Medical Travel

NCCAM's Advisory Council Welcomes Six New Members

The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) welcomes six new members to the National Advisory Council for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. The council serves as the principal advisory body to NCCAM, the lead federal agency for research on complementary medicine, and a component of the National Institutes of Health.

In the News: Resveratrol

Resveratrol is a naturally occurring chemical found in red wine and other plant products and is sometimes sold as a dietary supplement. Recently, a study funded by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute looked at how resveratrol works at the cellular level, identifying how it may provide its health benefits.

In the News: Placebo Effect

Recently, several news outlets have been highlighting research studies of the placebo effect. The placebo response can be defined as the benefit patients receive from a treatment that has no active components. Researchers are using innovative study designs to untangle the complexities of the placebo effect.

Soy Protein Supplements Do Not Reduce Plaque in Arteries of Postmenopausal Women

Soy protein supplements containing isoflavones do not significantly reduce the progression of atherosclerosis (build-up of plaque in the arteries) in postmenopausal women, according to a recent study published in the journal Stroke. However, a subgroup analysis of this study showed that soy supplements may benefit women who had experienced menopause within the last 5 years. Isoflavones are compounds similar to the female hormone estrogen and act like estrogen in some tissues. Previous epidemiological and laboratory research has suggested that isoflavones extracted from soybeans may have cardioprotective effects and may be a safe therapeutic alternative to hormone therapy for postmenopausal women.

Message from the Director: New Directions

The need for careful research on complementary and alternative health practices remains compelling. Tens of millions of Americans are spending $34 billion per year (mostly out-of-pocket) on a variety of complementary approaches, most often without any solid evidence about safety or usefulness.

The opportunities to make real differences in some very challenging health issues are equally compelling. After a decade of mainly exploratory research across a broad array of interventions, practices, products, and disciplines, emerging scientific evidence points toward the need for more targeted investment in selected complementary approaches.

Safe Use of Complementary Health Products and Practices

As with any treatment, it is important to consider safety before using complementary health products and practices. Safety depends on the specific therapy, and each complementary product or practice should be considered on its own.

Mind and body practices such as meditation and yoga, for example, are generally considered to be safe in healthy people when practiced appropriately. Natural products such as herbal medicines or botanicals are often sold as dietary supplements and are readily available to consumers; however, there is a lot we don’t know about the safety of many of these products, in part because a manufacturer does not have to prove the safety and effectiveness of a dietary supplement before it is available to the public.

Depression and Complementary Health Practices

Depression is a medical condition that affects nearly 21 million American adults each year, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. Mood, thoughts, physical health, and behavior all may be affected. Among the common symptoms of depression are persistent sad, anxious, or "empty" feelings; feelings of hopelessness, guilt, and/or worthlessness; restlessness or irritability; fatigue; difficulty concentrating; insomnia; overeating, or loss of appetite; and/or thoughts of suicide.

Many people with a depressive illness never seek treatment. But the majority, even those with the most severe depression, can get better with treatment. Depression can be treated effectively with conventional medicine, including antidepressants and certain types of psychotherapy.

Some people turn to complementary health products and practices for depression, including the dietary supplement St. John's wort; however, no complementary approach has been proven effective for the long-term treatment of depression. This issue provides information on "what the science says" about the effects of complementary health products for depression, including the dietary supplements omega-3 fatty acids, St. John's wort, valerian, as well as other complementary practices such as massage, relaxation techniques, and yoga.

Probiotics

Probiotics are live microorganisms (in most cases, bacteria) that are similar to beneficial microorganisms found in the human gut. They are also called "friendly bacteria" or "good bacteria." Probiotics are available to consumers mainly in the form of dietary supplements and foods.

Headaches and CAM

Headaches are one of the most common forms of pain. For some people a headache may be a minor irritation once or twice a year, while others can suffer disabling pain on an almost daily basis. Researchers are studying treatments for different types of headaches, including a number of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) therapies. This fact sheet provides basic information on headaches, summarizes research on the effectiveness and safety of selected complementary and alternative practices for headaches, and suggests sources for additional information. If you are considering a complementary and alternative therapy for headaches, this information can help you talk to your health care provider about it.

