Category Archives: Alternative Medicine

The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, considered to be a collective authoritative text on the practice and philosophy of yoga, were compiled by the sage Patanjali at least 1,700 years ago. They outline the eight limbs of yoga, which teach us the ways in which one can live a yogic life. They also describe the result of a regular and dedicated practice and how one can achieve that goal.

Sutra means thread, and collectively, the Yoga Sutras weave together the wisdom, philosophy and practice of yoga like the threads of a beautiful tapestry. These learnings evolved and were passed on over thousands of years via the oral tradition of chanting and were organised and explained in written form by Patanjali.

Yoga is recognized as a form of mind-body medicine that integrates an individuals physical, mental and spiritual components to improve aspects of health, particularly stress related-illnesses. Evidence shows that stress contributes to the aetiology of heart disease, cancer and stroke as well as other chronic conditions and diseases. The scientific study of yoga has increased substantially in recent years and many clinical trials have been designed to assess its therapeutic effects and benefits.

Yoga started as a mix of various ideas, beliefs and techniques. Patanjalis Yoga Sutra first gave yoga an order. The Raja yoga, often referred to as classical yoga, consists of an eight-limbed path listing a series of steps and stages that lead towards samaadhi or enlightenment. Tantra yoga was later developed as a series of practices to rejuvenate the body and to prolong life. It comprises radical techniques to cleanse the body and mind.

Yoga is now regarded in the Western world as a holistic approach to a healthy lifestyle and is even classified by the National Institute of Health as a form of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM). The word yoga comes from a Sanskrit root yuj which means union, or yoke, to join, and to direct and concentrate ones attention.

Yoga has four principles: conserve your breath, preserve your body, be established in the flow, and synchronise your unit rhythm with the universal rhythm your circadian rhythm, with that of the cosmos. For you to become superhuman, you need to have insight, foresight and multi-sensory perceptions.

Yoga, as we see, experience and have heard about, involves asanas, breathing and meditation. What we miss out on is its role in reorganising our systems, functions and organs. In the last few years, when the world was going through a devastating pandemic, this 5,000-year-old mental, physical and spiritual practice came to our rescue.

Yoga has the potential of aligning and balancing our elements or Panchamahabhuta (air, water, fire, earth, space). The imbalance of Panchamahabhuta creates tridoshas. The three doshas, meaning basic components, are Vaata, Pitta and Kafa Prakruti. These doshas together determine our Prakruti (body organisation). Every human body is a well-adjusted mixture of the Vaata (constituted by space and air), Pitta (constituted by fire and water) and Kafa (constituted by water and Earth).

These doshas in an ideal balanced state give healthy status to the individual. But when there is an imbalance, it results in disease. Our attitude and behaviour play a pivotal point in upholding health or conversely, bring in an array of diseases. Thus, the balanced sattvic diet or food intake, regular yoga exercise and timely medication (which changes according to the dominant dosha), are advocated to avoid health problems.

Most also havent known and understood how the power of stillness in postures can stimulate growth hormones and regulate glandular hormonal functions. Many also dont realize how yoga helps cellular regeneration in real time simultaneously. Just as one cell dies, the other is created. This itself is anti-ageing, supports longevity and prevents diseases.

Yoga is designed to bring about increased physical, mental and emotional wellbeing, says M. Mala Cunningham, Ph.D., counselling psychologist and founder of Cardiac Yoga. Hand in hand with leading a heart-healthy lifestyle, it really is possible for a yoga-based model to help prevent or reverse heart disease. It may not completely reverse it, but you will definitely see benefits. As stress has an adverse reaction on blood pressure and heart disease, yoga has a tremendous benefit to manage it. Many individuals also experience calmness after doing yoga.

A 2016 report from the American Academy of Paediatrics concluded that yoga appears to be promising as a stress management tool for children and adolescents, with very low reports of adverse effects. It also said that yoga may have positive effects on psychological functioning in children coping with emotional, mental, and behavioural health problems. The report noted, however, that studies of yoga for children have had limitations, such as small sample sizes and high dropout rates.

The most beautiful part about yoga is its subtlety and its capacity to regenerate our faculties our ability to see, hear, touch, taste, smell, patience, tolerance, insights, foresights, intuitions and clarity of mind. It makes us evolve, brings leadership to form.

