Saturday, September 22, 2007

Nutritional Supplements that may be effective for depression

According to Australian researchers (Nutrition and Dietetics, November 2006), there is a potential therapeutic benefit in treating depression with the following supplements: omega-3 fatty acids, folate, tryptophan, Vitamin B6, B12, S-adenosyl-L-methionine (SAM-e), and St. John's wort.

In my experience, these supplements must be monitored as carefully as prescription medications, and should be used in conjunction with a multi-faceted program that includes physical exercise, cognitive-behavior therapy, relaxation techniques, and dietary modifications, including elimination of sugar.

Tuesday, September 18, 2007

Resperate, the only non-drug clinically proven device for the treatment of hypertension, is now featured on Yahoo Health

Resperate, a biofeedback device which helps patients breathe slowly and relax, is now used by more than 75.000 patients and healthcare professionals. It was recently discussed in The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics, the American Heart Association's Hypertension Primer, The Mayo Clinic on High Blood Pressure, and The Blood Pressure Book.

My patients love using this home trainer to practice the relaxation techniques that they learn in my office.

Friday, September 14, 2007

Fish Consumption May Reduce Risk of Dementia

In a study to be published in the November 13, 2007 edition of Archives of Neurology, researchers looked at DHA levels in 900 men and women, ages 55 to 88. DHA is an omege-3 fatty acid linked to brain health found in fatty fish. Participants who consumed an average of 3 servings of fatty fish (such as salmon, herring and sardines) per week had a significantly reduced risk of developing dementia.

Sunday, September 9, 2007

Study finds doctors' knowledge of vitamins and herbs is limited

Researchers at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine surveyed 355 physicians, primarily residents in internal medicine, and found that, in general, they had limited knowledge about dietary supplements. For example, a majority were unaware that adverse reactions to supplements should be reported to the FDA. Given that more and more Americans are taking dietary supplements, physician education about supplements would enhance communication with their patients about these widely used products.

Thursday, September 6, 2007

Food additives linked with hyperactivity

Common food additives and colorings can increase hyperactivity according to a study published in the British medical journal The Lancet. The study focused on a variety of food colorings and sodium benzoate, a common preservative. This link was suspected for years and a leading advocate of removing preservatives and colorings from children' diets, Benjammin Feingold, wrote a ground-breaking book, The Feingold Diet, but evidence of positive results remained largely anecdotal. This is the first time that researchers have confirmed a positive association.

I cannot empahsize enough the importance of looking at diet before placing a child on medication for ADHD. The good news is that there is a wide variety of preservative-free, organic products to choose from that will appeal to children. There are also other alternatives to medication, including supplementation with omega-3 fish oils and neurofeedback training.

Wednesday, September 5, 2007

Infertility Associated with Elevated Stress Levels

The NY Times recently described the work of Dr. Sarah L. Berga of Emory University. In a 2003 study published in Fertility and Sterility, she reported that ovulation resumed in 7 out of 8 subjects who were trained in mental relaxation techniques. In a study published in 2006 in The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology, she reported that women who were not ovulating had excessive levels of cortisol, a stress hormone, in their brain fluid.

Relaxation training, including slow, abdominal breathing, can be very helpful for women with fertility issues, and should be a primary component of an infertility treatment program. Relaxation training is inexpensive, safe, and effective.

Sunday, September 2, 2007

Yoga Can Reduce Psychological Stress and Radiation-induced Genotoxic Stress in Breast Cancer Patients Undergoing Radiation

A study published in Integrative Cancer Therapies (Vol 6, No 3, 242-250, 2007) found that an integrated yoga program resulted in decreased stress and anxiety in breast cancer patients undergoing radiation therapy. Furthermore, postradiotherapy DNA damage was slightly less in the yoga group, as compared to a control group.