The Alt Med Primer, Continued - Page 2
 
 

Homeopathy:
 

A critical review of the possible benefits associated with homeopathic medicine. Rev. Hosp. Clin., , 2003, vol.58, no.6, p.324-331. ALMEIDA, Renan Moritz V. Rodrigues.
See Also: LETTERS TO THE EDITOR-HOMEOPATHY: DO NOT CONDEMN WHAT WE DO NOT UNDERSTAND (ref. Almeida RMVR. A Critical review of the possible benefits associated with homeopathic medicine. Rev. Hosp. Clin. Fac Med S.Paulo 2003; 58(6):324-331) Rev. Hosp. Clin. Fac. Med. S. PAULO 59(3):153-156, 2004. And See: HOMEOPATHY: DO NOT ACCEPT AS MEDICINE WHAT HAS NO EVIDENCE AND CONTRADICTS BASIC SCIENCE, Rev. Hosp. Clin. Fac. Med. S. Paulo 59(3):153-156, 2004. Dr. Renan Moritz V. R. Almeida, PhD.

Evaluation of the effect of homeopathic treatment of neonatal calf enteritis [article in Swedish, includes English summary]. Klingenberg, K., Ohagen, P., Alenius, S.

Use of ultramolecular potencies of allergen to treat asthmatic people allergic to house dust mite: double blind randomised controlled clinical trial, G T Lewith, A D Watkins, M E Hyland, S Shaw, J A Broomfield, G Dolan, S T Holgate. BMJ 2002;324:520 ( 2 March )

A systematic review of the quality of homeopathic clinical trials. Wayne B. Jonas, Rachel L. Anderson, Cindy C. Crawford, and John S. Lyons, BMC Complement Altern Med 2001; 1: 12

Systematic reviews of complementary therapies - an annotated bibliography. Part 3: Homeopathy. Klaus Linde, Andrew Vickers, Maria Hondras, Gerben ter Riet, Johannes Thormählen, Brian Berman, Dieter Melchart. BMC Complement Altern Med 2001; 1: 4 [July 20, 2001]

Homeopathy:Effective Health Care, Nov. 2001. vol.7, no. 2, National Health Service Centre for Reviews and Dissemination. (Requires Acrobat Reader to access. To download a free copy of Acrobat Reader, click here.)

Systematic Reviews in Health Care: Investigating and Dealing With Publication and other Biases in Meta-Analysis. Sterne JAC, Egger M, Smith GD. BMJ 2001;323:101-105. July 14, 2001

Homeopathy Found Effective for Hypochondriasis, Q Fever, January 17, 2001

Homeopathy and Veterinary Medicine: Has Bird Talk been Quacked?Laura Ainsworth and Daniel Barnett, Newsletter of the North Texas Skeptics, vol. 14, no. 12, December 2000

If "Less is More," is Nothing Best? Jack Raso, Priorities for Health, Vol. 12, No. 3

An Up-Side Down View of Health, Robert Park, SRAM, Fall/Winter, 1999

Homeopathy and its Founder: Views of a British Researcher, Steven Ransom, Priorities, vol. 11, no.4, Fall, 1999

Homeopathy and Science: a Closer Look, David W. Ramey, DVM, Mahlon Wagner, Ph.D, Robert H. Imrie, DVM, Victor Stenger, PhD, 1998

Homeopathy Update from Prescrire International, February 1996 Vol 5 No. 21

Effect of homoeopathy on pain and other events after acute trauma: placebo controlled trial with bilateral oral surgery. Per Lokken, Per Atle Straumsheim, Dag Tveiten, Per Skjelbred, Christian Fredrik Borchgrevink. BMJ 1995;310:1439-1442 (3 June)

Homeopathy and its Kindred Delusions. Oliver Wendell Holmes, 1842

Homeopathy and What it’s Really Worth! Tony Matthews’ scathing, irreverent, but accurate and informative assessment.

The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics blasts homeopathy

NCAHF Position Paper on Homeopathy.
 