Weve heard about yoga balancing the mind, calming the mind, but many wouldnt know how yoga, meditation, postures and balance can heal your heart, heal your pain and give you sympathy, empathy, compassion, inner strength, grace for forgiving, forgetting and blessing.

Yoga has the power to heal diseases. The disorder turns into order, disease will turn into ease of living and decay will turn into regenerative processes. Yoga is invincible. It brings faith, conviction and most importantly, optimism.

A 2020 review of 12 recent studies (672 total participants) on a variety of types of yoga for stress management in healthy adults found beneficial effects in all of them. Of the 17 older studies (1,070 total participants) of yoga for stress management included in a 2014 review, 12 studies showed improvements in physical or psychological measures related to stress.

In a recent review of 14 studies (involving 1,084 total participants) that assessed the effects of yoga on positive aspects of mental health, most found evidence of benefits, such as improvements in resilience or general mental well-being.

Yoga has been shown to be helpful for sleep in several studies of cancer patients, women with sleep problems and older adults.

In conclusion, yoga has various benefits for our bodies as well as our minds. A constant and healthy boost of happy hormones can significantly influence your energy levels and overall productivity. Yatha pinde tatha brahmande (As is the atom, so is the universe).

(Dr Mehta is the FIT India Movement Champion by the Sports Authority of India and is a holistic health guru)

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Yoga's still postures give you happy hormones, manage chronic stress - The Indian Express

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) occurs when the bone marrow makes atypical white blood cells. These cells crowd out the healthy cells, impairing a persons immune system. Treatment involves killing the cancerous cells to stop them from spreading.

So far, the only scientifically recommended treatments that can achieve this are:

Alternative therapies for CLL involve replacing medical treatments with other forms of medication or lifestyle changes. However, there is not much evidence suggesting they are effective for treating CLL in comparison with standard treatments.

However, for many people, complementary therapies can help ease symptoms and treatment side effects and improve quality of life. Complementary therapies are methods a person uses alongside regular medical treatment.

Because people often integrate these alternative therapies with their regular medical treatments, individuals often refer to this treatment plan as integrative medicine.

In this article, we will discuss whether it is possible to treat CLL naturally, complementary therapies for CLL, and their benefits.

Currently, there is no strong evidence that natural therapies can treat or cure CLL. This includes:

However, CLL does not always need treatment right away. It can develop slowly and may show no signs or symptoms for a few years.

Therefore, in some cases, doctors may decide to monitor a persons condition without giving them any treatments to see if their signs and symptoms change. This is known as watchful waiting or observation.

If a person needs treatment, doctors may recommend one or more of the following:

Doctors do not recommend relying solely on alternative treatments as a replacement for medical intervention. That said, some alternative therapies show promise as complementary treatments, which may help a person cope with having CLL mentally or physically.

Additionally, if someone is considering alternative treatments, they should discuss this with a healthcare professional first to determine if there will be any risks.

Below are some complementary therapies for CLL.

Dietary changes may help a person with CLL:

However, the exact diet a person follows can depend on their symptoms and needs. For example, for those experiencing appetite loss or weight loss, the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society of Canada recommends:

Learn more about diets for CLL.

Curcumin is an anti-inflammatory compound present in turmeric. It also has antioxidant and anticancer properties. A 2017 review argues that this makes curcumin beneficial to take during cancer treatment, particularly in the early stages.

And while curcumin alone is not a cure for CLL, numerous laboratory and human studies have found it improves outcomes alongside conventional cancer treatment.

However, more long-term, large scale human trials are necessary to fully understand the effects of curcumin. This is because people with CLL may need to take it for long periods for it to have an effect.

According to the National Cancer Institute, some clinical trials report that acupuncture can reduce nausea and vomiting for those undergoing chemotherapy.

A 2020 literature review also found that acupuncture may be helpful in managing cancer-related fatigue among cancer survivors, helping improve their quality of life.

Furthermore, a 2021 systematic review of previous research concluded that acupuncture may be an effective and safe way to reduce pain for CLL patients in palliative care.

Receiving a diagnosis of CLL, experiencing symptoms, and undergoing cancer treatment can all be highly distressing. Some people find that complementary therapies, such as mind-body therapies, help them cope with this.

