Category Archives: medicine

Alternative and Complementary Medicine (CAM)Use is Growing

Posted on December 12, 2008 by continuum wellness| Leave a comment

I posted a government survey here on this blog which concluded that 38 percent of American adults and 12 percent of American children use complementary and alternative medicine (here). The Washington Post did an article on this topic too (here)
Critics of these health care approaches are up in arms, claiming that acupuncture is a placebo and homeopathy is fake. What they fail to realize it that these approaches are valid and have helped since their inceptions millions of people. The power of these approaches is that they offer prevention and healing. These alternative approaches tend to follow a non-invasive model and offer empowerment.

Many people are opting out of lifelong medication. That approach seems to miss the mark on quality care. The Western medical model is helpful, however it is not the only approach that has validity and that can help people. The science as God approach used to validate modern medical is also not fool proof. To wit the large number of adverse events and drug side effects. But, the purpose of the article is not to rant.
Health is freedom. Let the healing continue.

Posted in alternative medicine, Ayurveda, children, complementary medicine, culture, drugs, folk remedies, healing, Health, holistic, holistic medicine, Homeopathy, medicine, women's health

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Government Survey, Who Uses Complementary and Alternative Medicine?

Posted on December 11, 2008 by continuum wellness| 2 Comments

Government survey shows 38 percent of adults and 12 percent of children use complementary and alternative medicine

Approximately 38 percent of adults in the United States aged 18 years and over and nearly 12 percent of U.S. children aged 17 years and under use some form of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), according to a new nationwide government survey.* This survey marks the first time questions were included on children’s use of CAM, which is a group of diverse medical and health care systems, practices, and products such as herbal supplements, meditation, chiropractic, and acupuncture that are not generally considered to be part of conventional medicine.

The survey, conducted as part of the 2007 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), an annual study in which tens of thousands of Americans are interviewed about their health- and illness-related experiences, was developed by the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM), a part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), a part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The survey included questions on 36 types of CAM therapies commonly used in the United States—10 types of provider-based therapies, such as acupuncture and chiropractic, and 26 other therapies that do not require a provider, such as herbal supplements and meditation.

“The 2007 NHIS provides the most current, comprehensive, and reliable source of information on Americans’ use of CAM,” said Josephine P. Briggs, M.D., director of NCCAM. “These statistics confirm that CAM practices are a frequently used component of Americans’ health care regimens, and reinforce the need for rigorous research to study the safety and effectiveness of these therapies. The data also point out the need for patients and health care providers to openly discuss CAM use to ensure safe and coordinated care.”

The 2007 survey results, released in a National Health Statistics Report by NCHS, are based on data from more than 23,300 interviews with American adults and more than 9,400 interviews with adults on behalf a child in their household. The 2007 survey is the second conducted by NCCAM and NCHS—the first was done as part of the 2002 NHIS.**

CAM Use Among Adults

Comparison of the data from the 2002 and 2007 surveys suggests that overall use of CAM among adults has remained relatively steady—36 percent in 2002 and 38 percent in 2007. However, there has been substantial variation in the use of some specific CAM therapies, such as deep breathing, meditation, massage therapy, and yoga, which all showed significant increases.

The most commonly used CAM therapies among U.S. adults were

* Nonvitamin, nonmineral, natural products (17.7 percent) Most common: fish oil/omega 3/DHA, glucosamine, echinacea, flaxseed oil or pills, and ginseng***

* Deep breathing exercises (12.7 percent)

* Meditation (9.4 percent)

* Chiropractic or osteopathic manipulation (8.6 percent)

* Massage (8.3 percent)

* Yoga (6.1 percent).

Adults used CAM most often to treat pain including back pain or problems, neck pain or problems, joint pain or stiffness/other joint condition, arthritis, and other musculoskeletal conditions. Adult use of CAM therapies for head or chest colds showed a marked decrease from 2002 to 2007 (9.5 percent in 2002 to 2.0 percent in 2007).

Consistent with results from the 2002 data, in 2007 CAM use among adults was greater among:.

