I was a little miffed upon seeing an email sent out today from a prominent online alternative/natural information publisher. The claim was that : According to the “American Poison Control Centers,” the number of deaths resulted from taking vitamins is ZERO. I am all for natural integrative medicine, herbs, supplements and vitamins but I found that this statement was more than a little irresponsible. Why? This is crucial for you to know… Read more on Can Your Supplements Kill You? | Dr.Steve’s Bottom Line…
Dr.Steve’s BOTTOM LINE: Prevention of cancer rather than suffering, treatment side effects, misery and death is THE goal as we move into the future. For the past 20 years or so researchers and big pharma have begun to appreciate this and various pharmaceuticals have been tested in clinical trials. The most memorable were Tamoxifen and Raloxifene to prevent breast cancer. There are many other examples as we being to understand the exact biochemical pathways which cause each type of cancer. In most cases, these prevention drugs target ONE biochemical pathway at at time. This is perhaps the purest scientific way to find out what works but, as we find out what pathways exist, attacking or interrupting them at multiple points at a time seems like a better idea. Enter the herbs of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). They have been reputed to prevent cancer for eons. Do they work and why? Read more on Herbal Cancer Prevention: Scientific Proof!|Dr.Steve’s Bottom Line…
Dr.Steve’s BOTTOM LINE: In order to find out if acupuncture, or any other treatment, works for high blood pressure a randomized clinical trial needs to be done. This means, comparing one treatment to another (i.e. in this case real vs. sham acupuncture) where the treatment is randomly selected (i.e. a flip of the coin to determine which treatment you get). Fortunately, there have been some. Unfortunately, not many and of variable quality. Simply publishing a “report” that something “works” is not highly scientific and can lead to the wrong answer…..often. So, when taken as a group what do these randomized trials say about acupuncture for treatment of high blood pressure? Read more on Acupuncture for High Blood Pressure| Dr.Steve’s Bottom Line…
Dr.Steve’s BOTTOM LINE: Juzentaihoto is a mixture of Rehmannia root, Astragalus root, Cinnamon bark, Peony root, Atractylodes rhizome, Cnidium rhizome , Angelica root, Ginseng, Hoelen, some Glycyrrhiza root. This traditional Chinese medicine mix has been reputed to be a stimulator of the immune system and helping fatigue and anemia. This small study in patients who underwent major hip surgery looked at how effective it was in boosting red blood cells. How effective was it? Read more on Run Down? Anemic? Herbal Juzentaihoto | Dr.Steve’s Bottom Line…
Dr.Steve’s BOTTOM LINE: There are health risks for postmenopausal estrogen and women, especially those at risk for breast cancer or have had estrogen sensitive cancer, are steering clear of prescription estrogens. MenoProgen is an estrogen-free natural herbal product made with five well-known “herbal food” extractions. The question is, does it work to relieve postmenopausal symptoms and is it safe? Read more on Menoprogen Estrogenic? Helpful for Menopause? Safe? |Dr.Steve’s Bottom Line…
Backache? Headache? Take a Toothpick to Your Teeth!
Dr. Steve’s BOTTOM LINE: At first this may sound looney tunes, unless you know something about acupressure points, but certain teeth are within the appropriate meridiens to affect pain control over the head, back, and parts of the chest and abdomen. This study from NY Medical College looked at pain parameters and found that downward pressure on specific teeth or use of a toothpick can alleviate discomfort as an emergency measure. They also looked at measure of cancer control in this area, but I’m not sure there is enough plausibility to support that. Having said that, their measurements were pretty objective so some credibility has to be ascribed here. Read on to find out which teeth can help with a natural backpain or headache remedy, from the published study itself Read more on Backache? Headache? Take a Toothpick to Your Teeth!…