in Eastern Europe.
Toxicity concerns should be reserved for parts of the world where intake is naturally high e.g parts of China (up to 4,990mcg/d), Venezuela (200 - 350mcg/d), and the Great Plains of the USA.
The review goes on to state that selenium-yeast is the only form of selenium to date to have shown efficacy in human anti-cancer intervention studies. That also state that if people want to supplement selenium in the form in which it occurs in major staple foods, then selenium-yeast is the nearest to food-form selenium.
Cod Liver Oil Eases Osteoarthritis
In a study of 31 osteoarthritis patients, researchers at Cardiff University showed cod liver oil reduced enzymes linked to pain and cartilage damage.
“The data suggests that cod liver oil has a dual mode of action, potentially slowing down the cartilage degeneration inherent in osteoarthritis and also reducing factors that cause pain and inflammation,” said Professor Bruce Caterson.
Caterson and his colleagues found that 86% of patients given 1000mg of extra high strength cod liver oil before undergoing joint replacement surgery had significantly reduced levels of enzymes linked to cartilage damage, compared to 26% of patients on placebo.
“What these findings suggest is that by taking cod liver oil, people are more likely to delay the onset of osteoarthritis and less likely to require multiple joint replacements later in life,” Caterson added in a statement.
Reuters 12th February, 2004
Comment: When this research was first reported almost 2 years ago, even though it hadn’t been published, doctors started prescribing cod liver oil for arthritis. I said in my newsletter at the time that “whoever has the power to decide what GP’s get in their mailbox could probably change the face of medicine in this country.”
“I’m sure doctors are very willing to prescribe alternatives, but they have to get the go-ahead from above. The Japanese have a saying, the nail that sticks out gets hammered. Doctors don’t want to get hammered. They don’t want to be brave. They just want to be told ‘it’s OK, you can do that.’”
Fish Oil Supplements Dramatically Improve Lives of Cancer Patients
Fish oils may prevent cachexia - the severe wasting and weight loss associated with some types of advanced cancer. It can cause illness and contribute to the death of these patients because of its effects on metabolism and appetite.
Researchers said fish oil supplements may be able to reverse the weight loss and could be used to treat cancer patients with cachexia.
BBC News September 13th, 2003
Comment: I recently reviewed a book on cancer and nutrition. There are literally thousands of studies which demonstrate an important role in both its prevention and treatment. They are almost entirely ignored. There seems to be an inbuilt prejudice when it comes to treating cancer nutritionally. Perhaps this is because the aim of nutritional therapy is to boost the body’s immune system. Conventional treatments do the opposite.
Oily fish helps lupus
Scientists at the University of Ulster examined a group of patients who took fish oil supplements three times a day for six months.
Dr Emeir Duffy, one of the scientists involved in the study, said: “Participants in the study who were taking fish oil supplements, 3 times per day for 24 weeks, saw a reduction in disease activity, an improvement in quality of life and reported an overall feeling of improved health by the end of the study compared to those taking a placebo supplement.”
“Participants taking the fish oil also showed a reduction in fatigue severity, the most debilitating symptom for lupus sufferers.”
She said the findings suggested that patients with lupus should consider taking fish oil supplements or eating more oily fish. Good examples of fatty fish include mackerel, lake trout, herring, sardines, tuna and salmon.
Fish oils contain long-chained polyunsaturated fatty acids which are essential for normal growth and development but also have anti-inflammatory and anti-autoimmune properties.
BBC News 11th March, 2003
Comment: Research showed fish oil beneficial for lupus patients over 20 years ago. It takes a long time for anything connected with nutrition to be accepted as good for health problems. Today, the benefits of fish oil have become almost mainstream.
Oily Fish May Reduce Asthma
Oily fish like salmon, mackerel and herring, rich in omega-3 fatty acids, may reduce the risk of asthma according to a new study from Cambridge University.
750 volunteers provided details of diet and lifestyle. Researchers found regular fish consumption roughly halved the risk of asthma attacks, wheezing or waking up with tightness in the chest.
British Thoracic Society, Winter Meeting, London.
Comment: Other dietary factors such as fresh fruit and the mineral magnesium, found in fruit and vegetables, also lower asthma risk. I would also recommend staying well hydrated. Drink at least 6 glasses of water a day. Eat at least 2 apples a week, and increase selenium intake by eating a few brazil nuts each day.
A recent Japanese study (American Journal of Epidemiology 2002;156:824-831) found omega-3 fatty acids were associated with a lower risk of dying from all causes among women but not among men.
And yet another study in the Journal of the American Medical Association 2002;288:3130-3136 showed men who eat fish just 1-3 times a month lowered their risk of ischaemic stroke by 43%.
It’s fortunate fish doesn’t have to be eaten too often to get the benefits, because toxins accumulate in the fat/oils of the fish. For this reason the Department of Health recommends limiting oily fish to just one serving a week.
Scientists discover how fish oil helps cut inflammation
Scientists have identified a key anti-inflammatory fat in humans derived from a fatty acid in fish oil. The discovery may prove why a diet high in oily fish such as salmon and mackerel seems to help improve inflammatory conditions such as arthritis.
Researchers from Harvard Medical School say that a new class of fats, known as resolvins, appear to control inflammation in the body. They do this by stopping the migration of inflammatory cell to sites of inflammation and then turning on other inflammatory cells.
Resolvins are made from the omega-3 fatty acids found in high concentration in oily fish. One form of resolvin - E1 - is thought to play a particularly significant role in controlling inflammation. The scientists also discovered that their production in the human body seemed to be stimulated by taking a low dose of asprin alongside the fish oils.
Naturalproductsonline 16th March, 2005
Three-year outcomes of dietary fatty acid modification and house dust mite reduction in the Childhood Asthma Prevention Study
Wanted to measure the effects of a dietary supplement of omega 3 fatty acids and house dust mite allergen avoidance in children with a family history of allergy.
526 were enrolled antenatally in a randomised controlled trial up to age 3. Outcome measures were symptoms of allergic disease and allergen sensitisation.
Results: Significant 10% reduction in the prevalence of cough in atopic children in the active diet group but only a 1.1% reduction in cough among nonatopic children. There was a 7.2% reduction in sensitisation to house dust mite in the active allergen avoidance group. There were no significant differences in wheeze with either intervention.
Conclusion: interventions may have a role in preventing allergic sensitisation and airways disease in early childhood.
The Journal of Allergy & Clinical Immunology Vol. 114 No. 4 October, 2004 p. 807 - 813
Comment: The supplement taken was one 500mg tuna fish oil capsule. This is the equivalent of 184mg of omega 3 fatty acids. It was added to food from age 6 months. The children were also given low omega 6 and high omega 3 spreads to use in food preparation. The control group were given placebo supplements and spreads.
Previous prevention strategies - house dust mite allergen avoidance, prolonged breastfeeding and avoiding exposure to cigarette smoke - have only had small effects. Observational studies have shown that oily fish protects against asthma symptoms in children. The use of supplements had not been investigated until now. Although allergen avoidance shows benefits, the results of this study suggest fatty acids are more effective than any other method tested so far.
The clinical effect of dietary supplementation with omega-3 fish oils and/or copper in systemic lupus erythematosus
52 patients with SLE took part in a double-blind, placebo controlled factorial study. They were assigned randomly to receive either 3g MaxEPA plus 3mg Copper, 3g MaxEPA and placebo copper, 3mg copper and placebo fish oil, or all placebo. The Systemic Lupis Activity Measure (SLAM-R), a rating of disease activity, was used as an outcome measure. Blood samples were taken at 6, 12 and 24 weeks.
Findings: a significant drop in SLAM-R from 6.12 to 4.69 occurred in those taking fish oil versus placebo. No significant change in those taking copper. Lab variables were unaffected by either intervention.
Conclusion: fish oil may be beneficial in modifying symptomatic disease activity.
The Journal of Rheumatology Vol. 31 No. 8 August, 2004 p. 1551 - 1556
Comment: This study follows research on mice which showed that omega-3 fatty acid rich diets increased lifespan, reduced auto-antibody levels and lowered levels of inflammatory cytokines. There has been limited research on humans with SLE but what there is has revealed a favourable improvement in disease activity.
Those with SLE have been shown to have low levels of these fatty acids in the blood. The amount given in this study is the equivalent of having two portions of oily fish per week.
Fatty Acid Cream Benefits Knee Arthritis
40 patients with osteoarthritis of one or both knees were randomly assigned to treatment with either Celadrin cream containing cetylated fatty acids, or an inactive placebo cream.
Each patient was assessed for knee range of motion, timed "up-and-go" from a chair, stair climbing, and other tests before the study began, at 30 minutes after the first application of the cream, and after 30 days of twice-daily application.
Significant improvements among treated patients in the stair-climbing and up-and-go tests at 30 minutes, as well as after 30 days were observed. Supine range of motion had also improved significantly at both these time points in the treated patients.
"Topical treatment with cetylated fatty acids significantly increased ... balance, stair climbing ability, ability to rise from a chair, and walking," the authors point out. They add, "A unique finding was an immediate effect of this treatment 30 minutes after initial cream application."
These findings support the use of cetylated fatty acids as part of pain relief treatment in patients with osteoarthritis of the knee, the investigators conclude.
Journal of Rheumatology, April 2004
Comment: Celadrin as an external treatment combined with glucosamine and chondroitin internally could prove to be the most effective treatment yet for osteoarthritis.
Glucosamine benefits knee pain
24 men and women aged 20-70 suffering from regular knee pain of unspecified origin took daily glucosamine supplements. 22 other knee-pain sufferers took a placebo.
After 12 weeks, 88% of the glucosamine group reported improvements in knee pain, compared with only 17% of the placebo group.
British Journal of Sports Medicine 2003;37:45-49
Comment: A study published in The Lancet 2 years ago was very positive about glucosamine as a treatment for osteoarthritis. The usual response is for the journal’s editorial to knock the findings when it is a natural product. However, the Lancet’s editorial on this occasion was glowing. They accepted glucosamine is absorbed orally, is distributed to the joint tissues, and has anti-inflammatory and anabolic properties. That must surely be a better option than non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs which kill 2000 people a year.
Fibre is good for the heart
CRP is the only inflammatory marker that has been found to be an indicator of heart health. Therefore, a CRP test is often done along with a blood fat profile to help predict a patient's risk of a heart attack. C-reactive protein is proving to be a useful marker for predicting coronary artery disease and stroke which are closely associated with inflammation of the blood vessels.
Dr. Diana King and colleagues from the Medical University of South Carolina examined data from 4,900 adults. They evaluated such factors as body mass index and dietary factors.
Results showed that participants consuming comparatively higher amounts of dietary fibre had a lower risk of elevated CRP, while saturated fat consumption "was modestly associated with elevated CRP."
The American Journal of Cardiology December, 2003
Comment: CRP has become a very important marker. It can be very damaging for the heart. However it must be treated with caution because it could indicate an infection anywhere in the body. The next time your well meaning doctor suggests you have your cholesterol tested, ask him or her whether your CRP and homocysteine levels will also be checked. If you are given a strange look, change your doctor!
Fibre Supplements as Good as the Real Thing
If you have trouble getting enough fibre from the food you eat, supplements can be a safe alternative.
The Mayo Clinic Health Letter notes that such foods as oatmeal, cauliflower, broccoli, beans and peas are all good sources of fibre. In addition to helping your body's digestion and regularity, a high-fibre diet may reduce your risk of certain health problems such as diabetes, colorectal cancer, gastrointestinal disorders, high cholesterol and obesity.
But some people find it difficult to get the recommended 20 to 30 grams of fibre a day from their diet. That may be because they don't like high-fibre foods or because those foods cause cramping or flatulence.
Those people might consider fibre supplements, which are bulk-forming substances available as powders, tablets, wafers, biscuits or toasted granules.
The Mayo Clinic Health Letter offers the following advice for people using fibre supplements:
· Go slow. Start with a small dose and progress gradually.
· Be consistent. Fibre supplements are most effective when taken daily for at least a month.
· Drink plenty of fluids. If you don't do that, fibre supplements can make you even more constipated.
· Take fibre supplements before or after meals. They create a feeling of fullness. Take them before meals if you're overweight and take them after meals if you're underweight or normal weight.
· Remember that supplements can't do it all. They contain only part of the required amount of daily fibre. You still need to include high-fibre foods in your diet.
Healthday 20th October, 2003
Comment: It may surprise you to know that many studies don’t support the idea that a high fibre diet is a good thing. One study found the risk of colorectal cancer increased with a soluble fibre supplement. Fibre is a complex substance. Taking a supplement is not the same as getting it from a wide variety of foods. Eat plenty of fibre by all means, but the best source is fruits and vegetables, not cereal grains. No supplement can make up for that.
Probiotics Prevent Child Allergies
Women taking probiotic supplements during pregnancy can protect their children from eczema for up to four years, researchers have found.
Their study found that women and babies taking the supplements reduced the risk of eczema by 40 per cent in at-risk 4-year-olds. There was also the suggestion of a reduction in asthma rates.
The study, published in The Lancet, studied 132 children whose mothers were given capsules of a probiotic or a placebo for four weeks before giving birth.
After birth, capsules were given to the breast-feeding mother or the child for 6 months.
Of 53 children exposed to lactobacillus, only 14 developed eczema after 4 years, compared with nearly half, 25 of 54, who did not get the supplement. Concentrations of exhaled nitric oxide, a marker for the lung inflammation associated with asthma, were significantly higher in children not exposed to the lactobacillus.
Asthma and rhinitis typically do not develop until children are older, so no firm conclusion could be drawn about the effects of the probiotic on these diseases.
The findings adds weight to the “hygiene hypothesis”, which suggests that soaring rates of asthma and eczema in children might be due to modern living conditions being “too clean”. According to the theory, bacterial infection at an early age primes the immune system and helps to prevent allergies.
The Times 30th May, 2003 p.4
Comment: This was a follow up to an earlier study published in The Lancet 2 years ago. Then the editorial described the findings as “remarkable”. Their comments at that time are worth quoting:
“Probably the most striking alteration in the early immune exposure of infants since Neolithic times was the wholesale change in initial gut colonisation during the past century.....the dominance of bifido-bacteria and lactobacillus in the initial flora.....has been increasingly replaced by that of a variety of hospital-acquired organisms, which has led to evolutionary novel discordance between maternal and infant flora exacerbated by procedures such as caesarean section or admission to special care units.”
If you have a health problem, live in London and would like to visit a nutritionist please go to London Nutritionist
Mercury 'linked to autism'
Hair cuttings were taken from 18 month old babies. Mercury levels in the cuttings from 94 autistic children and 45 other children were compared. The average level of mercury in baby hair of children later diagnosed as autistic was 0.47 parts per million, compared to 3.63 per million in the other children.
The more severe the children's autism, the lower the mercury levels found.
Most of the mercury came from the children's mothers in the form of fillings, injections containing thimerosal (a mercury containing vaccine), or through eating a lot of fish.
In the group of non-autistic children, mercury levels rose in line with their mother's exposure. But levels in the baby hair of the autistic children were low even when their mother's exposure was high.
The researchers say one explanation could be that autistic children's bodies are unable to make use of metals properly, so they could also be deficient in metals which are needed for brain development such as zinc, iron and copper.
Alternatively, they suggest some children might have problems excreting mercury. Most of the metal is excreted through urine and faeces.
However the researchers suggest that the lack of mercury in the children's hair could be due to the metal being retained in cells, rather than getting into the blood.
Some experts say the link is plausible.
BBC 19th June 2003
Comment: William Walsh, senior scientist at the Pfeiffer Treatment Centre, Illinois, believes the cause of autism may be a genetic error of metal metabolism. He discovered a few years ago that 499 of 504 autistic children had this error. This causes irregular levels of minerals in the blood and brain with accumulation of toxic metals, particularly excessive copper. This looks like it could be a very productive area of research.
Aluminium in drinking water tied to Alzheimer's
New research indicates the Alzheimer’s disease is more common in the regions of northwest Italy where levels of aluminium in drinking water are highest.
And when the investigators studied the effects of one form of the metal on two types of human cells in the lab, they found it hastened cell death.
“We were absolutely surprised by these results,” said study author Dr. Paolo Prolo, a researcher at the University of California at Los Angeles. “I did not expect any effect from aluminium.”
Monomeric (single molecule) aluminium is the type most easily absorbed by human cells. The type of aluminium used in pots and pans consists of multiple molecules and does not appear to affect human cells, according to Prolo. “There is almost no evidence that the cookware is dangerous,” he said.
Reuters Health 14th April, 2003
Comment: Minerals come in different forms and both types of aluminium are found in drinking water. It’s now clear the monomeric type needs to be studied to see what damage it can do outside the test tube and inside us. The controversy over aluminium has gone on for too long. We need some answers.
Very low lead levels delay puberty in girls, decrease IQ
Children exposed to lead may suffer toxic effects even at levels once thought too low to cause harm. Even low blood levels of lead are associated with lower IQ scores in young children and delayed onset of puberty in girls.
Children are especially susceptible to the toxic effects of lead, experiencing neurological problems, including learning disabilities and a drop in IQ if lead levels climb above 10 micrograms per deciliter (mcg/dL) of blood.
However, differences were seen in menstrual development between girls with blood lead levels of 1 mcg/dL compared to those with lead concentrations of 3 mcg/dL.
And in young children the average blood lead level in the study group of 5-year-olds was 7.4 mcg/dL and their average IQ was 90 (the national average is 100). Overall, children with the highest blood levels of lead had the lowest IQs.The New England Journal of Medicine 2003;348: 1517 and 1526 and 1527-1536
Comment: This is very bad news. There is much less lead in the environment than there used to be thanks to lead-free petrol but emissions still come from industrial processes. If you live in a pre 1940’s house you may have lead pipes. Old paint may have lead in it, and some exposure may come from the water supply. Lead is less able to be absorbed in a diet rich in calcium (yogurt and cheese), pectin (apples, oranges, bananas, carrots), vitamin C (fruits and vegetables), and zinc (lean meat and wheat bran).
Lead lowers male fertility
In a study of 140 couples who were trying to conceive through in vitro fertilization (IVF), the more lead a man had in his semen, the lower the odds were that his partner would conceive. Lead may be “a significant cause of human male infertility,” said the study's lead author, Dr. Susan Benoff,
The men in the study had normal levels of lead in the blood, but their semen contained elevated levels of the metal. If an infertile man does turn out to have too much lead in his semen, it may be possible to lower lead by taking zinc supplements, Benoff said. She and her colleagues found that “lead seems to be competing with zinc” in semen. As lead levels rose, zinc levels dropped.
Human Reproduction 2003;18:374-383
Comment: Lead may have been removed from petrol but there are still many other sources in the environment. These include lead pipes, paints, ceramic glazes, pewter and some types of metal utensils. Unfortunately, environmental toxins are often stored in the testes. Pollution may therefore account for increasing male infertility.
Lead Leads To Crime
Researchers based at the University of Pittsburgh checked the concentration of lead in the leg bones of 194 youth offenders using a scanning technique called x-ray fluorescence spectroscopy. This is a good indicator of the level of exposure over a long period. The results were compared against similarly aged youths from high schools in Pittsburgh. The readings from the convicted youths showed 11 parts per million, compared to 1½ parts per million in the non-offending teenagers.
Dr Herbert Needleman, who led the study, said: “This study provides further evidence that delinquent behaviour can be caused, in part, by childhood exposure to lead.”
However, it is still unclear whether the lead build-up was the cause of the problem - or simply another result of the same poor social conditions, which made offending more likely.
BBC News Online
Comment: The difference in the readings is staggering. Nearly an 8 fold difference. There is a great reluctance to accept cause and effect. This is understandable. It implies people are not responsible for their actions. This would never do.
The only way to be sure results are valid is if the 2 groups being compared are from the same background; lived in the same estates; went to the same schools. Only then will we know we’re comparing like with like. This will probably never be done because the results might not please politicians.
Chinese Tea ‘May Cure Jaundice’
Scientists have found that Yin Zhi Huang (YZH) can stop the build-up of a type of bile that causes jaundice. This is common in newborn babies. If untreated it can lead to serious complications such as brain damage.
The tea enables the liver to clear bilirubin - a waste product that is created from the break down of haemoglobin, a substance in red blood cells that carries oxygen around the body. Bilirubin is normally cleared by the liver. However, disease or other problems can stop this from happening.
A build-up of bilirubin causes the yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes associated with jaundice. Premature babies are often unable to clear bilirubin because their livers are too small. They are treated by exposing their skin to light, a process called phototherapy.
Some experts said the study indicated that Western medicine may have a lot to learn from Chinese medicine, which dates back thousands of years.
"This is a wonderful example of knowledge gained by applying the Western scientific method to an Eastern herbal remedy,"
BBC News 3rd January, 2004
Comment: Herbs became remedies through a process of trial and error or watching what animals did when they got sick. Ancient people didn’t concern themselves with why it worked so long as it did. I’m not sure what’s so unscientific about that. The reality is we don’t understand how most drugs work.
This was an animal study. Babies aren't given herbal tea. It's hoped the 'active' ingredient in the tea will be isolated and turned into a drug.
Green Tea Fights HIV?
Laboratory tests found Epigallocatechin Gallate (EGCG), the most abundant catechin found in green tea, stopped HIV from binding to CD4 molecules and human T cells. These are vital parts of the body's immune system. Usually HIV is able to sneak inside these cells and wipe them out.
Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology 11th November, 2003
Comment: Research published over the last 12 months demonstrates that green tea can prime the immune system, lower cardiovascular disease risk, inhibit the development of cancer and improve bone mineral density.
If you are not already drinking a cup or two of this beverage, I suggest you give it a try.
Please note however that EGCG is not found in sufficient amounts in green tea to protect against HIV.
Drinking Tea May Lower Cholesterol
U.S. Department of Agriculture scientists said consumers who drank black tea for 3 weeks experienced a decrease of between 7 and 11% in their low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, or so-called bad cholesterol.
Exactly what caused the LDL cholesterol level to drop in those who consumed tea was unknown.
There was no effect on the level of high-density lipoprotein, or the good type of cholesterol.
"This may indicate that drinking tea could have a beneficial effect if consumed regularly as part of a mixed diet for most people," said Joseph Judd, a chemist with the USDA, who led the study.
Judd and his colleagues placed 15 participants on a 6 week, double-blind study. About half received 5 cups of black tea per day for 3 weeks while the others were given coloured water that tasted like tea. The two groups then switched what they were given to drink after 3 weeks.
LDL levels dropped by an average of 7.5% during the 3 weeks when the individuals consumed tea rather than the placebo blend, the researchers said. Journal of Nutrition October, 2003
Comment: This was a good study. It ruled out the affect of caffeine, and their diets were controlled to rule out an effect from the diet. However I am a bit sceptical. Can you really fool people into believing coloured water is tea? I don't believe it. If the researchers examine the participants homes very closely I think they’ll find the cholesterol levels of rubber and spider plants have also fallen for the last 3 weeks.
Green Tea Fights Cancer
Scientists already know green tea contains antioxidants which may have a protective effect against cancer. But now they have discovered that chemicals in the tea also shut down a key molecule known as the aryl hydrocarbon (AH) receptor, which can play a significant role in the development of cancer.
Researchers found green tea contained 2 chemicals that inhibit AH activity.
Both chemicals are similar to compounds called flavonoids, which are found in broccoli, cabbage, grapes and red wine, and which are also known to help prevent cancer.
bbc news 5th august, 2003
Comment: Although there’s no certainty green tea has this effect inside the body, and there may be significant differences between different types of green tea, I think there’s enough evidence to say it has protective effects. I started drinking it earlier this year and see no reason not to continue. I suggest you give it a try.
Herbal tea harms teeth
Researchers have found herbal teas erode tooth enamel. Some are even more harmful than orange juice, which is very acidic and is known to harm teeth. The findings published in the Journal of Dentistry should act as a warning to people who regard herbal teas as a healthy alternative to other drinks.
Acidity levels varied widely between teas. Some had low pH levels which means they were acidic and could damage teeth. Others had high pH levels suggesting they were alkaline and did not affect teeth. Some were up to three times more damaging than orange juice.
A spokesman for Twinings: “We believe that consumers should not be concerned, as when consumed normally, any acid remaining on the teeth will be neutralised by the saliva in the mouth.”
BBC 5th May, 2003
Comment: “...when consumed normally”. What an interesting phrase. Those of you who drink tea whilst standing on your head clearly have something to worry about. This is not new research. The problem teas are the fruit teas which are also sources of fructose (sugar). There’s no problem with green, ginseng, camomile, and peppermint teas for instance. No need to avoid fruit teas altogether, but it’s best not to drink them exclusively.
Tea helps fight off infections
Tea contains particular chemicals called alkylamine antigens which are also present in some bacteria, tumour cells, parasites and fungi. Because these are present in tea, the body is exposed to them so it can build up a defence against them if it comes up against them as part of a disease.
US researchers looked at the effect of the antigens on gamma-delta T cells in the immune system, which act as a first line of defence against infection. The cells were exposed to the chemical, then exposed to bacteria to simulate an infection.
Those cells which had been “primed” fought back against the bacteria, by multiplying up to 10 times and secreting disease-fighting chemicals. Cells which had not previously exposed to an alkylamine antigen showed no significant response to the simulated infection.
The researchers then looked to see if the results were replicated in tea drinkers and compared them to coffee drinkers. Coffee doesn’t contain the chemical.
After two weeks, gamma-delta T cells from tea drinkers were better able to produce disease-fighting chemicals, but coffee drinkers were not.
The researchers say this suggests that drinking tea can promote a strong immune response, in addition to other known health benefits.
BBC News 21st April, 2003
Comment: Those of you in despair after the last article can enjoy a nice cup of black or green tea instead, knowing your immune system is being “primed”. If you’re not convinced, you are in good company. William Cobbett in 1822 wrote that tea is “a destroyer of health, an enfeebler of the frame, an engenderer of effeminacy and laziness, a debaucher of youth, and a maker of misery for old age.”
Drinking Tea Lowers Risk Of Heart Disease
3,430 men and women aged 30-70 in tea-loving Saudi Arabia were enrolled in a study to find out whether drinking black tea can lower the risk of heart disease. Results showed those who drank more than 6 cups per day had greater than 50% lower risk of coronary heart disease compared to tea abstainers.
Antioxidants called flavonoids, found in tea, are thought to be potent weapons in the fight against heart disease. They may lower blood pressure, reduce stroke risk, lower clotting risks and “hardening of the arteries,” and reduce levels of LDL or “bad” cholesterol
Preventive Medicine: 2002;36:64-70
Health Benefits of Chamomile Tea
For centuries, people who've felt sick or stressed have tried drinking chamomile tea as a medicinal cure-all. Now, researchers in England have found new evidence that the popular herbal tea may actually help relieve a wide range of health ailments, including colds and menstrual cramps.
The herbal plant used in this study was German chamomile (Matricaria recutita), also known as manzanilla, whose flowers and leaves are brewed as a fragrant, flavorful tea. The study involved fourteen volunteers (seven women and seven men) who each drank five cups of the herbal tea daily for two consecutive weeks. Daily urine samples were taken and tested throughout the study, both before and after drinking chamomile tea.
The researchers found that drinking the tea was associated with a significant increase in urinary levels of hippurate, a breakdown product of certain plant-based compounds known as phenolics, some of which have been associated with increased antibacterial activity. This could help explain why the tea appears to boost the immune system and fight infections associated with colds, according to the researchers.
Drinking the tea also was associated with an increase in urinary levels of glycine, an amino acid that has been shown to relieve muscle spasms. This may explain why the tea appears to be helpful in relieving menstrual cramps in women, probably by relaxing the uterus, say the researchers. Glycine also is known to act as a nerve relaxant, which may also explain why the tea seems to act as a mild sedative, the scientists note. Glycine supplements are sold in stores for that purpose, they add.
medicalnewstoday 5th january, 2005
Herbal Drug Treats Malaria
After years of hesitation, world health agencies are racing to acquire 100 million doses of a Chinese herbal drug that has proved strikingly effective against malaria.
The drug, artemisinin, is a compound based on qinghaosu, or sweet wormwood. First isolated in 1965, it cut the death rate by 97% in a malaria epidemic in Vietnam in the early 1990's.
It has no significant side effects, quickly reduces fevers and rapidly lowers blood-parasite levels, which can keep small outbreaks in mosquito-infested areas from becoming epidemics.
Despite more than a century of eradication efforts, the disease is endemic from the Mekong Delta in Vietnam to the Amazon Basin in Brazil, and is particularly severe across central Africa. It kills over a million people a year.
More evidence had emerged that the drug was safe and that older drugs were not working. Resistance to older drugs had climbed to 31% in some areas in 2003 from 6% in 2000.
Though it grows wild even in the United States, wormwood is cultivated only in China, Vietnam and pilot projects in Tanzania and India. It is planted in December and needs eight months to mature.
New York Times, May 10th, 2004
Comment: The supply of artemisinin is only around a third of what is needed. As a plant material, artemisinin cannot be patented, nor can the simple extraction process. No company has registered artemisinin in the United States because the cost of regulation would be greater than its potential sales revenue. In short, there’s no money in it. Let’s hope millions of people don’t continue to die for this reason.
Mistletoe and Green Tomato Effective Against Hepatitis C
Dr. Harald Matthes and colleagues assessed the outcomes of 79 hepatitis C patients who were treated with a herbal mixture. The patients had either failed to respond to interferon therapy or had a specific reason why they couldn't receive such therapy.
After receiving the mixture for 2 years, 44% of patients had a complete treatment response, 28% had a partial response, and 28% had no response. About 60% of patients had reactions at the injection site, but otherwise adverse events were mild and uncommon.
The researchers estimate that the cost to treat each patient who achieves a complete and sustained response is $5,600 with the herbal extracts, compared with $28,000 for interferon therapy.
Dr Matthes explained that the mistletoe extract activates certain immune cells that trigger an attack on the hepatitis C virus. Moreover, green tomato extract helps the liver clear infected cells, and another ingredient (hepatodoron: wild strawberry leaves and grape leaves) helps the liver to regenerate, he added.
Matthes noted that mistletoe is used in the treatment of about 60% of cancer patients in Germany, so its safety profile is well established.
Reuters 19th May, 2004
Comment: This is the third study to show benefits of mistletoe. In the others 2 out of 5 patients showed 6-20 fold decreases in viral load and normalisation of liver inflammation. The treatment was well tolerated; no serious side effects were observed. The quality of life improved on average. In the other study of 25 patients, the authors stated that the "frequency and intensity of clinical signs and symptoms in our patients decreased significantly".
Ginger Eases Morning Sickness
Smith and colleagues enrolled almost 300 women who were less than 16 weeks pregnant and suffered from nausea or vomiting. Vitamin B6 has been shown to improve nausea and vomiting in some pregnant women, so the researchers compared the effects of ginger with the vitamin.
The participants were randomly assigned to take a capsule containing 350-milligram (mg) of ginger or one containing 25 mg of vitamin B6 three times a day for three weeks.
Ginger was equally effective as vitamin B6 at relieving nausea, vomiting and dry retching, Smith and her colleagues reported. Symptoms of morning sickness improved in a little more than half of the women in each group.
Neither ginger nor vitamin B6 caused any major side effects. However, women who took ginger were much more likely to experience belching after taking the capsules.
There have been some concerns that taking ginger during pregnancy may be harmful to babies, but there were no differences between the ginger and vitamin B6 groups in birth defects or pregnancy complications. But because of the small size of the study, Smith and her colleagues conclude that there is "insufficient data" on the safety of ginger during the first trimester.
"Firm evidence on the safety of ginger in pregnancy is essential and further systematic research on the risks and benefits of ginger during pregnancy would be of great clinical relevance," the authors conclude.
Obstetrics and Gynecology, April 2004
Comment: Ginger is well known for its ability to help prevent travel or motion sickness. It looks like it may have a role to play in preventing morning sickness. It’s a pity they didn’t include a third group that took both ginger and vitamin B6 and a fourth group taking a placebo. No doubt future studies will involve a greater number of participants and be double blind.
Herbal Soup Effective Against SARS
Doctors believe Chinese herbal soup may be as effective in treating Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome as western anti-viral medicines.
Patients on mainland China were served with "qing fei jiy du tang" - soup for clearing the lungs - and showed better recovery rates than people in Hong Kong.
The SARS mortality rate in mainland China was 7%, that’s 10% less than in Hong Kong where patients were treated with the drugs ribavirin and interferon.
University of Hong Kong microbiologist Yuen Kwok-yung said the soup contained baicalin which is active against the SARS virus.
He said the soup might offer a cheap alternative treatment in places where western drugs could not be afforded.
A total of 1 755 people were infected with SARS in Hong Kong between March and June, 299 of whom died.
Hong Kong used aggressive drug treatments to try to cure patients, including steroids, and some experts believe the medicines used may have pushed up the mortality rate.
IOL 16th November, 2003
Comment: If the soup is safe and the death rate 10% lower, why should it only be used where drugs can’t be afforded?
This reminds me of the 19th century cholera outbreak in London. The death rate of those attending the London Homoeopathic hospital was 16%. Those attending hospitals where blood letting, purgatives and leeches were so popular had a mortality rate of 60%.
Yet the Parliamentary Report on the epidemic left out the homoeopathic results because they believed it would have sanctioned an unscientific practice.
Nothing much changes does it?
Dietary Ginger May Work Against Cancer Growth
The substance that gives ginger its flavour appears to inhibit the growth of human colorectal cancer cells. Working with mice that lack an immune system, research associate professor Ann Bode and her colleagues found slower rates of cancer growth in mice given thrice-weekly feedings of [6]-gingerol--the main active component of ginger.
"Plants of the ginger family have been credited with therapeutic and preventive powers and have been reported to have anti-cancer activity," said Bode. "The substance called [6]-gingerol is the main active compound in ginger root and the one that gives ginger its distinctive flavor."
Science Daily 29/10/03
Comment: Recently a study found ginger to be as effective as an anti-inflammatory drug for treating arthritis. Definitely one to keep in the kitchen cabinet.
Turmeric Cures Psoriasis
"I've suffered with psoriasis on nearly half of my body for 25 years. I've seen many physicians and tried every medication and ultraviolet treatment."
"I bought some turmeric and sprinkled a rounded teaspoonful on my cereal."
"I continued the regimen daily, and the results are unbelievable! After 10 days, the awful itching and bleeding had ceased. Now, five months later, I have no psoriasis."
Response: We can't explain why this herbal medicine helped your psoriasis. Curcumin, the active ingredient, has anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Researchers are studying this compound in conditions as diverse as Alzheimer's disease, arthritis and certain cancers.
newsday.com 9th September, 2003
Comment: This is what’s known as an anecdote and universally ignored by scientists. That’s a real pity. If we accepted these kinds of experiences as real, our understanding of many health conditions might be far more advanced than they are. If I had psoriasis and tried almost everything without success, I would also be willing to put up with horrible tasting cereal for 10 days to test it out. To me that’s sensible. To the scientist, I’m a gullible fool. What do you think?
Scientists Turn to Sage to Combat Alzheimer’s
Checking the writings of herbalists working 4 centuries ago, scientists found a marked improvement in the memory capabilities of people taking sage oil extract.
The finding was consistent with a discovery that sage protects a key chemical destroyed in Alzheimer's.
“This proves how valuable the work by old herbalists is, and they shouldn't just be ignored because they were writing centuries ago," said the lead researcher.
Reuters 29th August, 2003
Comment: In Autumn 2000 a study was published which suggested rubbing sage into the scalp can improve memory and protect against dementia. A human trial will test this by rubbing it into the skin of elderly volunteers.
Herbal Extract Reduces Migraines
Richard Lipton, a neurologist at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in Bronx, New York, and his associates compared the efficacy of two different doses of butterbur extract to that of a placebo in about 230 migraine patients. They had experienced two to six attacks per month for the 3 months prior to the study.
The number of attacks per month was reduced by 45% in the group that took 75 milligrams of butterbur twice daily, compared with a reduction of 28% in the placebo group during the 16-week trial.
A group that took 50 milligrams of butterbur twice daily experienced a 32% decrease, not significantly different from placebo.
"The size of the treatment effect is quite comparable to what is seen with prescription drugs," such as beta-blockers and antidepressants, Lipton said.
"Many of those people don't like the idea of taking a prescription medication every day, and for them, (butterbur) is an excellent alternative that now has a firm base of scientific support,"
Neurology, December 28, 2004
How effective are herbal supplements in reducing illnesses in children?
Gail Mahady, Ph.D. and colleagues from Karl-Franzens-Universitaet Graz and the University of Illinois reviewed studies published 1960-2003 that tested the effectiveness of common herbal supplements.
Andrographis paniculata is an important therapeutic plant in Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine for the common cold, flu, and other respiratory infections. One study evaluated children who were given A. paniculata supplements for three months. Although no evidence of the supplement’s effect was observed in the first two months, a 70% reduction in the number of colds was seen in the third month. Studies of A. paniculata have shown that it may also reduce the risk of upper respiratory infections.
Evening primrose oil is derived from the seeds of the American wildflower and is commonly used for skin disorders, premenstrual syndrome, and arthritis because of its high concentration of essential fatty acids. Results of studies have suggested that evening primrose oil supplements may significantly improve the severity of dermatitis in children. Evening primrose oil supplements may also be associated with an improvement in performing certain tasks by children who are hyperactive.
Ivy leaf is the dried leaf of Hedera helix L., which is native to Europe and Asia. Studies have suggested that ivy leaf may improve airway resistance in children with asthma. Cough tablets with dried ivy leaf may be effective in decreasing the symptoms of chronic bronchitis in children. One-third of the children receiving ivy leaf reported freedom from bronchitis symptoms.
Valerian is the most widely recognized herbal sedative and has been used for children with hyperactivity and sleep disorders. One study assessed valerian’s effect on boys with developmental deficiencies and hyperactivity problems. After the children were given nightly doses for 2 weeks, they experienced an increase in total sleep time and sleep quality.
The Journal of Pediatrics, March, 2005
Herbal Remedy 'better than drugs at treating depression'
A specially prepared extract of St John's wort is at least as effective in treating depression as the powerful antidepressant drug Seroxat and has fewer side-effects, a study has indicated.
St John's wort has long been known as an effective herbal treatment for mild depression but the latest study is the first to suggest that it may have equal effectiveness with one of the biggest-selling pharmaceutical treatments for moderate to severe depression.
Researchers who asked 301 people with depression to take part in the trial found that half of those given St John's wort for six weeks reported an improvement in their symptoms, compared with only one third given Seroxat.
Neither group knew which drug they were taking, but those given Seroxat also reported more side-effects.
Researchers from Germany say: "Our results support the use of [St John's wort extract] as an alternative to standard antidepressants in moderate to severe depression, especially as it is well tolerated."
In Germany, where St John's wort is a prescription drug, it outsells Prozac by four to one.
netdoctor.co.uk 11th February, 2005
Curry ingredient fights skin cancer
Tests in laboratory dishes show that curcumin, found in the spice turmeric, made melanoma skin cancer cells more likely to self-destruct in a process known as apoptosis. Curcumin also helped stop the spread of breast cancer cells to the lungs of mice. The curcumin suppressed two proteins that tumour cells use to keep themselves immortal.
"Based on our studies, we conclude the curcumin is a potent suppressor of cell viability and inducer of apoptosis in melanoma cell lines."
The lead researcher said people who eat plenty of turmeric have lower rates of some cancers, although the spice itself has not been shown to reduce cancer risk in people.
Reuters 12th July, 2005
Herbal supplement improves memory in patients at risk of Alzheimer’s
A new study shows that a supplement known as GETO, which contains ginseng, epimedium herb, thinleaf milkwort root and two other herbs, could reduce the damage to memory caused by dementia.
75 patients with mild cognitive impairment, aged at least 65 years old, were given six capsules three times a day for three months.
The daily treatments were made up of either four GETO capsules with two placebos, four placebos with two capsules of the drug piracetam - thought to improve cognitive function but not yet clinically proven - or only placebo pills.
All patients completed memory and learning tests at the start and end of the study, and one year after treatment was stopped.
The patients who took the GETO capsules had increased cognitive function after three months and although it showed a slight decrease a year later, this was still significantly higher than those patients who took placebo tablets.
The herbal also boosted verbal learning and recognizing abilities, as well as five-item memory measures, at the one-year follow-up, with significant improvement over those who took piracetam and placebo.
Nutraingredients.com 22nd June, 2005
Which herbs and dietary supplements can help children with nausea, constipation and similar gastrointestinal problems?
Kathi J. Kemper, M.D., M.P.H., a pediatrics professor at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center, and the author of "The Holistic Pediatrician," has written the cover article for Contemporary Pediatrics magazine on which herbs and dietary supplements can help children with nausea, constipation and similar gastrointestinal (GI) problems.
"What we did was look at the original research, the studies, what people were out there doing, and came up with a guide for pediatricians," Kemper said. "Historically, 50 years ago, people used home remedies. Then they began relying on prescriptions, and now there is a swing back toward using more natural health products."
The article in the current issue cites chamomile as one of the most widely used and safest herbs for children with abdominal discomfort. It can be given in small amounts to treat colic in infants and can be combined with peppermint, star anise or fennel for stomach aches, gas, indigestion and bloating for school-age children, according to the article.
Ginger has been well documented as a remedy for nausea and dyspepsia. Probiotics, such as yogurt, have been used to prevent antibiotic-associated diarrhea, newborn colic, ulcerative colitis, and a variety of forms of diarrhea. On the other hand, the article says that star anise should be avoided for colicky infants.
The article recommends further study of herbal products for children and greater communication between patients, parents and pediatricians on these topics.
News medical net 30th August, 2005
It works for me: Chinese herbal medicine
Cecilia Conrad gave up all hopes of a cure for her chronic urinary infections until she discovered a Chinese remedy.
I was prescribed antibiotics and the infection vanished, only to bounce back with renewed vigour a few months later. Since then — I am now 32 — I have had probably 22 courses of penicillin and ten days off work because of cystitis.
I have tried other supposed remedies: cold baths infused with bergamot or tea-tree oil; flushing the infection out with water; drinking sodium bicarbonate or powdered tree bark dissolved in water; sugar-free cranberry juice; hot water infused with parsley; or the grey-green liquid that’s left in the pan after you’ve boiled asparagus.
At the beginning of last year, after three successive infections in six weeks, a urologist to whom I’d paid £200 told me to drink cranberry juice. He then suggested having a biopsy because maybe my bladder was the wrong shape.
