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Submit an Article for Publishing
 
We appreciate that many of you will have stories, research and other fascinating articles that you would like to submit to The CMA for our consideration for publication in this e-newsletter (and in our Journal - "With Our Complements").
To help you we have prepared a handy set of guidelines that you should read before sending your articles.
Click here to read our submission guidelines. |
Saffro n To Save Your Eyesight
Saffron has been used for medicinal purposes for many years and a new study from researchers in Sydney and Italy have shown that its use can lead to significant vision improvements in just 3 months.
Lead researcher, Silvia Bisti explained, "Measurements using objective eye sight tests showed patients' vision improved after taking the saffron pill. When they were tested with traditional eye charts, a number of patients could read one or two lines smaller than before, while others reported they could read newspapers and books again.
Saffron appears to affect genes that regulate the fatty-acid content of the cell membrane, and this makes the vision cells tougher and more resilient."
Read more here
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Latest "News" Attack on 'Alternative Medicine'
As the current economic climate forces reductions in education across the UK, the anti-CM forces have managed to create a news story from a 5-year old letter from Prince Charles' private secretary.
Back in 2005 Edzard Ernst had attacked the Smallwood Report as "deeply flawed" - and now claims that the principals at the University of Exeter have shown a lack of support since then.
The original funding from Sir Maurice Laing (£1m in 1993; then £500k later) has apparently dried up - as has other funding since this public 'attack' - and the unit says that it may have to close within a year - unless further funding can be found.
Exeter university has rejected Ernst's claims, saying "The work of the centre has always been part of the college's offer to potential philanthropic donors, but fundraising in this area of research is recognised as difficult, especially in the current financial climate. In 2005 it was made clear to Professor Ernst that financial support could only be guaranteed until July 2010. The college is working with Professor Ernst to establish a business plan to make the best use of the remaining available funding, and it is now likely that the college will be able to support the centre until at least the spring of 2011. This will give us an additional period of time to seek further financial support from external sources."
This 'old news' story has now been 'spun' into a story that has got national coverage - and features Ernst as the victim of a powerful CM lobby - headed by Prince Charles. Read more here |
Curry Gets Rid of Your Wrinkles?
 Proctor & Gamble have just presented the results of one of their studies to the American Academy of Dermatology last week - which indicates that one of their new facial creams, which contains turmeric - the main ingredient in curry - "significantly reduces fine lines, wrinkles - and facial spots."
P&G scientists presented 2 split-face studies, where the participants applied the turmeric-containing moisturizer on one side of their face and the control product on the other. In both studies, the turmeric cream was better "15% better" at reducing lines and wrinkles and almost "15% better" at reducing hyperpigmentation spots - when compared with the control product.
Turmeric (curcumin) is already used extensively in a number of complementary medical treatments - but this is claimed to be the first use of it on the skin - and especially for reducing wrinkles.
Read more here
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Can a Banana Extract Stop the Spread of HIV/ AIDS? 
A study just published by researchers from the A study just published by researchers from the University of Michigan Medical School in the Journal of Biological Chemistry claims that a jacelin related lectin (BanLec), isolated from bananas is a potent inhibitor in the HIV replication and spread process.BanLec inhibits HIV-1 infection by binding to its 'viral envelope' which thenstops it from entering cells and spreading. They also found that the relative anti-HIV activity of BanLec compared favourably to other anti-HIV lectins, such as snowdrop lectin and Griffithsin, and to two anti-HIV drugs currently in clinical use. Lead author, Michael D. Swanson said: "The problem with some HIV drugs is that the virus can mutate and become resistant, but that's much harder to do in the presence of lectins.... (as they) can bind to the sugars found on different spots of the HIV-1 envelope, and presumably it will take multiple mutations for the virus to get around them. Read more here
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Fast Relief from Osteoarthritis Knee Pain from Pulsed Electromagnetic Waves
Research just presented at the Orthopaedic Research Society's annual meeting in New Orleans shows that electromagnetic pulses significantly decrease pain and inflammation associated with osteoarthritis of the knee.
