Further recommendations for treating ADHD

Misuse of Ritalin is increasing exponentially in Australia according the Australia Data from Poisons Information Centre who reported a 210% increase in ‘Intentional exposures’; ingestion for overdose or recreational reasons rather than therapy.

Professor Louise Newman and co-author Dr Adrian Dunlop have advised that there is also over-diagnosis of ADHD and over prescribing of ADHD drugs especially Ritalin. This contributes to increased rate of poisoning, deliberate overdoses and is further associated with suicide behaviour. Professor Newman also confirmed that some parents are taking their child to a doctor to get the drugs for their own personal use. These actions further highlight the gravity of the problem.

Surely, these findings point to the need of better diagnosis protocols for mainstream conventional care and also a requirement of better treatment regimes for ADHD.

This is also an indication that treatment for mild forms of ADHD should include Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) therapies which include lifestyle advice and food and nutrition advice, which are undeniably important components in the treatment of ADHD.

Why dried plums/prunes can help astronauts, cancer patients, radiation workers and victims of nuclear accidents

Dried plums or prunes are often lauded as effective food and nutrition advice as prunes are rich in potassium, fibre and antioxidants. Thus, regular intake of prunes may help lower your risk of chronic disease. Now a complementary medicine research study from Bone and Signaling Laboratory of NASA’s Ames Research Center has shown that consuming dried plums can protect from radiation bone loss. Radiation bone loss can occur from:

• Radiation therapy after hip replacement
• Anticancer treatment
• Victims of nuclear radiation disasters e.g. Hiroshima cohort
• Long-duration spaceflight

The study revealed that lab mice which ate prunes were protected from the bone-damaging effects of gamma ionising radiation. Gamma radiation is used to treat cancer patients. Therefore, these findings may indicate that prunes could help prevent radiation bones loss conditions and may be useful as an Integrative healthcare solutions i.e. potential best quality vitamin and nutraceutical supplements or pharmaceutical derived drug leads.

However further extensive research is required to determine the active component in dried plums that contribute to reducing bone loss, mineral density and a potential osteoprotective treatment.

Green tea ‘lead molecule’ could be useful for Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) Drug

There is growing research evidence that Green Tea has many health benefits. Green tea is a rich source of the Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) which is a immunomodulatory polyphenol that has been shown to have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects in various animal models of autoimmune diseases.

Recently, researchers at Washington State University in Spokane have published a research paper showing that EGCG has high potential the treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) as it blocks the effects of the disease without inhibiting other cellular functions.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease that causes pain and swelling in the joints. This chronic inflammatory disease characterized by T-cell mediated inflammation which contributes to the destruction of cartilage and bone in the joints.

The researchers investigated the use of EGCG for targeting Transforming growth factor β-activated kinase 1 (TAK1). TAK 1 is an important signalling protein — through which proinflammatory cytokines transmit their signals causing inflammation and tissue destruction in rheumatoid arthritis. TAK 1 is a key MAPKKK family protein in interleukin-1β (IL-1β), tumor necrosis factor (TNF), and Toll-like receptor signalling. It is also a key regulator in inflammatory and immune signaling pathways.

The paper published in the February edition of Arthritis and Rheumatology showed that EGCG significantly reduces ankle swelling in the rat animal model. Furthermore, previous research studies have shown that that green tea extract or EGCG administration improved symptoms of arthritis i.e. markedly reduced inflammation-related cytokine production including IFN-γ, IL-6 and TNF-α and increased IL-10 production.

Therefore, taken together these are potentially important findings in development of novel Integrative Medicine resources for the treatment of RA through:

• Advocating green tea as food and nutrition advice for RA and OA sufferers.
• Design of novel pharmaceuticals through targeting TAK1.
• Developing novel ‘EGCG like’ molecules as pharmaceutical interventions.
• Developing best quality vitamin and supplements for Rheumatoid arthritis and Osteoarthritis.

Integrative Healthcare Solution for Schizophrenic and Depressive Disorders

For the first time scientific research has shown that levels of IL-6, IL-18, TNFα, and sIL-2R are elevated in Major depression Disorder (MDD) and schizophrenic patients. Il-18 is important in regulating immune function. Furthermore, patients in the ‘schizophrenia group’ showed higher levels of the inflammatory markers than MDD and control groups.