The precious organ was rescued from that ordeal by Stefan Chmelik, a practitioner of Chinese medicine. He had helped a friend of mine who was suffering from irritable bowel syndrome. She said that in the world of complementary medicine he was known as a fixer of “internal problems”. He had treated the pop singer Björk, she said, and was setting up an integrated healthcare service in Harley Street. Everything about him convinced me that he was a charlatan.
But on the phone things began to look up. He was confident of helping my problem and appeared to be more knowledgeable about the precise nature of the symptoms than my urologist. He explained that cystitis, when viewed from a holistic perspective, was not always due to inflammation.
In Chinese medicine specifically, there are several types of cystitis, including those brought about by some sort of deficiency or excess. The majority of patients in whom cystitis is diagnosed do not have acute symptoms. More often than not, as in my case, there is a chronic pattern of needing to pee frequently, some discomfort, cloudy urine, a weak back and often a negative urine test.
I eventually went to see Chmelik and he told me, after examining my tongue, reading my GP’s notes and feeling my pulse, that he intended to put things right in three stages: clearing the infection; repairing the bladder; and treating the underlying cause. The first stage involved acupuncture; food supplements, including fish oil, evening primrose oil (as he believed I was deficient in essential fatty acids) and vitamin-B complex; and a bottle of horrible brown herbal gunk that I had to sip every morning for three months, whose ingredients included dandelion, celery seeds and the Chinese dried root angelica known for its anti-bacterial properties; and an intestinal permeability test.
Chmelik said the acupuncture, apart from helping to ease the pain and aiding relaxation, can have an anti-inflammatory effect. The intestinal permeability test was a simple urine test to establish how well the wall of the small intestine was working. He said that numerous courses of antibiotics can cause small holes in the gut wall — known as leaky gut syndrome — which can cause toxins to enter the bloodstream, creating an over-sensitive immune system.
From the description I had given of my symptoms, he had identified a yeast infection, so I had to cut out sugar and yeast from my diet.
Some people like the intimacy that holistic doctors establish with their clients. I found it slightly awkward. Why did this stranger have to know how much I slept, or whether or not I was prone to mood swings? A few weeks later, during the second stage of treatment, I had become less shy.
The lab results of the intestinal permeability test showed that the wall of my small intestine was damaged. Chmelik gave me more acupuncture, more herbal medicine, a probiotic to build up the “good” bacteria in my system, and oregano oil (he said it has a strong anti-fungal effect), along with a special food and enzyme-based formula called permavit to repair the mucosal lining of the gut. He also told me to sleep more.
I first saw Chmelik last July; initially weekly for the first month, and then once a month for three months. I have had only one attack of cystitis since, and have spent about £300 — a lot. As a firm believer in conventional medicine I am amazed that the potions prescribed by him worked. Before I met him I had feared that there wasn’t a solution. Now, that anxiety has gone.
Timesonline may 21st, 2005
Herbal extract in the treatment of prostate cancer
An olive-oil based herbal extract preparation called Zyflamend suppresses the growth of prostate cancer cells and induces prostate cancer cells to self-destruct, according to a new study.
Zyflamend has the ability, in culture at least, to reduce prostate cancer cell growth by as much as 78% and induce cancer cell death or "apoptosis," scientists report.
"Together, these results suggest that Zyflamend might have some chemopreventive utility against prostate cancer in men," lead investigator Dr. Debra L. Bemis of Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York told.
Zyflamend has both COX-1 and COX-2 anti-inflammatory effects, although its anti-cancer effects against prostate cancer are independent of COX-2 inhibition. COX inhibitors have shown value for prostate cancer patients, but data from recent trials of selective COX-2 inhibitors suggest that use of these drugs might have adverse effects on the heart.
Aspirin, a non-selective COX inhibitor, is not associated with these side effects and, instead, has well established benefits in people with heart disease. Zyflamend has a biochemical action profile similar to aspirin.
In the laboratory, Bemis and colleagues observed that treatment of prostate cancer cells with Zyflamend dramatically decreased COX-1 and COX-2 enzyme activity and attenuated cancer cell growth.
Bemis said "we are currently conducting a Phase I clinical trial for men with a pre-cancerous lesion of the prostate -- prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia -- to gain some information as to Zyflamend's potential to prevent or slow... progression to prostate cancer."
Daily Star 4th December, 2005
If you have a health problem, live in London and would like to visit a herbalist please go to London Herbalist
Electro-Acupuncture & Hydrotherapy Combined With Patient Education Improves Symptoms of Hip Osteoarthritis
15 patients with osteoarthritis of the hip were randomised to EA with patient education, 15 to hydrotherapy with patient education, and 15 to patient education alone. All patients were treated twice a week for 5 weeks, with each treatment lasting 30 minutes. Efficacy was evaluated using the disability rating index (DRI) to assess functional ability, the global self-rating index (GSI) to assess quality-of-life, and the visual analogue scale (VAS) to assess pain (ie, pain related to motion and pain on load, as well as ache during the day and night).
As shown by VAS scores, patients treated with combination EA and patient education had a significant improvement in pain up to 6 months after treatment, a reduction in ache during the day up to 3 months after treatment, and a reduction in ache during the night up to 6 months after treatment.
Patients treated with combination hydrotherapy and patient education had significant improvement in pain up to 3 months after treatment, a reduction in ache during the day up to 3 months after treatment, and a reduction of ache during the night up to 1 month after treatment but no significant reduction after 6 months. No significant changes in pain or ache occurred in the patient education alone group.
As shown by DRI, functional activities significantly improved in patients treated with combination EA and patient education 6 months after last treatment. In the hydrotherapy and patient education group, DRI was significantly reduced compared to baseline measures after up to 3 months of treatment, but was not significantly reduced after 6 months. In the patient education only group, the DRI significantly increased after 6 months.
Quality of life was significantly improved in both the EA and hydrotherapy combination groups, with a significant reduction in GSI up to 3 months after treatment for both groups. No significant reduction was seen in the patient education alone group.
The authors conclude that "EA and hydrotherapy, both in combination with patient education, induce long-lasting effects, demonstrated by reduced pain and ache and by increased functional activity and quality of life," and that the "pain relief was more long lasting, up to 6 months, in the EA group."
Clin J Pain 2004 May;20:3:179-185
Comment: There are many methods of applying hydrotherapy, including baths, saunas, douches, wraps, and packs. Water therapy has been around for centuries and can be very effective. Electoacupuncture is a modern method of applying acupuncture. It uses the same points but the needles are attached to a device that generates continuous electric pulses. It is especially useful in chronic pain conditions but has quite a wide application.
Clues Found To How Acupuncture Works
Acupuncture on pain-relief points cuts blood flow to key areas of the brain within seconds, providing the clearest explanation to date for how the ancient technique might relieve pain and treat addictions.
Although researchers still don't fully understand how acupuncture works, “our findings may connect the dots, showing how a common pathway in the brain could make acupuncture helpful for a variety of conditions,” says radiologist Bruce Rosen of Harvard Medical School.
Rosen's team used functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging, or MRIs, on about 20 healthy volunteers before, during and after acupuncture. This type of brain scan shows changes in blood flow and the amount of oxygen in blood.
Researchers applied acupuncture needles to points on the hand linked to pain relief in traditional Chinese medicine. Blood flow decreased in certain areas of the brain within seconds of volunteers reporting a heaviness in their hands, a sign the acupuncture is working correctly, Rosen says.
The needle technique is not supposed to hurt if done correctly. When a few subjects reported pain, their scans showed an increase of blood to the same brain areas.
“When there's less blood, the brain isn't working as hard,” Rosen says. “In effect, acupuncture is quieting down key regions of the brain.”
The specific brain areas affected are involved in mood, pain and cravings, Rosen says. This could help explain why some studies have found acupuncture helpful in treating depression, eating problems, addictions and pain.
The brain regions involved also are loaded with dopamine, a “reward” chemical that surges in reaction to everything from cocaine to food, beautiful faces and money. The reduced blood flow could lead to dopamine changes that trigger a “cascade” effect, releasing endorphins, the brain's natural pain-relieving and comforting chemicals, Rosen says.
USA Today 3rd March, 2004
Comment: This is a fascinating study but another study should be performed where patients are divided into 2 groups. One groups gets acupuncture and another group gets sham acupuncture. Or one group gets acupuncture at real acupuncture points while the other group gets it at bogus acupuncture points. Patients should be unaware which group they are in. This type of blind study is much more convincing.
Fact is that the placebo effect is so powerful it could affect blood flow. There's even some evidence that placebos can increase brain chemicals, such as endorphins.
Acupuncture Helps Headache Sufferers
Acupuncture is a useful, cost-effective treatment for patients who suffer from chronic headaches or migraine.
In one of the largest randomised studies to assess the effectiveness of the ancient Chinese treatment, scientists found it worked better than just conventional treatments alone.
“People using acupuncture had fewer headaches, less severe headaches and they used less health resources over the course of the following year,” Dr Andrew Vickers, of Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Centre in New York, said in an interview.
The scientists compared acupuncture plus standard treatment to normal therapy alone in 401 patients in England and Wales who suffered from headaches several days each week.
Patients who had been assigned acupuncture plus standard treatment received up to 12 treatments over three months.
Initially there was not much difference between the two groups but at the end of the year-long trial the scientist noticed a big change.
Patients receiving acupuncture had 22 fewer days of headaches per year, used 15% less medication, made 25% fewer visits to their family doctors and took fewer days off sick than the other group.
There were not many side effects and Vickers and his colleagues also found that the treatment was cost effective.
“For severely affected patients, acupuncture reduced the severity and the frequency of their headaches to make a real difference in their lives,” Vickers said.
BMJ Online 15th March, 2004
Comment: Same as above. Sceptics will say the extra attention the acupuncture group got was the reason for the good result and had nothing to do with the therapy itself.
Acupuncture Really Works
German scientists have awarded a clean bill of health to acupuncture, saying the traditional Chinese painkilling method works because it reduces the electrical impulses in the body that transmit pain.
Western doctors have often been sceptical about acupuncture, contending it only limits pain because patients are expecting that to happen. So Jena University anaesthesiologists knocked patients out cold with a general anaesthetic before using the acupuncture needles.
The study, released by the university in eastern Germany on Tuesday, used electrodes on the brain to measure pain signals.
All the 16 patients were subjected to mild pain, with half receiving acupuncture needles in the areas of the skin prescribed under traditional Chinese medicine.
"Acupuncture was able to muffle the pain stimuli, but not block them out altogether," said Winfried Meissner, the principal author of the study. "This indicates that acupuncture is a demonstrably effective, but nevertheless relatively weak method of anaesthesia."
The researchers plan to next study the use of acupuncture as a replacement for anaesthesia during surgery.
The Jena results largely match those of the world's biggest inquiry into acupuncture, commissioned recently by German health insurers. That study found patients with arthritis of the knee really had less pain.
Expatica.com 7th January, 2004
Comment: A team from the University of Southampton has already shown that acupuncture treatment can reduce chronic neck pain by 60%. Now they plan to recruit almost 300 patients suffering from hip or knee pain to see if it works for them too. They also plan to examine whether the relationship the practitioner strikes up with the patient plays any effect. Some patients will be given a sympathetic, caring consultation, others will be treated rather less empathetically. The researchers will also investigate whether simply administering needles is enough to trigger an improvement in patients who think they are undergoing acupuncture. We should learn a lot more about acupuncture after this study is completed.
Acupuncture on the NHS
The Gateway in Clapham, south London, is the only specialised Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) centre in the NHS, offering free body and ear acupuncture, dietary advice, tai chi and qi gong exercise and meditation classes and Chinese herbal medicine to about 400 patients a week.
More than 110 of the 180 GP surgeries in the three districts now refer patients to the Gateway for conditions such as back pain, migraine, irritable bowel syndrome, depression, PMS, asthma and chronic fatigue syndrome.
Prince of Wales presented the clinic with the 2003 Award for Good Practice in Integrated Healthcare, which is given for innovation in combining complementary and orthodox medicine.
Acupuncture is available in about 86 per cent of NHS pain clinics and through some GP practices after endorsement by the British Medical Association in 2000. But there is less enthusiasm for other forms of TCM, especially herbal medicine, under a cloud after reports of contamination with steroids and toxic herbs.
Local GP response in 2001 was so overwhelming that the waiting list was temporarily closed when it rose from 2 to 6 months. The 800 new patients a year now wait an average of 4 months for 10 free treatments, and there is a fast track for those in acute pain, for those with HIV or for pregnant women — acupuncture has been found to be effective in relieving morning sickness and turning breech presentations.
For others who can’t wait, a “drop-in” clinic provides instant ear acupuncture to help induce relaxation, ease sleep problems and overcome smoking and drug addiction, and “detox” herbal tea is on tap all day long.
Timesonline 12/12/03
Comment: It just shows what’s possible with a bit of enthusiasm and commitment. Assuming there’s a considerable saving on the drugs bill, there’s no reason why this set up shouldn’t be replicated elsewhere.
Acupuncture Lessens Paediatric Abdominal Pain
Approximately 25% of school-age children develop recurrent abdominal pain, and the problem is particularly prevalent among young girls.
The use of acupuncture was tested on 18 patients average age 13.7.
Results showed a downward trend in pain scores decreasing from a value of 7.1 at baseline, to 5.7 at 3 weeks, and 3.8 at 6 weeks. The reduction in weekly pain scores was highly significant throughout the trial and was not affected by age or gender.
Additional treatment benefits included fewer days missed from school and increased energy and activity levels.
There were no adverse side effects related to treatment.
Annual Meeting of the American Society of Anesthesiologists 14/10/03
Comment: Children with this problem are otherwise thriving and medically well. Pain may radiate to the back or chest and is often worse at night. Many also suffer with headache, nausea, and dizziness. An underlying cause is rarely diagnosed. Some studies have suggested that functional pain may be a precursor to irritable bowel syndrome in adults.
Acupuncture Calms Mother’s Pre-Surgery Jitters
A brief session of acupuncture can quell a mother's anxiety before her child has surgery, and it can calm the child as well.
Tiny acupuncture needles were inserted into 3 areas of the ears of 34 mothers about 30 minutes before the child received anaesthesia for surgery. Another 33 mothers received sham acupuncture, with the needles inserted into areas with no acupuncture effect.
Anxiety levels of the mothers and children were measured before the needles were placed, and then measured the children's anxiety during induction of anaesthesia and the mother's anxiety after the induction.
The children were aged 2 to 7 and none got pre-surgery sedatives. The mothers stayed with the children while the anaesthesia was begun.
The acupuncture groups fared better. The mothers' anxiety scores were six points lower in the acupuncture group, compared to the sham treatment group. And the children who got acupuncture scored 33 out of 100 on anxiety measures, compared to 47 out of 100 in the sham group, with the higher score indicating more anxiety.
HealthDayNews October 15th, 2003
Comment: Helping parents control their anxiety before their child has an operation is important because worried parents can unintentionally upset the child. The outer ear acts "like a switchboard to the brain," according to the Society of Auricular Acupuncturists. It's believed that an acupoint on the ear, when treated, triggers electrical impulses from the brain to the specific body part being treated.
Acupuncture Cures Sinusitis
The last time Lorraine remembers spraying herself with perfume, she was 15. Now, 30 years later, she can cope with being in the same room as someone wearing a strong scent, without it triggering an attack of sinusitis.
She tried many remedies and lived on a diet of painkillers and antibiotics. Her consultant advised nasal surgery to wash out the sinuses and widen the drainage holes.
“Immediately after the operation I felt dreadful but then I started to improve and for about 10 months I actually felt really well,” she says.
However, it wasn’t to last and Lorraine had another serious attack. A further operation revealed she had scar tissue over her sinuses. “I was so ill immediately after surgery,” she says, “I had to take three weeks off work and never properly recovered.
“The pain was so horrific I decided I had to find a cure myself and I started looking at alternative therapies. Acupuncture appealed because I knew it had helped a colleague give up smoking.”
After examination and questioning, her acupuncturist believed Lorraine was suffering from an accumulation of damp and phlegm.
“In Chinese medicine you look at how life energy or chi flows through the meridians or channels around the body,” she says. “Lorraine’s energy flow was disrupted. In acupuncture terms, she had a spleen chi deficiency and a liver chi stagnation, which had caused phlegm to settle in a vulnerable area of her body, in Lorraine’s case her facial channel. My job was to stimulate the flow of energy to correct the imbalances, which I can do by inserting needles in certain points.”
The next day Lorraine felt a benefit: the symptoms around her head had begun to lift and she could breathe through her nose.
Although 20 treatments on a weekly basis were anticipated, she only had 11 before she made a full recovery.
“After a couple of weeks of having acupuncture, colleagues began to comment on my appearance,” says Lorraine. “My face was no longer etched with pain and I began to look well. However, I could never contemplate wearing perfume — the thought of having an attack is just too frightening.”
The Times Online 27th September, 2003
Comment: It took her 30 years to find the answer to her problems. But you don't have to wait that long.
Acupuncture and Botox Bring Migraine Relief
Drs. Tamura and Chang, of the University of Santo Amaro and the University of Sao Paulo, treated 10 women who experienced long-lasting severe migraines with local injections of Botox in "predetermined and well-known Chinese acupuncture points."
By 14 days after treatment, 9 were pain-free and 1 reported minimal pain. "Botulinum toxin brings results for more than 3 to 6 months when used in the acupuncture points," they add.
Botox has already been shown to help prevent and treat migraines, but physicians usually inject it into various trigger points that can differ from patient to patient.
Acupuncture has been shown to achieve temporary relief of pain in acute migraine.
The combination of Botox and acupuncture seems to offer better results than either technique used separately, the authors suggest.
"From 2000 on, I have treated 73 patients with this technique," Dr Tamura said. "All of them improved, without exception."
Dermatologic Surgery, July 2003
Comment: 73 patients, 73 improved. That is remarkable. I would like to see a large scale study carried out. If these results are replicated it represents the best treatment for migraine I’ve ever come across.
Acupuncture Helps Kids Handle Pain
The boy was just 8, but he suffered from Crohn's disease, a painful intestinal inflammation. He was on medication, but struggled with frequent headaches, one of the potential side effects of the treatments.
So Dr. Lixing Lao, a licensed acupuncturist and director of the traditional Chinese medicine research program at the University of Maryland's Center for Integrative Medicine, suggested acupuncture to the boy and his parents.
They agreed to try it and after a series of weekly treatments, the child noted a dramatic drop in pain. "In the beginning, it was done once a week for several months," Lao remembers. "When the condition was controlled, it was less frequent." Eventually, the boy didn't need acupuncture to control the pain.
Lao is one of a growing number of acupuncturists and other health-care providers who offer the ancient Chinese therapy to children. Increasingly, paediatricians are embracing the idea — acupuncture is now an option at about one third of the 43 paediatric pain clinics nationwide, according to the American Academy of Paediatrics.
"It's becoming more accepted in the U.S.," says Lao, who learned the therapy as part of his medical training in China.
The American Academy of Paediatrics thus far has no official policy on acupuncture use on children.
But in 1997, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) issued a general consensus statement that acupuncture can help relieve certain conditions, such as nausea and vomiting that accompany chemotherapy and post-operative dental pain. The NIH statement also said acupuncture may be effective as an adjunct therapy or alternative therapy for other conditions, such as asthma, headache, low back pain, menstrual cramps and other problems.
Lao says acupuncture shows promise for a number of childhood health problems, including asthma, diarrhoea, loss of appetite, eating disorders — even attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder.
Dr. Lonnie Zeltzer, director of the paediatric pain program at the David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles, says she has used acupuncture on infants.
Combining acupuncture with other complementary medicine techniques works well, too, Zeltzer says. In a recent study, she and her colleagues evaluated the use of acupuncture and hypnosis together to treat chronic pain.
They evaluated 31 children, aged 6 to 18, who had a variety of health problems, such as gastric pain so severe they were doubled over, or migraine headaches that a paediatric neurologist could not treat successfully.
After the needles were in place, a psychology intern performed hypnosis during the 20-minute acupuncture sessions. Then another researcher helped the child imagine a "favourite place," Zeltzer says.
"The overall improvement was pretty impressive," Zeltzer says. Both parents and the children reported significant improvements in pain after the sessions.
"I actually think any pain condition is amenable to acupuncture," Zeltzer says, "especially those that aren't easily fixed [by other treatments]."
The experts' advice to parents: "If their children have a common disorder and they are concerned about side effects of medication, they should consider acupuncture," Lao says. "They can also combine acupuncture with conventional medicine."
USA Today 16th June, 2003
Comment: There hasn’t been much research on acupuncture for children. Some of this is now taking place and it looks promising. If you are interested in this therapy, do look at the Acupuncturists page.
American Acupuncture?
In the USA, more and more practitioners are now developing knowledge and new skills in acupuncture. Many are incorporating all the modalities from the various countries, using hand, ear, Chinese, Japanese and scalp acupuncture along with Russian reflexology, and adapting these techniques to the modern times with use of modern technology to produce what is now called American Acupuncture.
The medical school of the University of California in Los Angeles has been teaching acupuncture to physicians under the leadership of Dr. Joseph Helms. In 18 states, only doctors can perform acupuncture. Border states like Florida, California, and New York allow non-physicians to perform acupuncture. All require licensing.
Health experts say that treatment with acupuncture can produce rapid results but more often it requires a number of treatments over a period of time. Usually treatments are once or twice a week, but they can be less frequent. Sometimes the effect is quite dramatic and the patient will only need one or two treatments. Sometimes the effect is subtle and may require treatment for several months. There is, however, usually some change after about five treatments.
