For people coping with chronic pain, a brief training in mindfulness meditation could help improve pain management. In a recent study that tested meditation's effect on perception of pain, meditation-trained participants had less of a response to pain while meditating and even experienced less pain sensitivity when they weren't meditating.

The study involved three experiments in which harmless electrical shocks were delivered to participants in gradual increments. Among those who'd undergone three daily 20-minute meditation-training sessions, researchers observed a significantly reduced sensitivity to pain. The study's authors suggest that meditation may help practitioners tune into the present moment rather than dwelling on the negative emotions caused by pain.

Past studies indicate that meditation may benefit people suffering from low back pain. Mind-body practices such as yoga, guided imagery, and tai chi may also ease stress, lessen anxiety, boost well-being, and even provide some symptom relief for people with other types of chronic pain.

Protein extracted from pumpkin rind could help fight off yeast infections, a new study suggests.

The study focused on a number of germs, including Candida albicans (C. albicans), a type of fungus known to cause vaginal yeast infections. In lab experiments on cell cultures, scientists discovered that the pumpkin-rind protein Pr-2 hindered the growth of C. albicans without harming cells. The study's authors suggest that Pr-2 could be used in a natural medicine for treating yeast infections in humans.

A condition estimated to occur in three out of four women over the course of their lifetime, vaginal yeast infection may be triggered by the use of antibiotics, oral contraceptives, or steroids. Yeast infections also often affect women who are pregnant, diabetic, or in their post-menopausal [link: http://altmedicine.about.com/cs/womenshealth/a/Menopause.htm] years. Natural remedies thought to relieve yeast infections include probiotics and tea tree oil.

When it comes to easing chronic low back pain in minority populations, yoga may make for a sound alternative to standard treatment. That's the key finding from a recent study of 30 back-pain-plagued adults, all of whom were recruited from community health centers that serve racially diverse, low-income neighborhoods. Use of yoga and other complementary therapies for low back pain is fairly uncommon among minorities and low-income individuals, possibly due to lack of access to such treatments, according to the study's authors.

For 12 weeks, participants either took part in weekly, 75-minute yoga classes (focusing on meditation and breathing in addition to yoga poses) or received standard treatment for their back pain. Members of the yoga group were also given yoga CDs, mats, and props in order to keep up a daily yoga practice at home.

By the study's end, pain had decreased by one-third among those practicing yoga (compared to just 5 percent in the participants receiving standard care). What's more, pain medication use in the yoga group dropped by 80 percent, but remained the same among the other study members.

Energy therapies such as reiki and therapeutic touch hold promise as a means of relieving pain associated with a number of conditions, according to a recent research review.

For the review, investigators analyzed 66 clinical studies on reiki, therapeutic touch, and other biofield therapies (a class of complementary therapies that use energy to stimulate the body's innate healing abilities). In reiki, for instance, energy is said to be transmitted through the practitioner from a universal energy source to the client, which in turn improves the client's flow of vital energy. Therapeutic touch, meanwhile, involves placing the hands over the client's body (without making contact) in order to rebalance disruptions in energy flow and promote healing.

The researchers found strong evidence that biofield therapies can reduce pain intensity in free-living populations, along with moderate evidence that such therapies can lower pain in hospitalized people and cancer patients. What's more, the therapies appear to alleviate agitated behaviors in people with dementia, as well soothe anxiety in hospitalized individuals.

For older adults with osteoarthritis of the knee, taking up tai chi may help lessen pain and boost physical functioning, according to a recent study. A gentle Chinese martial art, tai chi involves slow, rhythmic movements that help induce relaxation and improve balance, strength, and flexibility.

For the study, 20 participants (average age: 65) took part in a one-hour tai chi session twice weekly for 12 weeks. The session included 10 minutes each of self-massage and breathing exercises in addition to tai chi movement.

Meanwhile, 20 other participants attended twice-weekly hour-long classes that included instruction on diet, nutrition, and arthritis therapies, as well as 20 minutes of stretching exercises.

