About Alternative Medicine

Green Tea May Benefit the Brain

2009-12-23T06:00:21Z

A compound found in green tea may help shield brain health, a new study shows.

For the study, researchers focused on amyloid plaques (substances known to damage brain cells and cause loss of memory, language, and motor function). Amyloid plaques are associated with the development of Alzheimer's disease.

In a series of lab experiments, the scientists found that a combination of the green tea compound epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) and a chemical called DAPH-12 caused amyloid structures to break apart and dissolve. The study's authors suggest that EGCG shows promise in the treatment of amyloid-based diseases, but caution that the compound's effects need to be further explored in other studies.

In an earlier study, published in 2006, researchers analyzed tea consumption among 1,0003 older adults and discovered that those who drank the most green tea were the least likely to show signs of weakened brain function.

Green tea may also protect against gum disease and stroke, according to other previous research.

Green Tea May Benefit the Brain originally appeared on About.com Alternative Medicine on Wednesday, December 23rd, 2009 at 06:00:21.

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Curcumin May Fight Breast Cancer

2009-12-22T12:00:18Z

A combination of curcumin (a compound found in the curry spice turmeric) and piperine (a substances derived from black peppers) could help protect against breast cancer by targeting stem cells, according to a recent study.

In lab experiments, scientists discovered that applying curcumin and piperine to breast cells helped decrease the number of stem cells (which are known to promote tumor growth) while having no effect on normal cells. By limiting the number of stem cells, the study's authors suggest, it may be possible to inhibit tumor growth.

In past research on animals, curcumin has been found to help reduce risk of progestin-accelerated breast cancer (a type of breast cancer thought to be particularly common among women receiving a combined estrogen and progestin hormone replacement therapy).

Other studies indicate that curcumin may help lower risk of Alzheimer's disease, diabetes, cataracts, and skin cancer.

Curcumin May Fight Breast Cancer originally appeared on About.com Alternative Medicine on Tuesday, December 22nd, 2009 at 12:00:18.

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Pine Bark May Preserve Eyesight in Diabetics

2009-12-21T23:02:01Z

New research shows that an extract of pine bark may benefit people in the early stages of diabetic retinopathy. A leading cause of blindness among people with diabetes, diabetic retinopathy occurs when leaky blood vessels damage the retina (a light-sensitive layer of tissue at the back of the inner eye).

For the study, researchers treated 46 diabetic patients with daily doses of the pine bark extract (called Pycnogenol) or a placebo tablet for three months. All patients had early-stage retinopathy, which is marked by swelling resulting from capillaries leaking fluid into the retina.

Study results showed that 18 of the 24 participants treated Pycnogenol had improvement in their vision, while no such improvements were observed in the placebo group. What's more, all 22 patients in the placebo group maintained the same swelling they'd had at the start of the study.

The study's authors suggest that pine bark extract may help stimulate circulation in the retina and inhibit swelling, which in turn may improve vision.

Pine Bark May Preserve Eyesight in Diabetics originally appeared on About.com Alternative Medicine on Monday, December 21st, 2009 at 23:02:01.

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Herbal Cigarettes No Safer Than Regular Cigarettes

2009-12-18T06:00:33Z

Cigarettes made with a blend of medicinal herbs and tobacco are no healthier than regular cigarettes, a new study finds. Increasingly popular throughout the world, herbal cigarettes are marketed as safer and less addictive than regular cigarettes.

For the study, researchers compared 135 people who smoked herbal cigarettes with 143 people who smoked regular cigarettes. Analyzing the participants' urine samples, they found no significant difference in four key markers that indicate delivery of nicotine and carcinogens.

Sizing up study members' responses to a questionnaire about their cigarette choices, the researchers also found that 24 percent of participants switched to herbal cigarettes because they believed the products to be a healthier alternative. What's more, most people who switched to herbal cigarettes reported an increase in the number of the cigarettes they smoked daily.

There are a number of natural remedies that may be helpful to those attempting to quit smoking. These include acupuncture, St. John's wort, ginseng, and hypnotherapy.

Herbal Cigarettes No Safer Than Regular Cigarettes originally appeared on About.com Alternative Medicine on Friday, December 18th, 2009 at 06:00:33.

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Exercise Therapy May Ease Knee Pain

2009-12-17T12:00:11Z

Exercise therapy may help soothe severe knee pain more effectively than standard care, according to a recent study.

Researchers focused on 131 patients (ages 14 to 40) with patellofemoral pain syndrome, a condition marked by pain at the front of the knee during or after exercise. For 12 months, 65 of the patients took part in a supervised exercise program, while the other 66 participants were assigned to usual care (a "wait and see" approach that involved resting during periods of pain and avoiding pain-triggering activities).

After three months, the exercise-therapy group reported significantly less pain and better physical function than patients receiving usual care. After 12 months, members of the exercise-therapy group continued to show lower pain levels. There was no significant difference in physical function between the two groups by the study's end, however.

In previous studies, exercise therapy has been found to alleviate pain in people with conditions like arthritis, chronic low back pain, and fibromyalgia.

Exercise Therapy May Ease Knee Pain originally appeared on About.com Alternative Medicine on Thursday, December 17th, 2009 at 12:00:11.

