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.

Glucosamine May Not Slow Osteoarthritis Progression

A new study suggests that, contrary to popular belief, glucosamine may not slow the progression of knee osteoarthritis.

Glucosamine is a natural compound that is part of healthy cartilage. Glucosamine supplements are widely used to treat osteoarthritis. Several earlier studies support this use, but these studies used x-rays to measure joint damage caused by knee osteoarthritis.

The latest study, presented at the 73rd Annual Scientific Meeting of the American College of Rheumatology, used MRI scanners to assess cartilage damage in 201 patients with mild-to-moderate knee osteoarthritis. Participants were randomly assigned to receive either 1,500 milligrams of glucosamine or placebo daily. Cartilage damage of both knees was assessed at baseline and six months later.

Results showed no difference in the progression of cartilage damage between the glucosamine and placebo groups. Researchers also noted that there was no difference in cartilage synthesis between the two groups.

However, the results may be limited because researchers used the hydrochloride form of glucosamine as opposed to the sulfate form, which is more often studied. Overall, research on the use of glucosamine for osteoarthritis of the knee is inconclusive.

For more information about glucosamine and its uses, please visit Natural Standard’s Foods, Herbs & Supplements database.

Green Tea for Pneumonia

Drinking green tea may be protective against pneumonia, a new study published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition suggests.

The study followed 40,572 National Health Insurance beneficiaries in Japan (19,079 men and 21,493 women) who were 40-79 years old and did not have histories of cancer, heart attack or stroke. Study participants were examined to determine the potential relationship between green tea consumption and death from pneumonia.

After 12 years of follow up, 406 out of the 34,539 participants included (6,033 lost to follow-up) died from pneumonia. However, drinking green tea daily was associated with significantly lower risks of death from pneumonia among women.

After adjusting for age, smoking status, physical functionality and other risk factors, drinking just one cup of green daily was linked to a 41 percent reduced risk of dying from pneumonia among women. Benefits were greater when green tea consumption increased, as women who reported drinking five or more cups a day had a 47 percent lower risk of dying from pneumonia. These results were not observed in men.

Of the many reported benefits of green tea, these data support the possibility that green tea contains components that help fight against viruses and bacteria. For instance, catechins, a main constituent of green tea, have been suggested to have antiviral activity according to experimental and animal studies.

The findings of this cohort study are suggestive, but drinking green tea is not yet recommended to replace current preventative techniques such as hand washing and yearly flu vaccination.

Other non-pharmacological therapies have also been tested for the prevention of pneumonia and pneumonia-related complications. Chiropractic and chlorophyll are just some of the other integrative therapies with potential immune-regulating effects and suggested protective benefits for pneumonia, but the evidence is not fully supportive.

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

B-Vitamins may not Protect Against Heart Disease

A recent review of scientific data suggests that vitamin B6, vitamin B9 and vitamin B12 may not help prevent heart attacks, strokes or death in people with heart disease or risk factors for heart disease.

Vitamin B deficiencies have been associated with hyperhomocysteinemia, a condition characterized by high levels of an amino acid (called homocysteine) that has been linked to heart disease. Hyperhomocysteinemia does not cause symptoms, but it may irritate blood vessels, leading to blockages in arteries. Therefore, researchers set out to analyze the effects of B vitamins on heart attack and stroke incidence.

Researchers analyzed data from eight human trials that tested the effects of vitamin B6, B9, B12 or a combination of these supplements in 24,210 adults. The participants had 1) heart and blood vessel disease, 2) atherosclerosis or a history of stroke, heart attack or other complications 3) or major risk factors for heart disease. 

The authors concluded that vitamin-B supplements in addition to standard care did not reduce a person’s risk of heart attack, stroke or death for up to seven years of follow up.

Some herbs have also been suggested as possible therapies to reduce the risk of cardiovascular events. For instance, strong evidence suggests that the use of red yeast rice and soy may help lower cholesterol, thereby reducing the risk of heart disease.  Patients may also lower their risk of developing heart disease by eating healthfully, exercising regularly, maintaining a healthy weight and not smoking.

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

Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Major breast cancer organizations, including the American Cancer Society and the National Cancer Institute, are joining forces this month as part of the National Breast Cancer Awareness Month program. The campaign aims to increase awareness and promote research about the disease.

As part of this effort, Natural Standard is working with the Susan G. Komen for the Cure© organization to provide consumer information about integrative therapies for breast cancer.