The study authors Al-Hakeim et al concluded that the immunological response in the MDD and schizophrenic patients groups was significantly stimulated and that these disorders may be considered an inflammatory disorder because of elevated levels of proinflammatory cytokines in spite of lacking an overt inflammation.

Furthermore they suggested and Integrative healthcare solution of using anti-inflammatory drugs as adjuvant therapy in schizophrenic and depressive disorders.

Benefits of Drinking Tea – Lifestyle advice

There are nearly 9 million new fractures due to osteoporisis worldwide, with an estimated annual cost to our society of  approximately $100 billion  USD.

Black teas has been advised in many Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) therapies as food and nutrition advice for prevention of many diseases For example, in Ayurveda Chai tea has been traditionally advocated as lifestyle advice to improve digestion and from the Ayurvedic perspective improper digestion is the root cause of many disease..

Now researchers have reported that drinking black tea reduces the risk of fractures in older women.

Myers et al carried out a prospective, observational complementary medicine research study of 1,188 women with an average age of 75. The study revealed that having at least 3 cups of tea a day resulted in:
•    34% lower risk of developing a serious osteoporotic fracture
•    42% less chance of sustaining a hip fracture
•    For each 1 cup per day increase in tea intake there was a 9% decrease in the risk of a serious osteoporotic fracture

So how does black tea protect against bone loss?

The most probable mode of action is that the Flavonoids found in black tea inhibit bone resorption and simultaneously stimulate osteoblastic bone formation.

So when you are next at the coffee shop on the way to work in the morning order a cup of black tea instead of coffee for more health benefits.

Researchers Report that Yoga Can Help Prostate Cancer Patients

Complementary and Alternative Medicine therapies such as Yoga and Meditation are valuable Integrative Medicine resources in the fight against cancer.
Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania, USA recently reported that patients with prostate cancer undergoing radiation therapy can benefit from Yoga at the Society of Integrative Oncology’s 12th International Conference.

The participants in this complementary medicine research study utilised a therapy called ‘Eischens’ yoga program. This is a series of yoga asanas that address imbalances and weakness in muscle groups. ‘Eischens yoga’ was developed by Roger Eischens a direct disciple of B.K.S. Iyengar.

This complementary medicine research study revealed that the inclusion of ‘Eischens yoga’ in the treatment of these patients resulted in:

• improved quality-of-life
• reduced cancer-related fatigue
• lower prevalence of sexual and erectile dysfunction
• reduced urinary incontinence

The proposed explanations for the benefits of this specific form of yoga include:

• Reducing cancer related fatigue
• Strengthening pelvic floor muscles and improved circulation

‘Eischens yoga’ is available at the Penn Medicine‘s Abramson Cancer Center which incorporates integrative medicine and wellness services. In addition to yoga, patients can receive training in other Complementary and Alternative Medicine therapies such as:

• Stress-reduction techniques
• Meditation
• Reiki therapy
• Acupuncture
• Massage

This is one example of the value of Integrative medicine in the treatment of serious disease.

Grumpy Women Live As Long as Happy Ones

You would think that happier people live longer than miserable folk, however a new complementary medicine research study has reported this is a fallacy in women aged 50 to 69 years.

The study which was published in the Lancet followed 715,000 British women, aged 50 to 69, from 1996 to 2012. During the study, 4% (31, 531) of participants died. Previous studies have linked happiness to longevity but these researchers now say there’s no such scientific connection.

“It’s such a common belief that stress and unhappiness causes death and disease but it’s actually the other way around,” said Professor Richard Peto from University of Oxford, who was one of the study’s authors.

“People should focus on the real issues that shorten their lives, like smoking and obesity.”

It is important to note that there will be future research conducted that will report the contrary. Furthermore, science has yet to determine how to measure happiness, and surely quality of life is an important factor to take into consideration. However, Professor Peto warning that poor lifestyle choices can be detrimental; therefore lifestyle advice is pivotal to good health.

So in the interim it is important that lifestyle advice focuses on preventative.