Mind-body therapies aim to promote mental and physical well-being simultaneously. They often involve mindfulness or relaxation, which in turn, may affect symptoms. People may find it helpful to try:

The National Cancer Institute says there is a lack of conclusive evidence to prove aromatherapy is an effective form of treatment to manage the symptoms of cancer. Some studies suggest it may help some people with their mood, anxiety, nausea, or pain. However, other studies have shown no change in symptoms.

If a person finds aromatherapy helpful, they may feel benefits from aromatherapy massages or diffusers.

Learn more about aromatherapy.

Cannabidiol (CBD) is a chemical compound that occurs naturally in the cannabis plant. It is not addictive, and some report that it helps with relieving the symptoms or complications of cancer, including nausea, vomiting, and depression.

However, research on CBD is still in its early stages. Therefore, more studies are necessary to confirm it works reliably for people with CLL.

Learn more about using CBD for cancer.

Before trying any alternative or complementary therapy, it is important to speak with a doctor. Some therapies, such as herbal medicine, aromatherapy, or diet changes, may affect a persons treatment. Some can also interact with medications.

People with CLL can also speak with their doctor about safely incorporating complementary therapies into their treatment plan.

Other things to consider include what someone wants to achieve with the therapy, whether they need to go to a specific location to get it, and how much it costs.

Some health insurance companies may cover certain complementary therapies for those with leukemia. It is worth contacting insurers to check this before paying.

The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society recommends that people interested in complementary therapies for CLL ask their doctor some questions, such as:

Some people turn to alternative therapies for CLL instead of doctor-recommended treatments. However, there is not much evidence to support their effectiveness compared with chemotherapy, radiation, and other conventional treatments.

However, many doctors support using complementary therapies alongside medical treatment. Acupuncture, dietary changes, and mind-body approaches may help with managing symptoms and treatment side effects.

Preliminary evidence also suggests some supplements, such as curcumin, may help enhance chemotherapy. However, more research on which therapies are most helpful is necessary.

Read the rest here:

CLL alternative therapies and complementary treatments - Medical News Today

This transcript has been edited for clarity.

Anna Pace, MD: Hi, everyone, and welcome. My name is Dr Anna Pace. I'm an assistant professor of neurology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, and I direct the Headache Medicine Fellowship at Mount Sinai Hospital. Today, I'm lucky enough to be joined by my illustrious colleague, Dr Zhang.

Dr Zhang, would you like to introduce yourself?

Niushen Zhang, MD: Hi, Dr Pace. It's great to be here. I'm Dr Niushen Zhang. I'm a clinical assistant professor of neurology. I'm also the chief of headache medicine at Stanford University. Great to be here.

Pace: Today, we're going to be talking about complementary and integrative medicine for migraine. I think this is a topic that has sparked a lot of interest, especially on the patient side over the last couple of years. Dr Zhang, can you tell me a little bit about what exactly complementary and integrative medicine is?

Zhang: There are actually many definitions of it. What we generally think about are nonpharmaceutical treatment approaches or healthcare practices that may not be part of conventional medicine. The American Board of Integrative Medicine gives a very well-rounded definition of this, in which they say that it's a practice of medicine that focuses on the whole person, and it should be informed by evidence and make use of all of the appropriate treatment approaches that can help our patients achieve optimal health.

The name that we use to describe this field of medicine has changed over time. Initially, it was alternative medicine, then it was called complementary and alternative medicine, or CAM. The most recent term that we use is complementary and integrative medicine.

Pace: Or CIM, for short. I think CIM, based on what you're describing, sounds like it would fit well with headache medicine, in general, when we're thinking about all of the different factors that can potentially contribute to or affect a person's headache frequency. Some of the things that we always think about are lifestyle factors that can affect headaches.

Do you have any data or anything you'd like to talk about in terms of some of the different lifestyle factors that patients can work on when they are looking to try to reduce their headache frequency?

Zhang: First, we always want to think about which patients are a best fit for this type of treatment. We think about patients who may not have had adequate responses to their pharmaceutical treatments, who have poor tolerance to these treatments, or maybe some medical contraindication to medications. We also think about people who may be pregnant or lactating or planning pregnancy. These treatments can also be helpful for people who have medication overuse headache or exhibit significant stress and may not have adequate stress coping skills.

Really, the foundation is the lifestyle modifications. The way that I explain it to patients is basically your migraine brain is hypersensitive, especially to change. What it likes is a very regular and predictable schedule for eating, sleeping, and exercise.

