Natural Standard Blog

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.

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.

Common Chemical Linked to Thyroid Disease

Exposure to the chemical perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) may be associated with thyroid disease in women, according to a new study. PFOA is a persistent organic chemical used in nonstick cookware and stain- and water-resistant coatings for carpets and fabrics.

The thyroid gland is a horseshoe-shaped endocrine gland in the neck. It is important for maintaining heart rate, regulating body temperature and supporting many other body functions, including metabolism, reproduction, digestion and mental health.

The study included 3,974 adults whose blood was sampled between 1999 and 2006 as part of the U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES).

The researchers found that women with the highest 25 percent of PFOA concentrations (above 5.7 nanograms per milliliter of blood) were more than twice as likely to report current thyroid disease than those with the lowest 50 percent of PFOA concentrations (below 4.0 nanograms per milliliter). In men, there was a similar trend that did not reach statistical significance.

However, additional research is needed to confirm these results and to determine a potential mechanism of action.

For more information about persistent organic pollutants, please visit Natural Standard's Environment & Global Health database.

Natural Standard Makes Headlines

The top story on the Boston Healing Blog highlights Natural Standard as a premier resource for evidence-based information about integrative medicine.

Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) continues to gain popularity in the United States. In 2007, Americans spent nearly $34 billion out of pocket on CAM, according to the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS). However, without reliable sources of information, individuals may find it difficult to determine which therapies are safe and effective. Natural Standard Research Collaboration rigorously reviews scientific data to provide objective information about therapies, thereby helping people make more informed and safer therapeutic decisions.

The Boston Healing Blog is sponsored by Massage Therapy Works and features the latest articles about natural living and complementary medicine in Greater Boston.

Massage Therapy Works, Inc., is located in the heart of Davis Square in Somerville, Mass. The practice is open seven days a week and includes 16 licensed professional therapists who treat a variety of medical conditions, including chronic pain and stress.

Massage Therapy Works also offers acupuncture, craniosacral therapy, Ayurvedic medicine, shiatsu, Chinese bodywork, structural integration, rehab myotherapy and more.

For more information about Massage Therapy Works, please visit www.massagetherapyworks.com.

Natural Standard Social Networks

Join Natural Standard's social networks on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn to receive live updates on product launches, new publications, job openings, upcoming events, news feeds and more.

These social media channels foster discussions about integrative medicine and present networking opportunities for students and professionals. Natural Standard's community encompasses health professionals, medical researchers and individuals who are interested in health and wellness topics.

Members are also encouraged to offer feedback about students programs, webinars and new products.

Does Debt Contribute to Obesity?

A new study suggests that serious financial debt may be associated with obesity.

To investigate the potential relationship between debt and health, researchers surveyed 949 people in Germany who were classified as “over-indebted,” because they reportedly felt it was impossible to pay off debts in a reasonable timeframe. The findings were compared to the results of a 2003 telephone survey, which included 8,318 people in Germany who were not in debt.

After adjusting for socioeconomic and health risk factors for obesity, such as gender, education, smoking and depression, the authors found that people who were over-indebted were almost twice as likely to be overweight and more than 2.5 times as likely to be obese than those who were not in debt. 

However, this study does not prove that debt causes obesity. Instead, it shows a potential association between the two conditions. The authors suggest that psychological factors may play a role in obesity if people eat to cope with the stress of financial debt. They also note that healthier foods may be more expensive. The authors also speculate that obese people may have more difficulty finding jobs or may make less money than thinner people. Therefore, additional research is warranted in this area.

In the United States, obesity is considered an epidemic. More than half of all Americans are considered overweight, and about 20 percent of children are overweight. In 2005, 140 million Americans were considered overweight or obese, according to the American Heart Association. Nearly 33 percent of Americans are considered obese, and these numbers continue to grow.

Obesity can have serious long-term effects on health. Individuals who are overweight have an increased risk of developing many life-threatening illnesses, including heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, obesity, diabetes, osteoporosis and cancer. According to the American Heart Association, obesity was associated with nearly 112,000 deaths in 2005.

For more information about obesity, please visit Natural Standard’s Medical Conditions database.

Spices Used as Insecticides

 A new study presented at the American Chemical Society's 238th National Meeting suggests that the essential oil of common spices, including mint, clove, thyme and rosemary, may act as natural insecticides.

