Wednesday August 16 2017

Theres no evidence alternative treatments alone cure cancer

"Cancer patients who use alternative medicine more than twice as likely to die," is the stark message from The Independent. Researchers found that people who chose alternative medicine instead of conventional cancer treatments were much less likely to survive for at least five years.

Conventional treatments included surgery, radiotherapy,chemotherapy or hormone treatments. The research only applies to people who choose not to have conventional treatments.

Overall, 78% of people having conventional treatment for cancer survived at least five years, compared to only 55% of people having alternative treatment alone. The difference was biggest for breast cancer, where people who chose alternative therapies were more than five times as likely to die within five years as those who chose conventional treatments.

Because this is an observational study, we don't know if other factors might have affected people's survival chances, as well as treatment choice. However, treatment choice seems the most likely explanation.

There are reports that some people find complementary treatments of benefit during cancer treatments. For example, some people have said thatacupuncture helped them cope better with the side effects of chemotherapy.

But importantly, the emphasis is very much on the "complementary" and not on the "alternative". Ignoring medical advice on the treatment choices that potentially offer the most benefit couldprove fatal.

The study was carried out by researchers from Yale School of Medicine. No funding information was provided. Two of the four researchers had received previous grants from companies involved in conventional cancer treatments, and one received research funding from the organisation 21st Century Oncology.

The study was published in thepeer-reviewed Journal of the National Cancer Institute as a "brief communication", meaning not all the study data was published. Some additional data is published online.

Most of the UK media ran reasonably accurate and balanced stories. Several notably the Mail Online and The Sun speculated on the types of alternative therapy people might have been using.

For example, the Mail said: "Breast cancer patients are 5.68 times more at risk if they opt for homeopathy." However, the researchers did not record the alternative therapies used, so we don't know whether homeopathy was one of them.

The Mail also refers to "herbs, botanicals, diets or energy crystals." While these are sometimes promoted as alternative treatments for cancer, again, we don't know which of them were used by people in this study.

This was an observational case control study. This means researchers identified people with cancer who chose to use alternative therapies (cases) and compared their outcomes with those of people with cancer who chose conventional treatments (controls).

The controls were matched as far as possible with each case based on age, sex, demographics and type of cancer. Observational studies can show trends and links between factors (in this case between type of treatment and length of survival after cancer diagnosis) but cannot prove that one causes the other.

Researchers used data from the US National Cancer Database to identify patients with breast, lung, colorectal or prostate cancer, who opted not to receive conventional cancer therapies, but were recorded as having had "other-unproven cancer treatments administered by non-medical personnel."

These patients were matched with two patients with the same type of cancer, who were similar in other ways, but had opted for conventional treatment. Researchers then looked to see how many people lived for at least five years, comparing those who chose alternative therapies with those who chose conventional cancer treatments.

Researchers only included people who had cancer that had not yet spread from the initial site. This type of cancer is usually treatable by conventional treatments They also excluded people with stage 4 (advanced) cancer, those whose treatment was intended to be palliative rather than curative, and people whose treatment was unknown.

Researchers found 281 people who matched the criteria and who had opted for alternative therapy only. Of these, 280 were matched to 560 people with the same cancer, who chose conventional cancer treatments.

To minimise the effect of confounding factors researchers matched people in the study using these criteria:

In addition, when calculating relative chances of surviving five years, the researchers adjusted their figures to account for the effects of medical and demographic factors.

Researchers found that people choosing alternative therapies were more likely to be younger, female, have fewer other ailments, a higher cancer stage, a higher income and education level.

Taking all types of cancer together:

The type of cancer made a difference, though. This is probably because some cancers can kill quickly without treatment, and treatment is very effective. We can see this in the breast cancer results:

However, for prostate cancer, it made little difference whether people opted for conventional treatment (91.5% lived for at least five years) or alternative treatment (86.2% lived for at least five years).

This is probably because prostate cancer usually grows very slowly in the early stages so few people die.

For the first five to 10 years, there's little difference in those who have conventional treatments and those who have their prostate cancer monitored, with no treatment unless it starts to grow. So, you would not expect to see a difference in a five year study.

The researchers said: "We found that cancer patients who initially chose treatment with alternative medicine without conventional cancer treatment were more likely to die."

They added: "Improved communication between patients and caregivers, and greater scrutiny of use of alternative medicine for initial treatment of cancer is needed."

The results and conclusions of this study are clear: people who choose conventional treatments for cancer (such as surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy and hormone treatments) are likely to live longer than those who choose alternative medicine only.

It's rare for people to choose to ignore conventional treatment completely when faced with a cancer diagnosis. More often, people choose to add complementary therapies to their conventional cancer treatment. This study doesn't apply to people combining conventional and complementary therapies.

There are some limitations to the study to be aware of:

People who are diagnosed with cancer and want the best chance of surviving should choose conventional cancer therapies. These give the best chance of helping people with cancer to live longer lives.

Complementary therapies such as acupuncture and tai chi may help some people but they should never take the place of potentially life-saving treatments such as chemotherapy, surgery and radiotherapy.

Read more here:

'Alternative cancer therapies' may increase your risk of death - NHS Choices

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Original post:

Alternative Medicine - The New York Times

I was terribly disturbed by the report (More harm than good; Aug 15) which gave the impression that nearly all complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) are harmful.

This will potentially deprive patients of an avenue to seek better outcomes for their health conditions.

The report mentions studies that were carried out, but as we know studies can be biased, depending on who funds them. It is nice to give a textbook answer but what is more important is to find out whether CAM benefited the patient, and if so, in what way.

The news report cites studies on arthritis and how patients had suffered from delayed treatment because they had first sought CAM.

However, I have also seen patients recover solely from diet change and herbs.

I agree that herbs may interact with medications. This is why patients should seek qualified CAM professionals for advice, who are also trained in herb-drug interactions.

In contrast, most medical doctors are not trained professionally in herbs and diet.

I am not trying to defend CAM. All kinds of medicines, whether is conventional or natural has value and we should not drive a wedge between the two groups.

Sebastian Liew

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Alternative medicine has its own benefits - The Straits Times

Researchers from the Cancer Outcomes, Public Policy and Effectiveness Research (COPPER) Center at Yale School of Medicine and Yale Cancer Center studied 840 patients with breast, prostate, lung, and colorectal cancer in the National Cancer Database (NCDB) a joint project of the Commission on Cancer of the American College of Surgeons and the American Cancer Society.

The NCDB represents about 70% of newly diagnosed cancers across the United States.

The researchers compared 280 patients who chose alternative medicine to 560 patients who had received conventional cancer treatment. The patients were diagnosed from 2004 to 2013.

Conventional treatment was defined as chemotherapy, radiotherapy, surgery and/or hormone therapy. Use of alternative therapies was undertaken alone, rather than in conjunction with conventional treatment.

The patients who used alternative therapies alone were two and a half times more likely to die within five years of their diagnosis: 54.7% compared to 78.3% of those who used conventional therapies were still alive at the end of five years.

