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Alternative Medicine in the News
January 2009 edition 9
published weekly
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Alternative Medicine is Going Mainstream
2009 Newsmax
Alternative medicine is going mainstream, and top-notch hospitals are embracing various forms of alternative and complementary medicine. According to the American Hospital Association, more than one-third of U.S. hospitals offer at least one type of complementary medicine, which includes acupuncture, homeopathy, chiropractic, nutrition, massage therapy and herbal medicine. For example, the prestigious Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center offers acupuncture for relief of nausea from surgery or chemotherapy. The growing field is even referred to by a new name-CAM-an acronym for complementary alternative medicine.
Many of the CAM therapies were considered little better than voodoo by doctors until recently when several complementary and alternative therapies were scientifically found to be medically effective and cost effective as well.
In an economy where overall health costs continue to rise even though millions of people are losing their jobs and health insurance, CAM, with its emphasis on leading healthier lives, could help make Americans healthier and reduce the necessity for expensive, traditional medical treatment.
The risks of developing health conditions that drain American pocketbooks, such as heart disease, obesity, diabetes, and breast cancer, can be dramatically lowered by following a healthy diet and lifestyle changes, such as exercising and quitting smoking.
Recent studies have found that aspects of CAM such as plant-based diets and meditation may halt, and perhaps even reverse, such debilitating ailments as diabetes, heart disease, obesity and other chronic conditions. Genes associated with deadly diseases were "turned off" with alternative therapies while protective genes were "turned on"-all within a matter of months.
Currently, only a few forms of CAM are covered by health insurance. Proponents are urging the new administration to include alternative forms of medicine in new health plans and proposals.
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Back-to-school blues
8. January 2009, 09:55 | by Eugenie Rowson
Many children experience some fears and anxiety as each new school year begins. A few late nights or fluttery tummies in the days before school begins are often signals not only of nervousness, but also of excitement at seeing old friends and meeting new ones. It is perfectly natural for your child to be nervous, excited, anxious and eager all at the same time leading up to, and during the first days of, school. However, for some children the beginning of a new school year or starting at a new school brings on a sense of terrific anxiety and stress. Sometimes children need to learn new ways to adjust to their new schedules and environments. Other times, previous incidents can contribute to the perception of future problems. Some behaviours to watch out for are:
- Physical illness (vomiting, diarrhoea, or other symptoms)
- Excessive crying / tantrums
- Avoidance behaviours (hiding, not wanting to get out of the car)
- Aggressiveness (hitting, kicking, biting)
- Lack of appetite
- Withdrawal from family / activities
The most important thing to do is to talk to your child about he is feeling, and let him voice his fears and worries. Offer reassurance and remind your child that he is not the only one who is a little uneasy about the first day of school. You can also point out all the positive aspects of starting school and how much fun it will be. If possible, take your child to school and pick him up yourself on the first few days.
There are also many homeopathic remedies that will ease the emotional and physical symptoms of panic and anxiety, gently and without any side effects. Choose the remedy (or remedies) below that best describes your child's symptoms. You will be amazed how effective these remedies can be for an anxious child or a worried parent!
Aconitum 200C - your typical 'panic attack' remedy and homeopathy's Rescue Remedy. To be used for a sudden and intense feeling of fright, panic, anxiety, worry and foreboding. Accompanied by oppressed breathing, racing heart, palpitations with stitching pains in the chest, flashes of heat, sweating. Panic tends to be worse at night.
Argentum Nitricum 200C- headless chicken type of behaviour - when you panic or worry about a forthcoming event. For a highly emotional state where fears are running high. A godsend for anxiety accompanied by an upset tummy.
Arsenicum Alb 200C - anal type of behaviour - for great fear, anxiety or panic accompanied by restlessness and exhaustion. Disturbed by untidiness, disorder or confusion. Oversensitive to pain, noise and odours.
Gelsemium 200C - ostrich type of behaviour - especially helpful for anticipatory fears and panic before an event or interview. The person feels emotionally and physically numb with fear and can't get motivated.
Kali Phos 200C - an essential brain, nerve, heart and lung nutrient which improves symptoms of anxiety, panic, hysteria, nervous dread, dizziness, heart palpitations, shortness of breath, nervous tension, night terrors, insomnia, diarrhoea, lethargy, irritability, depression and hyper-sensitivity.
