Alternative Medicine News

Compared with sham acupuncture, true acupuncture showed a greater degree of persistent, superior and clinically relevant benefits for migraine prophylaxis, according to research published in JAMA Internal Medicine.

The ACP recently released an updated clinical practice guideline and two evidence reviews recommending that physicians avoid prescribing drugs, especially narcotics, for patients with acute or subacute nonradicular low back pain; instead, patients should be treated first with nonpharmaceutical therapies, such as superficial heat, massage, acupuncture, spinal manipulation or yoga.

The FDA announced today that laboratory analysis revealed inconsistent levels of belladonna, a potentially toxic ingredient, in certain homeopathic teething tablets for infants and children.

Eight 12-minute sessions of gaze-contingent music reward therapy improved social anxiety disorder severity, according to recent findings.

New research on influenza vaccinations, opioid prescription guidelines and the well-being of geriatric patients, were just some of most-read stories on Healio Family Medicine in the past year. With 2016 winding down, we count down the top ten stories that appeared on the website over the past 12 months.

In patients with prehypertension, one hour of hatha yoga a day reduced BP levels, according to study findings presented at the 68th Annual Conference of the Cardiological Society of India.

Exposure-based cognitive behavior therapy delivered via the internet improved gastrointestinal symptoms and quality of life in adolescents with irritable bowel syndrome, according to randomized controlled trial results.

Omega-3 fatty acids were not effective for the prevention of psychosis, reduction of symptoms or improved functioning among adults at ultra-high risk for psychotic disorders, according to recent findings. “Cognitive behavioral therapy has been found to be effective in many, although not all, of the published trials. However, the most striking result to date was the finding that ω-3 [polyunsaturated fatty acids] were superior to placebo in reducing the risk for transition to psychosis and psychiatric morbidity in general, not only during the period of treatment, but also for a subsequently prolonged time (median, 6.7 years),” Patrick D. McGorry, MD, PhD, of National Centre of Excellence in Youth Mental Health, Melbourne, and colleagues wrote. “Safe and beneficial to health in many ways, ω-3 [polyunsaturated fatty acids] represent a simple and relatively inexpensive potential treatment strategy.”

Findings from a systematic review suggest that cannabis may be a potential treatment for PTSD and an alternative for substance use disorder, though current evidence is limited.

LAS VEGAS — Both patients and physicians can benefit from a validated wellness intervention, Saundra Jain, MD, PsyD, LPC, from the University of Texas at Austin shared here at the Clinician Wellness Preconference at the Cardiometabolic Risk Summit.