At the study's end, participants in the tai chi group showed a significantly greater decrease in knee pain than those who didn't practice tai chi. The tai chi sessions also appeared to improve physical functioning and health status, as well as protect against depression.

A type of probiotic bacteria may help treat colitis, a recent study on mice suggests.

Probiotics are beneficial bacteria that are naturally present in the digestive tract. When taken in supplement form, probiotics are said to boost immunity and enhance digestive health.

In the recent study, scientists focused on mice with colitis (a condition marked by inflammation of the colon). A form of inflammatory bowel disease, colitis often results in painful sores, rectal bleeding, abdominal cramping, and weight loss.

Study results showed that a probiotic called Bacillus polyfermenticus helped reduce rectal bleeding and inflammation in the mice. The study also found that mice treated with the probiotic gained more weight and had greater angiogenesis (a process necessary for wound-healing) in their colon tissue when compared to mice that didn't receive Bacillus polyfermenticus.

Past studies indicate that aloe vera and boswellia may also benefit colitis patients.

Preliminary research indicates that antioxidants extracted from ginkgo biloba may help shield cells from radiation damage.

For the study, scientists worked with human white blood cells collected from healthy donors (ages 18 to 50). After treating half the cells with ginkgo biloba extract and half with a salt solution, the researchers exposed all the cells to a type of radiation often used in cancer treatment. Results suggested that ginkgo helped protect against radiation poisoning, most likely to due to the herb's antioxidant effects.

An herb used medicinally for thousands of years, ginkgo biloba is thought to stimulate circulation. Although research on ginkgo biloba's health effects is still fairly limited, studies suggest that the herb shows promise in the treatment of early-stage Alzheimer's disease, tinnitus, asthma, Raynaud's disease, and macular degeneration.

Eating flaxseed may help cut your cholesterol, according to a recent research review.

Sifting through 28 studies (with a total of more than 1,500 participants), investigators found that consumption of flaxseed was linked to significant decreases in total cholesterol and LDL ("bad") cholesterol. However, flaxseed did not appear to considerably alter levels of HDL ("good") cholesterol. What's more, flaxseed's cholesterol-lowering effects were more apparent in females (especially postmenopausal women) and people with higher cholesterol levels.

Rich in fiber and heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids, flaxseed has been shown to benefit people with diabetes, menopausal symptoms, and high blood pressure in previous studies.

Since whole flaxseeds may pass through your intestine undigested, nutrition experts often suggest grinding flaxseed (in a coffee grinder, for instance) before adding it to cereals, smoothies, and other foods.

New research shows that taking up a mind-body exercise program could help cancer patients fight fatigue. A common side effect of chemotherapy, fatigue may make cancer patients more prone to depression.

For the study, researchers focused on 269 cancer patients (ages 20 to 65) who were undergoing chemotherapy or treatment for advanced disease. For six weeks, study members joined in an exercise program that included three weekly high-intensity workout sessions (lasting 90 minutes each and combining cardiovascular exercise with strength training) and one weekly body-awareness session (including practices such as stretching, deep breathing, and Pilates). The program also involved four weekly half-hour sessions of relaxation training, as well as two weekly half-hour massage sessions.

Among the 235 participants who completed the study, researchers observed a decrease in fatigue and an increase in vitality. What's more, the study members showed improvements in physical functioning, as well as in mental and emotional wellbeing.

To tap into the heart-healthy effects of garlic, consider choosing the freshly crushed herb over the dried variety. In a recent study, researchers found that fresh-crushed garlic may be richer in hydrogen sulfide (a compound said to relax the blood vessel and stimulate circulation).

For the study, investigators fed freshly crushed garlic and processed garlic to lab rats recovering from simulated heart attacks. While both types of garlic reduced damage to the heart, the fresh-crushed form more effectively restored blood flow to the aorta. The study's authors attribute this effect to the presence of hydrogen sulfide, a substance that dried garlic is unable to produce.

Past studies have shown that garlic may moderately cut cholesterol and help keep blood pressure in check. A popular cold remedy, garlic has also been found to possess virus-fighting properties.