New evidence from the American Cancer Society suggests that in recent years, fewer Americans are dying from breast cancer. The Breast Cancer Facts & Figures 2009-2010 report suggests that from 1990 to 2005, the number of breast cancer-related deaths has decreased by about 27 percent.

Although fatality rates have decreased among African American, Hispanic and Caucasian women, disparities exist between some races. According to the findings, African American women have a 40 percent higher fatality rate than Caucasian women. The authors suggest that several factors, such as unequal access to medical care and late-stage diagnosis, may contribute to disproportional mortality rates.

Early detection of breast cancer remains essential for improving long-term outcomes. When breast cancer is diagnosed early, the survival rate is about 100 percent, but if diagnosed late, the survival rate is only about 20 percent. Yet, the American Cancer Society estimates that in 2006-2008 only 30 percent of uninsured women had mammograms, compared to 70 percent of insured women.

Aside from regular cancer screenings, diet and lifestyle choices may factor into breast cancer risk and management. It is generally recommended that individuals eat healthy and well-balanced diets, maintain healthy body weight, exercise regularly and drink alcohol in moderation (if at all). Many studies are testing the potential benefits of specific foods and diets on breast cancer.

For instance, a new study suggests that a "prudent diet" rich in fruits, vegetables, fish and whole grains, yet low in sugars and processed meats may help cut the risk of breast cancer in some African American women.

After studying the diets and health of 50,778 African American women from 1995 to 2007, the researchers found that normal-weight women who followed the prudent diet were about one-third less likely to develop breast cancer than those followed a Western-style diet. However, benefits were not observed in overweight women.

The prudent diet was also associated with a 30 percent reduced risk of breast cancer among premenopausal women compared to post-menopausal women.

Another recent study found that a high-fiber diet may also decrease the risk of breast cancer.

The researchers analyzed data from 185,598 post-menopausal women who participated in the NIH-AARP Diet and Health Study. Hormone receptor status, which indicates whether estrogen (ER) and/or progesterone (PR) fuel the growth of the tumor, was available for 2,391 patients.

After an average follow-up period of seven years, the researchers found that women who ate the most fiber were 13 percent less likely to develop breast cancer than those who ate the least amount. The association was stronger among those with negative ER/PR tumors compared to those with positive ER/PR tumors.

However, more studies are needed to fully understand the potential relationship between fiber intake and breast cancer risk.

Although some diets may be beneficial for breast cancer, some foods, herbs and supplements may increase the risk of the disease or interact with cancer treatment. For instance, soy red clover and black cohosh contain phytoestrogens, which act similarly to estrogen. For more information about the safety of integrative therapies, please visit Natural Standard's Foods, Herbs & Supplements and Health & Wellness databases.

To screen for potential interactions with other therapies, including chemotherapy, please visit Natural Standard's Interactions Checker.

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

Vitamin D for Fall Prevention

Vitamin D may help prevent falls in the elderly, according to a new analysis published in the British Medical Journal. The study supports earlier findings that vitamin D may improve balance, strength and bone health among older adults.

Vitamin D is found in many dietary sources, such as fish (such as salmon and tuna), fish liver oil and fortified foods (such as milk and cereal). The body also makes vitamin D when the skin is exposed to ultraviolet-B (UVB) rays from sunlight. Vitamin D helps the body maintain normal blood levels of phosphorus and aids in the absorption of calcium, which is important to develop and maintain strong bones. Recent evidence also suggests vitamin D may provide protection from osteoporosis, high blood pressure, cancer and several autoimmune diseases.

The researchers analyzed data from eight studies that tested the effects of vitamin D on fall prevention in 2,426 adults who were at least 65 years old.

The authors found that taking 700-1,000 IU of vitamin D2 or vitamin D3 for two to five months significantly reduced the risk of falls by 19 percent and 26 percent, respectively. The beneficial effects remained after adjusting for age, living environment and calcium supplementation.

However, the dose is higher than the current recommended amount. The recommended amount for people who are 50-70 years old is 400 IU, while 600 IU is recommended for those who are older than 70. Some researchers have questioned whether the current recommended adequate levels are sufficient to meet physiological needs, particularly for people who are no exposed to sunlight regularly. The Institute of Medicine, Food and Nutrition Board recommends an upper limit of 2,000 IU of vitamin D, as higher doses may have toxic effects.

Vitamin D may interact with other agents, particularly digoxin, corticosteroids, stimulant laxatives, thiazide diuretics and herbs or supplements with similar effects. To learn more about potential interactions, please visit Natural Standard's Interactions Checker.

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