* Women (42.8 percent, compared to men 33.5 percent)

* Those aged 30-69 (30-39 years: 39.6 percent, 40-49 years: 40.1 percent, 50-59 years: 44.1 percent, 60-69 years: 41.0 percent)

* Those with higher levels of education (Masters, doctorate or professional: 55.4 percent)

* Those who were not poor (poor: 28.9 percent, near poor: 30.9 percent, not poor: 43.3 percent)

* Those living in the West (44.6 percent)

* Those who have quit smoking (48.1 percent)

CAM Use Among Children

Overall, CAM use among children is nearly 12 percent, or about 1 in 9 children. Children are five times more likely to use CAM if a parent or other relative uses CAM. Other characteristics of adult and child CAM users are similar—factors such as socioeconomic status, geographic region, the number of health conditions, the number of doctor visits in the last 12 months, and delaying or not receiving conventional care because of cost are all associated with CAM use.

Among children who used CAM in the past 12 months, CAM therapies were used most often for back or neck pain, head or chest colds, anxiety or stress, other musculoskeletal problems, and Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADD/ADHD).

The most commonly used CAM therapies among children were

* Nonvitamin, nonmineral, natural products (3.9 percent) Most common: echinacea, fish oil/omega 3/DHA, combination herb pill, flaxseed oil or pills, and prebiotics or probiotics

* Chiropractic or osteopathic manipulation (2.8 percent)

* Deep breathing exercises (2.2 percent)

* Yoga (2.1 percent).

“The survey results provide information on trends and a rich set of data for investigating who in America is using CAM, the practices they use, and why,” said Richard L. Nahin, Ph.D., MPH, acting director of NCCAM’s Division of Extramural Research and co-author of the National Health Statistics Report. “Future analyses of these data may help explain some of the observed variation in the use of individual CAM therapies and provide greater insights into CAM use patterns among Americans.”

Posted in alternative medicine, baby boomers, complementary medicine, healing, Health, health beliefs, health care, healthy body, holistic medicine, medicine, women, women's health

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Study Suggest Some Cancers May Go Away

Posted on December 2, 2008 by continuum wellness| 1 Comment

Study Suggests Some Cancers May Go Away
November 25, 2008, New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/25/health/25breast.html

Cancer researchers have known for years that it was possible in rare cases for some cancers to go away on their own. There were occasional instances of melanomas and kidney cancers that just vanished. And neuroblastoma, a very rare childhood tumor, can go away without treatment. But these were mostly seen as oddities – an unusual pediatric cancer that might not bear on common cancers of adults, a smattering of case reports of spontaneous cures. And since almost every cancer that is detected is treated, it seemed impossible even to ask what would happen if cancers were left alone. Now, though, researchers say they have found a situation in Norway that has let them ask that question about breast cancer. And their new study, to be published Tuesday in The Archives of Internal Medicine, suggests that even invasive cancers may sometimes go away without treatment and in larger numbers than anyone ever believed. Robert M. Kaplan, the chairman of the department of health services at the School of Public Health at the University of California, Los Angeles, [is] persuaded by the analysis. The implications are potentially enormous, Dr. Kaplan said. If the results are replicated, he said, it could eventually be possible for some women to opt for so-called watchful waiting, monitoring a tumor in their breast to see whether it grows. “People have never thought that way about breast cancer,” he added. Dr. Kaplan and his colleague, Dr. Franz Porzsolt, an oncologist at the University of Ulm, said in an editorial that accompanied the study, “If the spontaneous remission hypothesis is credible, it should cause a major re-evaluation in the approach to breast cancer research and treatment.”

Note: For reports from major media sources on many hopeful new developments in the battle against cancer, click here.
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Posted in breast cancer, cancer, cervical cancer, colon cancer, Health, medical news, medicine

Biological Drugs Problems with drug safety

Posted on October 23, 2008 by continuum wellness| Leave a comment

Almost one-quarter of biologic therapies approved in the United States and Europe since 1995 have been the subject of at least one safety-related regulatory action in the decade since they were approved.

Eleven percent, including Remicade (infliximab), used to treat Crohn’s disease and rheumatoid arthritis, and Avastin (bevacizumab), used to treat cancer, have been issued a “black box” warning.

The findings, from Dutch scientists, are published in the Oct. 22/29 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.

“This suggests the need for more in-depth investigation before approval and highlights the importance of vigilance in post-marketing surveillance for adverse effects,” Dr. Phil B. Fontanarosa, the journal’s executive deputy editor, said during a a Tuesday teleconference on the themed issue.

“[Adverse effects] generally occurred in general disorders, like serious allergic reaction or cardiac arrest, administration site problems, infections and infestations,” said Fontanarosa. “A lot of these drugs act on the immune system, so infections are common complications of these products.”

“We’ve always known that because biologics were going to modulate the immune system, there would be this risk,” said Lisa Saubermann, associate director of clinical pharmacy services at the University of Rochester Medical Center.

