Research Results by Date

Research spotlights of selected studies are shown below. For a full list of published NCCAM Research to-date, see PubMed.

Spotlights for 2008

National Survey Reports on CAM Use by Adults and Children

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)

NCCAM Researchers Investigate Effects of Cocoa in People With Hypertension

Essential hypertension is characterized by both endothelial dysfunction and insulin resistance. (December 2008)

Reiki Does Not Improve Fibromyalgia Symptoms in Clinical Trial

People with fibromyalgia often turn to complementary and alternative therapies, such as Reiki, to help relieve their pain. (November 2008)

Brain-Imaging Study Explores Analgesic Effect of Acupuncture

Brain imaging has been used to explore how acupuncture relieves pain. (November 2008)

Green Tea May Help Protect Against Rheumatoid Arthritis

Green tea may affect rheumatoid arthritis by causing changes in immune responses. (November 2008)

Understanding the Placebo Effect May Help To Optimize Health

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)

Ginkgo biloba Does Not Prevent Dementia in Large Study of Older Adults

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)

Half of Surveyed Physicians Use Placebo Treatments for Patients

Results of a recent national survey of U.S. physicians’ current attitudes toward and use of placebo treatments. (October 2008)

Glucosamine and Chondroitin Fare No Better Than Placebo in Slowing Cartilage Loss From Knee Osteoarthritis

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)

Researchers Investigate Effects of Ginkgo Biloba on Stroke-Related Brain Injury in Mice

Previous animal studies have indicated that an extract from leaves of the Ginkgo biloba tree may protect against stroke-related brain injury. (October 2008)

A Review of St. John's Wort Extracts for Major Depression

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)

Electroacupuncture May Help Alcohol Addiction

Alcohol and drug addiction pose serious medical, social, and economic problems in the United States. (October 2008)

Echium Oil Reduces Triglyceride Levels in Mice

High triglyceride levels have been recognized as a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. (October 2008)

Electroacupuncture Relieves Cancer Pain in Laboratory Rats

The researchers concluded that electroacupuncture eases cancer pain in rats, at least in part by inhibiting spinal dynorphin. (October 2008)

Hypnosis May Reduce Hot Flashes in Breast Cancer Survivors

Hot flashes are a problem for many menopausal women and a common side effect of breast cancer treatment. (September 2008)

Lifestyle Changes May Affect Cell-Level Processes Related to Disease

Disease risk, progression, and premature mortality have been linked to telomeres, which are protective DNA-protein complexes that keep cells genetically stable. (September 2008)

Massage Therapy May Ease Pain and Improve Mood in Advanced Cancer Patients

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)

Laboratory Study Shows Black Cohosh Promotes Bone Formation in Mouse Cells

Research suggests that black cohosh (Actaea racemosa) extracts may stimulate bone formation, a finding that has potential implications for treating osteoporosis. (September 2008)

Study Shows One-Fifth of Internet-Available Ayurvedic Medicines Contain Toxic Metals

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)

Two Studies Explore the Potential Health Benefits of Probiotics

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)

Tai Chi Chih Improves Sleep Quality in Older Adults

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)

Metabolism Issue Focuses on Botanicals and Metabolic Syndrome

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)

Tai Chi May Help Heart Failure Patients Sleep Better

Practicing tai chi may improve sleep patterns in people with chronic heart failure. (July 2008)

Pomegranate Extract May Be Helpful for Rheumatoid Arthritis

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)

Study Suggests Vitamin E May Help People With Asthma

The form of vitamin E commonly found in foods may be a useful additional treatment for asthma. (July 2008)

Grape Seed Extract May Help Prevent and Treat Alzheimer's

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)

Prostate Genes Altered by Intensive Diet and Lifestyle Changes

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)

St. John's Wort Shows No Impact on the Symptoms of ADHD

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 Enhance Immune Function in People With HIV

Stress management interventions may improve immune function and coping skills in HIV-positive individuals. (June 2008)

Study Tests Theory About Prolotherapy Injections for Knee Pain

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)

New Research Gives Insight Into How Acupuncture May Relieve Pain

Acupuncture typically involves a period of active needle stimulation, followed by a longer period of rest. (June 2008)

CAM Provider Use and Expenditures During Cancer Treatment

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)

Pilot Study Provides New Insight on Effect of Ginkgo Extract on Dementia in the Elderly

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)

Botanical Research Centers Featured in American Journal of Clinical Nutrition

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

Study Sheds Light on the Placebo Effect of Medical Encounters (April 2008)

Aromatherapy May Make Good Scents, But Does It Work?

Lemon and lavender scents have no effect on immune status, wound healing, or pain control, but lemon may enhance mood. (April 2008)

Dietary Supplements: Inpatient Policies in US Children's Hospitals

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)

Botanicals May Help Conditions Associated with Aging

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)

Meditation May Increase Empathy

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)

Acupuncture Shows Promise in Improving Rates of Pregnancy Following IVF

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)

Chinese Herbal Formula May Be Helpful for Peanut Allergies

A study in mice shows that a Chinese herbal formula may help prevent dangerous reactions to peanuts. (March 2008)

Study Points to Cost-Effectiveness of Naturopathic Care for Low-Back Pain

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)

Research Shows Promise of Pineapple Extract for Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Researchers have found that bromelain - an enzyme derived from pineapple stems- might be able to reduce inflammation in IBD. (March 2008)

Flaxseed Reduces Some Risk Factors of Cardiovascular Disease

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)

Research Results by Date

Spotlights for 2008

2008

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