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Cranberries for UTI Prevention

2009-12-17T06:00:28Z

A new study shows that taking cranberry supplements may help fend off urinary tract infections.

Researchers recruited 10 postmenopausal women (ages 46 to 60) who had developed more than three episodes of urinary tract infection in the previous year (or more than two episodes in the past six months). For six months, study members took cranberry supplements daily. Results showed that the supplements were effective in the prevention of urinary tract infection.

Cranberry contains compounds called proanthocyanins, which appear to protect against urinary tract infections by stopping bacteria from sticking to the walls of the urinary tract. The second most common infection after respiratory infection, urinary tract infections may cause a frequent urge to urinate and a painful feeling when urinating (among other symptoms).

In past studies, cranberry has also been found to help prevent peptic ulcer disease and gum disease.

Cranberries for UTI Prevention originally appeared on About.com Alternative Medicine on Thursday, December 17th, 2009 at 06:00:28.

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Fighting Infection With Vitamin D

2009-12-10T06:00:01Z

Vitamin D may be crucial to fending off infection, according to a recent report. But as many as 70 percent of the U.S. population may be D-deficient, says report author Adrian Gombart, a principal investigator with the Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University.

The report highlights vitamin D's role in inducing the expression of cathelicidin, a compound integral to the immune system's first line of defense against wounds, bacteria, and viruses. The report also underscores vitamin's D's role in reducing risk for conditions such as cancer, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, and influenza. Vitamin D appears to curb inflammation, keep blood pressure in check, and protect against heart disease as well.

D deficiency may be particularly prevalent during the winter months, when lack of sunlight exposure slows up the body's synthesis of the vitamin. In order to maintain optimal levels of vitamin D, many health experts recommend taking a daily supplement.

Fighting Infection With Vitamin D originally appeared on About.com Alternative Medicine on Thursday, December 10th, 2009 at 06:00:01.

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Supplement May Help Halt Liver Damage

2009-12-09T06:00:08Z

The supplement S-methylmethionine (SMM) may help defend against a common cause of liver damage, according to a recent study. SMM is a molecule found at high levels in a number of plants, including cabbage and wheat.

In tests on mice, researchers discovered that SMM protected against liver toxicity induced by intake of acetaminophen, a pain reliever found in Tylenol and other over-the-counter medicines used to treat conditions like headache, muscle aches, arthritis, back pain, toothaches, colds, and fevers. While acetaminophen isn't considered harmful when consumed at normal levels, excessive intake may lead to the buildup of byproducts known to cause severe liver damage. In fact, acetaminophen overdose is the most common cause of liver failure and liver transplantation in the U.S., according to the study's authors.

If you're looking to reduce your use of acetaminophen, consider trying an herbal remedy that may help ease pain-triggering inflammation. A number of anti-inflammatory herbs (including white willow bark and devil's claw) have proven useful in managing pain-causing conditions in previously published studies.

Supplement May Help Halt Liver Damage originally appeared on About.com Alternative Medicine on Wednesday, December 9th, 2009 at 06:00:08.

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Flaxseed Oil May Fight Osteoporosis

2009-12-08T06:00:03Z

Flaxseed oil may shield bone health in women at risk for osteoporosis, according to a recent animal study.

In tests on female rats that were in a post-menopausal state and/or had diabetes, scientists found that adding flaxseed oil to the diet helped raise levels of osteocalcin (a protein known to build bone). What's more, levels of urinary deoxypyridinoline (a marker of osteoporosis-related bone breakdown) appeared to fall when rats were fed flaxseed oil.

The study's authors suggest that taking a dietary supplement of flaxseed oil may reduce osteoporosis risk among women with diabetes. While diabetes appears to hamper the process of bone mineralization, the authors explain, intake of the omega-3 fatty acids found in flaxseed oil may help build bone and prevent osteoporosis.

In past studies, a number of other natural substances (including vitamin D, vitamin K, and calcium) have been found to strengthen bone and lower osteoporosis risk. Performing weight-bearing exercises also appears to preserve bone health.

Flaxseed Oil May Fight Osteoporosis originally appeared on About.com Alternative Medicine on Tuesday, December 8th, 2009 at 06:00:03.

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Green Tea May Guard Liver Health

2009-12-03T06:00:28Z

Green tea may help protect liver health, according to a new animal study. In tests on rats, scientists discovered that green tea prevented the development of liver fibrosis (a condition marked by buildup of collagen and other proteins in the liver). The study's results suggest that green tea may help reduce the deposition of collagen fibers in the liver (an organ responsible for aiding in digestion and clearing waste products from the blood).

Occurring in most types of chronic liver disease, liver fibrosis may lead to life-threatening problems like cirrhosis and liver failure. Typically triggered by inflammation, liver fibrosis causes no symptoms and usually affects people who have an underlying liver disorder.

In past studies, natural remedies such as milk thistle and probiotics have also been shown to boost liver health. However, if you have a liver disorder, it's crucial to work with a physician in treating your condition rather than attempting to self-treat with herbs and other natural substances.

Green Tea May Guard Liver Health originally appeared on About.com Alternative Medicine on Thursday, December 3rd, 2009 at 06:00:28.

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