Natural Standard Blog

Moxibustion and Fetal Health

A form of traditional Chinese medicine called moxibustion may not help turn breech fetuses over so that they are in a head-down position before birth, researchers report in the journal Obstetrics & Gynecology.

During moxibustion, an herb (usually mugwort) is burned above acupuncture points to treat medical conditions. Treatment may be applied in the form of a cone, stick or loose herb. It may also be placed on the head of an acupuncture needle to manipulate the temperature gradient of the needle.

Moxibustion has a long history of use for breech fetuses and can be self-administered at home. However, the available evidence of effectiveness has been inconsistent.

The latest study included 212 pregnant women with fetuses in breech position at 24 to 26 weeks of pregnancy. The women were randomly assigned to receive either moxibustion or no therapy for the remainder of the pregnancy. A midwife trained in acupuncture used moxibustion to stimulate acupoints on the toes three times weekly. The patients were also encouraged to self-administer the therapy at home the other four days of the week.

The authors found that the number of fetuses that turned in the moxibustion group (18 percent) was similar to the number in the control group (16 percent). “We observed no beneficial effect of moxibustion to facilitate the cephalic version of fetuses in breech presentation. Despite this lack of proven effectiveness, women had positive opinions on the intervention,” the authors concluded.

For more information about moxibustion, please visit Natural Standard's Health & Wellness database.

Natural Standard Featured in CAM Journal

Natural Standard research articles on medical conditions will be published regularly in the journal Alternative and Complementary Therapies.

Each article begins with a general overview of the medical condition, followed by integrative therapy options. The therapies are organized based on their evidence of effectiveness.

The current issue features Alzheimer’s Disease: An Integrative Approach. Alzheimer's disease is a progressive disorder in which neurons deteriorate, resulting in the loss of cognitive functions, primarily memory, judgment, reasoning, movement coordination and pattern recognition. The article discusses various therapeutic options, including ginkgo, sage, aromatherapy, bacopa and music therapy.

Alternative and Complementary Therapies, published by Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., provides the latest information on alternative therapies and how to integrate them into clinical practice. Topics include: botanical medicine, vitamins and supplements, nutrition and diet, mind-body medicine, acupuncture and traditional Chinese medicine, Ayurveda, indigenous medicine systems, homeopathy, naturopathy, yoga, meditation, manual therapies, energy medicine and the effect of spirituality on health.

Natural Standard subscribers can receive a 20 percent discount on the journal by entering the discount code "natural" at checkout. To learn more about the journal and to subscribe please visit www.liebertpub.com.

Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishes authoritative peer-reviewed journals, books and trade magazines in the most promising areas of biotechnology, biomedical research/life sciences, clinical medicine and surgery, alternative and complementary medicine, law, philanthropy and environmental science and sustainability.

Meat Linked to Prostate Cancer

Eating large amounts of red and processed meats may be linked to an increased risk of prostate cancer, researchers report in the American Journal of Epidemiology.

The authors followed 175,343 men in the United States who were 50-71 years old from 1995 until 2003. They recorded the participants’ meat consumption, including the type of meat they ate and how they cooked it, and monitored their iron levels, nitrite/nitrate intake and the number of prostate cancer diagnoses.

By the end of the study, 10,313 developed prostate cancer, of which 419 died.

After adjusting for various factors known to increase the risk of prostate cancer, the authors found that men who ate the most red meat were 12 percent more likely to develop prostate cancer and 33 percent more likely to develop advanced prostate cancer than those who ate the least amount.

Processed meat was also linked to a higher risk of prostate cancer. However, the authors noted that red processed meats (like hot dogs and bacon) were linked to a greater cancer risk than white processed meats (like turkey sandwich meat).

Grilling was the only cooking method that was linked to an increased risk of prostate cancer. It has been suggested that cancer risk may be increased by compounds called heterocyclic amines (HCAs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), which are formed when meat (especially red meat) is cooked at high temperatures. When heated, the amino acids, sugars and creatinine are converted into HCAs and PAHs, which have been linked to various cancers, including stomach, colorectal, pancreatic and breast cancers, in humans.

