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Alternative Medicine in the News
February 2009 edition 12
published weekly
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Cheap not necessarily best in this instance
Some Ayurevedic medicines contain heavy metals
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/27621.php
Contributed by AltMed reader: Dr Ronell Mostert . Barefoot Nature Doctor (homeopathy, acupuncture, Sodwana Bay South Africa)
Dr Ronell writes: "I was looking into cheap effective treatments for my rural practice. I bought some Sudarshan tablets by Zandu to try out. I decided to chuck it in the bin after reading to following article. Here follows an exerpt. "
Health Canada is warning consumers not to use certain Ayurvedic medicinal products because they contain high levels of heavy metals such as lead, mercury and/or arsenic. Health Canada is taking action to remove these products from the market and to prevent further importation into Canada.
Ayurvedic medicinal products are used in traditional Indian healing and are often imported from India. According to the principles of Ayurvedic medicine, heavy metals may be used because of their reputed therapeutic properties. However, improper manufacturing processes may result in dangerously high levels of heavy metals remaining in the final product.
The following is a list of the unapproved Ayurvedic medicinal products found on the Canadian market thus far, which have been analyzed by Health Canada and found to contain high levels of lead, mercury and/or arsenic:
- Karela tablets, produced by Shriji Herbal Products, India Karela capsules, produced by Himalaya Drug Co, India
- Karela capsules, produced by Charantia, UK (specifically batch #12011)
- Maha Sudarshan Churna powder, produced by Zandu Pharmaceuticals, Mumbai, India
- Maha Sudarshan Churna powder, D & K Pharmacy, Bhavnagar, India
- Maha Sudarshan Churna powder, produced by Chhatrisha, Lalpur, India
- Maha Sudarshan Churna powder, produced by Dabur India Ltd, New Delhi, India
- SAFI liquid, produced by Hamdard-WAKF-Pakistan
- SAFI liquid, produced by Hamdard-WAKF-India
- Yograj Guggul tablets, produced by Zandu Pharmaceuticals, Mumbai, India
- Sudarshan tablets, produced by Zandu Pharmaceuticals, Mumbai, India
- Shilajit capsules, produced by Dabur India Ltd, New Delhi, India
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Artificial lighting may be a major cause of prostate cancer
February 4, 2009. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/02/090203135015.htm
Artificial lighting in our homes and
streets may be a major cause of prostate cancer - and your risks of
developing the cancer increase with your exposure to it once the sun
sets.
The discovery comes from the same research team
from the University of Haifa that last year discovered a link between
artificial lighting and breast cancer.
It seems it can
affect men, too. The researchers discovered that people living in
countries with the highest levels of artificial lighting were 80 per
cent more likely to develop prostate cancer as people with a much lower
exposure.
The researchers aren't sure why artificial
lighting should cause cancer, but they believe it is something to do
with the way it tricks the body into 'thinking' that it isn't night.
As a result, the body suppresses melatonin production, and the lighting
also affects the normal healthy functioning of the immune system.
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Regulation plans for homeopathy in UK
http://news.bbc.co.uk
A range of complementary therapies such as homeopathy and aromatherapy are to be regulated by a new body.
The Natural HealthCare Council is due to begin work in April. Currently, anyone can offer a complementary medicine service.
The watchdog will set standards and have the power to
strike off those deemed incompetent, although membership of the body
will be voluntary.
The Patients Association said the move to regulate was "welcome and overdue".
A spokeswoman for the charity, which provides patients
with a forum to share experiences of healthcare, said the fact that
anyone can provide complementary medicines and treatment had been a "a
source of concern".
"Patients will feel more secure as a result of this new
body and they will know who to contact if they are unhappy with their
treatment," she said.
Cancer treatment
A lack of regulation has prompted calls for a body to monitor conduct and standards among complementary health practitioners.
Britons spend around £130m a year on treatments like aromatherapy and reflexology.