Lycopodium 200C - for lack of self-confidence and courage. Apprehensive about forthcoming events. For a feeling of terror and panic before school.
Pulsatilla 200C - for fear or anxiety about separation which leads to clinginess, tearfulness and emotional changeability. Fear of a loved one being harmed. A great remedy for emotions of panic that are connected to separation anxiety, including in babies and children. This is a great remedy for the toddler who hangs onto mom or dad's leg for dear life at the school gate!
[Additional from Alt News Editor]
See a homeopath practitioner for further information. Homeopathic remedies are available from Abha Light's own pharmacy or health food shops around Nairobi
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Vicks VapoRub May Harm Children: Researchers Recommend Natural Treatments
www.NaturalNews.com
Vicks VapoRub has long been a popular over-the-counter treatment for symptoms of cough and congestion. But now research published in the January issue of CHEST, the peer-reviewed journal of the American College of Chest Physicians (ACCP), concludes the salve may stimulate mucus and airway inflammation -- and, in some cases, dangerously interfere with the ability of infants and toddlers to breathe.
Bruce K. Rubin, MD and his colleagues at Wake Forest University School of Medicine's Pediatrics Department decided to study the effects of Vicks VapoRub on the respiratory system after they treated an 18-month-old girl who went into severe respiratory distress after the salve was rubbed under her nose. The researchers used ferrets (because they have an airway anatomy and cellular composition similar to people) to study the impact of the salve on mucus production and accumulation in the airways, as well as the build up of fluid in the lungs.
Healthy ferrets and ferrets with induced tracheal inflammation (to simulate a person with a chest infection) underwent testing after they were exposed to Vicks VapoRub salve. Results showed the exposure caused mucus secretion to rise significantly in both normal and inflamed airways. Mucus clearance, however, decreased. Although the study only tested Vicks VapoRub, the researchers concluded that similar products, including generic brands, would be likely to also cause adverse reaction in infants and toddlers. Vicks VapoRub's ingredients include camphor,menthol,Eucalyptus oil, turpentine and petrolatum, made from petroleum.
"The ingredients in Vicks can be irritants, causing the body to produce more mucus to protect the airway," Dr. Rubin, the study's lead author, said in a statement to the media. "Infants and young children have airways that are much narrower than those of adults, so any increase in mucus or inflammation can narrow them more severely."
Although the salve is not supposed to be used on children under age 2, the researchers noted that many parents ignore this labeling advice and use Vicks VapoRub to try and relieve very young children's cold and flu symptoms, usually by rubbing the ointment on the chest or feet. The idea that something sold over-the-counter must be safe is clearly not only inaccurate but sometimes can have severe health consequences.
"I recommend never putting Vicks in, or under, the nose of anybody -- adult or child. Some of the ingredients in Vicks, notably the menthol, trick the brain into thinking that it is easier to breathe by triggering a cold sensation, which is processed as indicating more airflow. Vicks may make you feel better but it can't help you breathe better. Cough and cold medicines and decongestants are dangerous and neither effective nor safe for young children. Medications to dry up nasal passages also have problems," Dr. Rubin said in the press statement.
He emphasizes that natural therapies are a much better alternative: "The best treatments for congestion are a bit of saline (salt water) and gentle rubber bulb suction, warm drinks or chicken soup, and, often, just letting the passage of time heal the child." Dr. Rubin also pointed out that any time a child struggles to breathe, it should be considered a medical emergency and the youngster should be seen by a physician as soon as possible.
"Parents should consult with a physician before administering any over-the-counter medicine to infants and young children," James A. L. Mathers, Jr., MD, President of the American College of Chest Physicians, stated in the media release. "Furthermore, the American College of Chest Physicians and several other health-care organizations have concluded that over-the-counter cough and cold medicines can be harmful for infants and young children and are, therefore, not recommended."
For more information, visit the American College of Chest Physicians' website: http://www.chestnet.org
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Update: 3-Gardasil again denied approval for women age 27-45
NEW YORK, Jan 9 (Reuters) - U.S. health regulators have
again withheld approval for the use of Merck & Co Inc's (MRK.N)
Gardasil cervical cancer vaccine by women aged 27 to 45, asking
for longer-term clinical data, the drugmaker said on Friday.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recommended Merck
submit data when a 48-month study on a test group has been
completed. The agency also withheld approval in June on Merck's
initial application that was based on data collected through an
average of 24 months.
