Complementary medical health services: a cross sectional descriptive analysis of a Canadian naturopathic teaching clinic.

Background: Historically, alongside regulatory and jurisdictional differences in scope of practices, practice patterns of naturopathic doctors (NDs) have varied widely to promote holistic or whole-person treatment using a variety of therapies including: controlled substances, minor surgery, a variety of complementary therapies, as well as both novel and conventional assessments. However, little is known about the observed practice patterns of NDs, the services provided to their patients, or the type of conditions for which patients of NDs are seeking treatment. In order to address this gap, a cross-sectional descriptive analysis of the largest Canadian teaching clinic for NDs was undertaken to better understand the services provided to the community and increase the knowledge regarding the use of naturopathic medicine.

Polysaccharide K and Coriolus versicolor extracts for lung cancer: a systematic review.

Background: Polysaccharide K, also known as PSK or Krestin, is derived from the Coriolus versicolor mushroom and is widely used in Japan as an adjuvant immunotherapy for a variety of cancer including lung cancer. Despite reported benefits, there has been no English language synthesis of PSK for lung cancer. To address this knowledge gap, we conducted a systematic review of PSK for the treatment of lung cancer.

Herbal medicine use in pregnancy: results of a multinational study.

Background: The use of complementary and alternative medicines (CAM) is growing in the general population. Herbal medicines are used in all countries of the world and are included in the top CAM therapies used.

Methods: A multinational study on how women treat disease and pregnancy-related health ailments was conducted between October 2011 and February 2012 in Europe, North and South America and Australia.

Vitamin d: pharmacokinetics and safety when used in conjunction with the pharmaceutical drugs used in cancer patients: a systematic review.

Vitamin D has reported anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory properties modulated through gene transcription and non-genomic signaling cascades. The purpose of this review was to summarize the available research on interactions and pharmacokinetics between vitamin D and the pharmaceutical drugs used in patients with cancer. Hypercalcemia was the most frequently reported side effect that occurred in high dose calcitriol.

Black cohosh and breast cancer: a systematic review.

Background: Many women use black cohosh as a natural treatment for menopausal symptoms. However, controversy exists around safety in breast cancer, because of its purported estrogenic activity. We conducted a systematic review of black cohosh use in women with or at risk of breast cancer.

Folate Intake, MTHFR Polymorphisms, and the Risk of Colorectal Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background. The objective was to determine whether relationships exist between the methylene-tetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) polymorphisms and risk of colorectal cancer (CRC) and examine whether the risk is modified by level of folate intake. Methods.

Green tea and lung cancer: a systematic review.

Background: Green tea is a beverage widely used by lung cancer patients and the public for its purported anticancer properties. The authors conducted a systematic review of green tea for the treatment and prevention of lung cancer.

Methodology: Six electronic databases were searched from inception until November 2011 for human interventional and preclinical evidence pertaining to the safety and efficacy of green tea for lung cancer.

Objective assessment of an ionic footbath (IonCleanse): testing its ability to remove potentially toxic elements from the body.

Ionic footbaths are often used in holistic health centres and spas to aid in detoxification; however, claims that these machines eliminate toxins from the body have not been rigorously evaluated. In this proof-of-principle study, we sought to measure the release of potentially toxic elements from ionic footbaths into distilled and tap water with and without feet. Water samples were collected and analyzed following 30-minute ionic footbath sessions without feet using both distilled (n = 1) and tap water (n = 6) and following four ionic footbaths using tap water (once/week for 4 weeks) in six healthy participants.

Melatonin as adjuvant cancer care with and without chemotherapy: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized trials.

Background: Melatonin (MLT) is known to possess potent antioxidant, antiproliferative, immune-modulating, and hormone-modulating properties. Clinical evidence suggests that MLT may have a possible role in the treatment of cancer. The authors systematically reviewed the effects of MLT in conjunction with chemotherapy, radiotherapy, supportive care, and palliative care on 1-year survival, complete response, partial response, stable disease, and chemotherapy-associated toxicities.

Folate fortification and survival of children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Background: The antifolate drug methotrexate is a mainstay of treatment for children diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). There have been concerns regarding the impact of folate fortification on the efficacy of methotrexate therapy and hence treatment outcomes of ALL.

Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate whether folate fortification has been associated with a higher incidence of adverse outcomes in children with ALL.

Folate intake and the risk of colorectal cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Introduction: Folic acid fortification and supplementation to prevent neural tube defects has led to concerns regarding increased risk of colorectal cancer. The results of existing studies have been inconclusive. The purpose was to examine the relationship between level of folate intake and the incidence of colorectal cancer.

Clinically based evidence of drug-herb interactions: a systematic review.

Importance Of The Field: Healthcare practitioners are deeply concerned about drug-herb interactions and how concurrent administration may affect both the safety and effectiveness of prescribed drugs. Interactions between botanical medicines and synthetic drugs can be clinically relevant and it is important to understand what kinds of interactions are possible. Better knowledge in this area will help avoid negative interactions and may also help enable synergistic interactions.

A comparative review of thermography as a breast cancer screening technique.

Breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer of women in North America. Despite advances in treatment that have reduced mortality, breast cancer remains the second leading cause of cancer induced death. Several well established tools are used to screen for breast cancer including clinical breast exams, mammograms, and ultrasound.

Cost effectiveness of natural health products: a systematic review of randomized clinical trials.

Health care spending in North America is consuming an ever-increasing share of Gross Domestic Product (GDP). A large proportion of alternative health care is consumed in the form of natural health products (NHPs). The question of whether or not NHPs may provide a cost-effective choice in the treatment of disease is important for patients, physicians and policy makers.

In vitro analysis of the herbal compound Essiac.

Background: Despite the recommendation of the Task Force on Alternative Therapies of the Canadian Breast Cancer Research Initiative, little research has been published on the widely used herbal compound Essiac. We aimed to address this deficiency by conducting a series of assays to determine some of the purported activities of Essiac in vitro.

Materials And Methods: The activity of Essiac was measured using established assays to assess anti-oxidant, fibrinolytic, anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory, immune modulation, cell-specific cytotoxicity, and impact on cytochrome P450 (CYP450) enzyme pathways.