Natural Standard Blog

Natural Standard on BTV

Natural Standard will be featured in an upcoming special series on Bridgewater Television (BTV) about dietary supplements and integrative medicine.

In the upcoming special, Alicia Fortin, Producer of Bridgewater This Week and nationally recognized by the Alliance For Community Media for her work with Bridgewater Television, interviews Dr. Catherine Ulbricht, Founder and CEO of Natural Standard, about the Natural Standard Evidence-Based Validated Grading Rationale™ as well as several hot topics in integrative medicine. Dr. Ulbricht discusses how data are collected and analyzed in the unbiased production of Natural Standard comprehensive systematic reviews while exploring hot topics such as fish oil.

The Natural Standard Series Special will air on channel 9, in Bridgewater, Tuesdays at 9pm, Wednesdays at 8:30pm, Thursdays at 1:30pm, Fridays at 8:30pm and Saturdays at 9:30am through mid-August. The special will also be available on www.btvaccess.com, in the "Video On Demand" section.

BTV is a non-profit, community based, access television facility, located in Bridgewater, Massachusetts. Viewers of this special episode will receive a complimentary trial login to access all professional and consumer databases on www.naturalstandard.com.

NEW Google Search Interface

Natural Standard recently launched a new Google search interface allowing users to quickly search all Natural Standard databases and view the most relevant results fast.

This new technology allows clinicians, researchers and manufacturers to search for foods, herbs, supplements, alternative modalities and medical conditions separately or together. Search results provide finely tuned results at the top and Google's traditional search algorithm below.

In addition to the new Google search technology, Natural Standard also offers an Advanced Search feature. This feature allows users to filter their search by the following:

Reading level: Professional, Bottom line, Flashcard

Language: English, Spanish

Limit: Title, Text

Database: Food, Herbs & Supplements; Health & Wellness; Medical Conditions; Comparative Effectiveness; News & Events; Brand Names; Dictionary; References; Interactions; Charts & Tables; Depletions: Herbs & Supplements; Depletions: Drugs & OTCs

NEW LOOK: Journal of Dietary Supplements

Natural Standard subscribers are eligible to receive a 65 percent discount on a one-year subscription to the Journal of Dietary Supplements (JDS). Subscribers will receive four issues for $100. For only $25 per issue, subscribers have access to the latest research on vitamins, minerals, herbs and other substances that make up the multibillion-dollar dietary supplement industry. The journal addresses important issues that meet a broad range of interests, not only in integrative healthcare, but also in academic, regulatory and industrial sectors.

JDS (formerly the Journal of Herbal Pharmacotherapy), indexed by MEDLINE® and multiple other bibliographic databases, is a leading voice for anyone working with dietary supplements. The journal addresses important issues that meet a broad range of interests from researchers, regulators, marketers, educators and healthcare professionals. This vital tool not only presents scientific information but interprets it, helping readers more readily pass it on to students, patients or clients.

This resource is crucial for staying up to date with the burgeoning dietary supplement industry. It provides a much-needed forum to guide the industry's development as a science-based entity perpetuating Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs) and high quality clinical trials, leading to safe and effective therapeutic options.

JDS takes an evidence-based approach to presenting fully referenced research papers with an important effort toward "in the trenches" practical applications of that research. All submissions must meet the highest editorial standards and pass rigorous multidisciplinary peer review and fact checking prior to acceptance.

Each issue includes An Evidence-based Systematic Review by the Natural Standard Research Collaboration that consolidates the safety and efficacy data available in the scientific literature using a validated, reproducible grading rationale. This includes written and statistical analysis of clinical trials, plus a compilation of expert opinion, folkloric precedent, history, pharmacology, kinetics/dynamics, interactions, adverse effects, toxicology and dosing.

JDS accepts submissions in multiple categories including:

Original Articles in such areas as manufacturing, economic policy, ethics, law, health care delivery, and natural products informatics

Case reports of clinical cases

Clinical trials/meta-analyses

Review articles

Continuing Education Programs (CE/CME)

Editorials

Expert Interviews

Historical Perspectives

Conference Proceedings

To purchase a subscription, please e-mail healthcare.enquiries@informa.com or call 1.800.997.3892. When ordering, please enter the discount code: RI35610D.

Natural Standard Featured CE/CME: Green tea

Natural Standard's featured CE/CME for the month of July is Green tea: Safety & Effectiveness.

Green tea is made from the leaves of Camellia sinensis, an evergreen shrub native to Southeast Asia. Both green tea and black tea are made from the same plant species. Green tea is produced by lightly steaming the leaves. Black tea is produced by allowing the leaves to ferment. Traditional health claims for green tea include improved urine flow, relief of joint pain and improved resistance to diseases.