Nitrate intake was also correlated with an increased risk of the disease. Nitrates are preservatives that are added to processed and cured meats such as cold cuts and bacon. The preservatives have been associated with cancer-causing chemicals called nitrosamines.

This study supports growing evidence that too much meat may be unhealthy. Earlier studies suggest that red or processed meat may increase the risk of colon cancer and death (particularly from cancer and heart disease) and may be linked to age-related macular degeneration. Red meat also contains high amounts of saturated fats, which have been shown to increase the risk of heart disease.

Some other dietary changes may help reduce the risk of prostate cancer. For instance, eating fewer dairy products that are high in fat (like ice cream, cheese and sour cream) may be beneficial. Also, cruciferous vegetables (such as broccoli, cabbage and cauliflower) have been reported to contain cancer-fighting phytochemicals that may decrease the chances of developing prostate cancer.

The American Urological Association (AUA) encourages men who are in good health to have annual PSA testing starting at age 50, or at age 40 if they are in high-risk groups, such as African American men or those with histories of the disease. For more information on prostate cancer screening and prevention, please visit Natural Standard's Medical Conditions database.

For more information about integrative therapies for prostate cancer, please visit Natural Standard's Comparative Effectiveness database.

Lychee for Metabolic Syndrome

Lychee, a fruit native to Asia that is often used in desserts, may help treat a medical condition known as metabolic syndrome.

People with metabolic syndrome have three or more of following medical conditions: high blood pressure, high insulin levels, excess fat around the waist and high cholesterol. Metabolic syndrome increases the risk of diabetes, heart disease and stroke.

The study included 18 adults with waist circumferences of at least 85 centimeters (33.5 inches). They were randomly assigned to receive 100 milligrams of a lychee extract (Oligonol®) or placebo twice daily for 10 weeks.

People in the Oligonol® group experienced significant reductions in waste circumference of an average of three centimeters (1.2 inches) compared to the control group. Subcutaneous fat and abdominal fat were reduced by about six and 15 percent, respectively. The Oligonol® group also experienced improvements in insulin resistance and increases in adiponectin, a hormone that regulates various metabolic processes.

Although promising, these early results are limited by the small sample size. Additional research is needed to fully understand the potential relationship between lychee and metabolic syndrome.

For more information about body mass index, body weight and waist-to-hip ratio, please visit Natural Standard's Interactive Tools database.

Frequent Nasal Irrigation May Increase Infections

New evidence suggests that daily nasal irrigation may increase the risk of sinus infections.

Nasal irrigation with warm saline has been promoted as way to cleanse the sinuses and help prevent infections. However, using this therapy too often may not be beneficial.

The latest study, presented at the American College of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology (ACAAI) annual meeting, included 68 adults who used nasal irrigation frequently for one year and then stopped therapy for one year. The patients were compared to 24 control patients who did not discontinue nasal irrigation.

The researchers found that number of sinus infections decreased by 62.5 percent after the participants stopped using nasal irrigation. Additionally, after stopping nasal irrigation, they were 50 percent less likely to develop sinus infections than those who continued with daily therapy.

Mucus in the nose contains important immune system molecules that help the body fight against infections. Because nasal irrigation eliminates this mucus, the authors suspect that it may lead to an increased risk of infection.

For more information about nasal irrigation, please visit Natural Standard’s Health & Wellness database.

Antifungal Effects of Pumpkin Protein

Pumpkin rinds contain a protein that may help fight against fungal infections, researchers report in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry.

The protein, called Pr-2, exhibited antifungal effects against 10 different species, including Candida albicans, which is a common cause of yeast infections and diaper rash. Pr-2 also inhibited the growth of several fungi that are known to infect crops. The authors suggest that Pr-2 may work by targeting the cell wall of the fungi. However, the protein did not exhibit antibacterial effects.

Although the results are promising, additional research is needed before a firm conclusion can be made.

Pumpkin has traditionally been used to treat many other types of medical conditions, such as high blood pressure and diabetes, but evidence of effectiveness has not been proven.

For more information about integrative therapies for yeast infections, please visit Natural Standard’s Comparative Effectiveness database.