The risk of death spiked to 5.68 times more likely for those with breast cancer who used only alternative treatments.

The growth of interest in pursuing alternative medicine instead of conventional cancer treatment has created a difficult situation, the researchers say; there is limited research evaluating the effectiveness of alternative medicine.

We became interested in this topic after seeing too many patients present in our clinics with advanced cancers that were treated with ineffective and unproven alternative therapies alone, said the studys senior author, Dr.James B. Yu, associate professor of therapeutic radiology at Yale Cancer Center.

Lead author Dr Skyler Johnson said that the research provides evidence that using alternative medicine in place of proven cancer therapies results in worse survival.

It is our hope that this information can be used by patients and physicians when discussing the impact of cancer treatment decisions on survival.

Dr. Cary Gross, co-author of the study, called for further research, adding, Its important to note that when it comes to alternative cancer therapies, there is just so little known patients are making decisions in the dark.

We need to understand more about which treatments are effective whether were talking about a new type of immunotherapy or a high-dose vitamin and which ones arent, so that patients can make informed decisions.

The research was published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

Read more here:

Alternative medicine doubles risk of cancer death - Australian Journal of Pharmacy (registration) (blog)

Treating curable cancers with alternative medicine techniques is a choice that at least one in three Americans makes, including former Apple CEO Steve Jobs before his death from a curable form of pancreatic cancer in 2011. But even if treating the body with these natural methods sounds appealing, a recent study suggests that using alternative medicine to treat cancer more than doubles the risk of dying within five years.

Scientists examined a decades worth of medical records and found 281 patients with curable forms of breast, prostate, lung and colorectal cancer. All of these 281 patients decided to try alternative forms of medicine instead of more conventional treatment such as chemotherapy, surgery or radiation. Compared to the 560 patients who opted for regular treatment, the alternative medicine patients overall were two and a half times more likely to be dead five years later. Among specific cancers, that rate was higher breast cancer patients were 5.68 times more likely to die, while those with colorectal were 4.57 more likely to die.

We now have evidence to suggest that using alternative medicine in place of proven cancer therapies results in worse survival, study author and oncologist Skyler Johnson said in a release. It is our hope that this information can be used by patients and physicians when discussing the impact of cancer treatment decisions on survival.

Alternative medicine is a loose term, but it can encompass anything from hypnosis, yoga and aromatherapy to ingesting herbs and dietary supplements. Steve Jobs reportedly tried hydrotherapy, consulting psychics and limiting his diet to just fruits and vegetables before his death at the age of 56, according to Scientific American. But at the end of his search for cutting-edge treatments, Jobs reportedly regretted his choice to delay traditional surgery for alternative medicine, biographer Walter Isaacson told CBS.

He said, I didnt want my body to be opened. I didnt want to be violated in that way. Hes regretful about it, Isaacson said. I think that he kind of felt that if you ignore something, if you dont want something to exist, you can have magical thinking. And it had worked for him in the past.

The study also showed that some people are more likely to try alternative medicine than others. It may be counterintuitive to survival rates, but those who chose alternative medicine generally had the advantages of higher incomes and higher education levels, plus they tended to be much younger.

These patients should be doing better than the standard therapy group, but theyre not, James Hu, the studys senior author and the director of Yales prostate and genitourinary cancer radiotherapy program, told MedPage Today. Thats a scary thing to me. These are young patients who could potentially be cured, and theyre being sold snake oil by unscrupulous alternative medicine practitioners.

Go here to read the rest:

Treating your cancer with all-natural alternative medicine may double your risk of dying - Mic

Patients who choose to receive alternative therapy as treatment for curable cancers instead of conventional cancer treatment have a higher risk of death, according to researchers from the Cancer Outcomes, Public Policy and Effectiveness Research (COPPER) Center at Yale School of Medicine and Yale Cancer Center.

The findings were reported online by the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

There is increasing interest by patients and families in pursuing alternative medicine as opposed to conventional cancer treatment. This trend has created a difficult situation for patients and providers. Although it is widely believed that conventional cancer treatment will provide the greatest chance at cure, there is limited research evaluating the effectiveness of alternative medicine for cancer.

While many cancer patients use alternative therapy in addition to conventional cancer treatments, little is known about patients who use alternative therapy as their only approach to treating their cancer.

We became interested in this topic after seeing too many patients present in our clinics with advanced cancers that were treated with ineffective and unproven alternative therapies alone, said the studys senior author, James B. Yu, associate professor of therapeutic radiology at Yale Cancer Center.

To investigate alternative medicine use and its impact on survival compared to conventional cancer treatment, the researchers studied 840 patients with breast, prostate, lung, and colorectal cancer in the National Cancer Database (NCDB) a joint project of the Commission on Cancer of the American College of Surgeons and the American Cancer Society. The NCDB represents approximately 70 percent of newly diagnosed cancers nationwide. Researchers compared 280 patients who chose alternative medicine to 560 patients who had received conventional cancer treatment.

The researchers studied patients diagnosed from 2004 to 2013. By collecting the outcomes of patients who received alternative medicine instead of chemotherapy, surgery, and/or radiation, they found a greater risk of death. This finding persisted for patients with breast, lung, and colorectal cancer. The researchers concluded that patients who chose treatment with alternative medicine were more likely to die and urged for greater scrutiny of the use of alternative medicine for the initial treatment of cancer.

We now have evidence to suggest that using alternative medicine in place of proven cancer therapies results in worse survival, said lead author Dr.Skyler Johnson.It is our hope that this information can be used by patients and physicians when discussing the impact of cancer treatment decisions on survival.

Its important to note that when it comes to alternative cancer therapies, there is just so little known patients are making decisions in the dark. We need to understand more about which treatments are effective whether were talking about a new type of immunotherapy or a high-dose vitamin and which ones arent, so that patients can make informed decisions, added Cary Gross, co-author of the study.

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Cancer patients who use alternative medicine more than twice as likely to die - The Independent

More than 80 percent of military health facilities now offer alternative medicine treatments.

Researchers with the Rand Corporation report that acupuncture, meditation, yoga, and massage are the most commonly used practices in military hospitals. These services are used to treat chronic pain, PTSD, anxiety and sleep problems.

Healthcare workers said complementary medicine offers military patients an alternative to opioid drugs.

High stress for nurses

The majority of America's nurses are stressed out, according to researchers at Ball State University.

A new study found 92 percent of nurses have moderate to very high-stress levels.

The stress not only affects their job performance but it is taking a toll on their health.

Three-quarters of nurses admitted they get too little sleep and 70 percent said they ate too much junk food.

Other workers stressed out

New research from the Rand Corporation reveals American workers, as a whole, feel physically and emotionally taxed.

One in four people in the study said they don't have enough time to do their job and half say they end up working during their free time. Other major stressors include an unpredictable work schedule and facing hazardous conditions on the job.

But there is some good news on the job front, more than half of employees say their boss is supportive and they have very good friends at work.

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4 Your Health: Nurses stressed at work; alternative medicine for vets - KVOA Tucson News

When a mysterious illness strikes, people may become more open to using complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) to get well.

