Natural Standard Blog

Journal of Dietary Supplements: Call for Papers

Natural Standard, an international research collaboration that aggregates and synthesizes data on complementary and alternative therapies, invites researchers to submit articles to Journal of Dietary Supplements (JDS) - an international peer-reviewed forum for original research and review articles that focus 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.

The journal has an online submission system available at http://mc.manuscriptcentral.com/wjds. Full instructions for uploading submissions will appear online.

Natural Standard subscribers are eligible to receive a 60 percent discount on a one-year subscription to the journal. Subscribers will receive four issues for $100. Natural Standard also invites JDS authors to present their findings in webinars, which will be posted on the Natural Standard Web site (www.naturalstandard.com/webinars).

For more information, please e-mail jds@naturalstandard.com.

Catherine Ulbricht, PharmD: Chief Editor, Journal of Dietary Supplements, Co-Founder, Natural Standard Research Collaboration (ulbricht@naturalstandard.com).

Wendy Chao, PhD: Associate Editor, Journal of Dietary Supplements, Science Editor, Natural Standard Research Collaboration (wchao@naturalstandard.com).

Daniel Falatko: Managing Editor, Informa Medicine Journals (Daniel.Falatko@informausa.com).

David DeLuca: Electronic Production Manager, Informa Business Information (David.DeLuca@informausa.com).

The distinguished editorial board includes the following internationally known scientists:

• Brent A Bauer, MD, FACP: Director, Complementary and Integrative Medicine Program, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN.
• William Benda, MD: Assistant Clinical Professor, Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of California, San Francisco.
• Mark Blumenthal: Founder & Executive Director, American Botanical Council, Austin, TX.
• William Benda, MD: University of California, San Francisco, Board of Trustees, American Holistic Medical Association.
• Edzard Ernst, MD, PhD, FRCP, FRCP (Edin.): Professor of Complementary Medicine, Peninsula Medical School, Exeter, UK.
• Bradly Jacobs, MD, MPH: Founder and Director, Institute of Healthy Living, Sausalito, CA.
• Karta Purkh S. Khalsa, CD-N, RH: Botanical Medicine, Bastyr University, Eugene, OR.

2010 Publication Schedule

Cover month	Online Publication	Print Publication
Volume 7, Issue 1 (March)	1/29	2/26
Volume 7, Issue 2 (June)	5/1	5/28
Volume 7, Issue 3 (September)	8/1	8/27
Volume 7, Issue 4 (December)	11/3	11/26

Immunotherapy for Peanut Allergies

In two small studies, peanut allergies improved in children who took low doses of peanut allergens that gradually increased over time.

Exposing a person to low doses of a known allergen, a technique called immunotherapy, is not a new concept. The goal of immunotherapy is to desensitize the patient so that the body builds up a tolerance to the allergen. For example, immunotherapy has been used to treat seasonal allergies and vaccine allergies.

Peanut allergy is the leading cause of severe allergic reactions in children and adults in the United States. Even trace amounts of peanut can cause serious reactions in sensitive people. According to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, about 20 percent of patients with peanut allergies naturally outgrow them.

In the first study, 15 children received very small, gradually increasing doses of peanut powder, while eight children received a placebo for one year. By the end of the study, children in the peanut group were able to tolerate an average of 15 peanuts before developing allergic responses.

The second study included 12 children who had been treated with peanut powder beginning at 32 months of age and ending at five years of age. One month after discontinuing immunotherapy, the children were given peanuts. Nine of the participants were able to tolerate the peanuts and are now able to include them in their diets.

The findings, which were presented at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, support earlier studies, which suggested that immunotherapy may help treat peanut and milk allergies.

Because food allergies can be potentially life threatening, immunotherapy is not recommended for general use. Until the safety of this treatment is tested in a larger population, people with allergies should avoid foods that trigger their allergies.

For more information about food allergies, please visit Natural Standard's Medical Conditions database.

Natural Standard Book Earns Rave Review

Patrick Morrison, an Honorary Professor of human genetics at the universities of Queens Belfast, Nottingham Trent and the University of Ulster, recently reviewed Natural Standard Herbal Pharmacotherapy: An Evidence-Based Approach in the Ulster Medical Society Journal, and called it “an excellent guide to herbal pharmacotherapies.”