Those who practice the therapies will be able to
register with the new governing body which is being set up by the
Prince of Wales's Foundation for Integrated Health.
The Natural HealthCare Council will only register
practitioners who have a recognised professional qualification, are
insured and have signed up to the code of conduct. A spokesman for Penny Brohn Cancer Care, formerly the
Bristol Cancer Help Centre, said: "With 280,000 diagnoses of cancer
each year, more people than ever before are seeking therapies which
complement their cancer treatment.
"We hope the new Council will highlight best practice,
encourage research and build the evidence base. We also welcome any
move to raise professional standards."
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Integration of homeopathy into primary care in UK
http://news.cenacletreatmentcentre.co.uk/2009/01/integration-of-homeopathy-into-primary-care.html
The potential role of complementary and alternative (CAM) therapies in the future of the National Health Service is an issue which cannot be ignored. Patients vote with their feet, and the popularity of CAM therapies is clear. An estimated 5.75million people a year in the UK seek treatment from a CAM practitioner and approximately one in four members of the public would like to access complementary medicine on the NHS.1
In 2000, a House of Lords Select Committee report on Complementary and Alternative Medicine listed homeopathy as a "group one" therapy, along with osteopathy, chiropractic, acupuncture and herbal medicine. Group one therapies are recognised as having their own diagnostic approach and treatment methods.2
Homeopathy is well-established in the UK, having been available through the NHS since its inception in 1948. In addition to the five NHS-funded homeopathic hospitals (in Bristol, Glasgow, Liverpool, London and Tunbridge Wells), over 400 GPs use homeopathy in their everyday practice3 and the Society of Homeopaths (the largest body representing professional homeopaths in the UK) has 1,500 registered members. However by comparison with European countries, the UK's homeopaths are a relatively untapped resource.4 One reason for this could be the misconception that homeopathy lacks a scientific evidence base.
Can homeopathy be considered an evidence based medicine?
Homeopathy is an individualised system of medicine such that the choice of treatment is dependent upon the patient's symptoms in each case. Homeopathic remedies are prepared from highly diluted substances and hence controversy has arisen in the UK about its efficacy. However critics often ignore the fact that the production of remedies involves vigorous agitation or succussion between dilutions. It is this succussion that makes the difference between an inert solution and an active homeopathic remedy.
Preclinical evidence from multiple independent laboratories around the globe is that ultra-high dilutions (UHDs) prepared using this method of succussion, have measurable biological effects both in in vitro and in vivo animal studies.5,6,7,8 For example, a European multisite study demonstrated how UHDs of histamine modulates basophil activation in vitro.9
Whilst there is research to demonstrate that UHDs can have a biological effect, the mechanism of action of homeopathic medicines is currently unknown; we don't yet understand how homeopathy works, but there is a growing body of scientific evidence to show that it does work.
Many people regard the randomised control trial (RCT) as the 'gold standard' of scientific research methods.10 By the end of 2007, 134 RCTs of homeopathy had been published in peer-reviewed journals. Of these trials, 59 are positive i.e. demonstrating that homeopathy has a statistically significant effect beyond placebo; eight are negative and the remaining 67 are inconclusive.11
Systematic reviews of the results from multiple RCTs are considered one of the strongest forms of research evidence.12 Such reviews suggest that homeopathic treatment is effective for the following specific medical conditions: allergies and upper respiratory tract infections,13 childhood diarrhoea,14 influenza treatment,15 post-operative ileus,16 rheumatic diseases,17 seasonal allergic rhinitis18,19,20 and vertigo.21
There is a need for more research into all aspects of homeopathy - particularly to assess the efficacy of homeopathic treatment in treating specific conditions, and with larger sample sizes to avoid inconclusive results - but this work will be building on the solid scientific evidence base which already exists. Meanwhile there is the pressing issue of whether homeopathy has already been proven to be of value in patient care.