Merck shares fell nearly 3 percent in midday trading.
Gardasil, one of Merck's most successful newer products,
was approved in 2006 for preventing cervical cancer and genital
warts in females between the ages of 9 and 26.
It works by preventing infection with the sexually
transmitted human papillomavirus (HPV), which causes cervical
cancer.
"Gardasil's efficacy drops sharply once females have been
exposed to HPV and this is probably the genesis of the problem
with the older female population that Merck has been pushing
for in this new application," Sanford Bernstein analyst Tim
Anderson said in a research note.
Moreover, because effectiveness is naturally lower in older
females, Merck could have difficulty convincing insurers to
cover Gardasil in that group should it be approved for them,
Anderson added.
The FDA letter does not affect the use of the drug in the
approved age group, or Merck's recently filed application to
expand use to males, the company said. By preventing infection
among males, the hope is they would not be able to spread the
virus to females through sexual contact.
Anderson expressed uncertainty about the FDA's eventual
decision on Gardasil's use in males and about its sales
potential in that population.
Merck on Friday also stood by its 2009 sales and earnings
targets. It said it would update other elements of its forecast
in a Feb. 3 earnings conference call. In December, the company
forecast Gardasil sales of $1.4 billion to $1.6 billion for
2009.
Global sales of the vaccine fell 4 percent to $401 million
in the third quarter. Many girls and women in the approved age
group have already taken the vaccine and it is now facing
competition overseas from GlaxoSmithKline Plc's (GSK.L)
Cervarix.
Merck shares were down 79 cents to $28.57 in midday trading
on the New York Stock Exchange.
(Reporting by Lewis Krauskopf and Ransdell Pierson, editing by
John Wallace and Andre Grenon)
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Alternative therapy investigated
Dubai practitioners to be monitored
Time Out Dubai
Dubai Healthcare City (DHCC) has become the first organisation outside the US to implement an electronic monitoring system for the regulation of complementary and alternative therapies (CAM).
The Complementary and Alternative Medicine Council - part of the DHCC's Center for Healthcare Planning and Quality (CPQ) - has implemented the coding system that systematically monitors episodes of CAM care in a bid to improve quality assessment.
The system is known as ABC coding, because it uses the first five characters of the alphabet to encript each treatment episode, including type of patient seen, treatment given and the type of practitioner who delivers the care - such as a doctor or a nurse.
CAM refers to healthcare practices that are considered to sit outside conventional medicine such as ayurveda, traditional chinese medicine and homeopathy.
Implementing the codes is the first step to integrating CAM into mainstream healthcare, according to Dr Ayesha Abdullah, senior vice president of DHCC.
"The CAM codes have been adopted within DHCC based upon our firm belief that this system greatly improves the entrance of CAM into conventional healthcare within our community," she said.
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Laws to protect native knowledge 'are failing'
Jan 9, 2009 Flickr/CrisLeme
Global moves to improve the rights of indigenous communities over their local knowledge have largely failed, say experts.
This has resulted in intellectual property rights (IPR) claims by indigenous people dropping to "barely a trickle", according to the Montreal-based International Expert Group on Biotechnology in their report launched this month (13 November).
In Brazil, for example, only seven phytotherapeutic items have been developed with local resources compared with 700 patents on similar items filed almost entirely by foreigners worldwide.
The authors say attempts to ensure benefit-sharing with numerous indigenous communities have been hindered by an overemphasis on the ownership of intellectual property rights, which has proven a roadblock to progress.
They highlight Brazil's case, where legislation was passed in 2001 with the aim of protecting indigenous rights.
"Our legislation assures property rights to the communities, but there is an overabundance of overlapping rights," says Edson Beas Rodrigues, co-author of the report and a researcher at the Institute of Law on International Trade and Development, Brazil.
"Use of traditional knowledge and local, natural products depends on the consent of several indigenous groups that -- theoretically or actually -- 'own' them, and these groups do not always agree on these questions," he told SciDev.Net. "Research institutes and industries cannot access the knowledge and indigenous groups do not benefit from any research that could have been done.
