Red Flags - Alternative Health

Water-Soluble Cinnamon Extract May Lower Blood Sugar Levels

Fri, 30 Jun 2006 23:48:36 -0400

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Water-Soluble Cinnamon Extract May Lower Blood Sugar Levels

Description:

“A water-soluble, cinnamon extract has been shown to reduce fasting blood sugar levels in patients with type 2 diabetes, according to a new study from the University of Hannover in Hannover, Germany, published in a recent issue of the European Journal of Clinical Investigation.”

Pine Bark Supplement Reduces ADHD Symptoms

Mon, 19 Jun 2006 20:27:08 -0400

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Pine Bark Supplement Reduces ADHD Symptoms

Description:

“According to new research, a plant extract from the bark of the French maritime pine tree, the antioxidant Pycnogenol, significantly reduces Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) symptoms in children when used daily for one month.”

Natural Remedy Alleviates Muscle Cramps And Pain

Mon, 19 Jun 2006 20:26:31 -0400

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Natural Remedy Alleviates Muscle Cramps And Pain

Description:

“A study published in this month's issue of Angiology shows that supplementation with the pine bark extract Pycnogenol® improves blood flow to the muscles which speeds recovery after physical exercise. The study of 113 participants demonstrated that Pycnogenol significantly reduces muscular pain and cramps in athletes and healthy, normal individuals.”

Folic Acid Shows Promise In Fight Against Throat Cancer

Mon, 12 Jun 2006 19:57:09 -0400

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Folic Acid Shows Promise In Fight Against Throat Cancer

Description:

“Folic acid supplements could help reduce the size of precancerous lesions in the larynx, or even protect against them, researchers claim.”

Traditional Chinese Medicine Treats Underlying Causes Of Type 2 Diabetes

Wed, 07 Jun 2006 20:42:09 -0400

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Traditional Chinese Medicine Treats Underlying Causes Of Type 2 Diabetes

Description:

“A Gardenia fruit extract traditionally used in Chinese medicine to treat the symptoms of type 2 diabetes does indeed contain a chemical that reverses some of the pancreatic dysfunctions that underlie the disease, researchers report in the June 7, 2006, Cell Metabolism. The chemical, therefore, represents a useful starting point for new diabetes therapies, they said.”

Hypnosis, Cognitive Therapy Helps Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Mon, 29 May 2006 19:39:52 -0400

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Hypnosis, Cognitive Therapy Helps Irritable Bowel Syndrome

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“Short courses of hypnosis therapy or cognitive therapy can calm the distressing symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome for the estimated 15 percent of adult Americans who suffer from the disorder, a new study finds.”

Prince Charles Touts Complementary Medicine

Wed, 24 May 2006 18:11:20 -0400

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Prince Charles Touts Complementary Medicine

Description:

“The Prince of Wales has defended alternative therapies in an address to the World Health Assembly, after a group of leading U.K. doctors attacked complementary medicine.”

Some Black Cohosh Supplements Contain Asian Imitator

Mon, 15 May 2006 22:10:03 -0400

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Some Black Cohosh Supplements Contain Asian Imitator

Description:

“Millions of women buy the herb black cohosh and use this dietary supplement to treat hot flashes and other menopausal symptoms. Clinical trials are still relatively few in number. Some report that black cohosh helps relieve menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes, while others do not. A new study, scheduled for May 17 publication in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, reports for the first time that a significant number of black cohosh supplements sold in the United States did not contain black cohosh. Instead, these products contained a related Asian species of the plant that does not have the same chemical compounds or clinical uses as the native North American plant.”

Don’t Mix Warfarin And Chamomile Products

Mon, 08 May 2006 20:51:39 -0400

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Don’t Mix Warfarin And Chamomile Products

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“People taking warfarin to prevent blood clots should stay away from chamomile products, Canadian doctors caution. They describe the case of a 70-year-old woman, while being treated with warfarin, who developed severe internal bleeding after drinking chamomile tea to soothe a sore throat and applying chamomile lotion to relieve chest congestion and reduce foot swelling.”

Interview With A Medicine Hunter

Wed, 26 Apr 2006 20:17:07 -0400

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Interview With A Medicine Hunter

Description:

“Joseph Roberts: Plant medicine has a major competitor out there called synthetic pharmaceuticals.
Chris Kilham: Well, at least in terms of the history of the world, synthetic pharmaceuticals are a very brief flirtation. They got rolling in the early 1900s and picked up after World War II, but, fundamentally, synthetic pharmaceutical medicine is largely unproven, experimental and very dangerous. Three hundred thousand Americans die every year from the "proper" use of over-the-counter and prescription drugs. Those are bad odds, and those numbers come from compiled reports in medical journals. It's very sobering.”

Acupuncture Equal To Drugs For Migraine Relief

Wed, 12 Apr 2006 21:32:44 -0400

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Acupuncture Equal To Drugs For Migraine Relief

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“Acupuncture is as effective as standard drug therapy in the treatment of migraines, a German study reported last week in The Lancet Neurology journal.”

Omega-3 Inhibits Liver Cancer Cells

Fri, 07 Apr 2006 21:26:51 -0400

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Omega-3 Inhibits Liver Cancer Cells

Description:

“Two new studies by a University of Pittsburgh research team suggest that omega-3 fatty acids — substances that are found in high concentrations in fish oils and certain seeds and nuts — significantly inhibit the growth of liver cancer cells.”

Cinnamon And Cloves Stimulate Insulin, Alleviate Inflammation

Fri, 07 Apr 2006 21:25:15 -0400

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Cinnamon And Cloves Stimulate Insulin, Alleviate Inflammation

Description:

“Help against diabetes and heart disease may be as close as your kitchen cabinets.
Two new studies suggest that cinnamon and cloves boost insulin function, while lowering cholesterol. The reports were presented Tuesday at the Experimental Biology meeting in San Francisco.”

Herbal Supplements May Reduce Effectiveness Of Some Medications

Wed, 05 Apr 2006 17:10:30 -0400

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Herbal Supplements May Reduce Effectiveness Of Some Medications

Description:

“If you take St. John's wort or Echinacea along with other prescribed medications, you may want to think twice. New research shows the herbal supplements may reduce the effectiveness of some medications by causing them to go through the body too quickly.”

U.S. Agency Issues First Standards For Herbal Products

Mon, 03 Apr 2006 17:37:27 -0400

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U.S. Agency Issues First Standards For Herbal Products

Description:

“The National Institute of Standards and Technology has issued the first suite of Standard Reference Materials in a planned series of reference materials for botanical dietary supplements.”