210 primary care doctors were surveyed to find out what forms of evidence they would want before using or recommending an unorthodox therapy.19 The highest rated form of evidence was systematic examination of outcome, whilst theoretical or laboratory evidence was considered to be least important. These results suggest that different forms of evidence are useful when assessing the evidence for particular medical interventions. What happens under laboratory conditions is useful, but finding out what happens in a real clinical setting is essential. Does homeopathy work in clinical practice? Is it cost-effective? Does it have a useful role to play alongside conventional treatment options? These are key questions to which health care providers need answers.
How does homeopathy perform in clinical practice?
A service evaluation at Bristol Homeopathic Hospital recorded the outcome of homeopathic treatment in over 6,500 consecutive patients over a 6 year period. At follow-up, 70% of patients reported an improvement in their health. Conditions which responded well to homeopathy included: childhood eczema and asthma, migraine, menopausal problems, inflammatory bowel disease, irritable bowel syndrome, arthritis, depression and chronic fatigue syndrome.22
A recent study in Germany was commissioned by a health insurance company to see whether they should continue to cover homeopathic treatment. The outcomes and costs of homeopathic and conventional treatment were compared in 493 patients being treated for chronic conditions commonly seen in general practice.23 This controlled but non-randomised study concluded that patients receiving homeopathic treatment had better outcomes for similar cost.
There are numerous examples of small trials which are positive for homeopathy when used for conditions commonly seen in primary care. A study comparing the homeopathic and conventional treatment of ear infections (acute otitis media) in children concluded that homeopathy should be the first line treatment for this condition. In the homeopathic group the response to treatment was quicker and the likelihood of recurrence during the following year was reduced.24
Small trials can be valuable for identifying areas where homeopathy may be either as effective or better than conventional treatments, justifying further investment in research.
In a double-blind randomised trial involving 65 patients with osteoarthritis, homeopathic medicines were found to provide a level of pain relief that was superior to the commonly prescribed analgesic Acetaminophen, and produced no adverse reactions.25 With studies such as this, where the research design is of high quality (with double-blinding, randomisation and lack of publication bias), the results may be surprising to those who have previously considered homeopathy to be 'impossible'.
Is homeopathy cost effective?
In 2005 the results of an investigation by leading economist Christopher Smallwood were published.26 He took a fresh and independent look at the contribution which complementary therapies can potentially make to the delivery of healthcare in the UK. Having considered evidence from the literature, in practice and case studies he concluded that if only 4% of GPs were to offer homeopathy as a major frontline approach to treatment, a saving of £190 million would result.
Savings achieved by the use of homeopathy largely relate to reduced drug bills in certain clinical areas. A series of small studies demonstrate the potential in this area. For example in a 500-patient survey at the Royal London Homoeopathic Hospital, 72% of patients with skin complaints reported being able to stop or reduce their conventional medication.27 Swayne (1992) conducted a study of the prescription costs of 22 doctors and found that, on average, practices with GPs using homeopathy prescribed 12% fewer items of medication (including conventional and homeopathic) per patient than other practices in the area.28 If this figure was extrapolated to a national level the number of items would be reduced by 41.5 million.26
The role of homeopathy when conventional treatments are contraindicated or fail
Sheffield's NHS community menopause clinic has run a homeopathy service since 1998, providing an alternative treatment option for those women who cannot take hormone replacement therapy, do not want it, have found it ineffective, or have been advised to stop it.
An audit of all patients referred to this service between 2001 and 2003 reported significant benefit from the service, with 81% of 102 women reporting improvement in their menopausal symptoms following treatment.29 The greatest response was seen in those reporting headaches, vasomotor symptoms, emotional/psychological symptoms and tiredness/fatigue as their primary symptoms.