This is also the case when the illness is a severe one. Cancer patients often explore alternatives such as traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), homeopathy or products like herbs and vitamins in the belief that they can strengthen their immunity or fight the disease.

Two recent studies done in Singapore acknowledge the widespread use of CAM among people here and conclude that CAM may sometimes do more harm than good.

One of the studies found that the use of CAM led to a delay in patients seeking medical help for early inflammatory arthritis or the early stage of rheumatoid arthritis.

Inflammatory and rheumatoid arthritis are autoimmune diseases that cause chronic inflammation of the joints and other areas of the body. They are different from osteoarthritis - the most common form of arthritis - which is wear and tear of the cartilage.

50,000

Estimated maximum number of people in Singapore who have rheumatoid arthritis.

60%

Early arthritis patients who can go into remission after six to 12 months of being treated with disease- modifying anti-rheumatic drugs.

40%

Those who stand a good chance of avoiding major joint damage and the need for joint replacements.

Osteoarthritis can cause joint damage requiring joint replacement. It is not treated with disease- modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARD) as it is a wear-and-tear problem and not inflammation.

In the study of 180 patients with early inflammatory arthritis, 74 patients (41 per cent) used CAM before seeing a specialist.

CAM users tended to delay treatment by an extra six weeks, compared to non-CAM users. The study found that the median time from symptom onset to starting the first dose of anti-rheumatic medication was 15.6 weeks for non-CAM users and 21.5 weeks for CAM users.

Oral tablets or powder (55 per cent) and acupuncture (47 per cent) were the most common types of alternative medicine used.

Researchers pointed out that the earlier rheumatoid arthritis is treated, the better the outcome.

"There's a window of opportunity for treatment of early rheumatoid arthritis. Six months or less is considered early arthritis - it's much easier to switch off the immune trigger," said Dr Manjari Lahiri, the study's lead author and a senior consultant at National University Hospital's division of rheumatology.

Research shows that up to 60 per cent of early arthritis patients can go into remission after six to 12 months of being treated with DMARD, she said. During this time, treatment is closely monitored and medication continually adjusted.

"The remaining 40 per cent stand a good chance of avoiding major joint damage and the need for joint replacements."

Aside from joint damage and disability, patients who delay starting medication could end up needing joint replacement surgery (for permanently damaged joints).

An estimated 25,000 to 50,000 people in Singapore have rheumatoid arthritis but not many know it can be treated. "People equate it with rheumatism, which is not considered a serious disease," said Dr Lahiri. Rheumatism is a term commonly used for feeling achy.

If you have spongy swellings over several joints and feel a "niggling pain" or are often tired, it could be rheumatoid arthritis, she said.

"It's not just the pain, patients feel run down because their body is inflamed. Their hands and wrists get affected, so turning the door knob and opening a jar can be hard. When they wake up, they feel stiff."

Dr Lahiri added: "Patients should avoid tablets and powders as we don't know their content, how they interact with Western medicine and the toxicity they may cause."

In the second CAM-related study, it was found that a decision aid - a booklet that discusses CAM and whether it is safe - may reduce the use of such medicine among cancer patients.

It may encourage patients to discuss the use of CAM with oncologists. "CAM is widely used by patients doing chemotherapy treatment, but some of them do not inform their oncologists about it," said Dr Chong Wan Qin, an associate consultant oncologist with the National University Cancer Institute, Singapore, and the study's lead author.

The ongoing study, started in 2014, recruited 240 cancer patients with an average age of 55 years. Most of them had breast, colorectal or lung cancers, which were mostly in the advanced stage.

Up to 20 per cent of them used oral CAM while on chemotherapy. The most common were vitamins and supplements (40 per cent of patients) and TCM (30 per cent).

Reasons given by patients were that they wanted to cure the cancer or do more to fight it (35 per cent), boost immunity (30 per cent) and improve well-being (20 per cent).

There is emerging evidence that some kinds of complementary therapy can help patients cope with the side effects of cancer treatment. Acupuncture has been shown in trials to be effective in the treatment of nausea and vomiting due to chemotherapy, for instance.

However, doctors do not advise patients to take alternative drugs as they could turn out to be harmful.

Some herbs can reduce the effectiveness of chemotherapy treatment while others may increase the side effects of chemotherapy. Some herbs can also act like drugs and cause side effects when taken in high doses.

Dr Chong said one example is ginseng, a seemingly harmless natural product. Excessive use can cause headaches and high blood pressure.

Ginseng may also cause certain chemotherapy drugs to work less well, she said.

"Oncologists have also heard of patients using coffee enema. It is not backed by medical evidence and may cause diarrhoea and electrolyte loss."

Vitamin C infusion is another example with no evidence to support its efficacy.

Dr Chong has seen patients who wanted to test alternative therapies, such as a special ketogenic diet, instead of going for chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatments.

Because all cancers have a better chance of control and survival outcomes when treated early, by the time these patients returned for chemotherapy, their cancer had progressed and impaired some of their organ functions, she said.

When the organ functions are impaired, chemotherapy poses a higher risk of toxicity, she said.

The use of CAM may delay the treatment of serious diseases and this can lead to adverse effects.

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Use of alternative medicine does more harm than good: Studies - The Straits Times

Can this dank nug heal? Photo credit: Photo credit: Horsma/HamppuforumMedical marijuana advocates have claimed for years that cannabis is an effective and safe alternative to prescription opioids for the treatment of pain. But no one put up the money to prove it until last week.

On Tuesday, the Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Montefiore Health System announced a forthcoming study to ascertain whether medical marijuana can alleviate the need for opioids in both HIV-positive and HIV-free patients who suffer from chronic pain. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is putting $3.5 million towards the investigation.

A study published last year suggests the Albert Einstein College of Medicine is on the right track.

In 2016, researchers at the University of Michigan published two years' worth of survey results collected from 185 medical marijuana patients suffering from various ailments. Patients reported a 45 percent improvement in quality of life and a 64 percent reduction in the use of prescription opioids.

"We would caution against rushing to change current clinical practice towards cannabis," said Michigan study leader Kevin Boehnke, "but note that this study suggests that cannabis is an effective pain medication and agent to prevent opioid overuse."

The Albert Einstein College of Medicine is right to point out that we have far less data than one might expect, considering the first state to legalize medical marijuana did so 21 years ago. Most research into Schedule I drugs is paid for by the federal government, which has historically underwritten only those studies that either show the harms of such substances or explain their mechanism of action. The federal monopoly on research marijuana, meanwhile, makes studying the drug's therapeutic qualities an exercise in bureaucratic kowtowing.

But we do know there is a correlation between medical marijuana legalization and opioid use. A 2014 study that looked at 11 years of overdose data found that death rates from opioids increased in both states with liberalized marijuana laws and those without, but that "medical cannabis laws were associated with lower rates of opioid analgesic overdose mortality."

When University of Georgia economist David Bradford looked at Medicare prescribing rates, he found that physicians in medical marijuana states prescribed "1,826 fewer doses of conventional pain medication each year."