The Geneva-based World Health Organization (WHO) has listed 36 diseases as among those which acupuncture is capable of healing. These include severe migraine, frozen shoulder, lumbago or lower back pain, the common cold, influenza, Bell’s palsy, slipped disc, intractable pain or pains which persist even after Computerized Tomography (CT) scan and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) yield negative results, stroke, as well as cancer pains.
“When it comes to strokes, acupuncture can help the person return to functional state, although it cannot really restore a person completely back to normal,”
The Manila Times April 5th
Comment: The article wasn’t very clear. Exactly what is the modern technology that is used with acupuncture? I can’t imagine. American Acupuncture. Now I’ve heard it all!
Acupuncture in the Emergency Room
“Acupuncture is a very feasible treatment to use in the emergency department,” says Dr Martha Grout, a Phoenix doctor and acupuncturist. “It's a wonderful treatment to use in addition to standard Western medicine.”
In 1997, Grout began treating ER patients at Phoenix Memorial Hospital with a combination of Western medicine and acupuncture for conditions that ranged from headache and backache pain to anxiety, depression and stress-related illnesses such as irritable bowel syndrome.
In a six-month study of acupuncture treatments used on more than 100 people who came to the hospital's ER in 1999 and 2000, Grout says she found the treatments not only helped eased pain and anxiety, but also sometimes eliminated the need for medication. When that happens, she adds, “You can send the patients home clearheaded.”
Her study is believed to be one of the first of its kind. Among her findings:
Of 16 patients who sought treatment for severe headache pain, 62% said they were either pain-free or had 80% pain relief after acupuncture.
Of the 77 patients who had fractures, sprains or strains, 30% reported being pain-free or almost so after acupuncture. The treatment was typically given after X-rays, but before applying casts, she says, when the pain was still severe.
5 of 12 patients who had pain from such conditions as toothaches, carpal tunnel syndrome or tennis elbow said the acupuncture took away the pain completely when pain medication hadn't worked.
“The relief is more than you could explain by placebo effect,” Grout says.
Health 24 12/3/03
Comment: This could only happen where doctor and acupuncturist are the same person.
It’s difficult enough getting complementary medicine accepted in hospitals where doctor and therapist never set eyes on each other, let alone being in the same room at the same time.
7 years of acupuncture reviewed
A review of the last 7 years of acupuncture research published by The Pulse of Oriental Medicine includes the diseases acupuncture has effectively treated in research, acupuncture safety statistics, and a summary of how acupuncture works from a biomedical perspective.
12 disease-related studies from 1998 to 2003 demonstrated that acupuncture is effective for acute stroke, acute spinal cord injury, alcoholism and cocaine dependence (in combination with other treatments), breech birth, labour pain, migraine without aura, nausea and vomiting after hysterectomy or after surgically in children, primary dysmenorrhoea, and smoking-cessation.
Acupuncture did not have significant effects on alcoholism or cocaine dependence when used alone, low back pain, or rheumatoid arthritis.
Acupuncture was found to be safe 99.84% of the time.
Acupuncture not only produces the familiar endorphins of the “runner's high,” but also enkephalins (which relieve pain for up to 3 days). Acupuncture stimulates various areas of the brain, releases natural antibiotics, increases immune system activity throughout the body, reduces the need for pharmaceutical pain-relievers, and regulates the brainwaves in Parkinson's Disease.
The Pulse of Oriental Medicine
Can’t Conceive? Try Acupuncture
Acupuncture can help reduce stress, increase blood flow to the reproductive organs and help normalize ovulation.
One report found women who incorporate acupuncture into their in-vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment are more likely to become pregnant than those who use IVF alone.
Another study found women who used acupuncture without any other fertility treatments were just as likely to conceive in the same period of time as women who took a fertility drug. This finding indicates that acupuncture “can be done as a stand-alone treatment,” according to study author Raymond Chang.
Researchers have also discovered acupuncture can boost blood flow to women's reproductive organs, providing them with better nourishment. In addition, acupuncture appears to improve the lining of the uterus, the place where the embryo becomes embedded after conception.
Fertility and Sterility 2002;78:1149-1153
10 Weeks Pregnant Thanks to Acupuncture
Doctors gave 40 year old Justine less than a 5% chance of conceiving naturally, so she tried acupuncture. Now she's 10 weeks pregnant with her first child.
“She's thrilled and doing very well, and all signs indicate the start of a very healthy pregnancy,” said her acupuncturist.
More and more infertile women are turning to the 4,000-year-old Chinese therapy for help.
“The records are showing more and more success with this kind of contribution either as an addendum to their treatment that they're already seeking, or even by itself.”
And the scientific world is taking note. A recent study shows that acupuncture can stimulate blood flow to the uterus, normalise ovulation and reduce the stress hormones that cause infertility.
news24houston.com 25th August, 2003
Comment: The study referred to was reported in my 6th of July newsletter. I also reported a successful outcome thanks to reflexology on the 25th of March and Feng Shui on the 9th of January. Complementary approaches are certainly worth considering.
Acupuncture 'Works for Arthritis'
A major study of the effect of acupuncture on osteoarthritis of the knee has found it can both relieve pain and improve movement.
The US National Institutes of Health study concludes acupuncture is an effective complement to standard care.
Acupuncture patients showed a 40% decrease in pain, and a nearly 40% improvement in knee function.
The patients who took part in the study received either acupuncture, sham acupuncture or guidance on self-help, alongside standard drug treatment.
Researcher Dr Stephen Strauss, director of the US National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, said: "These results indicate that acupuncture can serve as an effective addition to a standard regimen of care and improve quality of life for knee osteoarthritis sufferers."
By eight weeks into the study, the acupuncture patients were showing a significant improvement in knee function, and by 14 weeks their pain levels had dropped sharply compared with the sham acupuncture and self-help groups.
BBC NEWS 21st December, 2004
Anti-Smoking Acupuncture
Koreans are turning to acupuncture to help them kick the habit.
Prof. Choi Do-young of the Anti-Smoking Clinic at Kyung Hee University Medical Center's Oriental Medical Hospital suggested that where nicotine patches, gum and New Year's resolutions fail, poking tiny needles into smoker's ears may well succeed - at least partially.
He said that of 105 male and 30 female smokers who recently visited his clinic to receive anti-smoking acupuncture from 4-6 times a week, 90% cut back their smoking.
Of these success stories, 42 people, or 33%, quit smoking completely.
14 people cut back 75%, 36 people cut back between 50 and 74%, 26 people cut back between 25 and 49%, and 3 people cut back less than 25%. Only 14 people showed no change in their smoking habits at all.
Han Sang-gyun of the acupuncture department at Kwang Dong Oriental Hospital said that of about 300 smokers who received similar treatment, 77% of men and 70% of women reduced their levels of smoking. The treatment was most ineffective in young people, who feel comparatively less need to quit, he said.
The medical procedure involves using needles to stimulate a sensitive area of the ear that is connected to the lungs and throat. In doing so, this stimulates the cerebral cortex that controls feelings such as excitement and constraint, and reduces the craving to smoke.
The acupuncture also revives the functions of the lungs and other organs that have been damaged by smoking. Generally, it induces patients to quit by killing of the taste of tobacco and replacing it with a less attractive taste like paper or grass, while creating a mild sense of nausea. Possible side effects include lethargy, restlessness, headaches and indigestion.
Prof. Choi said the treatment is most effective if patients eat light and bland food as much as possible and drink a lot of cold water.
english.chosun.com
Acupuncture May Help Control Pain During Childbirth
Researchers from the Universities of Exeter and Plymouth, UK conducted a computerised literature search. They identified three trials that fitted their quality standards.
In the first trial, 106 women who received acupuncture along with conventional medication were compared with 92 women who were given only conventional care. It was found that the acupuncture group was less likely to request pain medications than those who did not receive acupuncture.
The second trial involved 90 women who were randomly assigned to a group that received acupuncture or a group that received conventional care. Women in the acupuncture group requested less of one pain medication, but similar levels of other pain medications than those in the comparison group. The acupuncture group also reported a higher level of relaxation than their peers and was less likely to request non-pharmacologic pain treatment.
In the third trial, 106 women received acupuncture and 102 women received placebo acupuncture. None of the women knew whether they received acupuncture or the sham treatment. The acupuncture group reported less pain up to two hours after acupuncture and two hours after giving birth than those who received the sham treatment. The women who received acupuncture requested less pain medication than their counterparts.
Overall, the data suggest that acupuncture can be another option for pregnant women for labour pain management if future trials support acupuncture's effect.
American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, December 2004
Acupuncture Shown to Relieve Pelvic Pregnancy Pain
Acupuncture and exercise can help relieve pelvic pain during pregnancy, Swedish researchers said on Friday.
About 30 percent of pregnant women suffer pelvic pain, usually in the back. Although doctors are not sure what causes it, they suspect a surge in hormones during pregnancy affects muscles and ligaments.
Women can wear a pelvic belt to relieve the pain and do exercises at home. Stabilizing exercises to improve mobility and strength is another therapy.
But researchers at the Institute for the Health of Women and Children, in Gothenburg, Sweden found acupuncture also helps.
"Acupuncture decreases the pain," Helen Elden, a midwife at the institute, told Reuters.
Elden and her colleagues compared standard treatment, stabilizing exercises and acupuncture on 386 pregnant women. Those who received acupuncture and did the exercises for six weeks reported less pain than the others.
The pain scale was also assessed by an independent examiner.
The researchers said acupuncture and stabilizing exercises are effective complements to standard treatment for pelvic pain during pregnancy.
"The findings are of particular importance because no previous study has shown such marked treatment effects among pregnant women with well defined pelvic girdle pain," the researchers said in a report published online by the British Medical Journal.
Reuters 17th March, 2005
Acupuncture: As Good as Drugs for Treating Pain
A new study using brain-mapping shows acupuncture has a similar effect to standard Western medicines for treating disabling conditions such as arthritis.
A team of scientists from two British universities made the findings after they carried out brain scans on patients while they underwent the 2,500-year-old treatment. The scans showed differences in the brain's response to acupuncture needles when compared with tests using "dummy needles" that did not puncture the skin.
Doctors found that the part of the brain that manages pain and the nervous system responded to acupuncture needles and improved pain relief by as much as 15%.
Dr George Lewith, from the University of Southampton's Complementary Medicine Research Unit, said the improvement might seem modest, "but it's exactly the same size of effect you would get from real Prozac versus a placebo or real painkillers for chronic pain". "The evidence we now have is that acupuncture works very well on pain," he said.
The 14 patients who participated in the study were put through three tests in random order, while "brain maps" were created using sophisticated positron emission tomography, or PET, scans at University College London. In one test, researchers used blunt needles that pricked the skin, but which the brain registered as the sensation of touch. Dummy needles, where the tip was pushed back once it touched the skin, were then used, and in the third test the patients underwent acupuncture treatment with real needles.
The acupuncture needles had two measurable effects on the patients' brains: as with the dummy needles, the brain released natural opiates in response to the expected effect of the needles. But the scans showed that the real needles had an extra effect and stimulated another part of the brain called the ipsilateral insular. This improved pain relief by 10-15 per cent - similar to the effect of taking conventional analgesic drugs.
NeuroImage 1st May, 2005
Fake acupuncture 'aids migraines'
Fake acupuncture works just as well as the real thing in relieving migraines, scientists have found.
In a study of more than 300 patients, both genuine and sham acupuncture reduced the intensity of headache compared with no treatment at all.
But real acupuncture was no better than needles placed at non-acupuncture points on the body. It goes against recent research showing acupuncture works in its own right.
It has long been debated whether acupuncture works in a unique way or whether any benefits gained are merely down to a person's expectation that the treatment will work.
To investigate this, Dr Klaus Linde and colleagues randomly assigned 302 people with migraines to one of three groups. One group received 12 sessions of genuine acupuncture over eight weeks. Another group received 12 similar sessions of acupuncture, except the needles administered were not placed in parts of the body thought to relieve migraine pain, hence any benefit would likely be placebo rather than real, according to the researchers. The third group received no treatment but were placed on a waiting list to see a migraine doctor.
While the patients on the waiting list continued to have headaches just as often, the ones who received acupuncture - sham or real - had fewer headaches. The average number of days blighted by a headache went down from about five to two.
This may be due to "non-specific physiological effects of needling, to a powerful placebo effect or a combination of both", said the researchers.
But Dr George Lewith, who recently published work suggesting acupuncture has an effect above and beyond placebo, said although the present study was well conducted, it did not truly test the placebo effect.
"We do not know whether this sham acupuncture is active or not. To test for placebo effect you have to use an intervention that only raises a patient's expectations.
"The authors note themselves that something else could have been going on as well."
The British Acupuncture Council said that using pre-prescribed acupuncture points for all patients might have skewed the results.
"Acupuncture treatment is different for each person. The formulaic treatment part of the study would be inappropriate for some patients. This would reduce the apparent effectiveness in the acupuncture group."
Journal of the American Medical Association 3rd May, 2005
Stroke victims benefit from acupuncture
Stroke patients at a local hospital have been benefiting from the use of acupuncture in its wards.
Previously, at Ang Mo Kio Hospital, a patient could only receive acupuncture treatment two to three weeks after his stroke, after his condition stabilises.
But now, a patient can receive acupuncture treatment in the wards within the same week — and that, doctors say, will improve his chances of recovery.
When Mr Poon Hin Wah, 71, first came to the hospital last month, a stroke had left him unable to move his right limbs and his speech was slurred.
Dr Siew Yong Peng, one of the few Singaporean doctors trained in both Western and traditional Chinese medicine, prescribed acupuncture in addition to Mr Poon's physiotherapy treatment.
Now, after six sessions of acupuncture, Mr Poon can swing his arms. The acupuncture has also eased his pain.
Said Dr Siew: "I don't believe that acupuncture alone was responsible for his recovery. It also has to do with controlling his blood pressure, lipids and cholesterol, and, of course, good physiotherapy."
At most other public hospitals, patients can only have acupuncture away from the wards. But some may soon follow in the footsteps of Ang Mo Kio Hospital, as such treatment becomes more widely acceptable.
Tan Tock Seng Hospital says the number of stroke patients who have gone for acupuncture at its rehabilitation centre almost tripled last year, from 64 in 2003 to 181 last year.
Todayonline 9th May, 2005
Fringe science no more
Judy Baggett-Stone believed she had a high tolerance for pain from years of pushing her body while playing competitive volleyball and other sports. But several years ago, the pain in her shoulders had her on her knees, crying at times.
"It was excruciating," she says, and over-the-counter and prescription drugs couldn't control it. Baggett-Stone kept calling her doctor, but the shoulder pain kept getting worse. She decided to try acupuncture.
Baggett-Stone, 40, a physical education teacher at Damascus (Md.) High School, received acupuncture once a week for eight weeks and gets booster treatments every month or so.
"I am pain-free now," she says.
For years, words like yin and yang relegated acupuncture to the fringe of medical science in the USA. The technique gained credibility during the 1980s and '90s as scientific studies began to suggest that acupuncture could trigger the release of natural painkillers.
Several large studies reported in the past year and a half could push the technique into the mainstream.
"Skeptics used to say, 'Oh no, it's just Chinese mysticism,' " says researcher Andrew Vickers of the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York. "Now the evidence that acupuncture is effective is very strong and growing."
•An analysis of 22 studies showed that acupuncture relieved lower back pain when compared with no treatment or with "fake" acupuncture in which needles were inserted in the wrong places.
Many people in these studies still need painkillers, but acupuncture often provides them with an extra measure of comfort, according to the analysis published in the April 19 Annals of Internal Medicine.
"This is a big change for people. They're able to work or play with their children," says researcher Brian Berman at the University of Maryland School of Medicine in Baltimore.
•A study of 570 people with osteoarthritis of the knee found that those who received acupuncture had a significant decrease in pain compared with those who received fake acupuncture or standard care. That study was published in the Dec. 21 Annals of Internal Medicine.
That finding, from the best and largest study of its kind, suggests that acupuncture does provide more than a placebo effect, says Ted Kaptchuk, an expert on Chinese medicine at the Harvard Medical School. But such evidence still stops short of providing scientists with proof that acupuncture is effective, he cautions.
•The technique might not work as well for certain types of painful conditions. A report May 4 in The Journal of the American Medical Association suggests that acupuncture works no better than placebo for the treatment of migraine headaches. But other studies indicate that acupuncture does offer relief for migraines.
The evidence is enough for many patients, especially people such as Baggett-Stone. Acupuncture not only helped ease the discomfort in her shoulder, but it also vanquished disabling pain in her left hand, she says.
Now Baggett-Stone can play with her children, go on a 5-mile run or even lift weights.
"I'm not shut down with bouts of pain anymore," she says. "I try to take advantage of that."
USA Today 9th May, 2005
Acupuncture has won medical acceptance
A growing body of evidence -- brain scans, ultrasound and other techniques -- now shows that acupuncture triggers direct, measurable effects on the body, including perhaps activation of precisely the regions of the brain that would be predicted by ancient Chinese theory.
Researchers have shown that when a needle is placed in a point on the side of the foot that Chinese theorists associate with vision, sure enough, the visual cortex in the brain ''lights up" on functional magnetic resonance imaging scans, though the cause and effect are not totally clear.
Neuroscientist Seung-Schik Yoo of Brigham and Women's Hospital has shown that when a needle is placed in a point called pericardium 6 on the wrist, known in Chinese medicine as a sensitive point for nausea, the part of the brain that controls the vestibular system (which affects balance and nausea) lights up on scans.
While much about acupuncture remains mysterious, at least to Westerners, a great deal is becoming clearer, thanks to an explosion of studies using Western scientific techniques.
''The quality and amount of research being conducted now on acupuncture is improving greatly," said Peter Wayne, director of research at the New England School of Acupuncture, which has received $3.2 million in federal grants to study acupuncture.
More than 40 clinical trials have shown that acupuncture reduces nausea following chemotherapy or surgery, said Ted Kaptchuk, an assistant professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School who is also a doctor of Chinese medicine.
Acupuncture clearly helps with dental pain, Kaptchuk said. A recent, randomized, controlled study of 570 people with osteoarthritis of the knee showed that real acupuncture, as opposed to a fake form used as a control, reduced pain and increased function by about 30%.
''This is roughly the same effect size" as with ibuprofen-type drugs, said Dr. Brian Berman, the study leader and director of the Center for Integrative Medicine at the University of Maryland School of Medicine.
But perhaps the most intriguing scientific question is not whether acupuncture works but how.
In acupuncture theory, there are 360 major points in the skin that lie along the 12 major channels, or meridians, in the body, through which the Qi energy flows. In Western terms, the acupuncture points correspond to areas of decreased electrical resistance on the skin.
Since the 1970s, Western researchers have known that one of the ways acupuncture works is by releasing endorphins, the body's natural painkillers.
Acupuncture seems to calm precisely the part of the brain that controls the emotional response to pain, said Dr. Kathleen K. S. Hui, a neuroscientist at the Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging at Massachusetts General Hospital, which has a $5 million federal grant to study acupuncture's effects on the brain. Her brain-scan studies show decreased activation in deeper brain structures in the limbic system, which governs emotions and other physiological functions.
Researchers also have shown that acupuncture boosts levels of serotonin, which is often deficient in depression, and lowers levels of norepinephrine and dopamine, which are often elevated in stress and pain.
Precisely how signals travel from acupuncture points to the brain is still a matter of some debate. Most researchers, Hui among them, believe that electrical signals travel along nerve tracts that branch off from the brain stem to the limbic system.
Others, like Dr. Helene Langevin, a neurologist at the University of Vermont College of Medicine, believe signals may pass also along the 12 major acupuncture ''meridians" that run through the body.
For years, Western scientists doubted the existence of these meridians. But, in a series of studies using ultrasound, Langevin has found evidence that the meridians lie along the sheets of connective tissue that surround organs. By analyzing meridians in the arm of a cadaver, Langevin said she discovered ''that 80 percent of the acupuncture points coincided to where the major connective tissue plane was. We also did a statistical analysis -- this was not due to chance."
The bottom line? At long last, Western scientists are beginning to show, by their standards, just what Chinese acupuncturists have been saying for millennia: That the effects of acupuncture are real. And that, at least for certain problems and to some degree, acupuncture can help relieve pain and suffering.
Boston Globe March 22nd, 2005
Acupuncture may ease effects of cancer treatments
A Detroit team is studying acupuncture as a treatment for hot flashes caused by breast cancer treatments. It's a therapy that holds hope for other cancer-related problems.
Chemotherapy medicines and the drug tamoxifen, taken by thousands of women to prevent a recurrence of breast cancer, cause hot flashes, often debilitating ones, in nearly two-thirds of patients, says Dr. Eleanor Walker, a radiation oncologist at Detroit's Henry Ford Health System and principal investigator of the study.
A two-year study, started in October, hopes to build on a growing body of research that may help make acupuncture an option for treating other cancer-related problems.
"The evidence is fairly strong for a number of indications, especially pain," caused by cancer, "but we need more randomized trials," says Barrie Cassileth, chief of the Integrative Medicine Service at Memorial Sloan-Kettering in New York.
Sloan-Kettering also is studying the use of acupuncture to relieve hot flashes in breast cancer patients and contrasting that approach with a fake type of acupuncture being used in a comparison group.