For the last 10 years, the scientists have tested the effects of various essential plant oils. The research was funded by EcoSMART®, a botanical pesticide company based in Alpharetta,Ga.

The authors found that some oils may kill pesky insects, while others may repel them. Organic farmers have already begun using natural, spice-based commercial products to help protect spinach, tomato and strawberry crops against aphids and mites.

The researchers note that there are potential pros and cons of using natural, plant-based insecticides. These products are readily available, and it is unlikely that insects will become resistant to the essential oils. They are also safer for farmers than conventional pesticides.

However, because the oils evaporate quickly and degrade rapidly in sunlight, they need to be re-applied more often than conventional insecticides. Also, spice-based insecticides are less toxic than conventional products, which means that higher concentrations may be needed to control pests. Research is underway to discover potential ways to overcome these shortcomings.  

Other studies are testing the essential oils of different plants, including lavender, basil, bergamot, patchouli oil, and at least a dozen other oils from exotic plant sources in China

For more information about insecticides please visit Natural Standard’s Environment & Global Health database.

Vegetarians and Cancer

Cancer rates are generally lower among vegetarians compared to meat eaters, but a new study suggests that this may not apply to all types of cancers.

The study included 32,403 meat eaters, 8,562 non-meat eaters who ate fish and 20,601 vegetarians. After an average of 12.2 years, 2,204 meat eaters (6.8 percent), 317 fish eaters (3.7 percent) and 829 vegetarians (4 percent) developed various types of cancer.

The findings, published in the British Journal of Cancer, suggest that the risk of developing stomach cancer, bladder cancer, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and multiple myeloma may be cut by more than half in vegetarians.

The association was particularly strong for multiple myeloma, a type of bone marrow cancer. Vegetarians were 75 percent less likely to develop the disease than meat eaters. In addition, vegetarians and fish eaters were about one-third less likely to develop stomach cancer than meat eaters. Although the number of stomach cancer cases was small, earlier research suggests that processed meat may contribute to the disease.

In contrast, vegetarianism was not linked to a reduced risk of colon or rectal cancer. In fact, the incidence of these cancers was slightly higher among vegetarians than meat eaters. However, this risk was not statistically significant, meaning that the higher rate may be due to chance.

Additionally, the risk of cervical cancer was significantly higher among vegetarians than meat eaters. This increased risk was similar, although not statistically significant, among fish eaters compared to meat eaters. It has been suggested, but not scientifically proven, that dietary factors may contribute to the risk of infection with the human papillomavirus, which causes many cases of cervical cancer. The authors caution that these findings are based on only 50 cervical cancer cases and may be influenced by other factors, such as cervical cancer screening.

The authors conclude that more research is needed to fully understand the relationship between vegetarianism and cancer risk.

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

Is Pollution Linked to Liver Disease?

A new study suggests that environmental pollution may be associated with liver disease in the United States. The new data supports earlier evidence linking liver disease to highly exposed chemical workers.

The researchers analyzed data from the 2003-2004 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). NHANES is a large nationally representative survey conducted by the National Center for Health Statistics, a part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The researchers examined the potential association between long-term, low-level exposure to 111 common pollutants (including lead, mercury, PCBs and pesticides) and unexplained liver disease in adults. The specific pollutants were detectable in at least 60 percent of the 4,500 study participants. Liver injury was indicated in people with elevated alanine transaminase (ALT) liver enzyme levels.

"Our study found that greater than one in three U.S. adults had liver disease, even after excluding those with traditional risk factors such as alcoholism and viral hepatitis," Matthew Cave, MD, assistant professor, department of medicine, division of gastroenterology and hepatology at the University of Louisville, said in a statement. "Our study shows that some of these cases may be attributable to environmental pollution, even after adjusting for obesity, which is another major risk factor for liver disease."

However, this study does not prove that environmental pollution causes liver disease. It only suggests that they may be associated with each other.

The researchers plan to study the potential additive effects of environmental pollutants on liver disease in children and adults with risk factors, including obesity, viral hepatitis and alcoholism.

The study was presented during Digestive Disease Week® 2009 (DDW®), an international gathering of physicians and researchers in the fields of gastroenterology, hepatology, endoscopy and gastrointestinal surgery.

For more information about environmental pollution, please visit Natural Standard's Environmental Resources database.