In a double-blind, randomised placebo-controlled study, undertaken by researchers at the Henry Ford Hospital in Michigan, 34 patients used a portable battery-operated device that emits a low-intensity pulsating electromagnetic frequency and experienced more than 40 percent pain relief on their first day.
The lead researcher explained, "Our results show pulsed electromagnetic fields caused a significant decrease in pain.....(as) in the laboratory, electromagnetic signals have been shown to decrease calcium in cartilage cells. This sets off a series of chemical events that can lead to reduced inflammation." Read more here
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A recent study in the British Journal of Nutrition picks up the theme that compounds from Cocoa can have medicinal uses - especially in improving the blood flow to muscles.
Researchers at the University of South Adelaide gave single servings of either a high - or low - flavanol Cocoa drink to a sample of 21 overweight men and women. Two hours - and 10 minutes of cycling - later they found that the blood pressure of those who had taken the high-flavanol Cocoa was 14% lower than that of the low-flavanol sample.
The researchers believe that: "Cocoa flavanols may decrease cardiovascular risk and enhance the cardiovascular benefits of moderate intensity exercise in at-risk individuals."
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Research just published in the journal of Integrative Cancer Therapies indicates that one particular species of Astragalus - Astragali Radix - when used as a main ingredient in a herbal 'tea', could help patients with cancer-related anorexia (and associated cachexia). Both body weight and appetite were found to be improved amongst those taking the concoction. There are around 2,000 different species of Astragulus, which has been used in TCM as Huang qi - and has been described as Milk Vetch in the UK - "the senior of all herbs" (Essentials of the Materia Medica from 1694). Read more here
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A new "Selective Seratonin Re-Uptake Inhibitor" (SSRI) pill for dogs has just gone on sale in the UK.
This is claimed to overcome the depression-related problems dogs face when you leave them alone - issues that end up with them barking or whining - urinating or defecating 'inappropriately' - chewing things - pacing up and down, etc.
The manufacturers explain that your dog is not a 'bad dog' - it is suffering from separation anxiety.
Whilst the side effects of the drug include symptoms that appear to be similar to the health problems they are claimed to solve - including, lethargy, vomiting, diarrhoea, reduced appetite, excessive barking, restlessness (pacing up and down), aggression - and in some cases seizures, the manufacturers claim that 73% of dogs "improved their behaviour" in the trials.
Read more here
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Mind over Matter Helps Reduce Sub-acute and Chronic Low Back Pain - Inexpensively
There may be a simple way to treat low back pain - by using 'mind over matter'. A new study just published in the Lancet looked at two different, non-drug related interventions.
In this study, researchers from the University of Warwick found that by using psychotherapy - 6 sessions of group cognitive behaviour therapy - they could improve recovery from lower back pain (vs a 'control group' who only received a 15-minute medical management advice session) by 59% (vs 31%); an almost doubling in the rate of improvement.
The researchers interpreted the study and explained that: "Over 1 year, the cognitive behavioural intervention had a sustained effect on troublesome sub-acute and chronic low-back pain at a low cost to the health-care provider."
Read more here
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 A new study shows that flame retardants used on home, car and office furnishings lead to reduced sperm counts and measurably altered levels of hormones - related to thyroid function and fertility.
Whilst usage of some flame retardant chemicals (e.g. polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE)) have been reduced because of health concerns, other common flame retardants (e.g. tris (1,3-dichloro-2-propyl) phosphate (TDCPP) and triphenyl phosphate (TPP)) continue to be used increasingly. These flame retardants are more at risk of escaping into the air and affecting the local environment in your home, car, or office, because they are not chemically bonded to the products they are intended to protect.
In the current study, TDCPP - commonly used in cars - was found in 96% and TPP in 98% of the house dust samples.
Read more here
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A new study (of over 1,000 kidney cancer patients vs around 1,500 without cancer in 4 Central and Eastern European countries) just published in the journal Cancer, suggests that men who work in the sunlight (have a higher exposure to sun in their jobs) are far less at risk of kidney cancer.
Surprisingly this is not the same for women whose jobs expose them to more sunlight.