Natural Standard offers CE/CME modules for multidisciplinary healthcare professionals. Students and other users may take courses for training purposes without generating credit certificates. Continuing Education requirements differ based on discipline, license and location. If you are unsure of your specific needs, please contact your local agency.

Yoga May Improve Quality of Life for Asthma Patients

A new study suggests that practicing yoga may improve quality of life for women with asthma.

Yoga techniques use gravity, leverage and tension while holding poses for varying lengths of time. Ancient texts describe rapid breathing (kapalabhati) as cleansing and stimulating and slow breathing (nadisuddhi), particularly through alternate nostrils, as calming.

Yoga has undergone much scientific study, with various psychological and physical theories suggested. In human research, yoga has been shown to reduce heart rate and blood pressure, increase breath holding time and lung capacity, improve muscle relaxation and body composition, cause weight loss and increase overall physical endurance. Yoga may positively affect levels of brain or blood chemicals, such as monoamines, melatonin, stress hormones (cortisol) and GABA (gamma aminobutyric acid). Changes in several mental functions, including perception, attention, cognition, processing of sensory information and visual perception, are described in human research.

Multiple previous human studies report benefits of yoga (such as breathing exercises) when added to other treatments for mild-to-moderate asthma (such as standard drug therapy, diet or massage).

In a new study, researchers randomly assigned 19 women with asthma to a 10-week yoga training program or a control group. Quality of life was evaluated through the St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire and heart rate variability was measure through a handgrip exercise test.

After 10 weeks, the researchers found that quality of life significantly improved for women in the yoga group when compared to the control group. Heart rate variability measurements also improved significantly for those participating in yoga.

The authors concluded that yoga may be beneficial for women with asthma.

In addition to yoga, many other integrative therapies have been studied for their potential benefits in asthma patients. Choline is possibly effective when taken by mouth for asthma. Choline supplements seem to decrease the severity of symptoms, number of symptomatic days and the need to use bronchodilators in asthma patients. There is some evidence that higher daily doses might be more effective than lower daily doses. Additionally, family psychotherapy may slightly improve wheezing and thoracic gas volume for children with asthma.

For more information about integrative therapies for asthma, please visit Natural Standard's Comparative Effectiveness Database.

For more information about yoga, please visit Natural Standard's Health & Wellness Database.

Drinking Caffeinated Coffee May Reduce Risk for Skin Cancer

Drinking caffeinated coffee may reduce the risk for the most common form of skin cancer, basal cell carcinoma (BCC), according to a recent study.

BCC accounts for nearly 90 percent of all skin cancers. Basal cells are cells that line the deepest layer of the epidermis (the outermost layer of the skin). An abnormal growth of cells in this deep layer is known as BCC. Although BCC can usually be diagnosed with a simple biopsy, has a low rate of metastasis and is fairly easy to treat when detected early, 5-10 percent of BCCs may be resistant to treatment. BCC may invade bone and cartilage, and if not treated appropriately and early, it may be very difficult to eliminate.

Caffeine is a naturally occurring compound found in the leaves, seeds or fruits of more than 60 plants, including coffee beans, cacao beans, kola nuts, guarana berries and tea leaves (including yerba mate and green tea). Caffeine is consumed regularly in the United States and throughout the world, as it is found in many beverages, including coffee, chocolate, some energy drinks and tea. Medicinally, caffeine may be useful as a cardiac stimulant and to increase urine flow. Caffeine has been shown to affect mood, stamina, the cerebral vascular system, and gastric and colonic activity.

In a new study, researchers analyzed data on 22,786 BCC cases, 1,953 squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) cases and 741 melanoma cases from the Nurses' Health Study and the Health Professionals Follow-up Study to assess the potential relationship between skin cancer risk and caffeine consumption.

The researchers found that men and women with the highest daily caffeine intake from any source had a 13 percent and 18 percent reduced risk of BCC, respectively, when compared to those with the lowest intake. Furthermore, women who consumed more than three cups of caffeinated coffee daily had a 21 percent reduced risk of BCC when compared to those who drank less than one cup. Men who drank over three cups had a 10 percent reduced risk. The authors noted that significant associations between caffeine intake and SCC or melanoma were lacking.

The authors concluded that drinking caffeinated coffee may reduce the risk for developing BCC. Additional research is needed to further evaluate these findings.

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

For more information about caffeine, please visit Natural Standard's Foods, Herbs & Supplements Database.

Low-Fat Diet Linked to Fewer Menopausal Symptoms

A new study suggests that losing weight while on a low-fat diet may reduce symptoms such as hot flashes and night sweats in postmenopausal women.