Menopause treatment and Bio-identical hormones – Women’s health issue

A 2015 Australian study conducted by researchers from the Cancer Council NSW found that women who use menopausal hormone therapy (MHT), have double the risk of developing breast cancer compared to women who never used MHT. In addition when women stop using MHT, the increased risk drops and becomes the same as with other women who don’t use it. The study, published in the International Journal of Cancer, conforms previous findings in the US and UK.
Professor Karen Canfell from the Cancer Council NSW commented, “The message to convey is that it’s important that women check in with their doctor every six months about the continuing use of MHT, because the risk of breast cancer increases as duration of use increases,” .

The researchers affirmed that HRT can still be advised for alleviating moderate to severe symptoms of menopause such as hot flushes and vaginal dryness. However, it is important to note that the risks are greater with use of combined oestrogen-progestagen as opposed to oestrogen-only therapy.

these findings will also encourage the increased use of bio-identical hormones. Bio-identical hormones are hormones synthesised to resemble identically, the natural hormones produced by the ovary. Pharmaceutical companies prefer to produce synthetic hormones (antagonist and agonist based), but these can cause various side effects due to a variety of physiological reasons.

If bio-identical hormones are the preferable mode of treatment then we need to consider the following:

• The physiological concentrations administered
• Pharmokinetics and pharmacological properties
• Do they have the same binding constants, up-regulation, down-regulation effects etc
• Is there a cascade effect post- administration that can be detrimental
• What do current observational studies show?

Possibly the best treatment option for menopause is an integrative healthcare solution of bio-identical hormones with Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) therapies such as Ayurveda, TCM , Homeopathy and Lifeline Technique strategically implemented to deal with the physical and emotional aspects of menopause.

Scientific proof that Chocolate can lower Heart Disease

Chocolate is a popular food and nutrition advice that is publicized to lower heart disease.
Is there any scientific proof for this?

Epidemiological studies have shown that populations which consume higher amounts of flavanols from cocoa and other sources tend to have lower rates of cardiovascular disease (CVD). A recent 2015 complementary medicine research study of 100 healthy, middle-aged men and women, who consumed a total of 900 mg cocoa flavanols for one month as a flavored drink twice daily resulted in a small, but significant improvement in blood vessel endothelial function compared to a placebo group (containing similar amounts of caffeine and theobromine, but no cocoa flavanols).

Moreover, the ‘cocoa consumption group’ reported a small, but significant reduction in:

• Systolic blood pressure (4.4 mmHg) and
• Diastolic blood pressure (3.9 mmHg),
• LDL “bad” cholesterol and accompanying increase in HDL “good” cholesterol

The researchers (Sansone et al) reported that these changes reduced the estimated risk of death from CVD over a projected 10 year period by 30% compared to those who consumed the placebo group.

This study further demonstrates that consumption of cocoa flavanols can improve:

• vascular function
• blood-pressure
• raise levels of HDL levels

A possible mode of mechanism is that of flavanols protect the bioactivity of the endothelium-derived nitric oxide (NO) and inhibition of platelet aggregation.

So if you have a sweet tooth, then replace your desserts with a little dark chocolate!

Is there any supplement that can help with Gum Disease?

Periodontitis is a common chronic inflammatory disease initiated by bacteria. This results in:

• bone resorption
• tooth loss, and
• systemic inflammation

One of the best Complementary and Alternative Medicine supplement for Gum Disease is DHA.A 2010 study from Japan showed that dental disease was1.5 times higher in people with low levels of DHA.

A recent 2014 study by Mukamal et al found that administering 2,000 mg per day of omega-3 fatty acid docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) with low-dose aspirin reduced periodontitis in humans.

Gingival crevicular fluid samples were analyzed for changes in:

• high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) and
• interleukins 6 and 1β (IL-6 and IL-1β)

DHA supplementation decreased mean pocket depth and gingival index; plaque index and bleeding on probing did not change.

However, further complementary medicine research studies are required to determine the mode of action and optimal aspirin concentration or alternative to aspirin. The proposed mechanism of action is that aspirin to produce resolvins and protectins; novel lipid mediators in anti-inflammation and resolution.