Natural Standard Blog

Amino Acid for Hair-Pulling Disorder

A new study suggests that supplementation with the amino acid N-acetylcysteine may help reduce symptoms of trichotillomania, an impulse-control disorder that causes people to pull out hair from various body parts.

Treatment for trichotillomania may include cognitive behavioral therapy, medications and/or support groups. However, the effectiveness of these therapies varies among individuals.

Earlier research has found that N-acetylcysteine may have beneficial effects on compulsive disorders by acting on the glutamate system.

In this latest trial, 50 adults with trichotillomania were randomly assigned to receive either 1,200-2,400 milligrams of N-acetylcysteine or placebo daily for 12 weeks.

According to the findings, published in the Archives of General Psychiatry, hair pull-symptoms were "much or very much improved" in 56 percent of patients in the N- acetylcysteine compared with 16 percent taking placebo. No side effects were reported during the study.

Although these results are promising, additional studies are needed to fully understand the potential relationship between N-acetylcysteine and trichotillomania.

For more information about impulse-control disorders, please visit Natural Standard’s Medical Conditions database.

Breastfeeding Linked to Improved School Performance

A new study suggests that breastfeeding may be linked to improved academic performance compared to formula feeding.

Several earlier studies support this finding, but have not clearly proved that breastfeeding actually causes an increase in intelligence. For example, it is possible that mothers who breastfeed may be more educated or be more likely to engage in other behaviors that promote intelligence.  

In this latest study, researchers examined data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health, which surveyed high school students and their parents. The study included 191 sibling pairs, in which one had been breastfed, while the other had been formula fed. Comparing siblings helped control other factors, such as family environment and parents’ intelligence, which may contribute to academic performance.

The authors found that between siblings, breastfed infants had a 12-14 percent higher grade point average (GPA) during high school and were slightly more likely to attend college than their formula-fed siblings. Both GPA and likelihood of attending college appeared to increase with each additional month of breastfeeding.

However, more research is needed to fully understand how breastfeeding affects cognitive function later in life.

Other evidence suggests that babies who are breastfed are less likely to develop infections (especially lung infections, ear infections, and diarrhea) during their first year of life than babies who are fed formulas. This is because the mother's breast milk contains important antibodies, enzymes, fats and proteins that help boost the baby's immune system. Although baby formulas contain all of the important vitamins and nutrients a growing baby needs, manufacturers have not been able to replicate all of the components in breast milk. Formulas lack antibodies and are more difficult for newborns to digest.

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

Yellow Alder may Help Fight MRSA

New laboratory evidence suggests that yellow alder (Turnera ulmifolia) extract may enhance the effects of antibiotics in the treatment of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). MRSA is a type of bacteria that does not respond to treatment with certain antibiotics, including ampicillin (Principen®) and other penicillins.

Researchers tested the effects of an extract made from the Brazilian herb yellow alder, alone and in combination with antibiotics, against MRSA. They found that the herb alone did not have significant antimicrobial activity. However, when combined with other antibiotics (kanamycin and gentamicin), the anti-MRSA effects were significantly improved. 

“Extracts from Turnera ulmifolia could be used as a source of plant-derived natural products with resistance-modifying activity, constituting a new weapon against the problem of bacterial resistance to antibiotics demonstrated in MRSA strains,” The authors concluded in the journal BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine.

Although these early results are promising, additional research in humans is needed to determine if this is a safe and effective therapy.

Traditionally, yellow alder has been used an anti-inflammatory and expectorant, although human evidence is limited.

Preliminary lab studies published earlier this year suggest that compounds in marijuana and honey may also have antibacterial effects against MRSA infections. However, more research is needed in humans before conclusions can be made.

MRSA is a serious medical condition that requires medical treatment. Integrative therapies should not replace or delay treatment with more proven techniques or therapies.

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

Comfrey may Improve Back Pain

An ointment made from comfrey root extract may significantly reduce acute upper and lower back pain, according to a new study published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine.

Comfrey (Symphytum officinale) is a perennial herb native to Europe and Asia. The herb has traditionally been applied to the skin for inflammation, pain and wound healing, and has been taken by mouth for digestive, breathing and gynecological conditions.

In the study, 120 adults with back pain were randomly assigned to receive either 4 grams of the comfrey-containing ointment Kytta-Salbe® or placebo three times daily for five days. The participants' pain was measured using a visual analogue scale.

By the end of the study, pain intensity improved by about 95 percent in the comfrey group compared to just 37 percent in the placebo group. The authors also noted that pain was relieved quickly, usually in less than one hour after the ointment was applied to the skin.

The authors concluded that "comfrey root extract showed a remarkably potent and clinically relevant effect in reducing acute back pain." These findings support several earlier human studies that suggest comfrey-containing creams may reduce inflammation and pain associated with sprains and muscle injuries.

Although comfrey has been traditionally used both orally and topically, recent evidence suggests that the herb may contain cancer-causing compounds and may lead to liver damage. As a result, various countries, including the United States, have asked companies to remove oral comfrey products from the market, and topical products are required to advise consumers not to use on broken skin. Other countries, such as Germany, allow topical comfrey products with a label including the maximal daily allowable levels of pyrrolidizine alkaloids of 100 micrograms and maximal use over six weeks per year.

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

Benefits of Natural Birthing Classes Unclear

Learning relaxation and breathing techniques during pregnancy may not reduce the likelihood of needing an epidural or Caesarian section, researchers report in BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology.

The Swedish study included 1,087 pregnant women and 1,064 of their partners. The participants were randomly assigned to attend four natural birthing classes or standard care classes. The natural birthing classes taught relaxation and breathing techniques, while the standard care classes emphasized pain relief and provided information about childbirth and parenting, modelled after the standard Swedish Antenatal Education Programme. The two-hour sessions began during the third trimester of pregnancy.