In addition to receiving funding from NIHitself a noteworthy developmentthe Albert Einstein College of Medicine will conduct its study using marijuana provided by New York medical marijuana dispensaries, rather than the moldy ditchweed provided to researchers by the Drug Enforcement Administration's operation at the University of Mississippi.

Cannabis research has turned another corner.

Continued here:

The Federal Government Is Finally Exploring Marijuana As a Medical Alternative to Opioids - Reason (blog)

Nearly 80 percent of military medical facilities are offering alternative medicines for pain management and psychological treatment instead of opioids when possible, according to a study published Thursday by the nonprofit RAND Corp.

Over 8.9 million veterans are treated at 1,233 veteran health facilities each year, according to the Department of Veteran Affairs.

The study said there were about 76,000 alternative therapy patient visits per month treated by 1,750 providers. Services include acupuncture, yoga, relaxation therapy, among others, and responding physicians said patients often express interest and openness to the treatments.

Patient visits for [complementary and alternative medicine] make up a small but nontrivial portion of total outpatient [military treatment facilities] visits, the authors wrote.

However, physicians responded that a lack of providers and awareness of these services are barriers to providing care.

The most common conditions these therapies are used for according to physician responses include chronic pain, stress, anxiety, back pain and sleep disturbance.

Larger VA facilities and the U.S. Army offer the widest range of services, which additionally include chiropractic, stress management, progressive muscle relaxation, biofeedback and massage.

These treatments offer one more tool in the tool kit for dealing with issues like chronic pain, and they can offer an alternative to opioid drugs, Patricia Herman, the lead author of the study, said in a statement.

In addition, some of the mind/body practices can be effective for the reduction of post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms. A patient might not want to admit they have PTSD, but they may be persuaded to take a yoga class, she said.

The RAND Corp. study recommends that military health care facilities standardize codings for alternative medical practices, to better evaluate and understand their use and impact, and employ providers adequately credentialed and trained in these treatments.

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Majority of VA hospitals offer holistic therapies, alternative to opioids ... - Washington Times

Should you ever see All the Rage (Saved by Sarno), youre going to want to embrace it. (Thats as much of a prognostication as it is a warning.)

The directors, David Beilinson, Michael Galinsky and Suki Hawley, all seem like warm, emotionally present people. Sometimes their movie, which unmistakably comes across as a labor of love, feels that way too: Alive and engaged. However, its hard to work past the projects limitations, both creatively and budgetary. All the Rage is a documentary with a thesis and not much else.

The central case being made is for Dr. John Sarno, a revolutionary practitioner who devoted his life to the pain epidemic born in America. More specifically, Sarno is responsible for developing TMS (Tension Myositis Syndrome). This psychosomatic condition, Sarno contends, is the root of various illnesses regarding physical discomfort, especially in the back. Sarnos protocol for treating this condition is, essentially, acceptance and introspection. You must first recognize that I do have structural abnormalities, he says, and that thats okay. The mind and body are connected.

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The next step includes an exhaustive unpacking of ones psyche. The mind holds onto the idea as a physical problem, says Sarno. But he believes something like chronic back pain is anything but. Its a psychological problem, stemming from unresolved issues in our subconscious.

All of this sounds a bit woo-woo when read in a film review. In fact, it sounds a bit woo-woo when Sarno speaks, too. Thats sort of the movies point. Despite unending testimonials from celebrities like Larry David and Howard Stern, what Sarno is offering seems to good to be true. This is not alternative medicine, he insists. Youd like to believe this. By the end of All the Rage you may be just be a convert. If thats the case, then tally a mark in the win column for the movie.

What I found was something a little messier to grapple with. Sarno, who passed away in June, a day before his 94th birthday, is worthy of our time. Hes a dynamic central subject for a documentary. That much is clear. So why doesnt All the Rage hit harder?

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On the surface, the diagnosis is simple: this could just as easily have been a well-reported segment on 60 Minutes, or perhaps an episode on Malcolm Gladwells beloved podcast, Revisionist History. You could see Gladwells eyes lighting up upon meeting Sarno, a renegade MD unafraid of blazing his own trail.

And yet while knocking the movie for its outstretched 94-minute running time is fair, it doesnt paint the full picture. The heart of All the Rages issues, I believe, are with Galinsky. In an attempt to give his film depth and personality, Galinsky often pivots back and forth from Sarnos office at NYU Medical center to his home. Splayed on the floor, we hear Galinsky yelling. Hes one of the 100 million (per the film) suffering from chronic pain.

For a variety of reasons, this is all hard to watch. Without Sarnos inevitable intervention, who knows where Galinsky would be today? But theres something unfocused and lackadaisical about the directors internal probing. He repeatedly tries to open up his world to us childhood, parents, marital strife, professional pressures. Few have managed to pull this off successfully in the documentary format without being trite or egotistical. Sarah Polleys spellbinding Stories We Tell comes to mind. Galinsky and his cohorts lack the ingenuity of Polley, though. Ultimately, his personal journey is more admirable than interesting.

Also Read: Larry David is Related to Bernie Sanders. Yes, Really

This narrative fixation causes other issues. By turning the camera inward, Galinsky forgets to ask more of his core subject. Sarno built an inimitable career. Why not dig deeper? Theres a chance the seasoned doctor is a little fatigued by it all. Decades of fighting against the status quo in a profession that chooses to not acknowledge your existence will do that to you. I got the sense Sarno was open to answer anything, if properly asked.

Those big questions never come. Sarno urged his patients to be mindful and curious. Someone shouldve encouraged the films crew to do the same.

Heres an example: Toward the end, Galinsky is asked to speak at his brothers wedding. Michael stands in front of the crowd, reciting the speech his late father gave to him at his wedding. Its a tender monologue about rolling with the punches, taking life as it rapidly comes at us. His eyes begin to well up as he reads the note aloud. Hes flooded with emotions. For a moment, so are we.

Then, without missing a beat, the film cuts to Michaels narration. Making it through that speech was one of the hardest things Ive ever done, he says. But once it was over, I felt lighter than I have in a long time. Less than two seconds after watching Michael bravely make it through that speech, hes telling us how hard it was to make it through that speech. We know it was difficult. We saw. We felt it. Much of All the Rage does not need explaining, and yet it insists on elementary explanation.

Days after I watched All the Rage, my opinion started to take shape. Ill be honest, though, even writing this now I feel some reluctance to criticize a movie I believe means well, an endeavor with pure intentions. Sarno, especially, comes off as a divine creature and thoughtful force in the world. If All the Rage does nothing else, it will at the very least serve as an widespread introduction to this revolutionary doctor.

Yet there is something frustratingly artless about the movies execution. All the Rage was supposed to be about Sarnos story. Instead its script contains dueling protagonists, competing for screen time. The team needed to pick a lane here. Instead, Galinsky and company find themselves in the middle of the intersection, blindsided by incoming traffic. Its a movie about two people that ends up being about no one at all.

Documentariesand chill?

If you're getting a bit tired of endlessly scrolling through Netflix movies, try these films on for size.