"It seems to be pretty effective," Cassileth says. “Over the last few years, the center has found acupuncture useful for cancer-related problems such as chronic fatigue and postsurgical pain.”
Acupuncture also could help men who develop hot flashes as a result of prostate cancer drugs, a class of medicines known as androgen antagonists.
Chicago Tribune March 23rd, 2005
Chinese acupuncture can lower elevations in blood pressure
In this study, the Longhurst team at the Susan Samueli Center for integrative Medicine at University of California, Irvine applied acupuncture to specific points on the forelimb of test rats with artificially elevated blood pressure rates. The researchers found that acupuncture alone had no effect on blood pressure.
Next, they added electrical stimulation to the acupuncture treatment by running an electrical current through the needles. High frequencies of stimulation also had no effect, but low frequencies lowered increased blood pressure by as much as 40 to 50%. Overall, the researchers found that a 30-minute treatment reduced blood pressure rates in these test rats by 25 mmHg with the effect lasting almost two hours.
In previous studies, Longhurst's team had identified at the cellular and molecular level how acupuncture excites brain cells to release neurotransmitters that either inhibit or heighten cardiovascular activity.
They had found that when an acupuncture needle is inserted at specific sites on the wrist, inside of the forearm or leg, it triggers the release of opioid chemicals in the brain that reduce excitatory responses in the cardiovascular system.
This decreases the heart's activity and its need for oxygen, which in turn can lower blood pressure, and promotes healing for a number of cardiac ailments, such as myocardial ischemia (insufficient blood flow to the heart) and hypertension.
China Economic Net April 15th, 2005
Acupuncture helped me have a daughter
Emma Wilson was so determined to get pregnant that it was no surprise when she decided to have yet another stab.
She had already endured one failed round of IVF treatment and two miscarriages in five years of trying.
Finally, in desperation, she turned to the ancient Chinese method of acupuncture.
Amazingly, the healing technique, which involved needles being applied to her elbows, knees and feet to increase fertility, paid off and Emma, 34, and husband Keith are now proud parents.
Doctors warned the couple, of Whitley Bay, Tyne and Wear, it was unlikely that Emma would ever conceive.
Daniel Maxwell, of the British Acupuncture Council, said: "Acupuncture works by stimulating ovaries and increases the quality of the eggs the woman is producing."
Daily Mail 13th May, 2005
Acupuncture helps addicts overcome withdrawal: study
Acupuncture can be a useful tool in reducing intravenous drug use.
Addicts said the acupuncture approach helped them to deal with painful withdrawal symptoms. Many also preferred it to usual treatments like methadone, said Dr. Patricia Janssen, an epidemiologist at the University of British Columbia who led the study.
In Vancouver's Downtown Eastside, the prevalence rate for HIV is 30% and 90% for hepatitis C, making it a priority area for public-health programs aimed at reducing the use of injected drugs.
Janssen said addicts perceived acupuncture as a more natural treatment, and that it appealed to people from diverse cultures.
"Acupuncture is not alternative in many parts of the world. It's mainstream. So it's just a matter of having an imagination, and thinking about different possible approaches."
Janssen said she and her colleagues weren't prepared for how many drug users turned up for acupuncture during the voluntary program.
There were 2,755 treatments for a group of addicts who visited clinics every couple of weeks over a three-month period. A statistically significant number of them reduced their drug use after they were treated.
The results of the study have been published in the Journal of Urban Health.
The study's authors hope the findings will help to win over the medical establishment.
"It helped people reduce the side-effects of substance withdrawal, so it's one more tool that we have to help people withdraw from drugs."
Addicts reported less intense withdrawal symptoms including "shakes," stomach cramps, hallucinations, "muddle-headedness," insomnia, muscle aches, nausea, sweating, heart palpitations, and feeling suicidal.
Janssen is embarking on a new clinical trial that will treat pregnant drug-addicted women with acupuncture, instead of the usual methadone.
The treatment could lessen or eliminate the need to give the newborns morphine, to help them deal with the pain of addiction inherited from their mothers.
CBS News 6th July, 2005
Acupuncture for fertility: Doctors say, 'Why not?'
Jackie Apuzzo is 16 weeks pregnant — something she was beginning to think would never happen. Following nine years of unsuccessful efforts to have a baby, including failed in vitro fertilization, a miscarriage and a diagnosis of endometriosis, the 37-year-old social worker finally visited an acupuncturist on the advice of a friend. After two months of acupuncture treatments and a regimen of Chinese herbs, she became pregnant.
Demand for the traditional Chinese method is so great that an increasing number of fertility doctors now are collaborating with acupuncturists, with some physicians adding acupuncturists to their staff, according to doctors and experts in the field.
Although many acupuncturists and doctors of oriental medicine swear by the treatment — and have relied on it as an infertility remedy for years — the mainstream medical community remains divided on acupuncture's efficacy.
Most fertility specialists trace the current popularity of acupuncture treatment to a German study published in 2002 in the journal Fertility and Sterility. The study, led by Dr. Wolfgang Paulus at the University of Ulm, found that 42% of women receiving acupuncture just before and after an assisted-reproductive therapy, such as IVF, became pregnant; that compared with 26% of patients who got pregnant with assisted-reproductive treatments but who received no acupuncture therapy.
Later that year, Dr. Raymond Chang and colleagues at Cornell University's medical school in New York published a paper in the same journal, describing several ways acupuncture might actually improve a woman's chances of conceiving: relaxation, regulating reproductive hormones and improving the lining of the uterus, where the embryo needs to be implanted before it can develop.
Because of the reports, published in a prestigious journal, "some doctors started to say, let's try it out," said Dr. Paul C. Magarelli, a fertility specialist in Colorado Springs, Colo.
Studies led by Magarelli suggested acupuncture increased pregnancy rates in patients who doctors had determined had little hope of getting pregnant. He and colleague Diane Cridennda, a licensed Colorado Springs acupuncturist, also showed that women who received acupuncture had more "take-home babies." That is, they were less likely to lose pregnancies to miscarriage or embryos that failed to take hold in the uterus.
Many also say evidence that acupuncture relaxes patients is sufficient to recommend it, given the stress of dealing with infertility. In fact, women undergoing infertility treatments face stress levels on par with those of women coping with chronic illnesses such as heart disease and cancer, according to the American Society for Reproductive Medicine.
Now pregnant, Jackie Apuzzo is still undergoing acupuncture treatment, although her therapy has changed: no more herbs and fewer needles in different locations. Her baby is due in December.
Reflecting on the trials of the last several years, Apuzzo said the best thing about acupuncture was that it saved her from a second stressful IVF cycle, which she had planned for this month. "I'm glad we don't have to go through that again," Apuzzo said. "I just wish that I had considered the alternatives before jumping into the big guns."
latimes 4th july, 2005
Acupuncture may relieve frequent urination
Researchers conducting a study of 85 women with an overwhelming and frequent urge to urinate, found that a few sessions of acupuncture improved these symptoms for many.
Women who received treatment to acupuncture points thought to affect bladder control, including areas in the lower back and abdomen, reported fewer trips to the bathroom and less urgency to urinate, as compared to their peers who had acupuncture at other sites on the skin. Both groups reported improvement in urge incontinence, or urinary leakage.
The procedure may help overactive bladder symptoms by decreasing nerve stimulation to the bladder. To find out researchers recruited 85 women with symptoms of overactive bladder with urge incontinence; who made at least eight trips to the bathroom a day, often had an urgent need to urinate and regularly had problems with leaking.
The women were randomly assigned to receive either acupuncture to sites associated with bladder function on the inner leg, low back, lower abdomen and outer knee or placebo acupuncture to other sites on the body.
After four weekly sessions, women who received the bladder-targeting acupuncture had a drop-off in both frequency and urgency symptoms. There was no clear benefit in the other acupuncture group.
On the other hand, incontinence problems waned significantly in both groups. It's unclear how long the effects on bladder symptoms may last. More research is needed to see whether acupuncture could be more effective if combined with medication or other available treatments.
DoctorNDTV 18th July, 2005
Acupuncture helps victims of dry mouth
People who suffer from dry mouth, a chronic condition caused by malfunctioning salivary glands, get long-term relief from acupuncture, U.S. researchers say.
Improperly functioning salivary glands cause xerostomia, or dry mouth, which can lead to painful sores, tooth decay, difficulty eating and other problems.
University of Maryland researchers said acupuncture combined with head and neck radiation therapy helped seven patients achieve long-term relief from dry mouth symptoms.
Lead author Warren Morganstein of the university's Baltimore College of Dental Surgery said most treatments provide only short-term relief while acupuncture provided longer-term help.
After eight months, he said, the patients had increased saliva flow and greater ability to eat, speak and sleep
News.webindia123 June 17th, 2005
Acupuncture in patients with tension-type headache
To investigate the effectiveness of acupuncture compared with minimal acupuncture (superficial needling at non-acupuncture points) and with no acupuncture in patients with tension-type headache.
270 patients with episodic or chronic tension-type headache were administered acupuncture by specialised physicians and consisted of 12 sessions per patient over eight weeks.
Results: The number of days with headache decreased by 7.2 days in the acupuncture group compared with 6.6 days in the minimal acupuncture group and 1.5 days in the waiting list group. The proportion of responders (at least 50% reduction in days with headache) was 46% in the acupuncture group, 35% in the minimal acupuncture group, and 4% in the waiting list group.
Conclusion: The acupuncture intervention investigated in this trial was more effective than no treatment but not significantly more effective than minimal acupuncture for the treatment of tension-type headache.
British Medical Journal, 29th July 2005
Acupuncture may help some men overcome infertility
Acupuncture may improve the quality of sperm.
Researchers found five weeks of acupuncture treatment reduced the number of structural abnormalities in sperm and increased the overall number of normal sperm in a group of men with infertility problems.
They say the results suggest that acupuncture may complement traditional infertility treatments and help men reach their full reproductive potential.
Previous studies of acupuncture and male infertility have suggested that acupuncture can improve sperm production and motility (a measure of sperm movement).
28 infertile men received acupuncture treatments twice a week for five weeks, and 12 received no treatment and served as a comparison group.
Researchers analyzed sperm samples at the beginning and end of the study and found significant improvements in sperm quality in the acupuncture group compared with the other group.
Acupuncture treatment was associated with fewer structural defects in the sperm and an increase in the number of normal sperm in ejaculate.
But other sperm abnormalities, such as immature sperm or sperm death, were unaffected by acupuncture.
The researchers write that acupuncture treatment is a simple, noninvasive method that can improve sperm quality.
Fertility and Sterility, July, 2005
Acupuncture relieves symptoms of fibromyalgia
Fibromyalgia patients treated with six sessions of acupuncture experienced significant symptomatic improvement compared to a group given simulated acupuncture sessions according to a new Mayo Clinic study.
"This study shows there is something real about acupuncture and its effects on fibromyalgia," says David Martin, M.D., Ph.D., Mayo Clinic anesthesiologist and the study's lead investigator. "Our study was performed on patients with moderate to severe fibromyalgia. It's my speculation that if acupuncture works for these patients with recalcitrant fibromyalgia -- where previous treatments had not provided satisfactory relief -- it would likely work for many of the millions of fibromyalgia patients."
Acupuncture could fill a gap in available therapies for the disease as something additive to what medications already can provide, says Dr. Martin. "There's not a cure available, so patients are often left somewhat frustrated by continuing pain and fatigue," he says. "Acupuncture is one of the few things shown to be effective for these symptoms. It may be particularly attractive to patients who are unable to take medications because of intolerable side effects."
The study, conducted by Mayo Clinic physicians specializing in pain management, included 50 patients diagnosed with fibromyalgia for whom other symptom-relief treatments were ineffective. The patients were randomly assigned to receive acupuncture or simulated acupuncture and were not informed which treatment they received; these treatments were administered in six sessions over two to three weeks.
All patients were given questionnaires before treatment, immediately after treatment, and at one and seven months after treatment to determine the degree of symptoms they experienced and how the disease affected their daily lives.
Patients who received acupuncture experienced minimal side effects. Following treatments, symptoms of pain, fatigue and anxiety were most significantly improved in the patients given acupuncture. At seven months post-treatment, the patients' symptoms of pain, anxiety and fatigue had returned to baseline levels; the patients experienced the largest improvement at one month following treatment.
"We expected the acupuncture to improve the pain," says Dr. Martin. "We didn't really expect the largest benefit to be in fatigue or anxiety."
Dr. Martin hypothesizes that acupuncture affects symptoms such as anxiety and fatigue because it may target the root cause and not the daily symptoms of fibromyalgia. "In a Western view of medicine, we're modulating sensory input through acupuncture," he says. "Whenever there's an input to the nervous system, it responds and adapts to the input -- sometimes in ways that are beneficial to patients. This is not so different from the traditional Eastern explanation of acupuncture that describes needles as altering the flow of life energy, called Qi."
The Mayo Clinic researchers noted that although the patients saw improvement in symptoms which had reduced activity level, physical function did not increase even though the patients were less tired and felt less pain. "This doesn't surprise me, as we see this pattern in other chronic pain problems: you can relieve pain, but it's a lot harder to prompt activity changes," says Dr. Martin. "A chronically ill person needs more than symptom relief to resume a normal lifestyle. We're now beginning to work on that problem."
Dr. Martin indicates that he believes the study patients would have seen sustained improvement with ongoing acupuncture. "It's a reasonable expectation that if they received more acupuncture after two to three months, they would have maintained their improvement," he says. "Acupuncture usually works for about three months, and then patients need a less-intensive treatment session. These patients would need more acupuncture periodically for as long as they experience fibromyalgia symptoms."
The patients were unable to guess whether they had been given the real or the simulated acupuncture. "This was critical, because this had been a shortcoming of other previous studies with acupuncture -- the simulated acupuncture treatments were not believable to the patients," says Dr. Martin.
He explains that fibromyalgia patients have a nervous system disorder in which they have a "revved up pain threshold" which is exacerbated by stress and inadequate sleep. "You can take blood tests, X-rays, muscle tests, and you will find nothing abnormal," he says. "Many fibromyalgia patients suffer suspicion from their spouses and friends that their symptoms are 'all in their head' or that they lack sufficient will or fortitude to meet their obligations to work, family and friends. Usually it comes as a welcome diagnosis when these patients learn it's fibromyalgia. Then they can learn ways to cope with the disorder and gain strength from sharing with others who have the same problems."
Dr. Martin describes the patients in this study as moderately debilitated. "Many have given up work, a lot of recreational activities, and made adjustments in their lives," he says. "They have had a significant psychological burden as a result of the loss of these activities; it's become part of their identities."
Dr. Martin says he'd recommend acupuncture for patients who are receptive to the concept. The acupuncture used in this study is available in most communities. Dr. Martin says that to find a qualified acupuncturist, "Talk to your doctor. Many physicians are open to complementary medical techniques and can refer you to qualified practitioners in your area. There are also excellent resources on the Internet from the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (http://nccam.nih.gov)."
News-medical.net 25th August, 2005
Acupuncture could help heartburn
A no-needle version of acupuncture may one day offer a new way to battle chronic heartburn, preliminary research suggests.
A team led by Dr Richard Holloway of the University of Adelaide in Australia reports its findings in a recent issue of the American Journal of Physiology-Gastrointestinal and Liver Physiology.
The study, involving heartburn-free volunteers, found that electrical stimulation of an acupuncture point on the wrist reduced the number of "relaxations" in the band of muscle surrounding the passage from the oesophagus to the stomach.
The significance of this is that temporary relaxations in the band, called the lower oesophageal sphincter, can allow stomach acids to back up into the oesophagus.
These relaxations are, in fact, the "major mechanism" by which acid reflux and subsequent heartburn symptoms occur, says Holloway.
He and his colleagues found that among 14 healthy volunteers, acupoint stimulation reduced sphincter relaxations by 40%.
But it's too soon to recommend acupuncture for battling heartburn, says Holloway.
"There is no justification at this stage for heartburn sufferers to rush out and receive acupoint stimulation treatment," he says.
The findings, the researcher stressed, are "very preliminary" and showed only that sphincter relaxations declined during acupoint stimulation.
Whether the effect lasts beyond the procedure, and whether that would translate to fewer episodes of acid reflux, requires further study, says Holloway.
Acupuncture has been used for more than 2,000 years in Chinese medicine to treat a wide variety of ailments.
In recent years, medical studies have confirmed that the therapy may soothe chronic pain from conditions such as arthritis, as well as quell nausea and vomiting.
According to traditional medicine, acupuncture points on the skin are connected to internal pathways that conduct energy, and stimulating the points with a fine needle promotes the flow of this energy.
Modern research has suggested that acupuncture may work by altering signals among nerve cells or affecting the release of various chemicals of the central nervous system.
But no one knows for sure how acupuncture works, Holloway says, and though it has traditionally been used for stomach ailments, there had been no prior evidence that the technique affects the workings of the lower oesophageal sphincter.
The volunteers in his team's study underwent electro-acupoint stimulation, which uses electrodes instead of needles. The electrodes deliver a small electrical pulse to an acupuncture point, in this case the Neiguan acupoint on the wrist.
According to Chinese medicine, stimulation of this point aids gastrointestinal symptoms.
The researchers found that when the wrist point was stimulated, volunteers had 40% fewer sphincter relaxations than they did when a "sham" point on the hip was stimulated.
Volunteers had between three and four relaxations per hour, instead of six, when the wrist point was stimulated.
Holloway and team had speculated that the reason might lie in the body's release of endorphins or other pain-killing chemicals called enkephalins.
But in a second experiment, where volunteers received a medication that blocks these chemicals, acupoint stimulation still reduced sphincter relaxations.
"The reason why the acupoint that we chose affects [sphincter relaxations] is completely unclear," Holloway says.
Among the next research steps, he noted, is to show that acupoint stimulation can actually reduce acid reflux after a meal.
Abc.net 14th September, 2005
Americans Embrace Acupuncture's Healing Power
According to practitioners of traditional Chinese acupuncture, inserting a tiny needle into the little toe can help heal eye problems because the toe and eyes are connected via the same "meridian."
Not surprisingly, Western experts cast their own jaundiced eye upon such a claim -- until a recent high-tech imaging study supported the ancient theory.
"Those researchers found that on functional [real-time] MRI, activity in the visual cortex in the brain was actually stimulated by this acupuncture occurring in the toe," said Dr. Lixing Lao, a licensed acupuncturist who is also fully trained in Western medicine.
Lao, an associate professor at the Center for Integrative Medicine at the University of Maryland in Baltimore, said those findings are just one of many instances where modern science is proving the efficacy of a millennia-old technique.
And that information is giving American patients new confidence in trying out acupuncture for themselves, he said.
"Before, more patients were rather skeptical," Lao said. "Now, not only patients want to see me, but also doctors say, 'Hey, I want to make an appointment.' There's been a big change."
That change came in large part from a 1997 National Institutes of Health consensus statement based on an expert panel's comprehensive review of the literature. The panel concluded acupuncture to be an acceptable treatment for the relief of a wide variety of conditions, either when used in conjunction with regular medical treatment or as an acceptable alternative therapy.
The conditions listed by the NIH panel included asthma, carpal tunnel syndrome, fibromyalgia, headache, lower back pain, menstrual cramps, myofascial (muscle) pain, osteoarthritis, tennis elbow and even stroke rehabilitation.
Some of the studies -- including a recent report finding acupuncture effective against lower back pain -- came from Lao's center at the University of Maryland.
How does acupuncture work? "People are still trying to figure that out," Lao said, but there are a few key theories:
·Endorphin release. "Acupuncture may trigger the brain to release these chemicals," Lao said. "They're endogenous opiates -- similar to [pain-relieving] narcotics, but all natural."
·Better circulation. "People have talked about a 'peripheral' effect to acupuncture," Lao said, "stimulating the dilation of blood vessels in local areas. That would improve circulation and metabolism locally."
·Anti-inflammatory effects. According to Lao, pain often originates in inflamed tissues. Acupuncture appears to lower inflammation by reducing levels of a pro-inflammatory hormone, cortisol.
·Changes in heart rate. "Studies are showing that acupuncture changes areas of the brain linked to the heart, modifying heart rate through the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems," Lao said.
He stressed that acupuncture does not always bring about the same level of pain relief or symptom relief as modern pharmaceuticals. On the other hand, he said, "it has no side effects," meaning that it can be used safely over the long term.
According to Lao, the biggest difference between drugs and acupuncture lies in their underlying mechanism of action. "Acupuncture isn't just about symptom management -- it's also addressing fundamental problems, the underlying cause [of the problem]," he said. "It's more about stimulation, as opposed to the suppressive effects of drugs."
Of course, acupuncture involves needles -- a source of fear for many people. "Lots of people think 'Oh, it's like a hypodermic needle,'" Lao said. But he pointed out that the average acupuncture needle is much thinner, equivalent to the diameter of a human hair. "Lots of patients won't feel it at all, others may feel just a tiny sting," he said.
In the United States, all accredited acupuncturists now use one-time-only disposal needles, so needle safety is a non-issue.
But Lao said it's important to look for that accreditation when choosing a practitioner.
Proper regulation makes sense for a discipline that deserves to be taken as seriously as any other medical field, Lao said. He believes there's more and more evidence that "acupuncture helps the body respond to every system that's not working. So whatever you're looking at, you're going to see some change."
Healthdaynews 22nd December, 2005
Acupuncture Can Bring Arthritis Relief
A new study demonstrates that acupuncture can complement conventional therapies by easing pain and improving function in people with osteoarthritis of the knee.