The truth is that most people only seek help from a homeopath once they have already tried conventional approaches to treatment. A fact that makes results from observational studies such as those from the Bristol Homeopathic Hospital described above, even more impressive. Homeopathic literature describes thousands of individual case studies which highlight the important role homeopathy has to play in situations where all conventional approaches to treatment have failed. However relegating homeopathy to the position of a treatment of last resort prevents full exploitation of this valuable therapy.
Integrated healthcare ensures patient safety and the best clinical results
Full integration of homeopathy into primary care would respect and preserve patient choice, improve patient safety and lead to the best possible clinical results. With full communication between conventional and CAM practitioners the most appropriate treatment can be selected depending on the case - whether that be a conventional drug, homeopathic medicine or some other intervention - and patient safety can be maintained. Referrals for homeopathic treatment should be made only to qualified and registered homeopaths. Registered members of the Society of Homeopaths (identified by the designation RSHom) have met required standards of education, are fully insured and have agreed to abide by a strict Code of Ethics and Practice.
The way forward
When it comes to decisions about health care provision, homeopathy should be considered dispassionately and without prejudice - judged on its performance in terms of clinical outcomes and economics. The evidence is available to show that homeopathy works, that it is cost-effective and that patients want it. As drug bills spiral and the public's interest in CAM therapies continues to grow, maybe it's time for a truly integrated approach to primary care, allowing patients and healthcare providers alike to reap the benefits of exploiting the relatively untapped resource of the UK's qualified and registered professional homeopaths.
References
References supplied on request from the Society of Homeopaths.
1. Thomas K & Coleman P. Use of complementary or alternative medicine in a general population in Great Britain. Results from the National Omnibus survey. Journal of Public Health 2004; 26(2): 152-7.
2. McIntyre, M. The House of Lords Select Committee's Report on CAM. J Altern Complement Med 2001; 7(1): 9-11.
3. British Homeopathic Assoc. website. NHS Treatment. Nov. 2008. www.britishhomeopathic.org.
4. Molassiotis A, et al. Use of complementary and alternative medicine in cancer patients: a European survey. Annals of Oncology 2005; 16(4): 655-63.
5. Bellavite P, Signorini, A. The Emerging Science of Homeopathy: Complexity, Biodynamics, and Nanopharmacology ( 2nd ed). Berkeley: North Atlantic Books, 2002.
6. Bertani S, Lussignoli S, Andrioli G, et al. Dual effects of a homeopathic mineral complex on carrageenan-induced oedema in rats. Br Homoeopath J 1999; 88:101-5.
7. Endler PC, Schulte, J, ed. Ultra High Dilution. Physiology and Physics. Dordrecht, The Netherlands: Kluwer Academic Publishers, 1994.
8. Schulte J, Endler PC, eds. Fundamental Research in Ultra High Dilution and Homoeopathy. Dordrecht, The Netherlands: Kluwer Academic Publishers, 1998.
9. Belon P, Cumps J, Ennis M et al. Histamine dilutions modulate basophil activation. Inflamm Res2004; 53:181-8.
10. Friedman L, Furbery C, DeMets D. Fundamentals of Clinical Trials (3rd ed). St Louis, MO: Mosby, 1996.
11. Mathie, R. The Research Evidence Base for Homeopathy. British Homeopathic Assoc, 2008. www.britishhomeopathic.org/export/sites/bha_site/research/evidencesummarymay08.pdf.
12. Chalmers J, Altman DJ, eds. Systematic Reviews. London: BMJ Publications, 1995.
13. Bornhöft G, Wolf U, Ammon K, et al. Effectiveness, safety and cost-effectiveness of homeopathy in general practice - summarized health technology assessment. Forsch Komplementärmed 2006; 13 Suppl 2: 19-29.
14. Jacobs J, Jonas WB, Jimenez-Perez M, Crothers D. Homeopathy for childhood diarrhea: combined results and metaanalysis from three randomized, controlled clinical trials. Pediatr Infect Dis J 2003; 22: 229-34.