Added plus: You might even accidentally learn something.

"The 13th"

Ava DuVernay's latest documentary, "The 13th" sheds light on the prison industrial system and its relation to historical inequality in the United States. It's titled after the 13th amendment which abolished slavery.

"Blackfish"

We can pretty much credit the downfall of Sea World to Gabriela Cowperthwaite's "Blackfish," which tells the story of Tilikum, a killer whale living in captivity that killed its trainer in 2010. The film discusses the dangers to humans and the orcas who are confined in theme parks.

"The Black Power Mixtape"

This 2011 documentary showcases the evolution of the Black Power Movement by using footage found 30 years after it was shot by Swedish journalists. It covers the time period between 1967 to 1975 and includes interviews from Angela Davis, Huey P. Newton and Eldridge Cleaver, along with others central to the movement.

"The Imposter"

This British-American documentary is about a French imposter,Frdric Bourdin, who presents himself to a grieving family as their missing boy Nicholas Barclay -- a 13-year-old from Texas who went missing.

"Room 237"

If you've ever wondered what mysteries lied behind Room 237 in Stanley Kubrick's "The Shining," this is the film for you.

Each segment of the film, focuses on a specific element in "The Shining" and offers different interpretations.

"What Happened, Miss Simone?"

Academy Award-nominated "What Happened, Miss Simone" features previously unreleased footage and interviews with singer Nina Simone's friends and family that tells the life story of the activist and music legend.

The film was also executive produced by Simone's daughter, Lisa Simone Kelly.

"Into the Abyss"

Werner Herzog's "Into the Abyss" focuses on capital punishment in Texas by profiling Michael Perry, a convicted killer on Death Row for the murder of a 50-year-old nurse, among other crimes.

Some of his interviews were filmed only eight days prior to his execution.

The documentary neither focuses on Perry's innocence nor his guilt.

"Virunga"

This one is for all the animal lovers out there. "Virunga" focuses on four park rangers who risk their lives to protect critically endangered mountain gorillas from poachers in Congo's Virunga National Park.

"Biggie & Tupac"

If you've ever been curious of the mysteries surrounding the deaths of two of rap's most prominent artists, watch "Biggie & Tupac."

While the documentary doesn't give a clear answer of who killed the rap icons, the director suggests that Suge Knight was responsible for the latter's murder.

"The Invisible War"

While the military is known for fighting our wars overseas, there's one silent battle within the armed forces that few are talking about -- sexual assault.

Kirby Dick's "The Invisible War" features interviews with veterans who share their experiences of sexual assault in the U.S. military.

"Super Size Me"

This documentary can pretty much becredited for pushing McDonald's to alter their menu to include more healthy items and getting rid of their super size option.

Morgan Spurlock takes on a 30-day challenge -- he eats at least three meals a day for 30 days from McDonald's. The film documents the changes that occur in his physical appearance, as well as his health.

"20 Feet From Stardom"

Most of us see backup singers providing support to the main act, but rarely do we recognize their talent.

This documentary follows backup singers like Judith Hill, Darlene Love and Merry Clayton and sheds light on their lives through behind-the-scenes footage.

"Hot Girls Wanted"

The appropriately titled doc features interviews with several young porn actresses, as they discuss their experiences in the industry.

Documentariesand chill?

If you're getting a bit tired of endlessly scrolling through Netflix movies, try these films on for size.

Added plus: You might even accidentally learn something.

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'All the Rage (Saved by Sarno)' Review: Alternative Medicine Doc Lacks Focus - TheWrap

August 10, 2017 Credit: CC0 Public Domain

Patients who choose to receive alternative therapy as treatment for curable cancers instead of conventional cancer treatment have a higher risk of death, according to researchers from the Cancer Outcomes, Public Policy and Effectiveness Research (COPPER) Center at Yale School of Medicine and Yale Cancer Center. The findings were reported online by the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

There is increasing interest by patients and families in pursuing alternative medicine as opposed to conventional cancer treatment. This trend has created a difficult situation for patients and providers. Although it is widely believed that conventional cancer treatment will provide the greatest chance at cure, there is limited research evaluating the effectiveness of alternative medicine for cancer.

While many cancer patients use alternative therapy in addition to conventional cancer treatments, little is known about patients who use alternative therapy as their only approach to treating their cancer.

"We became interested in this topic after seeing too many patients present in our clinics with advanced cancers that were treated with ineffective and unproven alternative therapies alone," said the study's senior author, James B. Yu, M.D., associate professor of therapeutic radiology at Yale Cancer Center.

To investigate alternative medicine use and its impact on survival compared to conventional cancer treatment, the researchers studied 840 patients with breast, prostate, lung, and colorectal cancer in the National Cancer Database (NCDB)a joint project of the Commission on Cancer of the American College of Surgeons and the American Cancer Society. The NCDB represents approximately 70% of newly diagnosed cancers nationwide. Researchers compared 280 patients who chose alternative medicine to 560 patients who had received conventional cancer treatment.

The researchers studied patients diagnosed from 2004 to 2013. By collecting the outcomes of patients who received alternative medicine instead of chemotherapy, surgery, and/or radiation, they found a greater risk of death. This finding persisted for patients with breast, lung, and colorectal cancer. The researchers concluded that patients who chose treatment with alternative medicine were more likely to die and urged for greater scrutiny of the use of alternative medicine for the initial treatment of cancer.

"We now have evidence to suggest that using alternative medicine in place of proven cancer therapies results in worse survival," said lead author Skyler Johnson, M.D. "It is our hope that this information can be used by patients and physicians when discussing the impact of cancer treatment decisions on survival."

Cary Gross, M.D., co-author of the study, called for further research, adding, "It's important to note that when it comes to alternative cancer therapies, there is just so little knownpatients are making decisions in the dark. We need to understand more about which treatments are effectivewhether we're talking about a new type of immunotherapy or a high-dose vitaminand which ones aren't, so that patients can make informed decisions."

Henry Park, M.D., MPH, was also a study author.

Explore further: Study finds breast cancer driver, HER2, in 3 percent of lung cancers

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Using alternative medicine only for cancer linked to lower survival rate - Medical Xpress

Dr. Chung's career has spanned forty years and thousands of patients. He has successfully treated a vast array of ailments... from ADHD to asthma, from fatigue to fibromyalgia, and all points in between. Dr. Chung employs both Western and Eastern medical techniques to both alleviate and mitigate pain. Your pain is as unique as you are... Dr. Chung knows this, and makes it his primary mission to treat what you feel.

M.D.O.M. Medical Doctor in Oriental Medicine Dong Yang Medical College KOREA

Ph.D. Doctor of Philosophy in Oriental Medicine American Liberty University U.S.A.