Specifically, what we see for exercise is that about 20 minutes a day of aerobic exercise can actually decrease headache frequency and severity. This could be anything from devoted time to walking, hiking, biking, or swimming. Those can all be very helpful.

For sleep, poor sleep quality, including things like insomnia, can affect about 30% of patients with migraine. In our clinic, we always screen for any potential underlying sleep disorders, like sleep apnea. We want to make sure our patients receive appropriate evaluations and treatment for those conditions. What we find most helpful with sleep is just keeping the same bedtime and wake-up time every day, Monday through Sunday.

Of course, we get many questions about food and nutrition. The truth is the evidence is just not strong in this area at this time, for any specific dietary interventions. We always counsel our patients to keep a very regular and consistent meal schedule throughout the day and to avoid skipping meals. Patients also love to ask about food triggers, but the evidence is not strong for what foods must be avoided.

In practice, we find that food triggers are very individual for people. If someone finds that a certain food consistently triggers their migraines, then it would make sense to avoid that food, but in general, we don't encourage people to restrict their diet.

Pace: Exercise and sleep come up often in my clinic as well. Particularly for patients who find that exercise may trigger their attacks or they're hesitant to do any exercise because their attacks are so frequent, I often recommend gentler, low-impact exercises, like yoga, tai chi, or swimming, for example, which I think people find a little bit easier to warm up to or incorporate into their routine.

And really focusing on good sleep hygiene, and even things like trying to wind down before bed and having some type of routine, is really helpful. I have had a number of patients come to me and ask, "Is there anything, like vitamins or herbal supplements, that I can take to try to help prevent my attacks?" There is quite a number of them that have good evidence. What do you usually recommend for your patients?

Zhang: I'm glad you brought that up. There are, I would say, four that are evidence-based and very helpful for our patients. One of them is magnesium. That one has a level B recommendation from the American Academy of Neurology (AAN)/American Headache Society (AHS). We think it helps with calming down neuronal hyperexcitability and preventing cortical spreading depression. Some of the formulations we like are magnesium glycinate, magnesium oxide, and citrate. We do want to watch for any loose stool or diarrhea, because those are some of the common side effects that can potentially happen. The daily dosing is about 200-600 mg/d.

Other than magnesium, we also have vitamin B2 or riboflavin. That also has a level B recommendation, and it's well-tolerated. Some people do get very bright orange or yellow urine when they take it, and the dosing is around 400 mg. There's also coenzyme Q10, which has level C recommendation from AAN/AHS. It plays a role in the electron transport chain and may play an important role in sustaining mitochondrial energy stores. It's also very well-tolerated, and the daily dosing is about 300 mg.

The last one we have is something called feverfew, which is a type of chrysanthemum. This also has a level B recommendation. We think this may have some anti-inflammatory properties. Some people do get gastrointestinal (GI) side effects with that, so you do have to watch out. We don't recommend this one during pregnancy because it can cause early contractions and potentially miscarriage. The daily dosing for that is 50-300 mg.

Pace: It's great that there are so many different nutraceutical options for migraine prevention. I personally find the combination of magnesium and riboflavin to be a good one that I tend to start with. I think nutraceuticals come up quite often. I have many patients who ask me about them. Are there any patients, in particular, whom you think would benefit most from nutraceuticals?

Zhang: Similar to what we talked about before, many of our patients just don't tolerate some of the pharmaceutical treatments that we have, so this would be a good option to start with. One thing I always ask my patients to keep in mind is that the improvement can be gradual with these supplements. Really, like any preventive treatment, you want to give it up to 3 months before someone may see maximum benefit.

Pace: Agreed. I think it's hard sometimes to wait that long, but when they do, it really can help. Another type of CIM treatment that has really great evidence in migraine prevention includes the behavioral therapies, which brings to mind things like cognitive-behavioral therapy. I'm curious what your thoughts are about those and whether or not you recommend patients to utilize them?

Zhang: I think those are terrific options. Honestly, I think one of the challenges for providers is how to broach this topic without making your patients feel like you're dismissing their experience as psychiatric or psychological. I think one way to approach this is to help your patients understand that the contributors to their headaches are usually partial and additive, and that things like stress, anxiety, and mood disorders can have a significant impact on their headaches.

That's why it's really important that we find effective ways to address those. What's great is that now we have the highest level of evidence showing that specific biobehavioral treatments, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy, biofeedback, and relaxation training, are all effective preventive treatments for migraine.