The first biologic treatment, recombinant insulin, was approved in the United States in 1982. Since then, more than 250 biologics have flooded the pharmaceutical market, representing roughly one-quarter of all new drugs approved by U.S. and European Union authorities.

Although all drugs carry risks, biologics are in a special class, because they are derived from biological sources, including antibodies, enzymes and hormones.

Enbrel (etanercept), for instance, is a tumor necrosis factor, a protein made by the body’s immune system. The drug, used to treat various forms of arthritis as well as psoriasis, was also the recipient of a black box warning (for infections and central nervous system disorders).

The authors of this paper, from Utrecht University, reviewed 174 biologics approved in the United States and/or the European Union between January 1995 and June 2007.

Between January 1995 and June 2008, 82 safety-related regulatory actions were issued for 41 of the medications, or almost 24 percent of the total.

Of these 82 actions, 63 were advisory letters to health-care professionals in the United States and Europe, and 19 were black box warnings. None of the drugs were withdrawn from the market.

Posted in drugs, immune system, medications, medicine, prescription drugs, side effects

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Cancer Patients and Survivors Turn to Complementary Medicine

Posted on August 6, 2008 by continuum wellness| 1 Comment

A paper by American Cancer Society researchers published this week in Cancer, one of the Society’s peer-reviewed journals, offers one of the largest and most detailed portraits of complementary and alternative therapy use among cancer survivors in the United States.

Complementary therapy refers to treatments, techniques, or methods that are used along with standard or mainstream medicine. Some complementary therapies may help relieve certain symptoms of cancer or its treatment. An alternative therapy refers to an unproven therapy that is used instead of conventional medicine. Some alternative therapies are bogus, and some have dangerous or even life-threatening side effects. Still others scientists don’t know enough about.

To date, information on just how many patients actually use complementary and alternative methods and on which patient characteristics influence that use has been limited.
Popular Therapies

ACS researchers surveyed more than more than 4,000 survivors who were participants in the American Cancer Society’s Study of Cancer Survivors-I (SCS-I) and found that more than half used some type of alternative or complementary therapy.

“Many complementary methods are extremely popular among cancer survivors, who are spending a lot of their time, money, and attention on them,” said Ted Gansler, MD, Director of Medical Content at the American Cancer Society and co-author of the study. “For this reason, it’s important to determine which are helpful, not only for shrinking tumors and extending survival, but also for relieving symptoms and improving quality-of-life.”

The researchers looked at 19 different complementary methods — from acupuncture to Tai Chi. Survivors listed the following practices most frequently: prayer/spiritual practice (61.4%), relaxation (44.3%), faith/spiritual healing (42.4%), nutritional supplements/vitamins (40.1%), meditation (15%), religious counseling (11.3%), massage (11.2%), and support groups (9.7%). Hypnosis (0.4%), biofeedback (1.0%), and acupuncture/acupressure (1.2%) were among the least cited.

A Detailed Picture

Of the group, younger, more affluent, and more educated cancer survivors were more likely to use the therapies. Women were more likely than men to use energy techniques such as Tai Chi and yoga (10.1 vs. 1.9%) and manipulative body practices such as massage (16.9 vs. 3.9%), though both men and women were only somewhat less likely to use non-spiritual mind-body methods such as aromatherapy, hypnosis, and meditation (58.6% vs. 42.8%).

Breast and ovarian cancer survivors were more likely to use alternative and complementary therapies than survivors of other cancer types, even when the researchers controlled for factors such as gender, stage of disease, and other characteristics. More research is needed into why these groups are more likely to embrace the methods.

This is the first of several reports that will tap American Cancer Society’s Study of Cancer Survivors-I (SCS-I) data to further investigate the topic of complementary and alternative medicine use among cancer survivors.

“We need to learn more about why some people use certain complementary methods, why other don’t, what benefits users expect, and how effective various complementary methods are in improving survivors’ length and quality of life,” said Gansler.

For more information on this topic and to learn more about some of the therapies mentioned in this story, see the American Cancer Society’s guide to Complementary and Alternative Therapies. *CW note: Homeopathy is not listed in the ACS review of therapies, yet it has helped many people who turn to its use. In every therapy one should work with a qualified therapist.