Menopause begins naturally when the ovaries start making less estrogen and progesterone, the hormones that regulate menstruation. The process usually begins in a woman's late 30s. By that time, fewer potential eggs for fertilization are found in the ovaries each month, and ovulation is less predictable. Progesterone (the hormone that prepares the body for pregnancy) levels drop and fertility declines. These changes are more pronounced in the 40s, as are changes in menstrual patterns. The woman's period may become longer or shorter, heavier or lighter, and more or less frequent. Eventually, the ovaries cease to function and there are no more periods. It is possible, but very unusual, to menstruate every month right up to the last egg is released, although a gradual tapering off is more common. Symptoms associated with menopause include hot flashes and/or night sweats; trouble sleeping; vaginal dryness; mood swings; trouble focusing and, less commonly, hair loss on the head but increased hair on the face. About 85 percent of women experiencing menopause will have hot flashes.

In a new study, researchers analyzed data on 17,473 postmenopausal women 50-79 years-old from the Women's Health Initiative Dietary Modification trial to evaluate the effects of a low fat diet rich in whole grains and fruit and weight loss on menopausal symptoms, such as night sweats and hot flashes. None of the women included were taking hormone therapy.

The researchers found that women maintaining a diet low in fat and high in whole grains and fruit were significantly more likely to eliminate menopausal symptoms when compared to a control group. Furthermore, women who lost at least 10 pounds or 10 percent of their body weight were significantly more likely to eliminate menopausal symptoms when compared to those who did not lose weight.

The authors concluded that losing weight while on a low-fat diet rich in whole grains and fruit may reduce menopausal symptoms. Additional research is warranted.

Many integrative therapies have been studied for their effects on menopausal symptoms. Foods rich in phytoestrogens may help alleviate symptoms of menopause, such as vaginal dryness, burning, itching, painful intercourse and decreased interest in sex. Additionally, black cohosh is a popular alternative to prescription hormonal therapy for the treatment of menopausal symptoms. Initial human research suggests that black cohosh may improve some symptoms for up to six months. However, the current evidence is mixed and more studies are needed to make a strong conclusion.

For more information about integrative therapies menopausal symptoms, please visit Natural Standard's Comparative Effectiveness Database.

For more information about low fat diets, please visit Natural Standard's Health & Wellness Database.

Natural Standard Training

Sign up for a free online training session to learn more about Natural Standard's decision-support tools.

Natural Standard provides high-quality, evidence-based information about integrative therapies to help healthcare professionals and consumers make safer, more educated decisions about health.

Natural Standard is an international multidisciplinary collaboration that includes contributors from more than 100 eminent academic institutions. Research teams systematically gather scientific data and expert opinions to develop comprehensive monographs that are designed to facilitate clinical decision making. For each therapy, the available scientific evidence of effectiveness is evaluated using the Natural Standard Evidence-Based Validated Grading Rationale™. All monographs undergo blinded peer review prior to inclusion in Natural Standard databases.

These guided tours will demonstrate how to navigate the various databases and cross reference medical conditions and therapies.

Thu, Jul 19, 2012 2:00 PM - 2:45 PM (EST)

Thu, Jul 26, 2012 2:00 PM - 2:45 PM (EST)

Thu, Aug 2, 2012 2:00 PM - 2:45 PM (EST)

Thu, Aug 9, 2012 2:00 PM - 2:45 PM (EST)

Thu, Aug 16, 2012 2:00 PM - 2:45 PM (EST)

Thu, Aug 23, 2012 2:00 PM - 2:45 PM (EST)

After registration, attendees will receive e-mail confirmation with information on how to join the webinar.

System Requirements: PC-based attendees: Windows® 7, Vista, XP or 2003 Server. Macintosh®-based attendees: Mac OS® X 10.4.11 (Tiger®) or newer

Natural Standard Research Collaboration Award

The Natural Standard Research Collaboration is offering an award for subscribing academic institutions to present to an exemplary 2012 graduating class member for perpetuating multidisciplinary, evidence-based research practices, healthcare communications or information. Each healthcare discipline and journalism school within a university is eligible for one award per department.

Natural Standard would like to congratulate all of the recent award recipients, including Candice Carbaugh from University of Hawaii; Jamie Wagner from Midwestern University; Aileen Chu from University of Southern California; Milanka Petrovic from LECOM School of Pharmacy; Adrian Hui from St. John Fisher College; Michael Perry from Nova Southeastern University; Chelsie Brooke Heesch from University of Wisconsin; Tracy Jones from Minnesota College of Pharmacy; Calista Jones from University of Charleston; Benjamin Woo from Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences and Corey McEwen from University of Mississippi.