Whilst there are concerns about the exposure of skin to too much sunlight - which can cause skin cancer, the findings suggest that Vitamin D from sunlight may help prevent some cancers.
Read more here
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"ALL HUMANS ARE ALIENS FROM OUTER SPACE"
Last - but not least:
An astronomer from the 'Cardiff Centre for Astrobiology' - in an article entitled - "The astrobiological case for our cosmic ancestry" - has just claimed that we will soon discover that life on earth was originally 'seeded' from outer space.
If he is correct about "the cosmic origin of life on earth" - that would make us all "aliens".
Read more here
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Greetings!
Here's the latest breaking news on the most recent developments in Complementary and Natural Healthcare research - across the field.
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Will YOU be at the University of Westminster for the "Scientific Research in Homeopathy 2010" conference this weekend?
Last few tickets available! Click here to book |
Latest Complementary Medicine and Natural Healthcare World News
The World Health Organization (WHO) warned on Wednesday that newly confirmed human and poultry
cases of avian influenza this ...
High-Tech Tools Show How Acupuncture Works in Treating Arthritis, Back Pain, Other Ills
The combined impact of plant-derived dietary ingredients and acute stress on the intestinal arachidonic acid cascade in Atlantic salmon
Honey Bee Colony Collapse Explained: A combination of toxic chemicals and pathogens are probably to
blame for colony collapse disorder in honeybees, according to a study conducted
by researchers at Washington State University. Researchers conducted...
Memory May Decline Rapidly Even in Stage Before Alzheimer's Disease
Memory and thinking skills may decline rapidly for people who have mild
cognitive impairment, which is the stage before Alzheimer's disease when people
have mild memory problems but no dementia symptoms, and even more rapidly when
dementia begins, which is when Alzheimer's disease is usually diagnosed.
Effect of almond-enriched high-monounsaturated fat diet on selected markers of inflammation: a randomised, controlled, crossover study
What President Obama Didn't Say
... which would include attention to diet, nutrition, complementary
alternative medicine, and empowering states to move forward with
single-payer. ...
Study Explores Link Between Sunlight, Multiple Sclerosis
For more than 30 years, scientists have known that multiple sclerosis (MS) is
much more common in higher latitudes than in the tropics. Because sunlight is
more abundant near the equator, many researchers have wondered if the high
levels of vitamin D engendered by sunlight could explain this unusual pattern
of prevalence.
Prevalence, Patterns, and Costs of Chinese Medicine Use Among Prostate Cancer Patients: A Population-Based Study in Taiwan
Genes May Exert Opposite Effects in Diabetes and IBD
Pediatric researchers analyzing DNA variations in type 1 diabetes and
inflammatory bowel disease have found a complex interplay of genes. Some genes
have opposing effects, raising the risk of one disease while protecting against
the other. In other cases, a gene variant may act in the same direction,
raising the risk for both diseases.
A single dose of vitamin A improves haemoglobin concentration, retinol status and phagocytic function of neutrophils in preschool children
Can the Therapeutic Gain of Radiotherapy Be Increased by Concurrent Administration of Asian Botanicals?
Comparison of the protective effects of steamed and cooked broccolis on ischaemia-reperfusion-induced cardiac injury
Curcumin suppresses p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase activation, reduces IL-1β and matrix metalloproteinase-3 and enhances IL-10 in the mucosa of children and adults with inflammatory bowel disease
Previous Global Health News:
Most Medical Students Support Complementary Therapies
Almost three-quarters of respondents also say our medical system should include
complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). In the largest
national survey ...
Glucosamine: The 'alternative' remedy that GPs are happy to prescribe
By Andrew M Brown UK Last updated: February 11th, 2010 Fans of complementary
and alternative medicines sometimes accuse GPs of hostility to their favoured ...
Stop homeopathy funding, says Commons committee
The hard-hitting report will anger believers in complementary medicine,
including Prince Charles who set up a foundation to encourage integration of ...
Bill Gates Gives £3 million for Sleeping Sickness in Africa
Barrett says: "Our areas of expertise are complementary. This
should ensure we reach our goals in three years." The foundation also
funds the consortium for ...