Posted in alternative medicine, breast cancer, cancer, cervical cancer, complementary medicine, healing, Health, holistic medicine, medicine, men, women, women's health

Prince of Wales Supports Complementary Therapies

Posted on May 16, 2008 by continuum wellness| 2 Comments

There really is more than one way to look at something. In the process of learning some prefer the tactile touch of books, some like the ease of an audio tape or CD, someone else may want a one on one with a tutor but the point is learning took place. Perhaps it is not the best example but I hope you see the conclusion that I am reaching. Herbal medicine, Chinese medicine, Ayurveda, Homeopathic medicine, Flower essences, body work, massage, sweats, fasting, even leeching is staging a come back. There are many ways to tap into healing. Remember that laughter cured Norman Cousins when the doctors told him that he was incurable. Why are some so close-minded?

The article below is from the BBC. Click on the link to read the article.

Complementary therapies should be given a greater role in the NHS, a report commissioned by the Prince of Wales has said.

The report, by economist Christopher Smallwood, said patients with conditions such as back pain and stress can benefit from some of the therapies.

However, there is a shortage of treatments such as acupuncture and osteopathy in poorer areas.

The report does not say wider use would bring huge NHS savings.

The report covers the ‘Big Five’ complementary and alternative therapies – osteopathy and chiropractic, acupuncture, homeopathy and herbal medicine.

Millions of people use complementary therapies in the UK, and demand is growing. About half of GPs now provide some kind of access to such treatments.
(more)

Be Well

Posted in Ayurveda, complementary medicine, healing, Health, health beliefs, health care, healthy mind, holistic medicine, Homeopathy, medicine, self-healing, thoughts, Uncategorized

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A Lot of People Are Taking Lots of Prescribed Drugs

Posted on May 16, 2008 by continuum wellness| Leave a comment

According to a recent study more than half of insured Americans regularly take prescription drugs for chronic health problems. In some cases an individual may take 18 or more drugs daily (here) Yes, some would call this progress. If people are not being healed, which means to make whole, what is happening here. Until the public demands the choice of qualified health practitioners this is not going to get better. Are you aware that all of these drugs are seeping into the drinking water? Every living creature needs clean water. How will this cycle back onto the public. Our food supply also comes from this tainted water.

The first step to improving your health is to know that it can happen. No one is meant to live captive of pill after pill. Why is it important to know you can improve your health? You must have the awareness that it is a choice. The actions you take lead to a result. It takes motivation and daily choices that lead to the goal. All of the information that is available will not help unless you begin to use the information.

Second, stop looking for a quick fix. Seek to heal the cause of the problem. If you are stressed out, learn how to relax and practice. If you are addicted to salt, learn how to season your food. If you are angry, bitter or sad learn how to find joy and peace.

Explore. Seek out sound information. Is it easy? You decide. If it is worth it to you start now. Find a buddy. Pray. Work with a qualified practitioner. And know that it is possible. Start now, begin the process of healing your life.

Posted in diabetes, drugs, health care, healthy body, medical news, medications, medicine, thoughts, Uncategorized, wellness

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Warning for Children on ADHD Medication – Get a Heart Checkup

Posted on April 24, 2008 by continuum wellness| Leave a comment

The article below is from the American Heart Association. While there is a place for modern medicine, it seems practically every day there is a warning or a recall over drug safety or a therapeutic approach gone sour.
It seems evident that there should be options for those who want to explore and use them, and yes I am referring to homeopathic medicine or other holistic approaches. Why should the public be subjected to these scenarios? Read the article below.

    Children with ADHD should get heart tests before treatment with stimulant drugs

    Statement highlights:
    • The side effects of stimulant drugs, like those used to treat ADHD are usually insignificant, but are important to monitor for children with ADHD and certain heart conditions.
    • Children diagnosed with ADHD should receive an electrocardiogram (ECG) to rule out heart abnormalities before beginning treatment with stimulant drugs.
    • Children currently taking stimulant drugs who did not have an ECG prior to treatment should get an ECG.

    View the statement here

    DALLAS, April 21 – Children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) should get careful cardiac evaluation and monitoring – including an electrocardiogram (ECG) – before starting treatment with stimulant drugs, a new American Heart Association statement recommends.

    The scientific statement on Cardiovascular Monitoring of Children and Adolescents with Heart Disease Receiving Stimulant Drugs is published online in Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association.

    In 1999, concerns over potential cardiovascular effects of psychotropic drugs, especially tricyclic antidepressants, but including stimulants, prompted an American Heart Association Scientific Statement: Cardiovascular Monitoring of Children and Adolescents Receiving Psychotropic Drugs. However, no specific cardiovascular monitoring was recommended for the use of stimulant medications. Warnings from the U. S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) about stimulant medications and public concern for the safety of using them have prompted the current statement.