Each award recipient will be granted the following:

Natural Standard Award Certificate

Natural Standard Herb & Supplement Guide Book

Natural Standard Medical Condition Reference Book: An Integrative Approach

Natural Standard Herbal Pharmacotherapy Book: An Evidence-Based Approach

Natural Standard Professional Database: one-year personal subscription

Natural Standard Mobile Version: one-year personal subscription

Journal of Dietary Supplements: one-year personal subscription

To offer this award at your institution, please email memberservices@naturalstandard.com.

Complimentary Webinar

Natural Standard is offering a series of complimentary webinars on integrative medicine. Natural Standard offers these impartial webinars as an informational public service. All webinars are recorded and archived at www.naturalstandard.com/webinars.

Chronic hepatitis: Integrative Care Cases: Jared Frost, PharmDc, presents several patient cases detailing the safety and effectiveness of integrative therapies for chronic hepatitis. He discusses the scientific evidence, dosing, safety and interactions related to various therapies. Complimentary access will be available starting August 1, 2012.

Recipe of the Month: Summer pea, watermelon, and farro salad

Natural Standard's featured healthy recipe for the month of July is the Summer pea, watermelon, and farro salad.

This low calorie, heart healthy, high fiber, vegetarian recipe is an easy and delicious dish for the hot summer months.

Natural Standard's new Recipe Database features a wide range of healthy recipes in the following categories: Beans & Legumes, Dairy, Eggs, Fruit, Meat, Pasta, Poultry, Rice & Grains, Seafood, Vegetables and Nuts, Fats & Oils.

Natural Standard welcomes submissions of non-copyrighted healthy recipes for inclusion in the Recipe Database. If you would like to submit a recipe, please email recipes@naturalstandard.com.

For more information, please visit Natural Standard's Recipe Database.

Natural Standard Answers Questions About Statins

Dr. Catherine Ulbricht, Founder and CEO of Natural Standard, authored a new blog for Wellness Times.

In the new blog, Dr. Ulbricht answers several questions about statin medications. Questions include:

Will dietary supplements interact or interfere with my statin medication?

I seem more tired since I've been taking my statin medication. Is that a side effect? If it is, what can I do about it?

What is the most serious side effect of my statin medication that I should be aware of?

When should I call my doctor if I am experiencing side effects with my statin medication?

Is there anything else I need to know about my statin medication?

To read the full blog, please visit www.wellnesstimes.com.

Natural Standard in The Scientist

Dr. Catherine Ulbricht, Founder and CEO of Natural Standard, authored a new blog for The Scientist.

Titled "Polypharmacy," the new blog discusses the recent expansion of the dietary supplement market and the pros and cons associated with these therapies. Dr. Ulbricht reviews the potential for both beneficial and harmful interactions with prescription medications, as well as side effects.

To read the full blog, please visit www.the-scientist.com.

Bridgewater Television Interviews Natural Standard

Dr. Catherine Ulbricht, Founder and CEO of Natural Standard, was recently interviewed by Bridgewater Television (BTV) in a special series about dietary supplements and integrative medicine.

Alicia Fortin, Host of Bridgewater This Week, interviewed Dr. Ulbricht about the Natural Standard evidence-based grading rational™ as well as several hot topics in integrative medicine.

The Natural Standard Series Special will air on channel 9, in Bridgewater, and will also be available on www.btvaccess.com, in the "Video On Demand" section.

Viewers of this episode will receive a complimentary trial login to Natural Standard.

Bridgewater Television is a non-profit, community based, access television facility, located at 80 Spring Street, Bridgewater, MA 02324.

Natural Standard on Wellness Times

Dr. Catherine Ulbricht, Founder and CEO of Natural Standard, authored a new blog for Wellness Times.

Understanding Eye Disorders: Dr. Ulbricht reviews several common eye disorders, including vision problems, conjunctivitis, uveitis, xerophthalmia (dry eye) and keratitis. She discusses the signs and symptoms of these conditions, as well as treatment options and integrative therapies with scientific evidence of benefit. To read the full blog, please visit www.wellnesstimes.com.

Herpes labialis: An Integrative Approach

Natural Standard is offering a series of complimentary webinars on integrative medicine. Natural Standard offers these impartial webinars as an informational public service. All webinars are recorded and archived at www.naturalstandard.com/webinars.

Herpes labialis: An Integrative Approach: Anna Elizabeth Polk, PharmDc, presents several patient cases detailing the safety and effectiveness of integrative therapies for herpes labialis. She discusses the scientific evidence, dosing, safety and interactions related to various therapies.

Complimentary access is now available.