Inflammation as Common Root of Heart Disease and Cancer
This author also wrote the article in the New Yorker cited here. So insightful! It makes me realize that I’ve been glib in touting acupuncture to decrease inflammation. There are (obvious to me now) many types of inflammation. In my defense, the overall health benefits of lowering stress levels and increasing vagal activity are more…
Read MoreAcupuncture Better than Botox, Meds for Migraines
In this study of 108 migraineurs, Acupuncture produced better results than botox or pharmaceuticals. Their succinct conclusion “Acupuncture, botulinum toxin-A injection and pharmacological treatment have beneficial effects on chronic migraine; however, acupuncture showed more effectiveness and fewer complications.” Nice! Caspian J Intern Med. 2017 Summer;8(3):196-204. doi: 10.22088/cjim.8.3.196. Acupuncture and botulinum toxin A injection in the…
Read MoreMediterranean Diet, Not Statins, reduces all cause mortality
World J Cardiol. 2015 Jul 26; 7(7): 404–409. Published online 2015 Jul 26. doi: 10.4330/wjc.v7.i7.404 PMCID: PMC4513492 Cholesterol confusion and statin controversy Robert DuBroff and Michel de Lorgeril This paper highlights something that I don’t stress enough. I understand why people want to take a medication for health issues. It’s easy to do and…
Read MoreStatins’ Side Effects: Doctors get a taste of their own medicine
As some of my patients know, I have reservations about statins. The side effects are real, and they are over prescribed, in my opinion. This recent study (sorry for the unwieldy abstract) looked at physicians attitudes about statins when they, themselves suffered from the side effects. “ Statin AEs (adverse effects) can have profound impact…
Read MoreKnee Arthroscopy Often Unnecessary
This orthopedic surgery is the world’s most common. But patients rarely benefit, a panel says
Read MoreCracking Down on Unreported Clinical Trials
from statnews.com This is a crucial step in being able to make informed decisions about different medications, procedures and therapies. Until now, groups were able to bury their negative results and only publish the positive ones. This is, of course, because not only because of incentives of industry funded trials to find that their product/device…
Read MoreSteroid Injections for Knee Arthritis: Worse than Placebo
Study in JAMA shows that over a two year period, steroid injections lead to more loss of cartilage and no difference in pain level compared to saline injections.steroids for knee arthritis jama
Read MoreVitamin D and aging
Vitamin D is crucial for control of about 5% of the human genome. Studies have shown that low Vitamin D levels confer increased aging and increased all cause mortality. Twin studies concur that a twin with lower Vitamin D levels have higher mortality. It is important for DNA repair and anti-inflammatory substances, both of which…
Read MoreAcupressure for Cancer Fatigue: Richard Harris
The SAR conference finished yesterday and there were some very provocative presentations. The work that I am most amazed at is the work of Richard Harris from University of Michigan. But there were other very impressive presentations also. I’ve posted about Richard Harris’ work on Acupressure for cancer fatigue. He fleshed out and presented the…
Read MoreNew Guidelines for Treatment of Back Pain: Acupuncture Included in Best Care
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/new-guidelines-how-to-handle-back-pain/ “For pain lasting more than three months, treatments include stretching and strengthening exercises, tai chi, yoga, acupuncture, and mindfulness techniques like meditation to relieve stress.” By Jonathan LaPook CBS News February 13, 2017, 7:33 PM New guidelines outline how to handle back pain If you have an achy back, you’ve got company. As many…
Read More