"We have a result that suggests, in the largest, longest and most rigorously conducted study of acupuncture ever, that we have a new adjunctive therapy for individuals with degenerative arthritis," said Stephen E. Straus, MD, the director of the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, the agency that co-sponsored the study, at a press conference.
The 26-week study, published in December 21 in the Annals of Internal Medicine, looked at 570 patients. Researchers from the University of Maryland divided participants into three groups. One group received 23 sessions of acupuncture, an ancient Chinese therapy in which needles are placed in certain parts of the body; another group received sham acupuncture, in which not all of the needles pierced the skin; and the third group took part in an osteoarthritis education program.
All of the participants continued their existing treatment regimens, which included acetaminophen (Tylenol), non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen, a class of drugs called COX-2 inhibitors, and narcotic pain relievers. (Recently, the safety of COX-2 inhibitors, and an NSAID called naproxen, which is sold over-the-counter as Aleve, has been questioned because of potential links to heart problems.)
Eight weeks into the study, those in the acupuncture group had a greater improvement in function, such as walking and stair climbing, than the sham acupuncture group, though not in pain relief. After 26 weeks, the acupuncture group had greater improvements in both pain and function than the other groups. The researchers also noted that there were few side effects associated with acupuncture.
Acupuncture is thought to relieve arthritis pain by stimulating the nervous system.
Abc news 22nd December, 2005
Stressed pupils given acupuncture
Pupils at a school in Somerset are being offered acupuncture to help them deal with the stress of school life.
Stanchester Community School is using the ancient Chinese therapy to help calm unruly students in the classroom.
One of the teachers had spent time in China and suggested it. Seven children are receiving the treatment and there is now a waiting list.
Headmaster Glynn Ottery said: "We've had an enormously positive response from parents who are happy for their children to be involved in this."
One pupil felt it had had a good effect on her, saying: "I don't throw things much anymore but I used to."
BBC News 23rd February, 2006
Acupuncture: can it really help make you pregnant?
Sarah Brown, 42, The Chancellor’s wife, is reported to have undergone acupuncture sessions in an attempt to boost her fertility: this, along with new clinical evidence that it is an effective form of pain relief, has sparked positive discussion about its suitability for medical use. But can it really increase a woman's chances of conceiving?
"Fertility is certainly one of the issues at our forefront," says a spokesperson for the British Acupuncturist Council. "Acupuncture can work on a very superfluous level, simply tapping and releasing a person's energy, or it can work at a [deeper] level to support the system's functionality. It can increase the blood flow into the uterus to allow the lining to be thicker and lodge the egg. It can also work on a hormonal level, so that FSH and thyroxin are rebalanced. It all works through the same processes, the same points, the same needles."
There is increasing evidence that acupuncture may be helpful in matters of fertility and childbearing. A recent study found that the practice can reduce the more unpleasant side-effects of pregnancy, including pelvic girdle pain. And in 2002, a team of German researchers claimed that acupuncture can boost IVF success rates by almost 50%. They believe the therapy can affect the auto-nervous system, which is involved in the control of muscles and glands and impacts on the receptiveness of the uterus lining.
One person who is certain acupuncture can boost fertility is Barbara Jenkins. Having endured years of medical tests and unsuccessful efforts at conceiving, Jenkins, then 44, applied for an egg donation at Edinburgh's Royal Infirmary. But in addition to the conventional treatment, she also sought the help of an acupuncturist.
"I met my partner when I was 42, so we knew when we decided to have a baby things might be difficult," Jenkins says. "Unfortunately, because of my age, I had very few eggs and those I did have were not of the quality required for conception. We entered the egg-donation programme, but I wanted my body to be as healthy as possible, and my uterus in particular to be functioning properly, so the risk of rejection would be minimised.
In the week of the transfer I had water on my uterus, and so asked for an emergency acupuncture appointment. When the day came, the water had gone and the transfer was successful. Very few get it on the first try, and I'm certain the acupuncture helped to make my uterus ready. It was also enormously helpful to talk to the acupuncture practitioner about my body as a whole and the emotional perspective. There is a lot of pressure on you at times like that, and sometimes there isn't the opportunity for a holistic approach with the doctors. Now I'm expecting our baby in May. I certainly believe the acupuncture had a strong part to play."
When doctors were unable to explain Donna Dougal's infertility, she turned to acupuncture in the hope that it would boost her chances of conceiving. Eight years on, the 41-year-old local government officer is the mother of Ethan, aged 3, and Nathan, 15 months.
"I really believe that if I had not had acupuncture I would never have had a baby. After I came off the pill around the age of 30, my periods never returned, but my doctor just told me not to worry about it.
"I started trying to get pregnant when I was 32, but it just didn't happen. I had all sorts of examinations and tests, but the doctors could not explain why I seemed to be infertile. I suspected I had polycystic ovary syndrome [ovarian cysts which can hinder conception] but the doctors could not confirm that either.
"I have always been open to the idea of alternative therapies, and went to an acupuncturist who suspected I had an hormonal imbalance, and gave me monthly hour-long sessions of acupuncture, in which she placed needles into my abdomen, knees and feet. It didn't hurt, and I could feel warmth in the areas where the needles went in. I could feel energy coursing through my body like a mild electric current. It was terribly relaxing.
"Within weeks people were commenting on how healthy I looked - my skin was glowing, I had higher energy levels, I was sleeping better. After about four years my periods came back and three months later I was pregnant with Ethan, who was born in January 2003. My periods didn't get back to normal after he was born but I then got pregnant with Nathan who was born in October 2004.
"Some people might suggest my pregnancy was the result of the placebo effect, but, if that was the case, surely I would have got pregnant a lot earlier? I had two healthy pregnancies and two healthy little boys, without needing to take drugs or use IVF. If Sarah Brown did use acupuncture to boost her fertility, it wouldn't surprise me at all."
The Scotsman 24th January, 2006
Acupuncture 'deactivates brain'
In Alternative Medicine: The Evidence broadcast on BBC2 on 24th January, volunteers were subjected to deep needling, which involves needles being inserted 1cm into the back of the hand at well-known acupuncture points.
A control group undergoes superficial needling with needles placed only 1mm in.
The needles are then twiddled until the participants feel a dull, achy or tingling sensation. For those in the deep needling group this stimulates the nervous system.
During these two procedures, the volunteers underwent brain scans to see what, if any, effect there was in the brain.
The team found the superficial needling resulted in activation of the motor areas of the cortex, a normal reaction to pain.
But with deep needling, the limbic system, part of the pain matrix, is deactivated.
The finding was surprising because experts had always assumed acupuncture activates the brain in someway.
Professor Sykes said: "The pain matrix is involved in the perception of pain - it helps someone decide whether something is painful or not, so it could be that acupuncture in some ways changes a person's pain perception.
"We have found something quite unexpected - that acupuncture is having a measurable effect on the human brain.
"We are not suggesting that it should be used during surgery, although it is in China, but just that it acts as a pain relief and should be taken seriously."
BBC News 21st January, 2006
Acupuncture Relieves Pelvic Pregnancy Pain
Acupuncture and exercise can help relieve pelvic pain during pregnancy.
About 30% of pregnant women suffer pelvic pain, usually in the back. Doctors suspect this is caused by a surge in hormones during pregnancy affects muscles and ligaments.
Therapies for this include wearing a pelvic belt to relieve the pain and do exercises at home and stabilising exercises to improve mobility and strength.
But researchers found acupuncture also helps. "Acupuncture decreases the pain," Helen Elden, a midwife at the institute says.
Elden and her colleagues compared standard treatment, stabilizing exercises and acupuncture on 386 pregnant women. Those who received acupuncture and did the exercises for 6 weeks reported less pain than the others.
"The findings are of particular importance because no previous study has shown such marked treatment effects among pregnant women with well defined pelvic girdle pain," the researchers said.
British Medical Journal online. 19th March, 2006
Walter Reed patients manage their pain through acupuncture
Since the 1980s, specialists at Walter Reed Military Medical Centre have been using acupuncture as an alternative treatment approach, using needles and an intricate knowledge of the nervous system to help certain patients manage chronic pain.
But recently, the practice has gained new attention as physicians have used it to help wounded patients returning from Iraq and Afghanistan deal with the severe pain of shrapnel wounds, deep burns and amputated limbs.
“There are side effects to pain medications that a lot of these patients don’t want: drowsiness, lack of focus, things like that. This gives them an alternative.”
Niemtzow, who specializes in wound-distant techniques, has charted a series of ear and scalp points that can help ease throbbing in an injured limb. In a typical session, he pushes tiny gold pins about the size of a small earring just into a patient’s earlobe, and leaves them there for several days to suppress the pain sensors.
Treating those areas doesn’t compromise the relief benefits, he said, but does lessen fears patients might have about sticking a pin near the wound site.
“The same thing doesn’t work for everyone all the time,” said Niemtzow, editor of several acupuncture medical journals. “I had a patient (injured in Iraq) who we used the ear needles on, and it didn’t help him at all.
“When he came back, he said, ‘Don’t bother with my ears.’ Instead we tried rubbing his hands with some metal plates. Five minutes later, he said he felt much better.”
Other approaches include the larger, 6-inch needles most people associate with acupuncture, and placing them one-eighth of an inch or deeper in patients’ skin.
Niemtzow said most of his patients don’t even notice the slight prick that comes with the visit, and those who do are willing to sacrifice the quick stab for greater pain relief.
Estripes.com 15th March, 2006
Acupuncture effective in lower back pain
Patients were randomly assigned to real acupuncture treatment, sham or minimal acupuncture, or no acupuncture treatment. Real and minimal acupuncture consisted of 12 treatment sessions over 8 weeks. All subjects completed a pain questionnaire at 8, 26 and 52 weeks.
The results showed that after 8 weeks of treatment, pain intensity had decreased by 29% in the acupuncture group, 24% in the minimal acupuncture group, and 7% in the control group. At weeks 26 and 52, back pain was still reduced, with no significant differences between the full-acupuncture and the minimal-acupuncture group.
Archives of Internal Medicine March 2006
If you have a health problem, live in London and would like to visit an acupuncture clinic please go to Acupuncture Clinic London
Yoga Offers Tranquillity To Patients Fighting Cancer
A growing number of hospitals and other organizations are discovering a tranquil 5,000-year-old therapy from India that may help cancer patients - yoga.
“It's the oldest strategy for stress management,” said Debra Mulnick, a registered nurse who offers classes through the Mountain States Tumor Institute at St. Luke's Regional Medical Center in Boise. “Our culture is just starved for the concepts we teach, such as how to be kind to ourselves. When we're tired, we usually just go for a triple latte and go for a run.”
But cancer and treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation produce such side-effects as fatigue, nausea and pain from surgery. Running after a latte is not in order and even aerobic forms of yoga are not appropriate.
Society may look at yoga as a New Age whim, but advocates say that while it may not directly fight a tumor, it does have positive effects which can complement medication.
The American Cancer Society said research has shown that yoga can be used to control physiological functions such as blood pressure, heart rate, respiration, metabolism, body temperature, brain waves and other bodily functions.
Stress can weaken the immune system, making it even tougher to battle cancer.
Yoga means “union” in ancient Sanskrit, the language the first practitioners spoke, Mulnick said. The many yoga forms can involve stretching and strength exercises, deep breathing, meditation and religious observance.
“Ahimsa” means “nonviolence.” But that means nonviolence to oneself, Mulnick said. Cancer patients may be extremely fatigued and a hard workout is not workable. She instead emphasizes relaxation and deep breathing.
“The goal isn't to reach a physical peak. It's the exact opposite of 'no pain, no gain.' You want to be nurturing,” said Debra Murphy, who teaches yoga classes for cancer patients under the sponsorship of McCall Community Hospital north of Boise.
The two teachers said they tell participants that if a certain yoga move is painful, they should avoid it.
In Sanskrit, “pranayama” means “science of the breath.” Yoga students consciously learn to breathe slowly and rhythmically. Sometimes the only thing cancer patients can do during yoga sessions is breathe deeply, but they can practice it at any time.
They can do the same with meditation.
The teachers said everyone has a continual internal monologue and the chatter is even worse when they are troubled, such as fighting cancer. Meditation allows them to focus their minds on other things, such as how their bodies feel.
“Sometimes, just a minute of not having those thoughts can be a reprieve,” Mulnick said. “But the training has been shown to have lasting benefits for days and even weeks. People don't have to be pulled down a path of habitual worrying.”
Murphy said a McCall psychiatrist visits her sessions to advise the participants in meditation.
“Sangha” means “community.” The people in the yoga sessions realize they aren't alone in their cancer experiences.
Mulnick said the vast majority in her sessions are women. They can discuss side-effects from breast cancer and medication, such as hot flashes, insomnia and the early onset of menopause.
Murphy said one woman who finished cancer treatment found the yoga sessions had become a big part of her life.
“She said that when you're undergoing chemo, you feel like 'I've done everything I can.' But when you're done, you're in freefall. You need something to do.”
Mulnick said she studied for five years under Jnani Chapman, a registered nurse and stress management specialist for the Breast Cancer Program at the University of California, San Francisco. Murphy has a doctorate in exercise science and specializes in adaptive exercise programs.
At the country's most prestigious cancer clinics, such as Memorial Sloan-Kettering Center in New York City, rolled-up yoga mats are a common sight. Yoga is routinely prescribed by oncologists for stress and to regain movement.
“These programs, more and more, will be part of what is offered,” Mulnick said. “Yoga is not ever thought of as in lieu of professional treatment. But it's going to become a standard of care.”
ABC News March 13th
Comment: I don’t know what the situation is here in the UK, but in the USA they appear to be open to the needs of their cancer patients, treating them holistically, as human beings, and not just treating the disease itself. This is long overdue.
Wife Beater Ordered to Take Yoga Classes
A Texas judge has ordered a man convicted of slapping his wife to take a yoga class as part of his one-year probation.
“It's part of anger management,” County Criminal Court at Law Judge Larry Standley told the Houston Chronicle. “For people who are into it, it really calms them down.
I've thought about taking it myself, but I've got a pretty bad back.”
Standley said the case of James Lee Cross was unique. Cross, a 53-year-old car salesman, told the court his wife has a substance-abuse problem and he struck her during an argument about her drinking.
“He was trying to get a hold of her because she has a problem,” Standley said. “I thought this would help him realize that he only has control over himself.”
The sentence was a surprise to Cross, who was told to enrol in a yoga class and report back to the court on his progress.
“I'm not very familiar with it,” Cross said of yoga. “From what I understand, it may help in a couple ways, not only as far as mentally settling, but maybe a little weight loss.”
Washingtontimes.com Jan 22nd, 2004
Comment: My faith in the justice system has been restored. So long as this is in addition to his punishment and not instead of it, I think this is very sensible. All we want now is for judges to sentence prisoners to 3 months broccoli and bean sprouts and we might start to turn the criminal tide.
Ruff Yoga
A gym in the USA is offering yoga classes to pooches. Crunch has set up “Ruff Yoga” in New York.
Yoga guru Bruce Van Horn says “It actually reduces the stress levels of animals. When people have crazy animals, it's usually because the people themselves are crazy.”
GQ magazine 19th June, 2003
Comment: You have to admire their determination. It must be hard for a Basset Hound to do the lotus position. The anatomy books will have to be rewritten.
Are the dogs really performing yoga? Of course not, silly! Their owners do the performing with the dogs close by. The relaxed state that people achieve through yoga rubs off on their pets. Well that’s what the guy collecting the fees said!
Laughter Yoga Across The Irish Sea
A seriously new form of emotional therapy has emerged to tickle the fancy of miserable people everywhere.
Some are already laughing their way to health and happiness through the treatment called Laughter Yoga.
Laughter Yoga is a blend of yogic deep breathing, stretching, stimulated laughter exercises and cultivated child-like playfulness.
According to its advocates, the health benefits of Laughter Yoga include aerobic exercise, natural pain relief, improved breathing and a strengthened immune system. They also claim it can help overcome depression.
“Laughter Yoga is often called internal jogging. It provides a good massage to all internal organs, enhancing their blood supply and increasing efficiency,” said Laughter therapist Ms Mitchell.
“It has been compared to magic fingers which reach into the interiors of the abdomen and massage your organs.”
Laughter Yoga has been used successfully in the corporate world to increase creativity and as an anti-stress therapy.
It was devised by Dr Madan Kataria, an Indian doctor who got the idea of starting a laughter club while writing a magazine article on the theme Laughter is the Best Medicine.
To date, several Laughter Parties have taken place in Mayo and Donegal. Classes are non-profit with attendees charged a nominal amount to cover charges.
A laughter yoga weekend is planned for June 28-29 in Lough Lanna Village in Castlebar after which attendees can become teachers and hold their own classes.
Even if you don’t feel like laughing, you can still benefit, according to Ms Mitchell.
“Medical research shows that even if you pretend to laugh or act happy your body produces happiness chemicals. If you put your body into an act of happiness, you mind will follow,” she said.
Irish Examiner 27th May, 2003
Comment: I’m not entirely clear how the “stimulated” laughter comes about. Does a comedian attend? What if you don’t find them funny? Or do attendees tickle each other? Sounds like a great idea nonetheless.
Iyengar Yoga gives multiple sclerosis patients greater energy
New research suggests exercise, including yoga, may combat the fatigue of multiple sclerosis.
Investigators found that 6 months of regular exercise - either riding a stationary bicycle or practicing iyengar yoga - improved energy levels in people with relatively early forms of the disease.
Fatigue is a significant complaint among MS patients, and these findings suggest that people with the condition should try to stay active and not avoid exercise after their diagnosis.
69 MS patients were split into 3 groups. Over 6 months, one group enrolled in a weekly yoga class geared toward people with the condition, another enrolled in a stationary bicycle exercise class for MS patients and were given their own stationary bike to take home, while the rest maintained their normal activity levels.
All of the MS patients in the study had a relatively early form of the disease and were still able to walk, either unassisted or with a cane.
At the end of the 6 month period, MS patients said they generally felt more energized.
However, they still had the same difficulty in performing tasks such as climbing stairs or reading as before the exercise program began.
American Academy of Neurology presentation abstract, April 3, 2003
Comment: These findings are important because MS patients may be advised to restrict activity. This research suggest that the right kind of exercise will be of benefit, raising their general level of energy.
Yoga good for asthma
Professor U. C. Rai at the All India Medical Institute in Delhi found daily use of yoga for approximately 20 minutes gave consistently positive results, with asthma and hypertension patients recording significantly better lung and blood pressure readings after starting the course.
Several recent studies in England and Australia appear to support these findings.
Dr Guy Marks, of the Institute of Respiratory Medicine in Australia, completed a 4 month programme of weekly Sahaja yoga meditation for 50 randomly selected asthma sufferers. The Sahaja form of meditation involves sitting quietly for up to 20 minutes to reach a state of “thoughtlessness” during which mental activity is reduced significantly.
The trial monitored physical lung function and symptom scores using comprehensive questionnaires, in direct comparison to a group that practised other relaxation methods such as basic mental exercises and group discussions.
The results showed that those in the yoga group had a greater reduction in airway hyper responsiveness than those in the comparison group. Airway hyper responsiveness is the tendency of the lungs to overreact to harmless substances such as pollen or dust, a key feature of asthma.
Those in the yoga group also reported a greater reduction in tension and tiredness compared with those in the relaxation only group. Similar results were obtained in separate studies conducted at the Department of Complementary Medicine at the University of Exeter, again using yoga meditation as a supplement to conventional medication.
Times Online 26/2/03
Comment: There are both exercise and meditative forms of yoga. It’s important to know what you want to achieve before choosing which type to perform. The former is good for energy and vitality. The latter for tension, stress and emotional problems.
Traditional yoga aids in the fight against breast cancer
A research institute has found that yoga therapy greatly helps cancer patients overcome many of the side-effects cause by chemotherapy and other related cancer treatments.
K.S Gopinath, a senior oncology surgeon, explains how almost all the women they treated had excessive exposure to trauma and stress and this led them to find ways of improving their psychological health as a key step towards fighting the disease.
"Yoga therapy has become very popular and yoga has spread tremendously all over the world. In the United States today 20 million practise yoga and many of them are moving towards yoga therapy because modern medical system has its own limitation and yoga is an effective agent that can bring lots of improvement for the patients.
For the last 25 years we have done extensive research, published nearly 75 set papers and we have been able to show that yoga is effective not only just by mouth say but by systematic protocols that we have, that are accepted at international standards," said H. R. Nagendra, President of the institute and a senior scientist on the research team.
The research, which is currently being used to treat breast cancer patients, has received positive results from over 400 patients.
"I am suffering from breast cancer. I have been doing yoga as prescribed by the doctors. It has helped me a lot. I can sit and concentrate for hours, which was not possible earlier. This has helped me a lot," said a breast cancer patient.
Zeenews.com July 12th, 2005
Yoga may help improve pregnancy outcome
Practicing yoga during pregnancy helps improve birth weight and reduce prematurity and overall complications.
Researchers from the Vivekananda Yoga Research Foundation in Bangalore, studied 169 pregnant women trained in the integrated approach to yoga and 166 controls who received routine prenatal care.
The yoga training included various loosening exercises, postures ("asanas"), relaxation, deep breathing exercises ("pranayamas"), and meditation, which was practiced for an hour daily.
