As the economic crisis persists, so stress and depression levels grow, but ever more people are turning to alternative therapies to relieve their symptoms or to simply find escape. This has led to an explosion of popularity of mind/body techniques such as breathing exercises, physical exercise, yoga, tai chi, hypnosis or meditation as well as
DHEA supplementation in combination with vitamin D and calcium may increase bone density in older women, according to new research. DHEA is a naturally occurring steroid hormone produced in the adrenal gland, gonads and brain, whose low levels have been linked to lower bone density. Scientists from Saint Louis University and Washington University divided women
While HIV is currently incurable, scientists at the University of Michigan Medical Center reported that a molecule found in bananas may one day be used to slow or even halt the disease’s progress. The proteins in question are called lectins, according to research published in the Journal of Biological Chemistry. In clinical tests, they performed
For centuries, red yeast rice has been taken by millions of individuals as a natural dietary supplement, although more recent there has been a protracted legal battle over whether to call this form of yeast a drug or a supplement, the Mayo Clinic reports. In either case, the extract taken from this variety of yeast
An ingredient found in the natural supplement green tea may help treat brain diseases such as Alzheimers, Huntingtons and Parkinsons. According to a study published in Natural Chemical Biology, mixing EGCG, a green tea ingredient, with the chemical DAPH-12 may help destroy amyloidsproteins that can lead to brain diseases. Some feel this study is significant
The Obama administration should look closely into how to incorporate complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) into healthcare reform efforts, according to an editorial in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. A new model for healthcare should include evidence-based methods of prevention, chiropractic and CAM, writes Daniel Redwood, associate professor at Cleveland Chiropractic College. This
High blood pressure is becoming more common in patients who are hospitalized for bipolar disorder, according to findings presented at the American Psychiatric Associations annual meeting. In fact, researchers have found that the younger the patient is, the higher risk they are at for developing the condition. In an effort to determine the association between
The use of music may benefit stroke patients who are working on improving their range of movement, according to the most recent Cochrane Systematic Review. In an effort to determine if music therapy could help individuals regain movement in parts of the body damaged by strokes, researchers conducted seven studies in which they observed a
Although the association between excessive body weight and an increased risk of cancer has been know for a long time, new research has shed more light on a mechanism behind the link. The study was conducted by specialists from Michigan State University who investigated the hormone called leptin which is found in fat tissue and
Researchers from Boston University have discovered a cheaper way to treat lower back pain may be yoga. In a study that appears in Alternative Therapies in Heart and Medicine it was found that a yoga trial helped those who were suffering from lower back pain but couldnt afford treatment. The researchers broke individuals suffering from