1993 Acupuncturist of the Year 2004 Acupuncturist of the Year 1999 American Association of Oriental Medicine Granted Lifetime Membership as a FOUNDING PATRON and in recognition and appreciation for distinguished service in the advancement of Acupuncture. 2007 International Health Professional of the Year 2013 Board Certified in Integrative Medicine

Member of American Association of Integrative Medicine American Association of Oriental Medicine Lifetime Member American Association of Oriental Medicine Esteemed Member Wisconsin Oriental & Medical Association Wisconsin Back Society American Academy of Pain Management

National Certification Commission for Acupuncture & Oriental Medicine License Diplomate in Acupuncture & Diplomate in Herbology

Dr. Chung helped establish the State Acupuncture Board in Wisconsin in conjunction with the Department of Regulation & Licensing and was the principla author of the board's administrative rules.

Dr. Chung has helped me greatly with my dizziness and balance problems. Before being treated, I had many problems just standing up and dressing myself. Ed C.

Before seeing Dr. Chung for ADHD, it would take my 12 year old son 1 to 2 hrs. to fall asleep and when he would he would toss and turn all night. Now it only takes 20-30 minutes and he sleeps soundly. He no longer gets so emotional, aggressive or angry; his anxiety and crying are rare. His teachers have seen a great difference in him. He is much happier and doing so much better. We appreciate all Dr. Chung has done for him. Karonna A.

Fifteen months ago, I thought my life was over at 55 and it would be downhill from there. I realized recently that I had not thanked you and I could not let more time pass without telling you. Thank you sincerely for giving me my life back. Carol B.

Dr. Chung, thank you, thank you, thank you! Your knowledge wisdom and magical touch helped us in creating our precious daughter! We are thrilled and delighted each time we look at her. Andrea R.

Thank you so much Dr. Chung for once again giving me back my life. My hip and leg pain last week was terrible and I was, and continue to be, amazed by the results of the acupuncture treatments youve given me. I thank you from the bottom of my heart. Darlene W.

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Internal Medicine and Pain Clinic: Dr. J.B. Chung | alternative ... - Madison.com

LONGbefore we learned about modern medicine, our ancestors have already designed tools and means to aid their sick people and have unlocked and deciphered the healing powers of the plants and herbs that surround them.

From simple tapal (patch) using leaves of tuba to hilot (traditional massage), aromatherapy andchiropractic, among others, it cannot be denied that Pinoys are accustomed to traditional and alternative medicine. In places where there are no doctors, most people rely on their alternative-medicine healers for immediate health solutions.

Traditional medicine as defined by the World health Organization is the sum total of the knowledge, skills, and practices based on the theories, beliefs, and experiences indigenous to different cultures, whether explicable or not, used in the maintenance of health as well as in the prevention, diagnosis, improvement or treatment of physical and mental illness.

With these facts, former Health Secretary Juan Flavier in 1992, through the Department of Health, launched the alternative medicine program, which was institutionalized two years after a traditional medicine law was drafted.

However, it was former President Fidel V. Ramos who integrated the alternative and traditional medicine in the governments health care delivery system when he signed into law Republic Act 8423, also known as the Traditional and Alternative Medicine Act of 1997, an Act creating the Philippine Institute of Traditional and Alternative Health Care (PITAHC) to accelerate the development of traditional and alternative health-care in the Philippines, providing for a traditional and alternative health care development fund and for other purposes.

It was also Flavier who sponsored the said Act.

As mandated in RA 8423, Pitahc will encourage scientific research on and develop traditional and alternative health-care systems that have direct impact on public health care; promote and advocate the use of traditional, alternative, preventive and curative health-care modalities that have been proven safe, effective, cost effective and consistent with government standards on medical practice; develop and coordinate skills-training courses for various forms of traditional and alternative health-care modalities; formulate standards, guidelines and codes of ethical practice appropriate for the practice of traditional and alternative health care, as well as in the manufacture, quality control and marketing of different traditional and alternative health-care materials, natural and organic products, for approval and adoption by the appropriate government agencies; formulate policies for the protection of indigenous and natural health resources and technology from unwarranted exploitation, for approval and adoption by the appropriate government agencies;formulate policies to strengthen the role of traditional and alternative health-care delivery system; and promote traditional and alternative health care in international and national conventions, seminars and meetings in coordination with the Department of Tourism, Duty Free Philippines Inc., Philippine Convention and Visitors Corp. and other tourism-related agencies, as well as non-governmental organizations and local government units.

The Philippines has several traditional health-care methods, and with more than 1,000 plants species that are believed to have medicinal properties, the birth of the Pitahc opened many doors of opportunities.

Numerous seminars, trainings and other educational talks about alternative and traditional medicine were conducted. Research and development of products made from herbs and plants were also carried out.

The institution is also successful in publishing books that collated all the medicinal plants that can be found in the Philippines. A number of researches about the common medicinal herbs were also conducted to better identify their uses and the benefits they provide to users.

The herbal medicine is a $100-billion industry and is growing continually, as many people around the world are adapting natural medicines. Nonchemical cosmetics, or those made from plants and other natural ingredients, are also currently in demand globally.

However, instead of contributing to the growth of the industry, Pitahcs purpose was once accused of deviating from its original mandate. According to reports, Pitahc has been manufacturing and distributing products in direct competition with the private-sector producers.

Going back to its original objectives and functions, the institute made a big change in their structure to focus on the works that it is directed to do.

A new face

A revered doctor from the Visayas recently joined the roster of Pitahcs executives, with her 25 years of experience as a medical doctor and six years as a hospital administrator, Dr. Annabelle Pabiona-De Guzman was recently appointed by President Duterte as Pitahcs director general.

In taking over the institution, Pabiona-de Guzman brings with her not only the education, numerous citations and even her years of expertise, but a heart with compassion to serve and be a channel of change and blessings to everyone who will come her way.

Pabiona-de Guzman maybe a petite woman but during an interview with the Health & Fitness, she bravely discussed the direction that the Pitahc will take in order to deliver the assignments the institution is tasked to do.

According to her, to clear up all the issues concerning the role of the Pitahc, the agency hired some experts who will help them to really transform the Pitahc as a research institution. To utilize the funds provided for them, Pabiona-de Guzman shared that this year they will commission their own research.

There are a number of research proposals on her table, but Pabiona-de Guzman is excited to announce their first commissioned research, which is very controversial due to the fact that it is included in the prohibited drugs.

Our first commissioned research will be about medical cannabis [marijuana] used for cancer. The Pitahc allotted P10 million for this endeavor, she shared, adding If we are successful with the research about medical cannabis, the Pitahc will have the intellectual property rights.

The soft-spoken doctor also shared with us the vision that she and PITAHC executives have for the traditional and alternative medicine industry in the country is to grow bigger, better and recognized as an effective and safe health-care solution.

She envisioned the countrys alternative-medicine healers to be on a par with their counterparts from Thailand and Malaysia, where they are recognized as doctors of alternative medicine. She said that in Thailand there are educational institutions for alternative-medicine healers.

After several years of schooling, there will be an examination they need to pass and those who will qualify will have a license to practice alternative medicine. Some of our neighboring Asian nations that have been advocating traditional medicine are very advanced, thus, giving their people more health-care options.

Aside from the researches the Pitahc will commission, Pabiona-de Guzman wants the Pinoy traditional healers to have know-how and skills upgrading, where they will be aware of the development and trends in the industry.

