Bee propolis a potential remedy for prostate cancer
Propolis, the honeybee hive resin used by bees to patch up holes in hives, has been used for centuries as a natural remedy for conditions ranging from sore throats and allergies to burns and cancer. But its use has not gained widespread acceptance in the clinic due to scientific questions about its effect on cells.
Continue reading »
Music’s positive influence on the immune system
Over the past decade, the use of music as medicine has been evolving into an accepted part of recovery programs at hospitals and clinics nationwide. As an adjunct to standard medical treatment, it is used primarily to reduce stress, ease pain, and reduce nausea. Now, researchers are linking certain types of music with enhancing the immune system.
Continue reading »
Learning from Shakespeare’s deep understanding of mind-body connection
Kenneth Heaton, a medical doctor and researcher, gathered information from all of Shakespeare’s works to demonstrate that he “was an exceptionally body-conscious writer,” and posited that Shakespeare had a deep understanding of how physical symptoms can have psychological causes.
Continue reading »
Hypnosis helps the healing process after surgery
In Belgium, anesthesiologists who used a combination of hypnosis and local anesthesia, vs. only general anesthesia, found that patients’ opioid drug use was greatly diminished, as well as time spent in the recovery room and the length of their hospital stay.
The hypnosis was performed on breast cancer and thyroid patients. ”In all of these procedures local anaesthesia is feasible but not, on its own, sufficient to ensure patient comfort,” says Professor Roelants from the Department of Anaesthesiology at the Cliniques Universitaires St. Luc, UCL, Brussels, Belgium.
Continue reading »
Yoga improves breast cancer patients’ quality of life
Yogic breathing, postures, meditation and relaxation techniques that are part of a regular yoga practice helps breast cancer patients with improved physical functioning, better general health, and lower cortisol (stress hormone) levels. The women are also better able to find meaning in their cancer experience.
The MD Anderson Cancer Center at the University of Texas provided findings on 163 women with breast cancer as part of a study to assess the benefits of yoga vs. simple stretching exercises.
Continue reading »
More Americans pray for improved health
The American Psychological Association says in a new study that praying among Americans about health issues has risen dramatically in the past three decades; it notably increased by 36 percent between 1999 and 2007.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s data used for the study suggest that praying increased among those not only with chronic health problems but also with an acute health issue to cope with their changing circumstances. The groups of people more likely to pray about their health included females, African-Americans, those of the lowest income status, the well educated, and people who exercise less.
While the study didn’t indicate which types of prayer people used, lead author Amy Wachholtz, PhD, of the University of Massachusetts Medical School said: “There is also a greater public awareness of Buddhist-based mindfulness practices that can include prayerful meditation, which individuals may also be using to address a variety of health concerns.”
“We’re seeing a wide variety of prayer use among people with good income and access to medical care,” Wachholtz said. “People are not exchanging health insurance for prayer.”
The article appears in the May issue of the APA journal Psychology of Religion and Spirituality.
Medical providers referring patients to mind-body therapies
Approximately one-third of Americans use mind-body therapies, such as yoga, meditation, and tai chi, to complement their healthcare. Now, a recent survey by Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) and Harvard Medical School shows that 1 in 30 Americans are referred to those therapies by their medical provider.
“There’s good evidence to support using mind-body therapies clinically,” said lead author Aditi Nerurkar, MD, Integrative Medicine Fellow, Harvard Medical School and BIDMC. “Still, we didn’t expect to see provider referral rates that were quite so high.”
The study shows that attitudes about healing are changing and that the use of complementary medicine is on the rise. This is especially true for patients who are sicker and are seeking alternatives to their failed traditional treatments.
“What we learned suggests that providers are referring their patients for mind-body therapies as a last resort once conventional therapeutic options have failed. It makes us wonder whether referring patients for these therapies earlier in the treatment process could lead to less use of the health care system, and possibly, better outcomes for these patients,” said Nerurkar.