The reference tool provides practical guidance on the use of herbal therapies for medical conditions. It is designed to be an essential part of herbal pharmacy core curricula for healthcare disciplines.

Chapters are organized by medical condition and present supportive evidence, including potential mechanisms of action and dosing, for selected herbal therapies. The chapters also include integrative therapy plans to help clinicians quickly assess patient needs and create cohesive treatment plans.

“This is an excellent book which fills the large gap in evidence that existed in this area,” Dr. Morrison states.

Several resources, including animations, Appendix C, Appendix D, Chapter 31, Grades A-F Tables and References, are available on the Evolve Web site. To order a copy of the book, please click here.

Natural Standard Review on GI Disorders Published

A Natural Standard review article on gastrointestinal disorders is featured in the latest issue of Alternative and Complementary Therapies.

The article begins with a basic overview of gastrointestinal disorders. The severity of gastrointestinal disorders varies significantly, depending on the specific type of the disease. Some disorders (such as indigestion) are mild, while others (such as Crohn's disease) are chronic. GI disorders may cause difficulty digesting food, absorbing nutrients or having normal bowel movements.

Various integrative therapy options are organized based on their evidence of effectiveness. Some of the featured therapies include calcium, probiotics, zinc, cranberry, fennel, artichoke, hypnotherapy, peppermint, psyllium and soy.

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 spiritual healing.

Natural Standard research articles on medical conditions will be published regularly in the journal. 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.

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

Acupuncture for Drug-Induced Joint Pain

New evidence suggests that acupuncture may help treat some of the common side effects of hormonal drugs called aromatase inhibitors.

Aromatase inhibitors, such as anastrozole (Arimidex®), exemestane (Aromasin®) and letrozole (Femara®), are used to treat hormone-receptor-positive breast cancer in postmenopausal women. The drugs lower blood levels of estrogen, a hormone that stimulates the growth of these cancer cells. Although aromatase inhibitors are considered effective for early-stage cancer, nearly half of people taking them experience pain and stiffness in the joints and muscles.

The researchers studied 43 women with breast cancer who reported joint pain associated with aromatase inhibitors. The participants were randomly assigned to either true acupuncture or sham acupuncture twice a week for six weeks. During the sham acupuncture, a superficial needle was inserted into non-acupoints. All of the participants continued taking aromatase inhibitors.

At the beginning of the study and three and six weeks after treatment, pain was assessed using the Brief Pain Inventory-Short Form (BPI-SF), Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) and the Modified Score for the Assessment of Chronic Rheumatoid Affections of the Hands (M-SACRAH).

According to the results, published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, true acupuncture significantly improved joint pain and stiffness after six weeks. In addition, 20 percent of the patients who reported taking pain-relieving medications no longer needed them after acupuncture treatment. No significant improvements were reported in the sham group.

The authors concluded that "acupuncture is an effective and well-tolerated strategy for managing this common treatment-related side effect."

Although this study is promising, additional research involving a larger sample size is needed to confirm these findings.

Scientific evidence supports the use of acupuncture for several other indications, including osteoarthritis, chronic pain, post-operative pain, dental procedures, endoscopy-related pain, fibromyalgia and several types of nausea and vomiting.

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

Webinar Forum: Introduction to Clinical Aromatherapy for Healthcare Environments

Natural Standard is offering a series of upcoming 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.

This month, Pam Conrad, RN, BSN, PGd, CCAP, discusses the application of aromatherapy techniques in clinical healthcare settings. In addition to conducting local, national and international lectures on aromatherapy, Conrad also teaches clinical aromatherapy and complementary therapy studies as a faculty at Purdue University.

To listen to the webinar, please click here. Complimentary access to the webinar is available March 1-31, 2010.

FDA: Ear Candles May Be Unsafe

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is warning patients and health professionals not to use ear candles because they may cause “serious injuries,” even when used as directed.

Ear candling, also called thermo-auricular therapy or coning, is a home remedy used for outer-ear hygiene and for general well-being. During an ear-candling session, a wax-impregnated fabric tube is inserted into the outer ear. It is then ignited and burns for about 10 minutes. (Since the tube is hollow, wax and burnt fabric may enter the outer ear.)

