Research Results by Date
2008
- According to the 2007 National Health Interview Survey, 38 percent of U.S. adults and 12 percent of children use some form of complementary and alternative medicine. (December 2008)
- Essential hypertension is characterized by both endothelial dysfunction and insulin resistance. (December 2008)
- People with fibromyalgia often turn to complementary and alternative therapies, such as Reiki, to help relieve their pain. (November 2008)
- Brain imaging has been used to explore how acupuncture relieves pain. (November 2008)
- Understanding how the brain governs the placebo effect—a beneficial health outcome resulting from the expectation that an intervention will be effective—may help clinicians’ efforts to improve health. (November 2008)
- A multi-year, placebo-controlled clinical trial involving 3,069 older adults found that ginkgo did not reduce the incidence of overall dementia and Alzheimer’s. (November 2008)
- Green tea may affect rheumatoid arthritis by causing changes in immune responses. (November 2008)
- Results of a recent national survey of U.S. physicians’ current attitudes toward and use of placebo treatments. (October 2008)
- A 2-year study of 572 people with moderate or severe knee osteoarthritis found that glucosamine and chondroitin were no more effective than placebo in slowing loss of knee cartilage. (October 2008)
- Previous animal studies have indicated that an extract from leaves of the Ginkgo biloba tree may protect against stroke-related brain injury. (October 2008)
- Researchers reviewed the scientific literature on St. John’s wort for major depression and analyzed findings from randomized, double-blind studies comparing St. John’s wort extracts with placebo and standard ... (October 2008)
- Alcohol and drug addiction pose serious medical, social, and economic problems in the United States. (October 2008)
- High triglyceride levels have been recognized as a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. (October 2008)
- The researchers concluded that electroacupuncture eases cancer pain in rats, at least in part by inhibiting spinal dynorphin. (October 2008)
- Hot flashes are a problem for many menopausal women and a common side effect of breast cancer treatment. (September 2008)
- Disease risk, progression, and premature mortality have been linked to telomeres, which are protective DNA-protein complexes that keep cells genetically stable. (September 2008)
- Symptom relief is an important part of end-of-life care, and small studies have suggested that massage therapy may benefit people with advanced cancer. (September 2008)
- Research suggests that black cohosh (Actaea racemosa) extracts may stimulate bone formation, a finding that has potential implications for treating osteoporosis. (September 2008)
- Nearly 21 percent of the Ayurvedic medicines tested were found to contain detectable levels of lead (most common), mercury, or arsenic. All metal-containing products exceeded one or more standards for acceptable daily... (August 2008)
- Previous studies indicate that probiotics may have a role in treating gastrointestinal illnesses, boosting immunity, and preventing or slowing the development of certain types of cancer. (July 2008)
- Practicing tai chi may improve sleep patterns in people with chronic heart failure. (July 2008)
- The pomegranate has been used for centuries to treat inflammatory diseases, and people with RA sometimes take dietary supplements containing a pomegranate extract called POMx. (July 2008)
- The form of vitamin E commonly found in foods may be a useful additional treatment for asthma. (July 2008)
- Tai chi chih may serve as an effective alternative approach to treatments that focus on improving sleep quality in people with moderate complaints. (July 2008)
- A special supplement of the journal Metabolism describes research aimed at strengthening the scientific evidence base for using botanicals to understand and combat metabolic syndrome. (July 2008)
- Authors of a new study in mice found that grape seed-derived polyphenolics—similar to that in red wine—significantly reduced Alzheimer’s disease-type cognitive deterioration. (June 2008)
- A recent pilot study suggests that intensive lifestyle and diet changes may alter gene expression (the way a gene acts) in the prostate—possibly affecting the progression of prostate cancer. (June 2008)
- Researchers at Bastyr University conducted an 8-week randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind trial of St. John’s wort among a volunteer sample of 54 children aged 6 to17 years with ADHD. (June 2008)
- Stress management interventions may improve immune function and coping skills in HIV-positive individuals. (June 2008)
- Because people may not respond to standard treatments such as rest, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and corticosteorid injections, prolotherapy is becoming increasingly popular as an alternative treatment... (June 2008)
- Acupuncture typically involves a period of active needle stimulation, followed by a longer period of rest. (June 2008)
- More than a quarter of cancer patients visited complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) providers during treatment, accounting for 1 percent or less of all treatment costs. (May 2008)
- A review of a pilot study of a ginkgo biloba extract for delaying the onset of dementia in the elderly to see if a reduction in progression to dementia could be detected in those using ginkgo versus those using placebo. (May 2008)
- The February 2008 issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition features eight articles from the NIH Botanical Research Centers Program, which are co-funded by the NIH Office of Dietary Supplements and NCCAM. (April 2008)
- Study Sheds Light on the Placebo Effect of Medical Encounters (April 2008)
- A recent study found substantial variation in policies and policy quality regarding dietary supplement use in children’s hospitals, even though more than 30% of children in the U.S. take dietary supplements regularly. (April 2008)
- To evaluate the effectiveness of botanicals for conditions such as high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, cognitive decline, insulin resistance, and excess fats in the blood, researchers conducted a literature... (April 2008)
- Lemon and lavender scents have no effect on immune status, wound healing, or pain control, but lemon may enhance mood. (April 2008)
- Research at the University of Wisconsin has used advanced brain images to show that compassion meditation may increase the human capacity for empathy. (March 2008)
- A study in mice shows that a Chinese herbal formula may help prevent dangerous reactions to peanuts. (March 2008)
- A review of seven clinical trials of acupuncture given with embryo transfer in women undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF) suggests that acupuncture may improve rates of pregnancy. (March 2008)
- Researchers studying low-back pain treatments found a naturopathic approach with a range of options?acupuncture, exercise and dietary advice, relaxation training, and a booklet?was more cost-effective than the employer’... (March 2008)
- Researchers have found that bromelain - an enzyme derived from pineapple stems- might be able to reduce inflammation in IBD. (March 2008)
- A clinical trial by researchers at the University of Pennsylvania Health System explored the effects of flaxseed on various cardiovascular risk factors in adults. (February 2008)
