Month: January 2014
Addiction Expert: Prescribing Painkillers is Not the Only Option
By Tammy Strickling Medical practitioners are writing millions of prescriptions for drugs such as Vicodin, Percocet and OxyContin, which contain compounds derived from opium—one of the world’s most powerful painkillers— in an effort to relieve Americans of pain after acuter injuries or operations. These powerful opioids – the standard inRead
NEW RESEARCH: Enzyme cIAP2 Gatekeeper of Cell Death in Influenza
NEWS McGill researchers, led by Dr. Maya Saleh of the Department of Medicine, have identified an enzyme, cIAP2 that helps the lungs protect themselves from the flu by giving them the ability to resist tissue damage. “It’s a discovery that offers exciting new avenues for controlling influenza, since untilRead
Integrative Solutions for Thyroid Autoimmune Disease
Autoimmune diseases are a group of disorders in which the immune system dysfunctions and attacks host tissues. Although the pathogenesis of autoimmune thyroid disease has not been elucidated, there are several factors that have been associated with the disorder. Factors include genetic predisposition, nutrient deficiencies, use of certain medications affecting thyroid function, and environmental factors including exposure to radiation, heavy metals, and chemical contaminants. Thyroid disorders are often treated with drug therapy, which often have serious side effects and do not necessarily treat the underlying condition leading to the thyroid dysfunction. In recent years there has been increased interest in herbs and supplements as individuals take more interest in their health and well being…
Valter Longo, PhD: Differential Stress – Effects of Fasting on Cancer
Interview by Craig Gustafson / Sponsored by the Oncology Association of Naturopathic Physicians 2014 Conference The following is a two-part excerpt of an interview with Valter Longo, PhD. for Integrative Medicine, A Clinician’s Journal, Dec. 2013. Part one of the interview is below, regarding cancer research and fasting. Part twoRead
Drug-Induced Nutrient Depletions and Diabetic Therapy from Jim LaValle, CCN, RPh
A challenge facing heath care professionals in treating the pre-diabetic and diabetic patient today is the problem of complications arising from polypharmacy prescribing and resulting drug-induced metabolic imbalances. With approximately 48% of people in the United States taking prescription medications…
New research suggests kava may prevent lung tumors in smokers
A new study on a special preparation for kava root from the University of Minnesota and Texas Tech University may help explain low rates of lung cancer despite tobacco smoking. Rates of cancer in the South Pacific Islands of Vanuatu, Fiji and Western Samoa are dramatically lower than those inRead
Google’s new contact lens measures blood sugar
Digitizing patient care, a revolution with a slow download speed
By Kimberly Lord Stewart The digital age of medicine is upon us. Sophisticated digital technology tools like a Google contact lens can measure blood sugar from tears (see the story here), and biosensors can continuously monitor blood pressure opposed to the few minutes the patient is in the exam room. Read
Acupuncture for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
ABSTRACT / Given that the etiology of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is believed to be multidimensional, interventions generally have been nonspecific and typically produce only mild to moderate effects. In medical practice, treatment for CFS remains largely symptomatic. Preliminary evidence of the efficacy of acupuncture for CFS is available, butRead
Op/Ed: Curcumin Bioavailability & Efficacy
Editor’s Note: This opinion column is in reference to an article posted earlier this month. Clinical Utility of Curcumin Extract, by Gary N. Asher, MD, MPH; Kevin Spelman, PhD (visible in the attached slideshow). In the article, Asher and Spelman discuss the potential for curcumin and the barriersRead