Alternative therapies in health and medicine
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Altern Ther Health Med · Sep 2014
Clinical TrialA novel, multi-ingredient supplement to manage elevated blood lipids in patients with no evidence of cardiovascular disease: a pilot study.
Recent changes in usage guidelines have created the potential for millions more Americans to be prescribed statin medications. Caution should be advised because the risk of adverse effects of statins may outweigh their benefits and preclude their preventive use for patients without confirmed cardiovascular disease (CVD) who present with elevated blood lipids. However, statins have shown some benefit in primary CVD prevention. Red yeast rice (RYR) is a dietary supplement that has been demonstrated to reduce low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels in blood and omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids have been shown to reduce blood levels of triglycerides (TGs). Although effective, quality control issues aggravate risk of adverse effects for both of these supplements. Furthermore, low dosages per capsule, which require patients to manage and consume many capsules per day, also may reduce patient compliance to supplementation regimens. ⋯ The MIS supplement decreased total cholesterol and LDL significantly and offers a promising therapy for the management of cholesterol that may enable better patient compliance. The addition of an omega-3 supplement also decreased TGs in the subgroup that received both therapies, although this decrease was not significant, potentially because of the underpowered size of the subgroup. The research team plans future studies with more robust lipid testing and larger numbers of participants to support the findings of the current study.
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Altern Ther Health Med · Jul 2014
Review Meta AnalysisEffects of moxibustion or acupoint therapy for the treatment of primary dysmenorrhea: a meta-analysis.
CONTEX: Primary dysmenorrhea (PD) is a common gynecological syndrome that is characterized by cramping in the lower abdomen during menstruation, particularly during puberty. Treatment for PD includes a variety of pharmacological, nonpharmacological, and surgical options. Although studies supporting use of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) have helped in the proliferation of its comprehensive therapy, their results do not determine with certainty whether moxibustion and acupoint therapy are better for the treatment of PD than nonacupuncture-related therapy. ⋯ Moxibustion and acupoint therapy can relieve pain effectively for individuals with PD, and these treatments have advantages in overall efficiency. Because of limitations on the quantity and quality of the included studies and the lack of a large, multicenter study, the research team's conclusion has yet to be substantiated.
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Altern Ther Health Med · Jul 2014
Randomized Controlled TrialRandomized, controlled trial of qigong for treatment of prehypertension and mild essential hypertension.
Hypertension treatments include sodium restriction, pharmacological management, and lifestyle modifications. Although many cases of hypertension can be controlled by medication, individuals may experience side effects or incur out-of-pocket expenses, and some may not comply with the treatment regimen. Although some previous studies have shown a favorable effect for qigong on hypertension, well-designed, rigorous trials evaluating the effect of qigong on hypertension are scarce. ⋯ The results indicate that qigong may be an effective intervention in reducing BP in prehypertension and mild hypertension. Further studies should include an appropriate sample size and methodology to determine the mechanism of qigong on BP.
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Altern Ther Health Med · May 2014
Randomized Controlled TrialA randomized, controlled trial of acupuncture for chronic low-back pain.
Chronic low-back pain (cLBP) is a common condition throughout the world, and acupuncture is widely sought for treatment. As clinical evidence for the benefits of acupuncture grows, acupuncture for cLBP is receiving increased recognition and acceptance by both patients and professionals. Time method acupuncture has been previously researched with respect to chronic gastritis. ⋯ Accompanying routine acupuncture with time method acupuncture can enhance the efficacy of treatment and the persistence of its benefits in individuals with cLBP.