Pace: As far as I understand, it sounds like patients who have migraine and who may also have anxiety and depression may benefit from these. Do you ever see patients who don't have a history of anxiety or depression utilize any of these therapies and find them helpful just for migraine?

Zhang: Absolutely. I would say relaxation training and also biofeedback. These are great because you can not only use them as a preventive treatment things that you practice on a daily basis for prevention but also reach for them as acute treatment tools when you feel that migraine escalating or the onset of migraine.

Pace: I think that sounds great, and I agree. I find that sometimes broaching this topic with patients can be a bit challenging because on the one hand, you want to be able to validate their experience, but at the same time help to target some of the potential mood components of their presentation or the anxiety that comes with having a migraine attack with aura, which I see very commonly and I'm sure you probably do as well. Using things like relaxation therapy in the moment during an aura, I think, can be incredibly useful.

One of the other things that I always get asked about is acupuncture and whether or not there is evidence for that in terms of its efficacy in helping with migraine prevention. I seem to get that question from many of my pregnant patients. Do you have any experience recommending acupuncture to patients? What do you think about the data for that?

Zhang: We are very data-driven and we want to provide evidence-based treatments for our patients. Acupuncture has pretty good evidence for its use as a preventive treatment in episodic migraine. There's still sparse evidence for using it to treat chronic migraine or to use it as an acute treatment.

When it comes to treating episodic migraine with acupuncture, there's an excellent 2016 Cochrane review that nicely summarizes the evidence for acupuncture for this treatment. They looked at 22 trials with almost 5000 patients and found that acupuncture is slightly more effective than sham in reducing frequency of headaches and at least similarly effective as some of our standard prophylactic medications.

Pace: That's great. As far as I know about the data, it seems like it would be a good option in addition to, perhaps, the traditional therapies that we are using, like oral medications. Similarly, yoga also comes up in the same conversation whether yoga can be useful. Again, many of my pregnant patients ask this question. Do you ever recommend yoga to patients?

Zhang: With yoga, I think there's still much we have to learn about in terms of how it helps our patients with migraine. At this time, we just don't have that much robust evidence for that.

There was a randomized clinical trial published in Neurology in 2020 that looked at the effect of yoga as an add-on therapy for episodic migraine. They had two groups. One was a medical therapy group, and the other underwent medical therapy for migraine treatment, as well as yoga. They had the yoga group practice a predesigned yoga intervention 3 days per week for 1 month with an instructor at a center. This was followed by, I think, 5 days per week for 2 months at home. They looked at over 100 patients for this study.

In the end, when they compared the medical therapy group with the yoga group, the yoga group showed a significant decrease in headache frequency, intensity, and some of the migraine disability scores. The conclusion was that yoga, as an add-on therapy for episodic migraine, may be superior to medical therapy alone. I think this is a very promising beginning in terms of the research, and I really hope that we get more studies like this done in the future.

Pace: Yes. I think it illustrates an important concept that I think many of us ascribe to, in that it's really important to think about the patient, what their lifestyle is like, and what they feel comfortable with in terms of a treatment regimen and how important it is to really create an individualized plan for them.

I personally use, often, a combination of pharmacologic treatment and nonpharmacologic treatments, so the fact that that study showed that yoga was great in addition to traditional migraine therapy hammers that point home for me, in terms of using even some of the other therapies that we've talked about in addition to our traditional oral or injectable therapies for migraine. Would you agree?

Zhang: I totally agree, Dr Pace. I think some of the most helpful treatment plans that we develop for our patients are those that integrate both pharmacologic tools and the nonpharmacologic tools that we have. Part of why I love headache medicine is that we actually get to personalize these treatments for our patients.

Pace: I completely agree. I think that's a good place for us to end. We thank you all very much for joining us.

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Complementary and Integrative Medicine for Migraine - Medscape

According to IMARC Groups latest report, titled Complementary and Alternative Medicine Market: Global Industry Trends, Share, Size, Growth, Opportunity and Forecast 2022-2027, the global market reached a value of US$ 100.04 Billion in 2021. Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) represents a range of therapeutic products and diagnostic procedures that are not considered part of mainstream medical therapies. It encompasses homeopathic remedies, self-administered tools, bio-field therapy, naturopathy, acupuncture, and dietary supplements. CAM alleviates muscle tension, improves wound healing, provides relaxation, and reduces stress, pain, and anxiety. As a result, it is generally used alongside conventional medicines to treat various chronic ailments and common side effects.

