Vitamin Squad

Researchers at McMaster University develop a cocktail of ingredients that forestalls aspects of the aging process in mice. (Source: CBC | Health)

It’s inescapable: Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is not only here to stay, but it also continues to permeate our lives in popularity, prevalence, and necessity. Moreover, clinical and translational research in this arena has proven that a myriad of nonconventional therapies provide benefit for many disorders that ail us, and waves of outcomes-based data continue to demonstrate impressive efficacy. From herbs to nutritional supplements, meditation to yoga, biofeedback to acupuncture, these and other modalities have piqued our interest and improved the lives of many of us and of people …

This article discusses supplement use patterns and offers resources for primary care providers wishing to counsel patients more effectively about dietary supplements. Supplement safety issues, types of herbal formulations, and a summary of the uses, doses, side effects, and evidence ratings for 10 commonly used herbs and 11 commonly used nutraceuticals are provided. (Source: Primary Care: Clinics in Office Practice)

Conclusion
This was a basic laboratory study that found that putting bitter melon extract on breast cancer cells in culture caused cell death. As this study was conducted on cells in the laboratory there is limited relevance to humans without further research. It does not provide sufficient evidence to suggest that BME supplements or consuming bitter melon can prevent or treat breast cancer.
Cells grown in cell culture can behave very differently to those in the human body. Even in culture, cells’ behaviour can vary depending on the type of nutrient-containing liquid …

(NaturalNews) Senator John McCain (R-Arizona) has introduced a new bill called The Dietary Supplement Safety Act (DSSA) of 2010 (S. 3002), that, if enacted, would severely curtail free access to dietary supplements. Cosponsored by Senator Byron Dorgan (D-North Dakota), the bill would essentially give the FDA full control over the supplement industry.Most of the industrialized world has incredibly restrictive laws governing supplements. People worldwide often purchase supplements from the U.S. because they are freely available at low costs.All of this could change, however, if DSSA passes. DSSA would change key …

This study may provide us with one more agent as an extract that could be used against breast cancer if additional studies hold true.”Bitter melon is widely grown in Asia, Africa and South America. Extracts of this vegetable are currently included in some dietary supplements in Western countries because bitter melon is known to contain healthful phytochemicals such as carotenoids, flavanoids and polyphenols, as well as vitamin C.For more information:
http://www.naturalnews.com/bitter_melon.html (Source: NaturalNews.com)

MedWorm Message: Get the very latest Swine Flu news via the MedWorm Swine Flu RSS news feed – …

This study shows that retinal function during diabetes, especially rod photoreceptor loss, can be reduced if a diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids (fish oils) is consumed. (Source: Investigative Ophthalmology)

Drug ads that don’t back up their claims show how dumb doctors can be about evidence and how lax regulation has becomeAfter the Commons science and technology committee report this week, and the stupidity of “we bring you both sides” media coverage, you are bored with homeopathy. So am I, but it gives a simple window into the wider disasters in medicine.Homeopathy is a small sector of the pharmaceutical industry, a few sugar pill companies worth a couple of billion pounds a year in Europe. Overall, trials show their pills …

Naturopathy is a distinct type of primary care medicine that blends age-old healing traditions with scientific advances and current research. Naturopathy is guided by a unique set of principles that recognize the body’s innate healing capacity, emphasize disease prevention, and encourage individual responsibility to obtain optimal health. Naturopathic treatment modalities include diet and clinical nutrition, behavioral change, hydrotherapy, homeopathy, botanical medicine, physical medicine, pharmaceuticals, and minor surgery. Naturopathic physicians (NDs) are trained as primary care physicians in 4-year, accredited doctoral-level naturopathic medical schools. At present, there are 15 US states, …

Homeopathy is effective for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, a randomised controlled trial of patients in primary care has found – but the effect may be due to a consultation with a practitioner, and not the homeopathic remedy itself. (Source: Pulse Today Clinical Updates)