She said the agency is looking into more ways and channels where they can help the traditional healers to learn the other techniques that are effective and popular in other countries, such as Malaysia and Vietnam.

Many Filipinos dont have access to western medicines and technologies, with alternative-medicine methods, drugs made from herbal plantswhich are known for their medicinal use are more affordable and also effective, we are giving the poor, the indigenous people a health-care option that they are accustomed to but, this time, improved and backed by science.

Pabiona-de Guzman, together with her people in her agency, vowed to make traditional and alternative medicine a part of our national health-care delivery system, for real.

Image Credits: Photos courtesy of PITAHC

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PITAHC: Reshaping, rebuilding Pinoy's health-care system - Business Mirror

Kathy Richmond was left seriously ill and needed to have her breast implants removed (Collect/PA Real Life)

A woman says she spent around 50,000 on alternative remedies after falling seriously ill as a result of her breast implants.

Kathy Richmond, 38, spent the money over a nine-year period on homeopathy, reiki, cupping, acupuncture, reflexology, a functional healer, craniosacral (a therapy involving light touch).

But she was still very ill.

Kathy, a mother-of-four from Reading, Berkshire, increased the size of her breasts from an A to a G cup.

She had the 5,000procedure done in 2007 on a whim following the birth of her two eldest children.

I never hated my breasts, she explained. But they changed after I had my two oldest children.

Being 6ft, I could carry off bigger breasts, so I decided to get implants. We had the money in the bank, so I thought, Why not?.

But two years later she became seriously ill and she now believes it was Breast Implant Illness an anecdotal problem that is not recognised by the NHS.

However, the NHS does warn of the dangers of breast implants with a long list of potential side-effects, including allergic reactions.

I didnt realise it was because of the implants then, she explained. My asthma, which Id last had as a child came back and my nails started flaking.

I also suffered with extreme fatigue to such an extent, I had to give up work as a fitness instructor.

She visited a GP in Reading, who suggested thyroid problems as a possible reason for her illness.

I did have thyroid problems, she accepted. But I didnt know why. I also had ring worm, a type of fungal infection and all sorts of other problems.

Kathy said: Initially I loved my implants, I didnt regret them at all. After a while, though, I started feeling very sick.

I experienced various issues from 2009, but became very sick from late 2014. I suffered from hives, brain fog, with weight gain, depression, vertigo, hair loss and more.

There were stains on my face that looked like tea, the asthma Id not had since I was a child worsened, I developed anxiety and fungus formed on my nails. It was terrible.

She suffered with persistent ill health for the next nine years so she tried a variety of alternative therapies.

She said:I saw a reflexologist, underwent lymph drainage, saw a functional healer a type of medicine which focuses on interactions between the environment and the gastrointestinal, endocrine, and immune systems and even had craniosacral, a therapy involving light touch.

I had reiki healing, cupping an ancient form of medicine and acupuncture. But still I was very ill. It was devastating.

In 2014 a homeopath suggested her breasts could be the cause of the problems. As soon as she said it, I wondered, Kathy said said. The dates added up.

Two years later she had them removed at a cost of 6,000 and that seems to have sorted the problems.

She said: The good news is, Im feeling better. As soon as they were removed, I felt a lightness in my chest. Thats why I am speaking out so other women dont have to suffer like I did.

She adds that she now regrets having the breast augmentation.

To understand whether a treatment is safe and effective, we need to check the evidence.

You can learn more about the evidence for particular CAMs by reading about individual types of treatment see our index for a list of all conditions and treatments covered by NHS Choices.

Some complementary and alternative medicines or treatments are based on principles and an evidence base that are not recognised by the majority of independent scientists.

Others have been proven to work for a limited number of health conditions. For example, there is evidence that osteopathy and chiropractic are effective for treating lower back pain.

When a person uses any health treatment including a CAM and experiences an improvement, this may be due to the placebo effect.

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Mum spent 50,000 on alternative medicine after boob job left her ... - Metro

Are you becoming as skeptical as I am about public information? Fake political news? Alternative facts about the state of the worlds economy? So now I ask how honest is medical news? Of course everyone knows that consuming stupid amounts of alcohol is unhealthy. But puritans and some doctors cant accept the proven fact that moderate amounts of alcohol can prolong life.

Professor Keith Scott-Mumby, an internationally known United Kingdom expert on alternative medicine, echoes what I have written over the years, that people who drink moderately live longer on average than teetotalers or those who drink to excess. In fact, there are over 20 studies that confirm this. In court its a criminal offense to withhold truth, so why doesnt the same principle hold true in medicine?

Scott-Mumby points out that the lack of discussion of the beneficial impact of alcohol has for years been a systematic policy of the U.S. public health establishment. For instance, the National Institutes of Health, which funded a research study on alcohol, forbad a Harvard epidemiologist who participated in the study from publishing the health benefits of drinking!

There is strong evidence that alcohol protects against heart disease. Studies show that it increases the good cholesterol HDL. Possibly more important, it dilates arteries and makes blood platelets less likely to clot, decreasing the risk of a fatal heart attack.

But Scott-Mumby says none of these facts was publicly reported when Larry King, the well-known TV personality, underwent a bypass procedure in 1987 after a heart attack. Later, in 2007, he hosted a two-hour PBS television special on heart disease featuring five experts who talked about exercise, diet and smoking. But there was no mention that abstinence from alcohol was a risk factor for heart disease.

Scott-Mumby also reports good news for Boomers, that the use of alcohol may protect against dementia. He cites the 2008 Research Society on Alcoholism Review based on the Whitehall Study, which analyzed 45 reports since the early 1990s.This showed that there were significantly reduced risks of dementia from moderate drinking. So why dont we hear more about this fact, particularly, when Alzheimers disease and other forms of dementia are increasing?

He adds that the U.S. is not a heavy drinking nation, yet its health outcomes are poor, as it has almost double the amount of diabetes, cancer and heart disease compared with the English who drink more.

Ive often written about the advantages of moderate drinking. But according to Scott-Mumbys research, even serious drinkers, the ones who drink six or more drinks daily, still live longer than teetotalers! And he claims that puritans cant stand this fact.

So whats the message? Neither Scott-Mumby nor I condone the three-martini lunch, nor do we urge anyone to start drinking alcohol. What we are both saying is that neither abstainers nor doctors should distort the truth of the health benefits of alcohol.

All too often I have witnessed this at medical conventions. Researchers have detailed the many medical benefits of alcohol. But after confirmation by several speakers, finally one says, But we must not inform the public about this as it will result in car accidents, marriage difficulties and other societal problems.

But we dont prevent the sale of cars because some idiots drive at 150 miles an hour. So I believe it is hypocritical, dishonest and maybe even criminal, to withhold scientifically proven news about alcohol.

Today it seems that truth, like commonsense, is becoming an uncommon commodity. The motto of The Harvard Medical School at its founding was Veritas. I believed this motto when I was a medical student there, and I still believe it today.