    Studies have shown that stimulant medications like those used to treat ADHD can increase heart rate and blood pressure. These side effects are insignificant for most children with ADHD; however, they’re an important consideration for children who have a heart condition. Certain heart conditions increase the risk for sudden cardiac death (SCD), which occurs when the heart rhythm becomes erratic and doesn’t pump blood through the body.

    Doctors usually use a physical exam and the patient and family history to detect the risk for or presence of health problems before beginning new treatments, including prescribing medication. But some of the cardiac conditions associated with SCD may not be noticed in a routine physical exam. Many of these conditions are subtle and do not result in symptoms or have symptoms that are vague such as palpitations, fainting or chest pain.

    That’s why the statement writing group recommends adding an ECG to pre-treatment evaluations for children with ADHD. An ECG measures the heart’s electrical activity and can often identify heart rhythm abnormalities such as those that can lead to sudden cardiac death.

    “After ADHD is diagnosed, but before therapy with a stimulant or other medication is begun, we suggest that an ECG be added to the pre-treatment evaluation to increase the likelihood of identifying cardiac conditions that may place the child at risk for sudden death,” said Victoria L. Vetter, M.D., head of the statement writing committee and Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine in Philadelphia.

    Vetter also said doctors should evaluate children and adolescents already taking these medications if they were not evaluated when they started the treatment.

    If heart problems are suspected after the evaluation, children should be referred to a pediatric cardiologist. Once stimulant treatment begins, children should have their heart health monitored periodically, with a blood pressure check within one to three months, then again at routine follow-ups every six to 12 months.

    “Children can have undiagnosed heart conditions without showing symptoms,” Vetter said. “Furthermore, a child’s body changes constantly, with some conditions not appearing until adolescence.”

    If the initial ECG was taken before age 12 years, it may be useful to do a repeat ECG after the child is over age 12 years, the statement says.

    Widespread use of ECGs to detect heart abnormalities, including screenings for competitive athletes, is not routinely recommended by the American Heart Association. However, the writing group found using ECG screening in this specific population of children prescribed ADHD medication is medically indicated and reasonably priced. That said, however, lack of an ECG shouldn’t mean that kids who need ADHD treatment can’t get it.

    “While we feel that an ECG is reasonable and helpful as a tool to identify children with cardiac conditions that can lead to SCD, if, in the view of their physician, a child requires immediate treatment with stimulant medications, this recommendation is not meant to keep them from getting that treatment,” said Vetter, who added that some children may not have access to a pediatric cardiologist who can evaluate an ECG or perform a cardiology consultation.

    In 2003, an estimated 2.5 million children took medication for ADHD. Surveys indicate that ADHD affects an estimated 4 percent to 12 percent of all school-aged children in the United States, and it appears more common in children with heart conditions. Studies report that, depending on the specific cardiac condition, 33 percent to 42 percent of pediatric cardiac patients have ADHD, Vetter said. The number of undiagnosed children with heart conditions is unknown as routine heart screening is not performed, but Vetter said that a recent pilot study she presented at the American Heart Association’s 2007 Scientific Session indicated that up to 2 percent of healthy school aged children had potentially serious undiagnosed cardiac conditions identified by an ECG.

    Data from the FDA showed that between 1999 and 2004, 19 children taking ADHD medications died suddenly and 26 children experienced cardiovascular events such as strokes, cardiac arrests and heart palpitations. Since February 2007, the FDA has required all manufacturers of drug products approved for ADHD treatment to develop Medication Guidelines to alert patients to possible cardiovascular risks.

    Future studies are necessary to assess the true risk of SCD in association with stimulant drugs in children and adolescents with and without heart disease, Vetter said. However, studying SCD associated with drugs is difficult because the government’s reporting system is voluntary, which means local data on these types of deaths isn’t always reported nationally.

    A registry of SCD events is necessary for further investigating this issue, the writing committee said. Such a registry would allow for a more accurate understanding of SCD, including the true incidence of it and the potential effectiveness of universal ECG testing and pre-participation screening questionnaires.

    The statement writing committee said its recommendations are not intended to limit the appropriate use of stimulants in children with ADHD.

    “Our intention is to provide the physician with some tools to help identify heart conditions in children with ADHD, and help them make decisions about the use of stimulant medications and the follow-up of children who take them,” Vetter said. “The goal is to allow treatment of ADHD, while attempting to lower the cardiac risk of these products in susceptible children.”