Fourteen percent of deliveries were premature in the yoga group compared with 29 percent in the controls. Rates of pregnancy-related high blood pressure were also lower in the yoga group. The exact role of yoga is unclear at present.
The possible mechanisms whereby yoga improves pregnancy outcomes include increased blood flow to the placenta, decreased transfer of maternal stress hormones, and decreased premature release of hormones that trigger the onset of labour.
Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, May 2005
Pilates and Yoga Provide Welcome Benefits
Pilates and yoga, often referred to as “mind-body” activities, show promising benefits which include increased flexibility, improved quality of life, relief of the symptoms of menopause, and some reduction of lower back pain.
One study looked at the effects of yoga on quality of life and flexibility in perimenopausal and postmenopausal women.
Researchers studied six women, ages 44 to 62, who participated in a one-hour-long yoga class twice a week for eight weeks. Participants were also given a home exercise program, and instructed to practice on the days when they were not in class. The yoga program used in the study was lyengar, which focuses on a specific sequence of poses that address menstrual disorders, menopause and pregnancy.
Five of the six women who participated in the yoga program had an increase in low back flexibility, and five out of six had reduced menopause symptoms. Those who experienced menopause relief had a decrease in hot flashes and night sweats.
A benefit of increased flexibility is that this often helps reduce lower back pain. In addition, more flexibility can one to more easily perform activities of daily living such as housekeeping, gardening and shopping.
The study that looked at benefits of Pilates-based mat exercises involved 22 people over a 12-week period. All participants had experienced some lower back pain. Fifteen participated in an hour-long Pilates-based mat exercise program, while the other seven continued their normal daily activities but did not participate in Pilates. At the end of the study, both groups had a decrease in lower back pain, but those who participated in the Pilates program had a greater reduction in pain.
Medicalnewstoday 2nd June, 2005
Yoga May Prevent Weight Gain in Middle Age
Practicing yoga can help prevent middle-age spread and even shed unwanted pounds.
A new study shows that normal weight adults who practiced yoga regularly gained an average of 3 pounds less between the ages of 45 and 55 than those who didn't practice yoga.
Meanwhile, overweight adults who practiced yoga lost an average of 5 pounds, and those who didn't gained about 14 pounds during the same time period.
Researchers say men and women between the ages of 45 and 55 typically gain about a pound per year, as their energy needs decline, without a similar decrease in the number of calories they consume.
They say it's the first study to look at the effects of yoga on weight loss and suggest that overweight people may have the most to gain from regular yoga practice.
Researchers say yoga's effect on weight loss and maintenance may have more to do with body awareness than the actual calories burned during the average session.
"During a very vigorous yoga practice you can burn enough calories to lose weight, but most people don't practice that kind of yoga," states researcher Alan D. Kristal.
"From my experience, I think it has to do with the way that yoga makes you more aware of your body. So when you've eaten enough food, you're sensitive to the feeling of being full, and this makes it much easier to stop eating before you've eaten too much."
Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine, July/August 2005
Yoga 'can help to cut back pain'
Regular yoga sessions may be an effective way to combat chronic lower back pain.
101 adults with back pain were assessed. Those who practised weekly 75-minute yoga classes made greater progress than those who took part in strengthening and stretching classes.
The study also found yoga was more effective than using a self-care book on back pain.
The researchers found that at the end of 12 weeks patients in the yoga group were better able to do daily activities involving the back.
After another 14 weeks they also reported less pain, and used less pain relieving drugs.
Current treatments for low back pain include pain relievers, such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and muscle relaxants. Exercise is also recommended.
The yoga students in the study learned 17 poses from viniyoga, a style that is easy to learn and typically allows poses to be adapted for use by various body types.
Researcher Dr Sherman stressed that anybody interested in learning yoga for relief of back pain should chose an experienced instructor.
Dr Alan Breen, director of the Institute for Musculoskeletal Research And Clinical Implementation, said: "Yoga requires learning about exercise as well as doing it, and active treatments, where patients take the initiative, are already recognised to be better than ones where they are just passive recipients.
"But there needs to be more trials of yoga specifically against more effective interventions than exercise to make it highly recommended.
"People with chronic back pain should not, therefore see yoga as a 'magic bullet', but as a useful form of learning and understanding their bodies in a way that gives them an activity they can go to.
"If it doesn't work for their chronic back pain, that doesn't mean that another form of behavioural treatment won't."
Sarah Bazin, of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapists, said: "It is very important that once having achieved relief from back pain that the individual does follow a programme of activity to maintain good posture and exercise in order to strengthen muscles weakened by an often sedentary lifestyle."
BBC News 28th December, 2005
Tai Chi Helps People With Chronic Health problems
47 trials on tai chi were included in this review. Benefits reported were balance and strength, cardiovascular and respiratory, flexibility, immune system, symptoms of arthritis, muscular strength and psychological effects.
Conclusion: tai chi appears to have physiological and psychosocial benefits and also appears to be safe and effective in promoting balance control, flexibility and cardiovascular fitness in older patients with chronic conditions.
However, limitations or biases exist in most studies reported. Most indications in which tai chi was applied lack a theoretical foundation concerning the mechanism of benefit. Well designed studies are needed.
Archives of Internal Medicine March 8th, 2004
Comment: Recent studies have shown tai chi helps the elderly avoid falls and also helps Parkinson’s disease patients. According to Dr Robert Willix, people who practise it faithfully “have a different kind of life well into their 80’s and 90’s. Their bones are strong....joints are limber...minds...remain focused...heart beat is calm, and their bodies are internally fortified against disease.”
Tai Chi helps elderly avoid falls
Researchers found that among adults in their 70s, 80s and 90s - many of whom relied on assistive devices to get around - tai chi exercises over a 48-weeek period reduced the risk of falling by 25%.
Participants were almost half as likely to fall as those in a comparison group given wellness education classes.
Tai chi focuses on building strength, balance and flexibility through slow, fluid movements combined with mental imagery and deep breathing. Studies have suggested that the elderly can reduce their risk of falls, lower their blood pressure and ease arthritis symptoms through the practice.
Last month, the NHS announced a new program offering older adults free tai chi classes, as part of a government campaign to cut the number of elderly who fall and break a hip.
Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, December 2003
Comment: This follows a study published a year or so ago where Parkinson’s Disease patients taking weekly tai chi classes had a considerable reduction in the frequency of falls. They were also less likely to see an increase in the severity of the condition or decline in motor function.
Tai Chi Prevents Shingles
36 men and women with an average age of 70, showed those who used Tai-Chi's combined elements of movement and meditation over several months enjoyed a 50% increase in immune cells that target the shingles virus.
The research is thought to be the first to show that a behavioural intervention can positively influence a virus-specific immune response: "Our findings offer a unique and exciting example of mind over matter," Irwin said.
Shingles outbreaks can occur when an infected individual's immune system is weakened by stress, illness or advancing age, allowing the virus to re-emerge and cause skin rashes that can remain painful for months or years.
None of the study subjects had suffered from shingles but all had chickenpox earlier in life. Half were randomly selected to take a Tai-Chi course for 45 minutes, three days a week, for 15 weeks, while the remaining half acted as a control group and did not do Tai-Chi.
A week after the end of the study period, physical check-ups and immune-system tests showed that on average the Tai-Chi group did not simply feel healthier but had sharply increased levels of memory T-cells that specifically recognise and attack the varicella virus, although individual responses varied.
Tai-Chi involves making slow and precise movements co-ordinated with controlled breathing. Subjects in the Tai-Chi group also showed improvements in physical functioning, especially those who before the study had problems with common tasks, such as walking and climbing stairs. For them, Tai-Chi's benefits were "comparable or exceeded that reported for hip-replacement surgery or for heart-valve replacement in older adults," said the researchers.
abc.net.au 26th September
Comment: All across China thousands of people gather in city parks in the early hours of the morning to practise this slow, graceful martial art. Legend has it that it engenders superhuman powers. Maybe this legend is true. A 50% increase in immune cells is certainly remarkable.
April 12th is World Tai Chi and Qigong Day
In more than 50 countries worldwide, people will gather on April 12th in parks, on lawns and in public buildings to celebrate the 5th annual World Tai Chi & Qigong Day. Each celebration begins at 10 a.m. In the words of the event's founder, Bill Douglas, “Gently and effortlessly, the world will breathe together in a relay of calm.”
It may not do wonders for world peace and international relations, but the combination of tai chi and its seemingly less complex cousin, qigong, have quieted troubled psyches and slowed racing hearts for centuries.
Adherents site studies benefiting the immune system, breathing, balance, coordination, blood pressure and mood. To many, it's the yoga alternative, performed upright instead of on mats with similar, if less emphatic, breathing patterns.
“What we're talking about is making energy flow better,” said Faye McGrew, a veteran instructor.
“Everything comes from the breath – a relaxed, deep and quiet breath,” she said. “You develop it naturally. In other words, you have to relax. You have to let the diaphragm drop and the ribs move and the muscles relax to get more air into the lungs.”
Deepening the breath stimulates the lymph system, carrying pollutants, toxins and germs on their way. The act of gently contracting and relaxing your muscles is the perfect complement.
Qigong can serve as a warm-up to the flowing, choreographed tai chi, which is based on martial arts movements. Or it can be an end itself, something beginners can practice without any previous exposure.
One of the beauties of Tai Chi & Qigong Day is to see how instructors and veteran students coordinate their breathing with each movement. It's a lesson in mobile meditation.
SignOnSanDiego March 31st, 2003
Sweet smelling orangutans
Denver Zoo's 4 orangutans are smelling pretty good these days. They're getting daily aromatherapy treatments.
20-year-old ape Mias gets chamomile on his right ear, basil and angelica on his nose, and fennel, eucalyptus and frankincense on his forehead.
Keepers says the treatment has helped alleviate symptoms from allergies and an upset stomach.
In Allie's case, the 8-year-old primate became depressed when her mother died two years ago. She stopped acting like the silly adolescent she was before her mother's death, but that changed when she started receiving daily aromatherapy.
"When you see how goofy they are, this is how it should be," keeper Rhonda Pietsch said as Allie played in her cage after an oil treatment.
Practitioners of aromatherapy say their oils extracted from plants promote physical, spiritual and emotional health.
The Denver Zoo is believed to be one of the first to try it out on animals.
CNN.com 5th December, 2003
Comment: It seems to be catching on. A few months ago I reported a komodo dragon receiving acupuncture and canines performing yoga. Now it’s aromatherapy for apes. And why not? I haven’t spotted any holistic vets yet, but I’m sure they’ll be commonplace in a few years.
Aromatherapy & Light Boxes Benefit Alzheimer’s Patients
Alzheimer’s patients who sat in front of a bright light box for 2 hours each morning for 2 weeks slept longer and more deeply than those who sat in dim light. The benefits were found to be significantly greater during the winter months.
Other research found that aromatherapy reduced agitation. One group of patients were exposed to lemon balm, an essential oil that was applied in a base cream by a brief massage, while sunflower oil, an odourless substance, was used for the second group.
Over 4 weeks, 35% of patients in the lemon balm group showed an overall improvement in agitation levels, compared to only 11% in the placebo group.
Patients exposed to lemon balm also showed significant improvements in the quality of life, including a decrease in social withdrawal and an increase in constructive activities.
health-news.co.uk 20th august, 2003
Comment: The researchers suggested eating breakfast facing a sunny window, scheduling trips to the park during sunny hours or that caregivers massage with aromatherapy skin cream. Such simple measures can have profound effects. As one of them suggested, it could even mean the difference between being institutionalised or being able to stay at home.
Aromatherapy Lifts Severe Depression
Many years ago, while serving an internship as a social work case manager in North Carolina, I had a client who had been severely depressed for two years, since her aged mother's death.
One day I managed to get her out of the house and we went to a botanic garden. We smelled the flowers and the herbs and sat in the sunshine. I will never forget the way this woman was visibly transformed by the odours of the plants, especially the rosemary.
Her face lit up; I had never seen her smile before. She stood up straight and her voice became deeper and louder. She expressed hope about the future and a desire to return to the garden regularly. We did, and though she still struggled emotionally for many months, her depression began to lift, and I never heard her talk about suicide again.
Call me naive or irresponsible, but no peer-reviewed journal, no amount of supposed empirical evidence and no level of skepticism from highly placed scientific types will ever change my belief that aromatherapy can and does help people.
LA Times July 13th, 2003
Comment: This letter was written after a derogatory article in the newspaper. The writer wonders what conventional medicine is so frightened of. I think the answer is they are frightened of the unknown.
No amount of current scientific training can explain these types of experiences. It is easier to dismiss what you don’t understand than accept as them as real. Few doctors accept as does the very distinguished Sir David Weatherall FRS that “Human beings are unbelievably complex organisms about which we understand very little.”
Aromatherapy decreases depression
Researchers in Korea have effectively used aromatherapy to treat pain and depression. The essential oils used were lavender, marjoram, eucalyptus, rosemary, and peppermint blended in proportions of 2:1:2:1:1. They were mixed with a carrier oil composed of almond (45%), apricot(45%), and jojoba oil(10%) and they were diluted to 1.5% after blending.
Results showed that aromatherapy significantly decreased both the pain score and the depression score of the experimental group compared with the control group.
Authors suggest that this is now used by nurses for arthritis patients.
Taehan Kanho Hakhoe Chi. 2005 Feb;35(1):186-94
Aromatherapy Oils 'Kill Superbug'
Essential oils could kill the deadly MRSA hospital 'superbug' that kills 5000 patients a year..
University of Manchester researchers found three of the oils destroyed MRSA and E.coli bacteria in two minutes.
Dr Peter Warn, who carried out the research, said: "When I tested the oils in the lab, absolutely nothing grew. Rather than stimulating bacteria and fungi, the oils killed them off."
The team then tested 40 essential oils against 10 of the most infectious agents found in hospitals, including MRSA (methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus).
Two of the oils were found to kill MRSA and E.coli almost instantly, while a third was found to act over a longer period of time.
However, the researchers say they are unable to reveal which oils carry benefits because of commercial sensitivities.
MRSA is often carried in patients' nostrils, and is currently treated by putting disinfectant on the area to kill the bacterium - which many patients often find unpleasant.
Dr Warn says the essential oils could be used to create much more pleasant inhalation therapies - which he said were likely to have a much higher success rate than the current treatment, which is only effective in around 50% of cases."
"We believe that our discovery could revolutionise the fight to combat MRSA and other superbugs."
BBC NEWS 21st December, 2004
Hypnotherapy Helps Irritable Bowel Syndrome
28 patients with irritable bowel syndrome that had not responded to other treatments were randomly assigned to receive gut-directed hypnotherapy 1 hr/week for 12 weeks or supportive therapy (control subjects).
Hypnotherapy patients were given suggestions in the hypnotic state directed at normalizing gastrointestinal function, and included imagery of "a river flowing smoothly, or a blocked river flow that was cleared by the patient," the researchers elaborate. Patients were encouraged to practice their "hypnotic skills" at home between sessions.
Patients in the supportive group attended sessions on diet emphasizing "good and bad food items," and on relaxation training.
At study entry and at 3 months, the patients underwent a series of tests to determine colon function. All patients had similar function at the start of the trial.
After the treatment period, the hypnotherapy patients but not the control patients had lower responses on tests of colon sensitivity.
Based on their findings, the investigators conclude that hypnotherapy reduces the sensory and motor components of the gastrocolonic response in irritable bowel syndrome.
Psychosomatic Medicine, March/April 2004
Comment: A study published last year concluded that hypnotherapy seemed to be an effective long term treatment for this condition.144 out of 200 patients were helped and its effect lasted up to five years after treatment.
Can Hypnotherapy Beat IBS?
More than 200 patients with IBS were monitored after undergoing hypnotherapy. The researchers found that 71% of patients responded well to hypnotherapy and most did not deteriorate over time.
They concluded that "the beneficial effects of hypnotherapy appear to last at least 5 years", making it "a viable therapeutic option" for treating IBS.
Results also showed women were more likely to respond to hypnotherapy than men.
There was also improvements in quality of life and levels of anxiety and depression, although this decreased over time. However, patients said they took fewer drugs and did not need to see their doctors as often after having hypnotherapy.
femail.co.uk 22/10/03
Comment: IBS is a very common condition. A specialist hypnotherapy unit was set up in a hospital in Manchester. Their first audit of 250 patients reported in April 2002 and covered a 3 month period. They found hypnotherapy to be very effective. Now this longer term trial confirms it to be a valuable therapy.
Dancing to Reflexology
Karina developed neck, shoulder and back pains as an insecure young girl. By the time she was 18, the “horrific headaches and stabs of pain” in her neck were severe.
There began an “8-year process in which no one appeared to be able to find anything wrong”. The GP sent her to a neurosurgeon, whose brain scans revealed nothing unusual. The neurosurgeon suggested a chiropractor, whose only helpful advice was that she should stop lying on her stomach at night.
5 years ago her condition deteriorated further. As well as a “constantly thumping head and horrific pains shooting down her neck and shoulders” she also had a sore hip. Even worse, dancing, the one thing she really loved, aggravated her condition. “Every single person I went to see about the pain told me one thing: ‘Stop dancing’,” she says.
Karina tried rolfing, homoeopathy, physiotherapy and Chinese medicine. When a friend suggested reflexology and lent her a book on it, the dancer was prepared to try anything.
Karina’s first treatment was agony, she says. While on some points the pressure was gentle, on others it was “like a knife being inserted into my foot. I almost went through the roof with pain,” Karina recalls.
As the reflexologist explained, the points that were painful corresponded to the parts of her body that were out of balance: her spine, her hip and her shoulder.
After the first treatment, Karina says she felt nauseous and very sleepy, but the pain had definitely lessened. So the following week she returned. And the next. Slowly, the pressure points on her feet began to feel less tender and the pain subsided until today, after 8 months of weekly or fortnightly sessions, she is pain free.
“Now I never get those shooting pains and even if I roll my head around, which you do a lot with Latin American dancing, I don’t even feel a twinge,” she says happily.
Treatments often lead patients to make mental or emotional changes, too. “Once people start to feel physically better, they are able to make decisions about their lives that they didn’t have the energy to make before. Healing their bodies is just the beginning.”
“I was racked with pain and couldn’t lift my arm without wincing,” she says. “Now I’m dancing in Cuban La Rueda competitions, teaching dance to psychiatric patients in hospitals and enjoying my life.”
Times Online October 11th, 2003
Comment: No amount of “no scientific evidence” protestations can compete with stories like that. No wonder so many people are turning to complementary medicine.
Ear Reflexology is Safe and Sound
The body is said to be mapped on the ears, with each of 91 points corresponding to a part of the human form.
Auricular reflexology is widely practised in the Far East and is sufficiently mainstream for the World Health Organisation to have authorised the standardisation of the points on the ear.
Ear reflexology may directly stimulate the central nervous system. Redness can indicate an acute condition; whiteness may be a sign of a chronic disorder. Moles, blemishes and open pores can also match up with areas of weakness in the body.
Telegraph.co.uk 8th August, 2003
Comment: I had never heard of ear reflexology before reading this, only ear acupuncture. Some people don’t like having their feet touched and the build up of hard skin may also affect the treatment, so the ear is a valuable alternative. The trouble is, hardly anyone practises it...yet.
Coma Patient Recovers With Reflexology
A man lay in a coma surrounded by loving family members. The doctors at the hospital said he was in a vegetative state after a stroke and would die in a couple of days.
His youngest daughter, in a last ditch attempt to help her father, began a very simple reflexology session. She stimulated the big toe as this was where the brain was reflected.
To the amazement of all present the man reacted! Impossible, only darkness showed on one side of his brain according to the MRI results. The daughter faithfully continued.
A few days later the man turned to his amazed wife and said, “I love you.” He later made a complete recovery to the disbelief of the hospital personnel.
About.com healing July 13th, 2003
Comment: Miracle is not word to use lightly, but seems appropriate in this case. The daughter wasn’t trained in reflexology. She knew of it and then read a book. Of course since this experience she has trained as a reflexologist and now helps others, but is never likely to have a patient quite like her father.
Reflexology: can it aid fertility?
After three years of trying for a second child, Kath and Murray Chapman had almost given up hope. Doctors had told them Mrs Chapman had a hormone problem which meant fertility treatment would be a waste of time. But the 40- year-old mother remembered she had read somewhere that reflexology could help with infertility.
With nothing to lose, she had 3 months of foot massage and, at the end of her course, was delighted to hear that her hormone levels had returned to normal. She soon became pregnant and gave birth to second son Fraser five months ago. While doctors insist there is nothing to prove the alternative therapy was responsible, she is sure it worked.
“I was told that there was no point in attempting IVF treatment because it would be a waste so I would have to resign myself to the fact that we couldn't have another baby,”
A hormone test - which indicates if a woman is entering the menopause - showed levels were too high, suggesting her ovaries had stopped producing enough oestrogen, which controls the reproductive cycle. To become pregnant, a woman needs a hormone rating of 10 or below but Mrs Chapman's was above 25. Following reflexology, however, it dropped to below 8.
“The effect of the reflexology was amazing. It seemed to relax me so much. I became pregnant quite quickly and everything went smoothly. The doctors never admitted that the reflexology had anything to do with it but I have no doubt at all.”