The number of women who requested pain-relieving medication during childbirth was similar in both groups, with just over half receiving epidurals. The number of vaginal and Caesarian deliveries was also similar between groups, although slightly more women in the natural childbirth group required the use of forceps or a ventouse. After the delivery, both groups reported similar rates of parental stress and satisfaction with the childbirth experience.

However, the authors note that additional research is needed to determine if results would be similar in other countries where prenatal preparation classes may be different.

Other integrative therapies have been suggested as beneficial before or during childbirth. For instance, some research suggests that water aerobics may help reduce pain during delivery. It has also been suggested that giving birth in water may reduce labor pain, duration of labor, perineal damage to the mother and birth complications.

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

Green Tea for Leukemia

Mayo Clinic researchers have found that a compound in green tea called epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) may have beneficial effects in patients with chonic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL).

CLL is one of four types of leukemia, which affects the blood and bone marrow. CLL typically progresses more slowly than other types of leukemia, and it is most common among adults who are 50 years of age or older.

In the Phase I clinical trial, 33 adults with CLL received eight different doses of Polyphenon E, a substance made from decaffeinated green tea that contains EGCG. Participants received 400-2,000 milligrams of Polyphenon E twice daily for one month.

According to the results, published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, the supplement was well tolerated, and high doses helped decrease the white blood cells counts in one-third of patients with CLL, indicating cancer regression. Additionally, most people who had enlarged lymph nodes at the start of the study experienced at least a 50 percent reduction in lymph node size.

The research is now undergoing a second phase of clinical testing in which CLL patients will each receive 2,000 milligrams of Polyphenon E twice daily.

For more information about green tea, please visit Natural Standard's Foods, Herbs & Supplements database.

Aspirin Therapy Questioned

A new research analysis published in the Lancet questions traditional recommendations for daily, low-dose aspirin therapy.

Doctors often recommend aspirin as a preventative measure against stroke and heart attack in people who are either at risk or have histories of these conditions. However, according to the meta-analysis, the potential risks of bleeding might outweigh the benefits if the person has not already had a heart attack or stroke.

The researchers analyzed data from six "primary prevention" studies that tested the effects of aspirin in 95,000 people with low-to-average risk factors for heart disease. They also analyzed 16 "secondary prevention" studies, which included 17,000 high-risk patients who already had a heart attack or stroke.

In both the low- and high-risk groups, the risk of non-fatal heart attack decreased by about 20 percent. However, in the lower-risk group, aspirin did not improve the risk of stroke or death from vascular problems. Additionally, aspirin therapy was linked to a statistically significant 33 percent increased risk of internal bleeding. This risk, according to the authors, outweighed the potential benefits.

In contrast, the analysis suggests that the benefits outweighed the risk of serious adverse effects in people who already had a heart attack or stroke. The authors concluded that only people with previous histories of heart attack or stroke should be advised to take a daily aspirin.

The American Heart Association (AHA) recommends that people talk to their doctors before beginning aspirin therapy because the risks and benefits vary for each person.

In a related study, researchers report that injections of nano-silver particles helped prevent blood clots in mice. The silver worked by preventing platelet surface proteins in the blood from clumping together. Unlike other anticoagulants, the nano-silver did not affect other proteins in the blood that help form clots, which may translate into a reduce risk of uncontrolled bleeding. However because this study was done in animals, it is unclear if this therapy would be safe and effective in humans. Additional clinical research is warranted.

For more information about stroke and heart attack, please visit Natural Standard's Medical Conditions 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.

Vitamin D May Not Affect Prostate Cancer Risk

New evidence suggests that vitamin D may not decrease the risk of prostate cancer.

The authors looked at men from seven different European countries who participated in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (1994-2000). They compared vitamin D levels of 652 men who developed prostate cancer after a four-year follow up period to 752 men who did not.

Men with the highest blood levels of vitamin D were 28 percent more likely to develop prostate cancer than those with the lowest levels. However, this difference was not statistically significant. There was still no association between vitamin D levels and prostate cancer risk after adjusting for body mass index, age of diagnosis, cancer stage or grade, calcium intake and time from blood collection to diagnosis.

The authors concluded that “the results of this large nested case-control study provide no evidence in support of a protective effect of circulating concentrations of vitamin D on the risk of prostate cancer.”

However, there is some early laboratory and human evidence that high-dose vitamin D may be beneficial in the treatment of prostate cancer. Additionally, some evidence suggests that men with genetic mutations that affect the body’s ability to process vitamin D may have an increased risk of prostate cancer when they are vitamin D deficient. This study did not indicate whether or not the participants had such mutations.

Therefore, more research is needed in order to confirm these results.

For more information about vitamin D, please visit Natural Standard’s Foods, Herbs & Supplements database.

Pomegranate for Prostate Cancer

Pomegranate juice may be beneficial in men who have undergone standard treatment for localized prostate cancer, according to a long-term study presented at the 104th Annual Scientific Meeting of the American Urological Association.

The study, which began in 2003, included 48 men older than age 60 who underwent surgery or radiation therapy to treat localized prostate cancer. All of the men had rising prostate specific antigen (PSA) levels after treatment. PSA is an enzyme that helps break down proteins in the seminal fluid and plays an important role in fertility. Prostate cancer patients often have increased PSA levels, although cancer may occur with any PSA level.

Participants drank eight ounces of pomegranate juice daily. During the six-year follow-up, men who continued drinking pomegranate juice had lower PSA levels than those who stopped drinking the juice and were no longer active in the trial. By the end of the study, it took about four times longer for active participants' PSA levels to double than it had at the beginning of the study.

For more information about prostate cancer, please visit Natural Standard's Medical Conditions database.