15. Vickers A, Smith C. Homoeopathic Oscillococcinum for preventing and treating influenza and influenza-like syndromes (Cochrane Review). The Cochrane Library. Chichester, UK: John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. 2006.
16. Barnes J, Resch K-L, Ernst E. Homeopathy for postoperative ileus? A meta-analysis. J Clin Gastroenterol 1997; 25: 628-33.
17. Jonas WB, Linde K, Ramirez G. Homeopathy and rheumatic disease - Complementary and alternative therapies for rheumatic diseases II. Rheum Dis Clin North Am 2000; 26: 117-23.
18. Wiesenauer M, Lüdtke R. A meta-analysis of the homeopathic treatment of pollinosis with Galphimia glauca. Forsch Komplementärmed Klass Naturheilkd1996; 3: 230-6.
19. Reilly D. The Evidence For Homeopathy, Article version 5.5 January 2003.
20. Bellavite P, Ortolani R, Pontarollo F, et al. Immunology and homeopathy. 4. Clinical studies - Part 2. eCAM 2006; 3: 397-409.
21. Schneider B, Klein P, Weiser M. Treatment of vertigo with a homeopathic complex remedy compared with usual treatments: a meta-analysis of clinical trials. Arzneimittelforschung 2005; 55: 23-9.
22. Spence D, Thompson E and Barron S. Homeopathic treatment for chronic disease: A 6-Year, university-hospital outpatient observational study. J Altern Complement Med 2005; 5: 793-8.
23. Witt C, Keil T, Selim D, et al. Outcome and costs of homeopathic and conventional treatment strategies: a comparative cohort study in patients with chronic disorders. Complement Ther Med 2005; 13: 79-86.
24. Friese K-H, Kruse S, Ludtke R, Moeller H. Homeopathic treatment of otitis media in children: comparisons with conventional therapy. Int J Clin Pharmacol Ther 1997; 35: 296-301.
25. Shealy C.N., Thomlinson P.R., Cox R.H., and Bormeyer V. Osteoarthritis Pain: A Comparison of Homoeopathy and Acetaminophen. American Journal of Pain Management 1998; 8(3): 89-91.
26. Smallwood, C. The Role of Complementary and Alternative Medicine in the NHS. FreshMinds, October 2005. p52-56.
27. Fisher P, van Haselen R, et al. Effectiveness Gaps: A new concept for evaluating health service and research needs applied to complementary and alternative medicine. J Altern Complement Med 2004; 10: 627-632.
28. Swayne, J. The cost and effectiveness of homeopathy. Br Homeopath J 1992; 81: 148-150.
29. Relton C, Weatherley-Jones E. Homeopathy Service in a National Health Service community menopause clinic: audit of clinical outcomes. Menopause Int 2005; 11(2): 72-3.
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Mumbai: Set up new AIDS treatment hospital in one year: HC tells Centre
30 Jan 2009, 0203 hrs IST, Shibu Thomas, TNN
MUMBAI: The Bombay high court on Thursday directed the Union government to set up a new building of AIDS Research and Treatment Centre in Navi Mumbai within a year.
A division bench of Chief Justice Swatanter Kumar and Justice Dhananjay Chandrachud passed the order on a suo motu public interest litigation based on a letter sent by an HIV-positive person against the closure of the AIDS research centre in Vile Parle. The AIDS centre, which was run by the Regional Research Institute of Homeopathy, had been operating for around two decades from the CMP Homeopathy Medical College campus at Irla in Vile Parle. RRIH is a part of the Union Central Council for Research that conducted research on HIV/AIDS with the scientists from the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre.
Last year, the medical college asked RRIH to vacate the premises by December 2008 as it needed the space for its own activities.