St. John's Wort

St. John's wort is a plant with yellow flowers whose medicinal uses were first recorded in ancient Greece. The flowering tops of St. John's wort are used to prepare teas, tablets, and capsules containing concentrated extracts. Liquid extracts and topical preparations are also used. Today, St. John's wort is used by some for depression, anxiety, and/or sleep disorders.

Cinnamon

This fact sheet provides basic information about cinnamon—common names, what the science says, potential side effects and cautions, and resources for more information.

Cinnamon comes from the bark of trees native to China, India, and Southeast Asia. A popular cooking spice in many cultures for centuries, cinnamon also has a long history of use as a folk or traditional medicine. For example, many ancient societies used cinnamon for bronchitis. Additional folk or traditional uses include gastrointestinal problems, loss of appetite, and control of diabetes, as well as a variety of other conditions.

Cinnamon bark is used to make powders, capsules, teas, and liquid extracts. Although there are many kinds of cinnamon, Ceylon cinnamon (sometimes referred to as "true" cinnamon) and cassia cinnamon (also known as Chinese cinnamon) are the most familiar.

NCCAM Clinical Digest: Headaches and Complementary Health Practices

Headaches are one of the most common forms of pain. More than 45 million Americans have headaches severe enough to require the help of a health care professional. Headaches occur when pain-sensitive nerve endings around the scalp, in the blood vessels that surround the skull, in the lining around the brain, and in other areas around the head send impulses to the part of the brain that interprets pain signals from the rest of the body. Some headaches are related to tender spots in head, neck, and shoulder muscles.

Headaches and CAM

Headaches are one of the most common forms of pain. For some people a headache may be a minor irritation once or twice a year, while others can suffer disabling pain on an almost daily basis. Headaches occur when pain-sensitive nerve endings around the scalp, in the blood vessels that surround the skull, in the lining around the brain, and in other areas around the head send impulses to the part of the brain that interprets pain signals from the rest of the body. Some headaches are related to tender spots in head, neck, and shoulder muscles.

New Job Opening: Health Specialist (Clinical Studies)

As a Health Specialist (Clinical Studies), you will perform the following tasks:

• Provide regulatory guidance for the design of NCCAM studies;
• Participate in development and implementation of procedures to establish and maintain coordination among the various components of clinical trials;
• Oversee the clinical monitoring/auditing of assigned studies;
• Oversee the process for clinical study site visits;
• Assist in the development of planning activities for potential future clinical studies; and
• Review the adequacy of information provided in proposals for clinical studies.

Message from the Director: A Role for Complementary Medicine?

Recent news reports about the decisions Steve Jobs made regarding his cancer treatment raise a recurring question that is timely and relevant for millions of people seeking to treat serious or life-threatening diseases: What is the role for complementary and alternative medicine?

For Low-Back Pain, Yoga More Effective Than Self-Care But Not Stretching

Yoga is more effective than a self-care book, but not more effective than stretching classes, in improving function and reducing symptoms of chronic low-back pain, according to a study. Results from previous smaller studies had suggested that yoga may have benefits for chronic low-back pain—a common condition lacking highly effective treatment options. Findings from the NCCAM-funded trial were published in the Archives of Internal Medicine.

In the News: Dietary Supplements Research

Three recently published studies have highlighted the use and research surrounding natural products.Vitamin E and the risk of prostate cancer: the Selenium and Vitamin E Cancer Prevention Trial (SELECT) in the Journal of the American Medical Association.Effect of increasing doses of saw palmetto extract on lower urinary tract symptoms: a randomized trial in the Journal of the American Medical Association.Monounsaturated, trans, and saturated fatty acids and cognitive decline in women in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.

New Go4Life Campaign Focuses On Fitness for Older Adults

Being physically active is vital to maintaining health and independence as we age, and a new federal campaign for people 50 and older will help them to get active and keep going. Introduced today by the National Institutes of Health, the Go4Life campaign encourages sedentary older adults to reap health benefits by making physical activity part of their daily lives. Only 25 percent of people aged 65–74 say they engage in regular physical activity.