Some proponents claim that ear candles help treat earaches, sinus infections, tinnitus (ringing in the ears), sinus pain and pressure and vertigo. Some ear candlers propose that the process removes ear wax during the ear-candling session. Others allege that the procedure warms and softens ear wax, thus aiding its subsequent elimination. Another benefit cited is that smoke and heat directed into the outer ear may dry up moisture that might otherwise increase the risk of infection.

However, the FDA cautions that supportive evidence of effectiveness is lacking. Additionally, the agency has received reports of burns, perforated eardrums and blocked ear canals after use. According to the FDA, these products may be especially unsafe in children because they may be more likely to move during the procedure, and they have smaller ear canals.

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

Natural Standard on CBC News

CBC News in Canada consulted Natural Standard for an investigative report on the controversial Herbal Magic® weight-loss program.

The program includes a healthy, calorie-restricted meal plan and dietary supplements. Clients also receive support from personal health coaches.

The report, Magic in a Bottle, questioned the effectiveness of program, particularly two supplements marketed as WM-2000™ and Chromagic™.

WM-2000™ is an herbal dietary supplement that consists of Siberian ginseng (Eleutherococcus senticosus), brindall berry (Garcinia cambogia), ginger root (Zingiber officinale), gymnema (Gymnema sylvestre), and kelp (Lessonia nigrescens).

According to manufacturer data, the herbs in WM-2000™ are combined to aid in weight loss and are intended to be used as a part of a complete weight-loss program.

Chromagic™ is a dietary supplement that contains chromium, vanadium, biotin and vitamin B6. According to manufacturer data, Chromagic™ is designed to assist in weight loss, proper insulin functioning and blood sugar regulation. It may also help decrease appetite and sugar cravings; increase muscle mass; regulate cholesterol and help break down carbohydrates, fats, and protein.

However, Natural Standard reviewed the scientific data and found that evidence of safety and effectiveness were lacking for both of these products. Although some of the individual ingredients have been studied, overall, supporting evidence is insufficient for these indications.

To watch the investigative report, please click here.

To learn more about the supplements discussed in the report, please visit Natural Standard's Health & Wellness database.

Wall Street Journal Interviews Natural Standard

The Wall Street Journal interviewed Dr. Catherine Ulbricht, co-founder of Natural Standard and senior attending pharmacist at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, to learn about the safety and effectiveness of detoxification foot pads.

These adhesive pads are applied to the soles of the feet in an effort to rid the body of toxins, such as lead, arsenic, cadmium, copper, nickel and zinc.

The news story, “Foot Pads: A Sticky Issue,” explains that manufacturer claims are not currently supported by credible scientific research. Dr. Ulbricht told the journal “’the bottom line is, there is not high-quality scientific evidence supporting its use.”

Some products have recently come under scrutiny. In 2009, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) filed a lawsuit against Xacta 3000 Inc., for falsely marketing Kinoki® detox foot pads. The FTC alleges that the company used deceptive advertising by claiming that the product would not only remove toxins from the body, but it would also lower blood pressure, treat depression and even promote weight loss.

The article also notes that adverse reactions to foot pads are possible. According to Dr. Ulbricht, potential risks include skin irritation and allergic reactions to product ingredients.

To schedule an expert interview or book signing with Dr. Ulbricht, please e-mail questions@naturalstandard.com.

For more information about detoxification foot pads, please visit Natural Standard’s Health & Wellness database.

Webinar Forum: Hypertension: An Integral, Bodymind Healing Approach

Natural Standard is offering a series of upcoming 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.

This month, Michael Mayer, PhD, discusses body-mind techniques for the treatment and control of hypertension. Dr. Mayer is a licensed psychologist, hypnotherapist and qi gong/tai chi teacher who specializes in giving his patients self-healing methods for health problems. He is also a co-founder and practitioner of The Health Medicine Center, a multi-disciplinary medical clinic practicing integrative healthcare.

His latest book, Bodymind Healing Psychotherapy (2007), received a number of endorsements from top leaders in mind-body medicine, as well as from the journal PsycCritiques. It was released as a trade paperback called Energy Psychology by North Atlantic/Random House in 2009.

To listen to the webinar, please click here. Complimentary access to the webinar is available February 1-28, 2010.