    The writing committee also includes: Josephine Elia, M.D.; Christopher Erickson, M.D.; Stuart Berger, M.D.; Nathan Blum, M.D.; Karen Uzark, R.N., Ph.D.; and Catherine L. Webb, M.D.

    ###

    NR08-1058 (CIRC/Vetter)

    The American Heart Association/American Stroke Association receives funding primarily from individuals. In addition, foundations and corporations – including pharmaceutical, device manufacturers and other companies – make donations and fund specific American Heart Association/American Stroke Association programs and events. Revenues from pharmaceutical and device corporations are disclosed at www.americanheart.org.

Posted in ADD, ADHD, adolescents, adverse events, children, culture, drugs, Health, healthy body, heart, medical news, medications, medicine, prescription drugs, side effects, Uncategorized

Looking Forward to Laughter Heals

Posted on April 15, 2008 by continuum wellness| Leave a comment

Anticipating a Laugh Reduces Our Stress Hormones, Study Shows
ScienceDaily

In 2006 researchers investigating the interaction between the brain, behavior, and the immune system found that simply anticipating a mirthful laughter experience boosted health-protecting hormones. Now, two years later, the same researchers have found that the anticipation of a positive humorous laughter experience also reduces potentially detrimental stress hormones. According to Dr. Lee Berk, the study team’s lead researcher of Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA, “Our findings lead us to believe that by seeking out positive experiences that make us laugh we can do a lot with our physiology to stay well.”

In their earlier work the researchers found that the anticipation of “mirthful laughter” had surprising and significant effects. Two hormones – beta-endorphins (the family of chemicals that alleviates depression) and human growth hormone (HGH; which helps with immunity) – increased by 27 and 87 percent respectively when volunteers anticipated watching a humorous video. There was no such increase among the control group who did not anticipate watching the humor film.
Using a similar protocol, the current research found that the same anticipation of laughter also reduced the levels of three stress hormones. Cortisol (termed “the stress hormone”), epinephrine (also known as adrenaline) and dopac, a dopamine catabolite (brain chemical which helps produce epinephrine), were reduced 39, 70 and 38 percent, respectively (statistically significant compared to the control group). Chronically released high stress hormone levels can weaken the immune system.
The research is entitled Cortisol and Catecholamine Stress Hormone Decrease Is Associated with the Behavior of Perceptual Anticipation of Mirthful Laughter. It was conducted by Lee Berk with Stanley A. Tan, both of the Oak Crest Health Research Institute, Loma Linda, CA; and Dottie Berk, Loma Linda University Health Care, Loma Linda. Lee Berk is presenting the team’s findings at the 121st Annual Meeting of the American Physiological Society, part of the Experimental Biology 2008 scientific conference.

The Study

Having found that the anticipation of a laughter event increased certain “beneficial” chemicals/hormones, the researchers proposed that the anticipation of a laughter event might reduce stress hormones. To test their theory they studied 16 healthy fasting male volunteers for cortisol and catecholamine level changes. The participants were assigned to either the control group or the experiment group (those anticipating a humorous event).
Blood was drawn from both groups prior to the event (anticipation), four times during the event, and three times afterward (event and residual effect). Analysis showed that the blood levels in the anticipatory phase decreased for stress hormones cortisol, epinephrine and dopac in the experimental group. Trend analysis showed a progressive pattern of the decrease for the three hormones through the event.
As a result, the researchers suggest that anticipating a positive event can decrease stress hormones that can be detrimental when chronically released. These findings have implications for understanding the modalities that can benefit stress reduction in health and wellness programs.
“Biology of Hope”

Norman Cousins was a journalist and an editor of the Saturday Review. He was also a pioneer in the idea that beliefs, thoughts and emotions have biological effects (“biotranslation”). His view about the body’s unrecognized ability to heal itself was captured in his 1979 book, “Anatomy of an Illness (As Perceived by the Patient).”
Forty years ago, few scientists would likely have agreed with Cousins. Today, researchers like Berk are beginning to pinpoint exactly what thoughts can drive which affects. Researchers like Berk are finding that, in addition to what resides in our bodies, what resides in our brains and mind is important, too.

Adapted from materials provided by American Physiological Society.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080407114617.htm

Posted in Health, health care, healthy body, healthy mind, medical news, medicine, teens, Uncategorized, wellness, women

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