Deadly Hybrid Flu Possible
"With the new pandemic H1N1 virus, people sort of forgot about H5N1 avian
influenza. But the reality is that H5N1 avian virus is still out
there," Kawaoka ...
Fungal Fumes Clear Out Crop Pests
A cocktail of compounds emitted by the beneficial fungus Muscodor albus may
offer a biologically based way to fumigate certain crops and rid them of
destructive pests.
African-Americans' Attitudes About Lung Cancer May Hinder Prevention
A new survey has found that African-Americans are more likely than whites to
hold mistaken and fatalistic beliefs about lung cancer, as well as being more
reluctant to consult a doctor about possible symptoms of the disease, according
to researchers from Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and their collaborators.
Ambient Air Pollution and the Progression of Atherosclerosis in Adults
Ostensibly,
our results suggest that air pollution may contribute to the acceleration of
cardiovascular disease development - the main causes of morbidity and mortality
in many countries.
Complementary Medicine for Breast Cancer
About 57 percent used
alternative/complementary options. The sicker a woman was the more likely she
was to use multiple therapies. Biologically based diet supplements and vitamins
were the most popular. The next most popular methods were mind-body therapies
using audiotapes, video and music therapy.
Official Recommended Intake for Vitamin D is Too Low
Due to current lifestyles
in the United States, most people do not spend sufficient time in the sun to
produce the higher serum D levels associated with optimal health.
Black-Americans are particularly vulnerable to low levels due to their darker
skin, which reduces the amount of UVB that reaches the 7-dehydrocholesterol in
the lower epidermis to produce previtamin D. Black-Americans have a 25% higher
mortality rate than White-Americans, and this difference may be explained in
terms of lower serum 25(OH)D levels.
Journal of American Association of Integrative Medicine debuts print edition
February 18,
2010 - The American Association of Integrative Medicine recently announced
their widely-received flagship periodical, the Journal of the American
Association of Integrative Medicine, will become a print publication starting
with its Spring, 2010 issue.
Acupuncture may relieve menstrual cramps - report
In a growing number of places, doctors trained in western medicine are
turning to acupuncture for their patients as a complementary treatment
to help ...
Alternative treatments offer options for cancer patients
Although the trauma of experiencing breast cancer frequently lasts with
survivors, an MSU professor has found complementary and alternative medicine,
...
New global health program at ASU takes a holistic view of complex health ...
Though complementary to traditional international public health
training, the MA in global health takes a long-term and holistic view of
difficult health ...
Prince of Wales says spiritual care can help healing process
The heir to the throne, who is a long-standing supporter of complementary
and alternative medicine, made his comments on Friday morning after
meeting ...
Digital Thermography: The Safer Breast Screening, with Early Detection
Bringing together the best of complementary, conventional (modern), and
natural medicine-Progressive is integrative medicine at its
finest. ...
Ancient Chinese Exercise May Improve Blood Sugar, Blood Pressure
Today it is used as a mind-body practice in complementary and
alternative medicine where it is sometimes referred to as "moving
meditation. ...
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The Evidence YOU Need!
Complementary & Alternative Medicine: The Scientific Verdict on what Really Works, written by Dr Steve Bratman and edited by Jayney Goddard is an enormous collection of scientific trials across the field of Complementary Medicine and Natural HealthCare. Jayney Goddard says: "In order to edit Dr Bratman's excellent work I had to look at the results of over 10,000 trials - the vast majority of which were RCTs. It was painstaking work but a very useful addition to the current literature in the complementary medical field. This book makes those thousands of trials accessible to all readers with even a basic understanding of the tenets of complementary medicine. It is, however, particularly useful to CAM practitioners and students and also to conventional medics who would like to know more about the evidence base for CAM."
Price £20.00 + P&P
Available from The CMA or by calling us on 0845 129 8434
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What is The CMA?
As you probably know, The Complementary Medical Association is one of the world's largest Professional Membership bodies for highly qualified Complementary Medical Practitioners, CAM Students and Training Colleges. However, there is so much more to us than that - More . . . | |