Femail.co.uk - 25th March 2003
Comment: I’ve previously reported on acupuncture and feng shui helping women to conceive. Now its the turn of reflexology. A previous study reported on 108 couples who hadn’t conceived within 7 years. Within 6 months of reflexology treatments 19 conceived. Does it work by its ability to relax or by the massage effect on the different organs and systems in the body? I don’t know. But if the former you would expect other relaxing complementary approaches to work also, but I am not aware of any.
Meditation Lowers Teenager's Blood Pressure
Barnes and colleagues at the Medical College of Georgia in Augusta had 156 high school students spend 4 months either practicing Transcendental Meditation or taking a health education class.
After learning the technique, the TM group practiced meditation for 15 minutes twice a day, everyday. On weekdays, one of those sessions took place at school. Several times during the study, the students wore small ambulatory blood pressure monitors, which measure a person's blood pressure changes over the course of 24 hours.
Over four months, the blood pressure of the teens in the TM group fell by an average of 3 to 4 points, while blood pressure in the other group stayed essentially the same.
Even the modest blood-pressure drop seen in this study can be enough to move kids from the high-normal to the normal category, Barnes said.
TM could also have other positive effects on kids, according to the researcher. He noted that students who meditated "felt fresh" after each session, and many reported benefits such as better concentration, less anger and improved relationships with others.
"This is really the essence of mind-body medicine," Barnes said.
American Journal of Hypertension, April 2004
Chill Out to Multiplex Meditation Cinema-goers could soon be experiencing ’meditainment’
Your local multiplex may soon offer meditation alongside the latest blockbuster. Meditainment will debut in Brighton next month as Britain’s first cinema-based meditation experience.
Using “meditation by democracy”, audiences pick up a coloured glow-stick on their way into the auditorium. Projections and a voice-over then invite them to vote for different “journey” options – a mountain top, an ocean, or a meadow, for example, with other options for background music and types of breathing and relaxation exercises.
A specially trained projectionist counts the votes for each option and then uses an internet package to mix the choices together into a smooth compilation shown on the big screen by a digital projector.
The meditation then begins with cues for when to relax and let the mind drift off.
Meditainment’s Scott King said the communal meditation experience is a groundbreaking new leisure activity.
“This could revolutionise the way we go to the cinema. The atmosphere of 200 people meditating at the same time is amazing. People think of meditation as something you have to do by yourself or in a class, but it is really enjoyable as a group.”
Sunday Herald 3rd August, 2003
Comment: Recent research found people who meditate needed 87% fewer spells in hospital for heart disease, 55% fewer for tumours and 87% fewer for disorders of the nervous system. And if the film is really dire you can perform a solo meditation and sleep through it.
Buddhists Are Happier
Tests reveal areas of the brain associated with good mood and positive feelings are more active in Buddhists. The findings come as another study suggests Buddhist meditation can help calm people.
Researchers found the practice can tame the amygdala, an area of the brain which is the hub of fear memory. There is something about conscientious Buddhist practice that results in the kind of happiness we all seek
Buddhists, who meditate regularly, were less likely to be shocked, flustered, surprised or as angry compared to other people.
Paul Ekman, who carried out the study, said: "The most reasonable hypothesis is that there is something about conscientious Buddhist practice that results in the kind of happiness we all seek."
In a separate study, scientists used new scanning techniques to examine brain activity in a group of Buddhists. Their tests revealed activity in the left prefrontal lobes of experienced Buddhist practitioners. This area is linked to positive emotions, self-control and temperament. Their tests showed this area of the Buddhists' brains are constantly lit up and not just when they are meditating.
The studies are published in New Scientist magazine.
BBC 21st May 2003
Comment: Buddhism is becoming increasingly popular in the West. This isn’t surprising. People aren’t happy. And they’re beginning to question whether the ‘what’s in it for me, keeping up with the Jones’s, rat race’ that we are programmed to accept will make us happy, is really what life is all about.
Meditation boosts immunity
Meditation can improve the immune system and aid positive thinking, scientists believe.
The study, which will appear in the forthcoming issue of the journal Psychosomatic Medicine, found that volunteers who meditated for a short time every week showed lower anxiety levels than those who did not.
They also had higher levels of antibodies in their blood, suggesting they would be more able to fight off infection.
female.co.uk 12th April
Comment: Many favourable changes occur in the body when meditating. Oxygen consumption, blood lactate, skin resistance, blood pressure, respiratory rate, and the production of alpha brain waves are all changed beneficially.
Meditation May Cut Heart Disease Death
There is increasing evidence that meditation is not only good for the soul, but for the body as well. It has been embraced by Western medicine as a powerful tool for lowering stress, reducing chronic pain, and even lowering blood pressure.
Now comes word that it can also prolong your life. A follow-up of two studies of transcendental meditation (TM) conducted in the late 1980s and mid-1990s showed that people who had normal to high blood pressure and who practiced the technique were 23% less likely to die than people who did not.
The TM group had a 30% decrease in the rate of deaths due to heart disease and stroke and a 50% reduced rate of cancer deaths.
TM advocate Robert H. Schneider, MD, of the Maharishi University Institute for Natural Medicine and Prevention, says that one of the most significant findings was that meditation appeared to be as effective as drug therapy for preventing deaths from heart disease.
"None of the conventionally recommended non-drug treatments for hypertension, such as salt restriction, exercise, and even weight loss, have been proven to have an impact on deaths from heart disease," he says. "This is the first time that I am aware of that any non-drug treatment has been shown to do this."
There is no denying that meditation has gone mainstream. No longer the exclusive domain of New Age types, more than 10 million Americans now practice some form of meditation on a regular basis. For many, a physician recommended it.
At New York's Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, psychologist Patricia Vroom, PhD, teaches meditation to cancer patients. The aim is not to cure their cancer but to help them reduce anxiety and stress.
"Meditation can be very empowering because it really teaches us to live in the moment," she says. "For some patients it is life changing, and for others it ends up being just a way to relax."
Vroom says her research shows that cancer patients who meditate develop better coping skills. Compared with patients who joined support groups, the meditating patients in her study tended to trust themselves more to manage their stress.
"People in the meditation group tended to look within themselves, while the support group patients looked outside themselves."
There are many different versions of meditation, but is any one better than another?
Schneider says the new findings offer powerful evidence that TM conveys mortality advantages that other forms of meditation don't. But other experts including Vroom, are skeptical.
One of the studies included in the analysis compared four types of intervention -- TM, another popular meditation technique known as mindfulness meditation, generic instruction in meditation, and educational instruction with no meditation.
Seventy-seven elderly, white adults were included in that study, led by TM advocate Charles N. Alexander, PhD, who died in 1998. The other study was led by Schneider and included 125 blacks who were either taught TM or were given health education without meditation. The original intent of both the studies was to determine if meditation could lower blood pressure or risk or developing high blood pressure in the future. The average follow-up during the study was eight years.
The mortality analysis is published in the May issue of The American Journal of Cardiology.
Schneider dismisses the idea that the original studies and the new analysis were biased in favor of the TM approach.
"This study showed what it showed, and it was evidence-based," Schneider says. "This is the first time that a particular meditation technique has been shown to reduce death rates from all causes and from cardiovascular disease."
But Harvard psychologist Ellen Langer, PhD, who has written three books on the "mindfulness" technique, says it is unlikely that one meditation conveys more health benefits than another.
"Rather than saying that something doesn't work, I would say that there are data out there to suggest that most of these techniques do work," she says. "There may be as many forms of meditation out there as there are flavors of ice cream. Whether one is better than the other depends on individual taste, but overall they are all basically going to give you some of the sweetness that you desire."
Foxnews.com 3rd May, 2005
Exercising to Vivaldi Boosts Brainpower
Volunteers who listened to Vivaldi's “Four Seasons” while working out on a treadmill did much better on a test of verbal ability than when they exercised without music, a team at Ohio State University found.
“Evidence suggests that exercise improves the cognitive performance of people with coronary artery disease” said psychologist Charles Emery, who led the study.
“And listening to music is thought to enhance brainpower. We wanted to put the two results together,” Emery added in a statement.
Emery and colleagues studied 33 men and women taking part in a cardiac rehabilitation program after having bypass surgery, angioplasty or other procedures to treat clogged arteries.
The volunteers said they felt better emotionally and mentally after working out with or without the music. But their improvement on the verbal fluency test doubled after listening to music on the treadmills.
“Exercise seems to cause positive changes in the nervous system, and these changes may have a direct effect on cognitive ability,” Emery said.
“Listening to music may influence cognitive function through different pathways in the brain. The combination of music and exercise may stimulate and increase cognitive arousal while helping to organize cognitive output.”
Emery said he now wants to test people using music they choose themselves.
“We used 'The Four Seasons' because of its moderate tempo and positive effects on medical patients in previous research,” Emery said. “But given the range of music preferences among patients, it's especially important to evaluate the influence of other types of music on cognitive outcomes.”
Heart & Lung, March 2004
Comment: You’ve heard of the Mozart Effect, now we know it applies to Vivaldi too. As I type these words I’m listening to Scott Joplin. Is it doing me any good I wonder. No doubt after enough research is carried out we’ll have a top ten of musical brain stimulants. Can’t wait!
Can‘t Conceive? Move Your Bed!
A couple who spent 10 years trying in vain for a baby say they've finally been blessed with a child after a Feng Shui expert moved their bed.
Fiona and Darren lost hope of having a child of their own, and decided to adopt after countless visits to consultants and 2 years of fertility treatment. But after inviting a Feng Shui expert into their home, he realigned their energy in the house and told them they would have a child. Fiona fell pregnant within months and the couple's son Max was born 4 weeks ago.
Other advice for conception included moving the bed so their feet were not facing the door, getting rid of dead and dried flowers, and creating a passion corner full of pictures of the couple's happy times.
Ananova 9th January
Homeopathy helps AIDS patients
Homeopathic medicines have been found to be effective in checking the growth of certain infections in HIV positive patients by improving their immune system.
"In a study carried out on 100 patients in terminal stages of AIDS, homeopathic medicines proved to be useful in improving or maintaining immune system of about 50% of the people," Dr Nirupama Mishra, Research Officer at Regional Research Institute for Homeopathy, Mumbai.
“The homeopathic drugs were effective in various viral infections such as influenza, mumps, measles and chicken pox but the therapeutic efficacy in retroviral infections needs to be evaluated.”
However, the drugs "could not cure" the disease, she said, adding the patients were put on healthy diet to develop resistance to infections.
"The study aimed at improving the immune response of the patients through homeopathic drugs. As many as 37 people showed improvement, the status remained unchanged in 12 cases, 51 people showed no improvement," she said.
The duration of the treatment is between 2 and 14 years.
Rediff.com March 23rd, 2005
Homeopathic treatment of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
An increasing number of parents turn to homeopathy for treatment of their hyperactive child. Two publications, a trial and a study, conclude that homeopathy has positive effects in patients with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
The aim of this study was to obtain scientific evidence of the effectiveness of homeopathy in ADHD. A total of 83 children aged 6-16 years, with ADHD were recruited. Prior to the study, they were treated with individually prescribed homeopathic medications. 62 patients who achieved an improvement of 50% participated in the trial.
The responders were split into two groups and received either verum for 6 weeks followed by placebo for 6 weeks (arm A), or vice-versa (arm B).
Findings:The trial suggests scientific evidence of the effectiveness of homeopathy in the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, particularly in the areas of behavioural and cognitive functions.
Eur J Pediatr. 2005 Jul 27
Homeopathy wins in test with medicine
Homeopathy has been proved more successful and cost-effective than conventional medicine in the first comparison of the two approaches.
Proof of its effectiveness has emerged from an extensive study of its use in treating chronic disorders such as back pain. The study ignored the question of how homeopathy might work and focused on how well it performs.
Researchers in Germany recruited more than 400 adults and children with long-term health problems ranging from sinusitis to insomnia and depression. Half were treated using conventional therapy; the other half were treated homeopathically. After six months, the condition of the patients treated homeopathically had improved significantly more, and more quickly, than the others while the cost for each was similar.
The analyses indicated greater improvement in patients' assessments after homoeopathic versus conventional treatment. Physician assessments were also more favourable for children who had received homoeopathic treatment.
Conclusion: Patients seeking homoeopathic treatment had a better outcome overall compared with patients on conventional treatment..
Complement Ther Med. 2005 Jun;13(2):79-86
Homeopathy - natural remedies or quackery?
Tell Matsadi Masango homeopathy doesn’t work and she will say you don’t know what you are talking about.
Five years ago, 34-year-old Masango turned to homeopathy after orthodox medical treatment failed to treat incapacitating symptoms of food allergies.
Today she is symptom-free and she believes homeopathy is the reason.
Masango, of KPMG’s corporate communications and advertising division, began showing signs of health problems early in 2000 – chronic itchy skin rashes, puffy, rheumy eyes, swollen lips and painful joints. She was often so tired she could not get out of bed and became unable to work.
She saw a GP who sent her for blood tests. When the results came back, he gave her a long list of all the foods to avoid. It depressed her just to look at it.
“It seemed there was very little I could safely eat,” she says.
The doctor prescribed drugs that included cortisone. Her symptoms improved for a while then returned.
Six months later, she consulted a homeopath who said there could be no overnight cure, as homeopathy treated causes of health problems, not just symptoms. She also said Masango was likely to get worse before she got better. That she certainly did.
“At one stage, I got so bad, I thought of giving up the treatment,” Masango says. “The homeopath persuaded me to persevere for six months.” She is glad she did. Almost to the day, six months later, Masango’s symptoms vanished, never to return.
Orthodox doctors and scientists will dismiss that as “anecdotal evidence”, not the rigorous scientific evidence they say proves that a medicine works. They still believe homeopathy is “scientifically implausible”, a “pseudoscientific remnant from the age of alchemy” – in a word, quackery, despite its widespread global use.
Yet homeopathy is the world’s second most widely used form of medicine. In Britain, there is even a hospital that practises only homeopathic medicine – London’s Royal Homeopathic Hospital.
The debate about the efficacy of homeopathy resurfaced last month when The Lancet, the prestigious British medical journal, published an article saying a review of the scientific literature showed homeopathy to be ineffective, and its medicines no better than sugar water.
It also ran an editorial headlined “The end of homeopathy”, saying the time for more studies was over and doctors needed to be “honest with patients about (its) lack of benefit”.
The author of the article is Dr Matthias Egger from the University of Berne. Along with Swiss colleagues from Zurich University and a British team at the University of Bristol, he reviewed 19 electronic databases from 1995 to 2003 and compared 110 trials of homeopathic remedies against a placebo with 110 trials of conventional medicines also tested against a placebo.
Egger claimed to have found no convincing evidence the treatment worked any better than placebo – the dummy substance used in clinical medical trials.
Not surprisingly, homeopathic doctors quickly begged to disagree.
Dr Peter Fisher, clinical director of the Royal Homeopathic Hospital in London, said Egger’s figures “did not add up”.
His conclusion was based on not 110 clinical trials, but eight – clearly not statistically significant.
Fisher said that it was difficult to avoid the conclusion that Egger was “being selective to try to discredit homeopathy”.
Certainly the timing appears suspect, following so closely on the back of a report in the Complementary Therapeutic Medicine Journal of June 2005 that concluded: “patients seeking homeopathic treatment had a better outcome overall compared with conventional treatment, whereas total costs in both groups were similar”.
That study included a World Health Organisation report, in draft form, set up to examine traditional medicine, which said most related studies published in the last 40 years had shown homeopathic remedies to be superior to placebo and “equivalent to conventional medicines in the treatment of illnesses, in both humans and animals”.
Dr Neil Gower, national secretary of the Homeopathic Association of South Africa, says The Lancet study reflects “unbalanced research and analysis” of homeopathy and raises more questions than answers.
Of course one would expect Fisher and Gower to say those kinds of things, and it should not be left to the homeopathic community to comment on the validity of research conducted on their own profession. Others have been just as quick with objective comment. One is Dr Joyce Frye of the University of Pennsylvania.
She said The Lancet study’s authors appeared to begin their work “with a bias firmly in place”.
Their analysis clearly showed effects of homeopathic treatment – yet they found ways to disregard those, she said. Out of the millions of trials in conventional medicine, their primary outcome relied on the comparison of ridiculously small numbers.
Frye said the authors “began their work with the assumption that the effects observed in placebo-controlled trials of homeopathy could be explained by a combination of methodological deficiencies and biased reporting. Sound research is not conducted from this starting position”.
Dr Iris Bell, a medical doctor at the University of Arizona, added that Egger’s approach was “incomplete in attempting to evaluate homeopathic medicine, as it did not include criteria that would apply to high quality homeopathic research reflecting the nature of homeopathic practice”.
Kisane Brasler, a 40-year-old mother of 20 from Sunninghill, Johannesburg, would like to see more co-operation between orthodox and complementary medicine. She turned to homeopathy three years ago after months of orthodox treatment failed to treat raised, painful joints in her hands that made them look like “those of an 80-year-old”.
Homeopathy helped, and her hands now look normal.
She knows she has a health problem she will have to deal with for the rest of her life and says it “makes sense to use a natural medicine that is nutritionally based with no bad side effects”.
Brasler says both orthodox medicine and homeopathy have benefits and neither has all the answers.
Each works well for some people and some conditions, but not for everything and everyone.
iol.co.za 7th September, 2005
British Hospital Endorses Reiki
Middlesex Hospital in London has appointed a "healer," whose salary is paid by the country's National Health Service (NHS), to treat young leukemia patients suffering from the side effects of chemotherapy.
Several times a week, in 30 minute private sessions with each of several young patients in the hospital's pediatric oncology ward, Graham King, 57, places his hands on different parts of their bodies and "channels" all-healing "cosmic energy" into them.
King was hired after staff members in the oncology ward heard that he and his wife, a faith healer also funded by the NHS, had produced beneficial effects on patients at another British hospital. King practises an ancient Tibetan technique called Reiki which was revived in the 1920s by two Japanese doctors.
Since that time, the technique has enjoyed an impressive revival.
TimeOnline March 28th, 2005
Reiki: unblocking the airways
Asthma had blighted one man’s life for years until he took a deep breath and found relief in a gentle hands-on treatment
When you talk to Michael, a gruff, 37-year-old Mancunian with a penchant for Saturday football and the pub, it is hard to imagine him being a fan of one of the most bizarre and unproven of all complementary therapies, reiki healing. And yet his story of how last April he stopped using inhalers for asthma and found himself able to breathe freely after just five sessions almost defies belief.
Not that he didn’t approach the reiki practitioner’s table with scepticism. “My cynical side thought it was probably a load of old balls,” he says. Today, free from all asthma medication, he practises reiki on himself every morning.
Asthma deeply affected his childhood. He spent time in hospital with the condition when he was 5 years old and he was allergic to everything from pets to furniture polish. “I would get a cold and afterwards it would trigger a bout of asthma for two or three weeks, leading to a course of antibiotics and the need for a steroid inhaler.” Asthma came and went in waves all through his childhood until he grew out of it in his early teens.
Then, aged 27, it struck again. Within a year, he was back puffing away on two inhalers — a blue one for relieving the symptoms and a brown one for controlling the swelling and inflammation in the airways and reducing the risk of severe attacks, sometimes as often as 20 times a day.
It was a chance meeting with an old friend that set Michael on the road to reiki. “I bumped into Leigh on the way to watch a rugby match and noticed that she seemed very different, calmer.”
It turned out that she had been having reiki healing to deal with stress. The therapy involves lying fully clothed on a table, or sitting upright if more comfortable, while a reiki master gently lays their hands on the body, starting with the head. Reiki is Japanese for “universal life energy” and practitioners claim that they can channel this force through their hands into the client’s body so that it can heal itself. Unlike massage or osteopathy, the patient is not manipulated in any way, just lightly touched, and the transfer of energy may be felt as a sensation, sometimes heat, cold, tingling or unusual heaviness.
Reiki has not been studied in depth in the West so its claims are medically unproven. He knew little about reiki when he approached a practitioner based in North London.
Encouraged by his girlfriend to make an appointment but feeling that it could do little for him, he omitted to tell the practitioner about his asthma.
After answering a series of questions, she placed her hands on him and followed a set pattern of hand movements over 12 key areas of his body. “To begin with my mind was racing, and while I was lying there I was half thinking yeah, right, OK. Then after half an hour I began to feel incredibly relaxed and couldn’t feel any part of my body except the weight of my head. It wasn’t unlike that moment before falling asleep,” he says.
When Michael came around 30 minutes later from his meditative state at the end of an hour-long session, he was incredibly thirsty. “Without sounding like a hippy, I had a genuine feeling of optimism and wellbeing.” He promptly signed up for four back-to-back sessions beginning the following week and at the next consultation mentioned his asthma.
“The results were spectacular,” says Michael. “At the time, I was using both the blue and brown inhalers and my chest felt constantly tight.” No change in diet or “homework” in the form of exercises were required. Healing energy was channeled into his body daily for one-hour sessions over four days. The chest area was focused on, getting him to think about opening up the area and focusing on breathing deeply in a relaxed state. “It’s not magic, but it gave me confidence,” says Michael. “By Day 4, I didn’t feel the need to use either of my inhalers and felt excellent, really good about it.”
Since June, he has been practising on himself after a weekend’s initiation into reiki level one. Every morning when he wakes, he practises the movements by putting his hands on himself for an hour. “I still have asthma,” he says, “and I can’t explain how reiki works, but I now have a way of dealing with my asthma without relying on medication. I’m more relaxed than I used to be and I can deal with things in an even-handed manner.” He has had no asthma attacks since his first session last April. The Times 3rd December, 2005
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