Aromatherapy and Bach Flower Therapy:
 

Boom in herbal products leading to plant depletion Chicago Tribune, Dec 21, 2003

Aromatherapy Works Because you Want It Too. David Derbyshire, Electronic Telegraph, April 19, 2001 (requires free online registration)

Scents and Nonsense: Does Aromatherapy Stink? Cheryl Sweet, Priorities Magazine, vol. 9, no. 4, Fall 1997

What's That I Smell: The Claims of Aromatherapy, Lynn McCutcheon, Skeptical Inquirer, June 1996

Bach Flower Remedies: Time to Stop Smelling the Flowers? Lynn McCutcheon, Skeptical Inquirer, July/August 1995
 

Herbal Medicine:
 

Echinacea has no effect on children, study says. Globe News-Globe and Mail Update, Dec 2, 2003

Review of Abnormal Laboratory Test Results and Toxic Effects Due to Use of Herbal Medicines [Requires free registration]. Amitava Dasgupta, PhD. Am J Clin Pathol 120(1):127-137, 2003

Child herbal medicine risk. Robyn Riley, Herald Sun, May 5, 2002

Effect of Hypericum perforatum (St. John’s Wort) in Major Depressive Disorder: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Hypericum Depression Trial Study Group, JAMA, Vol 287, No. 14, April 10, 2002

Kava may be linked to liver damage. Lauran Neergaard , Associated Press, Monday, March 25, 2002

Health Canada warns public not to use Hua Fo [Ginseng]. Health Canada, February 15, 2002

Anxiety over kava: FDA, others investigate reports of liver toxicity.Judy Packer-Tursman, The Washington Post, Tuesday, January 22, 2002

Herbal stimulant may be deadly. Associated Press, Nov. 9, 2001.

Problems and ambiguity among alternative estrogen products reported by ConsumerLab.com - Results of soy and red clover isoflavone product testing released online today. ConsumerLab.com, August 15, 2001

Systematic reviews of complementary therapies - an annotated bibliography. Part 2: Herbal medicine. Klaus Linde, Andrew Vickers, Maria Hondras, Gerben ter Riet, Johannes Thormählen, Brian Berman, Dieter Melchart. BMC Complement Altern Med 2001; 1: 5 [July 16]

Herbal Medicines and Perioperative Care. Michael K. Ang-Lee, MD; Jonathan Moss, MD, PhD; Chun-Su Yuan, MD, PhD. JAMA Vol. 286 No. 2, July 11, 2001.

Many herbal sleep products lack key claimed ingredient- Results of ConsumerLab.com's testing of valerian products released on web today. ConsumerLab.com, July 9, 2001

FDA Seeks Withdrawal of Comfrey Dietary Supplements. Reuters, July 7, 2001

It's "Buyer Beware" with Alternative Botanical Treatments for Menopausal Symptoms, Says ACOG, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, May 31, 2001

Vital Nutrients Recalls Joint Ease & Verified Quality Brand Joint Comfort Complex Because of Adverse Health Risk Associated with Aristolochic Acid FDA News Release, May 21, 2001

Herbal-product sales dip tied to confusion, concern. Nanci Hellmich USA Today, May 9, 2001.

Ethnobotanist warns of mixing herbs with traditional medications: Many patients ‘self-medicate’ and don’t tell physicians. Washington University in St. Louis/Eurekalert press release, May 8, 2001.

Over Forty Percent of Echinacea Products Fail ConsumerLab.com Review - Inadequate Labeling and Missing Ingredients Found Common for Popular Herbal Cold Remedy. ConsumerLab.com, May 7, 2001

Why Your Pharmacist Wants to Know About Your Herbs: Some Druggists Can Issue Computer-Prompted Warnings About Hazardous Interactions. The Washington Post Online, May 1, 2001

Quality of popular herbal anti-depressant found to vary; certain types of St. John's Wort supplements more likely to pass testing. ConsumerLab.com, April 10, 2001

Effectiveness of St John's Wort in Major Depression: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Richard C. Shelton, MD; Martin B. Keller, MD; Alan Gelenberg, MD; David L. Dunner, MD; Robert Hirschfeld, MD; Michael E. Thase, MD; James Russell, MD; R. Bruce Lydiard, MD, PhD; Paul Crits-Cristoph, PhD; Robert Gallop, PhD; Linda Todd; David Hellerstein, MD; Paul Goodnick, MD; Gabor Keitner, MD; Stephen M. Stahl, MD; Uriel Halbreich, MD. JAMA, Vol 285, No. 15, April 18, 2001

Code green: Seeing the side effects of alternative supplements.Victoria Stagg Elliott, AMNews. March 5, 2001.

