Alternative Medicine

Stretching exercises, special pillows and acupuncture could help relieve back and pelvic pain that often occur during pregnancy, according to an updated review. More than two-thirds of pregnant women experience back pain and almost one-fifth report pelvic pain. »»»

Daily use of ginseng or ginkgo biloba supplements at the recommended doses, or the combination of both supplements, are unlikely to alter the pharmacokinetics -- by which drugs are absorbed, distributed, metabolized, and eliminated by the body -- of the majority of prescription or over-the-counter drugs, according to medical scientists. »»»

A Cornell researcher has found that people who had been exposed to prenatal toxins and develop later-life diseases have in common an imbalanced immune system and hyperinflammatory responses. »»»

Leading HIV experts are alarmed that the government of The Gambia is encouraging citizens living with HIV to stop taking antiretroviral medications in order to try an unproven herbal remedy. The HIV Medicine Association (HIVMA) calls on President Yahya Jammeh to cease his unproven claims that the treatment "cures" AIDS. »»»

A team of researchers examined the effectiveness of 16 plants growing in South Africa's Kwa-Zulu Natal region and concluded that eight plant extracts may hold value for treating high blood pressure. One -- "wild garlic" -- showed strong promise. »»»

The herbal medicine Dan Shen, a standard treatment for ischemic stroke in China, lacks strong scientific evidence to support such use, according a new review of studies. »»»

The Oriental Art of Qigong helped chronically ill people to cope with the SARS outbreak in Hong Kong, by combining gentle exercise with breathing techniques, meditation and visualisation. Study in latest Journal of Clinical Nursing highlights the significant emotional pressures faced by people regarded as a high infection risk during the crisis. »»»

How are plant-based phytochemicals, including antioxidants and herbal supplements useful in the promotion of health and prevention of chronic diseases? »»»

Johns Hopkins researchers have cured malaria-infected mice with single shots of a new series of potent, long lasting synthetic drugs modeled on an ancient Chinese herbal folk remedy. »»»

Using Chinese herbs either alone or in conjunction with chemotherapy may help protect a breast cancer patient's bone marrow and immune system, as well as improving the woman's overall quality of life. »»»

A commonly used herbal supplement, triphala, has cancer-fighting properties that prevent or slow the growth of pancreatic cancer tumors implanted in mice, according to a recent study. »»»

A common herbal extract available in health food stores can greatly reduce urinary tract infections and could potentially enhance the ability of antibiotics to kill the bacteria that cause 90 percent of infections in the bladder. »»»

A study of herbal kelp supplements led by UC Davis public health expert Marc Schenker concludes that its medicinal use may cause inadvertent arsenic poisoning and health dangers for consumers, especially when overused. Schenker and two researchers evaluated nine over-the-counter herbal kelp products and found higher than acceptable arsenic levels in eight of them. »»»

A new study suggests that people whose diets contain dramatically more of one kind of polyunsaturated fatty acid than another may be at greater risk for both clinical depression and certain inflammatory diseases. The report suggests that we need to balance out our intake of omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids. The current typical American diet contains 20 times more omega-6 than omega-3, a ratio that researchers say should be lowered to 4-to-1, or even 2-to-1. »»»

Scientists report that they have developed a method for the effective healing of, and relief of pain associated with, canker sores. »»»

Traditional Chinese medical beliefs continue to have an impact on oral health in Beijing, China, says Jacqueline Hom, a dental student at the Harvard School of Dental Medicine (Boston, MA, USA), who reports her findings today during the 85th General Session of the International Association for Dental Research. »»»

Even though older adults generally have poorer health, middle-aged adults are most likely to turn to complementary and alternative medicine, a new study shows. The study also found that adults of different races or ethnic backgrounds use these self-care methods in similar proportions. »»»

In this high-tech age of modern medicine, could it be possible to treat the leading cause of death in the U.S. through the power of meditation? According to a first-of-its-kind randomized study conducted by researchers from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, a widely practiced, stress-reducing meditation technique can significantly reduce the severity of congestive heart failure. »»»

An article published in 'The Lancet' by researchers from the Menzies School of Health Research (MSHR) in Darwin has revealed a breakthrough in the battle to treat malaria -- a disease which effects 40 percent of the worlds population. »»»

Women with hirsutism grow hair on their faces, breasts and stomachs. This can cause great distress. The hair grows because they have abnormally high levels of the "masculinising" androgen hormones. Androgens travel around the body in the blood stream, and a key way of treating hirsutism is to reduce the level of these androgens. Data just published in Phytotherapy Research shows that drinking two cups of spearmint tea a day for five days could reduce the level of androgens in women with hirsutism. »»»