"We try to protect indigenous rights so hard that our laws are in fact preventing the use of traditional knowledge," said Rodrigues. "We have to find a balance between assuring intellectual property and promoting access to traditional knowledge."
The report also considers case studies from Kenya and northern Canada.
"We found the same stumbling blocks in the traditional communities of Brazil as we did in the boardroom of a corporation that holds the patent to a gene that can determine the chance a woman will develop breast cancer," says Richard Gold, chair of the group from McGill University, Canada.
"Most striking is that no matter where we looked, the lack of trust played a vital role in blocking negotiations that could have benefited both sides, as well as the larger public."
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AIDS Drugs Boost Risk of Heart Attacks
www.sfgate.com
A widely used AIDS medication that was recently recommended as a preferred treatment may double a patient's risk of heart attacks in comparison to other AIDS drugs, according to a study conducted by researchers in Australia, Europe and the United States and led by researchers from the University of Copenhagen. The study was published by the journal Lancet.
Researchers reviewed data on more than 33,000 AIDS patients between 1999 and the present, and found that those taking the drug abacavir had a 90 percent higher heart attack risk than those taking other drugs.
In January, a federal panel officially recommended that a combination of abacavir and the antiviral drug 3TC (brand name Epzicom) be the "preferred choice" for AIDS patients receiving drugs for the first time.
"This [new study] is a head-scratcher, in the sense that we don't really understand the biology here," said Paul Dalton, director of Treatment and Advocacy for Project Inform in San Francisco, who served on the federal panel.
Since being approved by the FDA in 1998, abacavir has netted more than $1 billion in sales.
The new findings present a dilemma for doctors and patients, and not just because abacavir had become such a preferred treatment option. The very population that is most at risk from abacavir's heart effects, the researchers found, is people with underlying medical conditions that predispose them to heart disease, such as diabetes or high blood pressure. But the next most preferred AIDS drug, tenofovir, has a tendency to cause kidney damage, which that same population is also susceptible to.
The heart attack risk for patients taking most AIDS drugs is about three cases per 1,000, while the rate for those taking abacavir is closer to six.
Following the release of the new study, the FDA announced that it would conduct a review into whether regulatory action should be taken. But it emphasized that the study did not prove that abacavir is responsible for the elevated heart attack risk.
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FDA Says High Fructose Corn Syrup Can't be Considered "Natural"
www.naturalnews.com
While still refraining from issuing a formal definition on the term
"natural," the FDA has ruled that high fructose corn syrup (HFCS)
definitely does not qualify for the label.
The decision is
significant for the food and beverage industries, where "natural" is a
prized and highly contested label. While the Corn Refiners Association
trade group has maintained that HFCS, derived from corn, is a natural
sweetener, this claim has been disputed by the competing Sugar
Association and by consumer groups such as the Center for Science in
the Public Interest. In 2007, both Cadbury Schweppes and Kraft decided
to remove "natural" labels from products containing HFCS after being
threatened with lawsuits.
The heart of the question has been whether a sweetener, even one derived from a natural product like corn, can be considered natural if its chemical bonds are altered as part of the manufacturing process.
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Medicinal plant extinction 'a quiet disaster'
Source: New Scientist 12 January 2009
The flowers of Erythrina abyssinica, one of the medicinal trees at risk
Key medicinal plants used for cancer, malaria and other remedies are being over-exploited - potentially putting the health of millions at risk.
The warning comes from international conservation group Plantlife this week. According to their report, almost one third of medicinal species could become extinct, with losses reported in China, India, Kenya, Nepal, Tanzania and Uganda.
Factors in this loss include commercial over-harvesting, pollution, competition from invasive species and habitat destruction.
The solution, says the report's author, Alan Hamilton, is to "provide local communities with incentives to protect these plants".
This approach has already proved successful in Uganda, where a sustainable supply of low-cost malaria treatments has been established, and China, which has created a community-run medicinal plant reserve. Ten such grass-roots projects are highlighted in the report.
"Improving health, earning an income and maintaining cultural traditions are important in motivating people to conserve medicinal plants and thus the habitats," Hamilton says.
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Medical Disclaimer: The
information contained within does not take the place of medical diagnosis or
prescription. See your health care provider in case of sickness.
Editorial Disclaimer:
Publication of these articles are to promote food for thought. The opinions
expressed in these articles may not be the opinion of editors.
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