Green Tea and the Risk of Gastric Cancer in Japan. Yoshitaka Tsubono, et al, NEJM, Vol. 344, No. 1, March 1, 2001.

Comparison of St. John’s wort and imipramine: Study design casts doubt on value of St. John’s wort in treating depression. BMJ 2001;322:493 (24 February)

Effectiveness of Ginkgo biloba in treating tinnitus: double blind, placebo controlled trial. Shelley Drew, Ewart Davies. BMJ 2001;322:73 ( 13 January)

What You Should Know About Herbal Use and Anesthesia (for the public). American Society of Anesthesiologists, 2000.

Considerations for Anesthesiologists: What You Should Know About Your Patients' Use of Herbal Medicines (for physicians). American Society of Anesthesiologists, 2000

Raw Animal Tissues and Dietary Supplements, Scott A. Norton, M.D., M.P.H., New England Journal of Medicine, July 27, 2000

Pesticide Contamination Found in Many Ginseng Supplements Tested by ConsumerLab.com

Only 9 of 22 Products Pass Product Review Published Online Today. July 11, 2000. ConsumerLab.com

Product Review: Asian and American Ginseng, ConsumerLab.com, 2000.

Chinese herb remedy linked with cancer of the kidneys, Jacqui Thornton, Electronic Telegraph, June 18, 2000

Modern-Day Snake Oil Needs Oversight, Henry I. Miller, Chicago Tribune, July 9, 2000

St. John's Wort Induces Drug-Clearing Enzyme, Sherry Katz, Clin Pharmacol Ther 2000;67:451-457.

Cancer and Herbs, David A. Kessler, The New England Journal of Medicine, June 8, 2000 -- Vol. 342, No. 23

Use of Complementary Medicines by Patients With HIV: Full Sail Into Uncharted Waters Stephen C. Piscitelli, PharmD Medscape, 6(3), 2000.

Cancers Tied to Herb that Attacks Kidneys, New York Times News Service, June 8, 2000

Aloe Drinks "Could Cause Miscarriage," Thomas Harding, Electronic Telegraph, Monday, May 22, 2000. (Requires free registration to access.)

St. John’s Wort Equivalent to Placebo for Treating Depression, Reuter’s Medical News, May 12, 2000

A Prescription Drug Packaged in China and Sold as an Ethnic Remedy, Stephen C. Dreskin, JAMA, Vol. 283 No. 18, May 10, 2000. (Unfortunately, this article is no longer available on-line to JAMA non-subscribers, but copies may be ordered, for a fee, from the JAMA document delivery service).

Risk of Drug Interactions with St. John’s Wort. Jane E. Henney, JAMA Vol. 283 No. 13, April 5, 2000

Risk of Drug Interactions with St. John’s Wort and Indinavir and Other drugs, FDA Public Health Advisory, February 10, 2000

Were Herbs (and bee pollen) Responsible for Acute Hepatitis? Shad JA, Chinn CG. Brann OS. Clinician Reviews, April 2000. Reprinted from South Med J. 1999;92:1095-1097.

Herbs can Hurt Instead of Heal, Erin McCormick, San Francisco Examiner, March 12, 2000

ConsumerLab.com finds many arthritis supplements lacking labeled ingredients; Glucosamine and Chondroitin product review published online today. ConsumerLab.com, March 7, 2000

The herbal history of digitalis: lessons for alternative medicine. JAMA, Vol. 283, no. 7. Feb. 16, 2000. (Unfortunately, this article is no longer available on-line to JAMA non-subscribers, but copies may be ordered, for a fee, from the JAMA document delivery service.)

State Health Director Warns Consumers About Prescription Drugs In Herbal Products, California Department of Health Services news release, February 15, 2000.

Saint John’s Wort Causes Dangerous Interaction with Protease Inhibitors, Deborah Mitchell, Reuters Medical News, Feb. 11, 2000

Quality of prostate supplements get mixed review in ConsumerLab.com study; Saw palmetto product review published online today. ConsumerLab.com, January 31, 2000

Herbs Banned After Contamination Fears,BBC News, Wednesday, January 19, 2000.

Herb-Drug Interactions, A. Fugh-Berman, Pharmaceutical Information Network, Pharmacotherapy News Network, January 10, 2000

Only three quarters of Ginkgo Biloba supplements contain proper ingredients. ConsumerLab.com posts first of its dietary supplement product tests. ConsumerLab.com, November 16, 1999.