This medical journalist is not, and never will be, an alcoholic. So I enjoy a drink before dinner with family and friends. I believe its one of the habits that keeps me relaxed at the end of the day and also alive all these years.

Past experience tells me that controversial columns do not please everyone, including doctors. But society is in deep trouble when it skirts truth, tries to hide it or simply ignores it. Facts are facts, and history has shown that Veritas eventually wins.

Dr. Ken Walker (Gifford-Jones) is a graduate of the University of Toronto and TheHarvard Medical School. He trained in general surgery at the Strong Memorial Hospital,University of Rochester, Montreal General Hospital, McGill University and in Gynecologyat Harvard. He has also been a general practitioner, ships surgeon and hotel doctor.Seewww.docgiff.comfor past columns. For comments: info@docgiff.com

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Dr. Gifford-Jones: Puritanical lies about alcohol - MPNnow.com

Here is the alphabet soup of marijuana. (Apologies Lawrence grocers. Ive inadvertently created a stampede in the soup aisle.) Marijuana has a chemical compound called THC, which produces a high. In Kansas, selling a product with THC results in OTJ off to jail. Kansas has some of the strictest laws in the country regarding THC products.

But the cannabis plant also produces another chemical compound called CBD. It does not produce a high, but many people swear it helps relieve inflammation, pain, stress and other ailments. That chemical compound is legal, and Lawrence residents soon will get to find out for themselves whether it works. A store that specializes in CBD more commonly called hemp oil is opening at 19th and Massachusetts streets.

CBD American Shaman Lawrence is set to open today at 1901 Massachusetts Street, next door to the popular Alchemy coffee shop. Co-owner Trevor Burdett said the store will sell creams, liquids and other edibles that have the CBD oils in them. What the store wont be selling is anything that will get you high. Burdett said the CBD products are completely free of THC. That's an important disclaimer because products with THC are illegal in Kansas and also run afoul of federal law. The American Shaman company previously was selling products that had a trace amount of THC, but after a store in Mission got busted for selling them, the company changed its production processes to remove all THC. Thus far, that seems to have satisfied Kansas regulators, and the feds also have not stepped into the fray. Burdett said the new business will make it clear that marijuana is not the store's business.

That is not our market, Burdett said. Were not looking for people to come in and get high. If they just want the euphoric aspects of getting high, that is fine. They can go smoke somewhere else.

Burdett and his business partner, Corey Landreth, though, know they will have to do some explaining to people who may mistake hemp and marijuana. We understand there is a market in Lawrence that we will have to talk to and tell them that they arent going to eat some medical gummies and get loopy.

Lawrence, however, may be better educated than most communities on the subject. There is the guy with his pro-hemp signs frequently in downtown Lawrence. (No word yet on whether we have to honk every time we go by the store at 19th and Massachusetts.) Burdett said the company looked at both Lawrence and Manhattan for the store and settled on Lawrence, in part, because it is a town open to alternative medicine.

At this point, I should remind you that hemp oil does fall into the realm of alternative medicine. The products are not FDA approved. You should think of them more like a supplement. Everybody will have to make their own decisions about the safety and effectiveness of the products. While stressing that more research needs to be done, the National Institute on Drug Abuse has noted CBDs potential to be a nonaddictive treatment option for certain types of conditions, although the article notes it doesnt seem to work for everybody.

Regardless of its status in the medical world, there is no denying CBD products are catching on with many people.

CBD American Shaman, which is based in Kansas City, has about 70 products. They include water-soluble hemp oil that you can drink, hydrating body lotions, hemp oil capsules, face creams, lip balms and even hemp candy. (You know your grandpa is from the 1970s when he pulls out hemp candy from his pocket instead of a Werther's Originals.)

The store also has hemp-based products for pets. There are canine, feline and equine hemp oils for sale. Burdett said he knows of some weight lifters or people who suffer from extremely high levels of pain who take the stronger equine formula.

People who are wanting to control pain are expected to be a big market for the store. There is an American Shaman store that has opened in Topeka, and Burdett said it serves a lot of people with severe arthritis, fibromyalgia or other conditions that produce chronic pain.

Burdett said he spent some time at the Topeka store, and some of what he saw convinced him to open his own store.

We had people come in the store that didnt know where they were at, couldnt tell you who their family was because they were in so much pain, Burdett said. They would take a water soluble, and to see them come around in 10 or 15 minutes was amazing.

Besides pain relief, Burdett said there are some other frequent users of the products. Some believe CBD is effective in controlling seizures, which causes some people who have epilepsy to use the products. Some athletes also use the products with the idea that they help reduce inflammation and pain that come from particularly hard workouts. A particularly large market in a college town may be students who are looking for the purported stress-relieving benefits of CBD products.

As for how much all of this relief will cost, Burdett said many of the products are in the $40 to $70 range, but often last for multiple weeks.

Burnett believes the store will do plenty of business once folks catch on to what it is selling.

"Everybody hears about the medical benefits of marijuana," Burnett said. "We have a form now that is 100 percent legal that people can take on an everyday basis."

Link:

Store that specializes in selling legal cannabis products opening in Lawrence - Lawrence Journal World (blog)

Miami Herald

The truth about your child's vaccines: No alternative facts allowed Miami Herald When he was found accepting money from lawyers suing the vaccine manufacturers, he was accused of fraud and banned from practicing medicine. In the almost 20 years since his paper was published, the medical community has invested tremendous ... and more »

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The truth about your child's vaccines: No alternative facts allowed - Miami Herald

Friday Night Inc () said its subsidiary, Alternative Medicine Association (AMA) is to start manufacturing and distributing products under the well-known Krypted vaping brand.

With most popular cannabis brands now wanting a presence in the critical Las Vegas market, AMA is attracting new brand-expansion conversations daily, and Krypted is the fourth brand to be added to Nevada-focused AMA's exclusive manufacturing and distribution network.

The Krypted team will be in Las Vegas next week for the kick-off meeting and to prepare for the initial production run, Friday Night revealed.

AMA has already obtained state approval for their logo and product names and the first sales should occur by 15 September.

Terms include making AMA the exclusive manufacturer & distributor in Nevada for an initial term of three years, renewable annually after that, with a 15% production royalty.

Krypted, a big name in the California vaping scene, is providing AMA with all packaging and marketing support.

Intriguingly, Friday Night said AMA would launch an apparel and merchandise brand on 15 August, so if you've ever wanted to wear a pair of AMA-branded socks, now's your chance.

AMA said it has recruited an industry lifestyle branding and marketing veteran to rebrand and establish a comprehensive lifestyle approach that will expand and maximize AMA's presence within the Vegas market.

Friday Night sees AMA as a lifestyle and a global brand that will transcend into multiple business verticals that support AMA's core business.

Meanwhile, Friday Night revealed that demand for recreational cannabis continues to increase.

We look forward to our next fiscal year that began on August 1st, 2017, and the new challenges and rewards this year will bring us. With everything going on, we are confident that we will continue to outperform," said Mark Zobrist, the chief executive of AMA.

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Friday Night Inc welcomes Krypted brand to its stable - Proactive Investors UK