A Santa Cruz resident, who has been availing of HIV treatment since 1992 from the Irla centre, wrote to the Chief Justice, stating his plight and urging the court to stop the closure. According to him, around 2,500 patients would be affected if the was shut down. "Several poor AIDS patients will die for want of treatment as allopathic medicines are not affordable,'' the letter stated. The petitioner added that it was the constitutional obligation of the authorities to look into the needs of AIDS patients and provide space as well as necessary medical treatment for the life threatening disease. If the government failed to provide the facilities it would be a violation of the fundamental rights to life under the Constitution, he said.
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Fluoride: Now it can be added to our food
29 January 2009 ANH website http://www.anhcampaign.org
Fluoride can now be added to foods manufactured and supplied in Europe. It's been classified as a safe supplement, according to Europe's highest authority on food standards.
The decision means that food manufacturers can include sodium monofluorophosphate, the common form of fluoride found in toothpaste and mouth washes, to their products.
The decision, by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), has angered the Alliance for Natural Health (ANH), the consumer pressure group, which is calling for an immediate enquiry.
The ANH's medical director, Dr Damien Downing, says: "It's bad enough brushing your teeth or rinsing your mouth with fluoride. But opening up its usage to food supplements, when it's very difficult to control how much other fluoride a person is being exposed to, is utterly irresponsible."
The group is also concerned that the EFSA is working outside of its remit. As fluoride has supposed medicinal qualities, the decision to include it in foods is one that should be taken by the European Medicines Agency, it argues.
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Public Announcement: Read Jeremy Sherr's Journal from Africa
Jeremy Sherr has been working in Tanzania for the last few years. Read up on his blog.
http://www.jeremysjournalfromafrica.blogspot.com/
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The plum is every bit as healthy for you as the blueberry
http://www.wddty.com
04 February 2009 Texas A&M AgriLife
Everyone seems to think of the blueberry as the ultimate fruit, rich in antioxidants. But if you're looking for a cheaper option in these credit-crunch times, try the plum, say researchers.
They reckon the plum has almost all the health-giving qualities of the blueberry, and for far less money.
Researchers at AgriLife Research in Texas tested more than a hundred varieties of plums, peaches and nectarines for their levels of antioxidants and phytonutrients, and discovered that the plum contains as many antioxidants as the blueberry. Other stone fruits, such as the peach and nectarine, were equally as health-giving.
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Half of all popular snacks and drinks contain mercury
29 January 2009
Source: Environmental Health
High levels of mercury have been found in
popular drinks, breads, cereals, breakfast bars, yogurts and soups.
Around half of all popular brands contain the dangerous chemical in the
form of HFCS (high-fructose corn syrup), the artificial sweetener.
It's
reckoned the average American eats 12 teaspoons a day of HFCS from
snack foods and drinks, and consumption among teenagers may be around
80 per cent above average levels.
America's Institute for
Agriculture and Trade Policy (IATP) is calling for an immediate ban of
HFCS to stop mercury contamination of food. "Mercury is toxic in all
its forms," says IATP's David Wallinga. "Given how much high-fructose
corn syrup is consumed by children, it could be a significant
additional source of mercury never before considered."
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Is Autism caused by pesticides and household chemicals?
15 January 2009 Source: Epidemiology, 2009; 20: 84-90
Autism - the condition that impairs children's social skills and development - is probably caused by pollutants such as pesticides, viruses and household chemicals, new research suggests.
Cases of autism in developed countries have risen dramatically in the past 15 years; in the state of California alone, 3000 new cases were reported in 2006 compared to just 205 cases in 1990.
Using statistics from the state, researchers has discovered that the numbers of cases continue to rise, and have yet to plateau.
Research team leader Irva Hertz-Picciotto, from the University of California, believes it is time to start monitoring toxins and pollutants in our environment, to which children and even fetuses are constantly exposed.
While some researchers believe genetics play a key part in the autism rise, Hertz-Picciotto says that the steep rise cannot be explained by genetic changes, which would become evident only on a much larger timescale. "The culprits are likely to be microbial and the chemical worlds," she said.
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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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