The Role of Pharmaceutical Scientists in the World of Nutraceuticals.Larry L. Augsburger, The Scientist, 13[22]:13, Nov. 8, 1999. (Response by Leonard L. Kaplan, 14[1]:4, Jan. 10,2000.) (Requires free on-line registration.)

Tea Tree Oil- Toxic to Cats Sarah Hartwell, Messybeast.com 1995, 1999

Acute Hepatitis After Ingestion of Herbs LCDR Javaid A. Shad, MD, MC, USNR, CDR Colin G. Chinn, MD, MC, USNR, CDR Oscar S. Brann, MD, MC, USNR, South Med J 92(11), 1999

Chinese Medicine Contamination Scare, BBC News, Wednesday, July 28, 1999.

A Recipe for Disaster: Sun Trap (St. John’s Wort, Phototoxicity, and Cataracts), Nicole Johnston, New Scientist, July 24, 1999

K-State Vet Says Herbal Preventatives May Not Make Fleas Flee, Beth Bohn, Kansas State University News, July 15, 1999

Quality checks for herbal remedies, BBC News, Wednesday, May 12, 1999

Herbal Remedy May Not Be Hearth Healthy, Intelihealth, March 9, 1999.

Herbal Remedies Contain Steroids, BBC News, Friday, February 26, 1999

Herbal Remedies May Reduce Fertility, BBC News, Tuesday, February 23, 1999

Americans Gamble on Herbs as Medicine, Jane E. Brody, New York Times, Feb. 9, 1999

Anesthesiologists Warn: If You're Taking Herbal Products, Tell Your Doctor Before Surgery, American Society of Anesthesiologists, 1999

Herbal Healing: In a new display of Flower Power for the late 1990s, baby boomers are gulping down all sorts of old remedies derived from plants. John Greenwald, Time Magazine, November 23, 1998 Vol.152 No. 21

New Health Drinks or Old-Style Snake-Oil Elixirs? Karl Taro Greenfeld,Time Magazine, November 23, 1998 Vol.152 No. 21

Alternative Medicine: The 18 Billion Dollar Experiment- Alternative, Conventional Care Forge Uneasy Alliance, Shari Roan, David Olmos, The Los Angeles Times, Sept. 2, 1998. (Now requires a $2.00 fee for non-subscribers)

Alternative Medicine: The 18 Billion Dollar Experiment- Hope or Hype? Terence Monmaney, Shari Roan, The Los Angeles Times, Aug. 30, 1998 (Now requires a $2.00 fee for non-subscribers)

Alternative Medicine: The 18 Billion Dollar Experiment- Remedy’s US Sales Zoom, but Quality Lags, Terence Monmaney, The Los Angeles Times, Aug. 30, 1998 (Now requires a $2.00 fee for non-subscribers)

Herbal Fen-Phen Warning. FDA Consumer 32, Jan. - Feb. 1998, part 2

More than a funny name: Ginko, long revered in the east, gets its first plug in a U.S. Medical Journal - as an Alzheimer’s drug. Christine Gorman, Time Magazine, Nov. 3., 1997, Vol. 150, No. 18.

Supplements with Plantain May Pose Danger, FDA warns, FDA Consumer 31, Sept. - Oct . 1997, part 5

Nature’s Prozac? Despite its growing popularity, St. John’s Wort has yet to convince skeptics that it’s safe and effective. J. Madeleine Nash, Time Magazine, Sept. 22, 1997, Vol. 150., No. 12

Imitation of Ecstasy: A Commentary on Ephedra Products, Cindy F. Kleiman, Priorities, vol. 9, no.2, Summer, 1997

Hepatotoxicity associated with herbal tablets De Smet P, Van den Ertwegh A, Lesterhuis W, Stricker B. BMJ 1996;313:92 (13 July)

NCAHF Position Paper on Herbal Remedies, National Council Against Health Fraud

Chinese Herbs: Some Things to Remember, Bill Burley

Naming Medicinal Herbs: The Confusing Quagmire of Names Bill Burley

The Herbal Minefield, Stephen Barrett, Quackwatch

False Tenets of Paraherbalism, Varro E. Tyler, Quakwatch

Product reports from Consumerlab.com:

Echinacea

Ginkgo Biloba

Ginseng

Saw Palmetto

St. John’s Wort
 

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