Medicine for migraines

Herbs and other dietary supplements besides vitamins are the most commonly used type of "complementary medicine" (also called alternative medicine) in the United States, followed by visits to chiropractors, yoga and massage, a new report finds. In 2012, nearly 18 percent of American adults said they took herbs or other supplements that were not vitamins and minerals. Other types of complementary medicine were less common: 8.5 percent said they were treated by a chiropractor or osteopathic physician, 8.4 percent said they did yoga , 6.8 percent said they had a massage and 4.1 percent said they meditated. People in the West and Midwest used complementary medicine more commonly than people in other regions, according to the report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. [ Wishful Thinking: 6 'Magic Bullet' Cures That Don't Exist ] For example, 16.4 percent of adults in the central northern United States (including North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, … [Read more...] about Herb Supplements Are the Most Common Complementary Medicine in US

Ever wonder what life was like before fancy MRI machines, super sterile operating rooms and Obamacare? The answer might have you reaching for your hand sanitizer. Going to the doctor these days may be a chore, but considering what people had to endure before modern medicine, you'll want you give your HMO a big hug. This week's episode of #5facts delves into the horrifying world of medicine before science got its act together. Many thanks to Grey's Anatomy star Sarah Drew for dropping by the show! The season finale of Grey's airs May 15 on ABC, and Sarah's new movie Mom's Night Out is in theaters now. See also: 12 X-Ray GIFs That Will Turn You Inside Out We promise, this won't hurt a bit. For more fascinating facts with a healthy dose of comedy, subscribe to 5facts on YouTube for a new video every week. 1. The chainsaw was originally for medical use in the 1830s The osteotome was developed in the 1830s, and was essentially a hand-cranked chain saw … [Read more...] about 5 Old-Timey Medical Procedures Worse Than Syphilis

Some types of alternative medicine, such as homeopathy and Reiki, should not be tested in clinical trials anymore because the therapies are not grounded in science, and studying them is like testing whether magic works, some researchers argue. In a new paper, Dr. David Gorski, of Wayne State University School of Medicine and Dr. Steven Novella of Yale University, say that it is unethical to study alternative medicine therapies in people if those therapies violate well-established laws and theories of science. The chances that such therapies will work better than a placebo are "close to impossible," they say. "There are some treatments that are so incredibility implausible" that there is no need to test them, Gorski said. "The likelihood of any positive result is so infinitesimally small." [ Wishful Thinking: 6 'Magic Bullet' Cures That Don't Exist ] Such treatments are examples of complementary or alternative medicine (CAM), which broadly refers to treatments that fall … [Read more...] about Stop Testing ‘Alternative’ Treatments, Some Researchers Say

Cutting back on salt may not be as beneficial for your heart as once thought, a new study suggests. While a diet low in salt reduces blood pressure , it increases the levels of cholesterol, fat and hormones in the blood that are known to increase the risk of heart disease, the study found. Overall, the good and bad consequences of a low-salt diet may cancel each other out, so the diet has relatively little effect on the development of disease, said study researcher Dr. Niels Graudal, of Copenhagen University Hospital in Denmark. The study adds to a growing body of research questioning the long-term benefits of a low-salt diet. In July, a review of seven previous studies published in the journal the Cochrane Library found that a moderate reduction in salt intake did not reduce a person's risk of dying or having heart disease. In fact, Graudal said the recommendation that people cut back on salt may have come prematurely. "In my opinion, these recommendations should … [Read more...] about Low-Salt Diets May Raise Risk of Heart Disease

When is a sugar pill deadly? When it is substituted for real medicine, the Japanese public has come to understand. The Japanese government is investigating numerous deaths that occurred over the past year resulting from the practice of homeopathy, which has been growing in popularity, particularly among midwives . Several lawsuits are pending. Deaths include a 2-month-old baby girl born with a vitamin K deficiency, whose mother's midwife administered a homeopathic treatment instead of the much-needed vitamin K injection, well-known to prevent hemorrhaging. The infant died from bleeding in the skull. As more cases surface, the nation's top science group, the Science Council of Japan, has weighed in, with its president, Ichiro Kanazawa, stating at a press conference on Aug. 24 that " homeopathy's therapeutic value has been scientifically and utterly disproved." Homeopathy treatments are nothing more than sugar pills, he said. Japan may soon join Switzerland and Germany, … [Read more...] about Homeopathy Shake-Up Goes Global