Request for a PDF sample of this report: https://www.imarcgroup.com/complementary-alternative-medicine-market/requestsample

The global CAM market is primarily driven by the increasing prevalence of neurological disorders, especially amongst the geriatric population. This is further supported by shifting preferences toward natural medicines owing to their several beneficial properties. Additionally, the rising health concerns and the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic have prompted governments to invest in pharmaceutical companies to develop alternative natural drugs for treating patients, which is propelling the market growth. Other factors, such as significant improvements in the healthcare infrastructure, extensive medical tourism promotion, and ongoing research and development (R&D) activities to introduce CAM with enhanced efficacy, are contributing to the market growth. Looking forward, IMARC Group expects the global complementary and alternative medicine market to reach US$ 315.5 Billion by 2027, exhibiting a CAGR of 20.8% during 2022-2027.

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As the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis takes over the world, we are continuously tracking the changes in the markets, as well as the industry behaviors of the consumers globally and our estimates about the latest market trends and forecasts are being done after considering the impact of this pandemic.

Competitive Landscape with Key Players:

Complementary and Alternative Medicine Market Segmentation:

Breakup by Type:

Breakup by Disease Indications:

Breakup by Distribution Channel:

Breakup by Region:

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Complementary and Alternative Medicine Market Analysis 2022: Industry Overview, Growth, Trends, Opportunities and Forecast Till 2027 Designer Women -...

The new report by Expert Market Research titled, Global Cold Pressed Sesame Oil Market Report and Forecast 2022-2027, gives an in-depth analysis of the globalcold pressed sesame oil market, assessing the market based on its segments like types, applications, and major regions. The report tracks the latest trends in the industry and studies their impact on the overall market. It also assesses the market dynamics, covering the key demand and price indicators, along with analysing the market based on the SWOT and Porters Five Forces models.

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The key highlights of the report include:

Market Overview (2017-2027)

Forecast CAGR (2022-2027): 6.2%

The significant effect of the oil on the body and its benefits to the skin is widely popular, driving its demand in the market. The overall market demand is expected to be driven by the rising level of awareness about health and beauty around the world. Rising awareness towards a healthy lifestyle guides a large number of demands towards natural ingredients, which thrives cold-pressed sesame oil market as it makes the heart-healthy, improves skin and hair, is good for bones and is helpful in treating depression and anxiety. Additionally, the inclusion of minerals, organic compounds and vitamins generates new opportunities for the market in the pharmaceutical and food consumption segment.

Industry Definition and Major Segments

Sesame seeds are used to make sesame oil. It is used extensively in Asian cuisine as alternative medicine. Sesame seeds are pressed for oil by crushing them or roasting them over heat. Cold-pressed sesame oil is obtained by crushing sesame seeds. Sesame oil from cold-pressed seeds has a moderate and nutty flavour, and contains a larger concentration of fatty acids than sesame oil from heated seeds. Furthermore, the presence of sesamolin in cold-pressed sesame oil prevents it from oxidising, extending its shelf life.

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By type, the market is segmented into:

Organic Conventional

The major applications of the market are as follows:

Food Personal Care and Cosmetics Pharmaceuticals Others

On the basis of region, the market is segmented into:

North America Europe Asia Pacific Latin America Middle East and Africa

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Market Trends

Sesame oil use is constantly increasing over the world as consumer habits change and people become more health conscious. Consumers nowadays favour products with high nutritional value. As a result, the sesame seed oil is seeing increased demand due to its nutritious qualities, which include vitamins, minerals, fibre, good fats, and protein. Sesame oil is widely used in dressings and sauces. Easy storing capacity and longer shelf life drive its usage in these applications. Organic sesame oil has been witnessing increasing demand due to substantially higher antioxidants and very low or no pesticide traces.

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The major players in the market are CARE Naturkost GmbH & Co. KG, V.V.V.Anandham & Sons, Mukund Oil Mills Pvt. Ltd., Recon, and Chee Seng Oil Factory Pte Ltd, among others. The report covers the market shares, capacities, plant turnarounds, expansions, investments and mergers and acquisitions, among other latest developments of these market players.

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Expert Market Research is a leading business intelligence firm, providing custom and syndicated market reports along with consultancy services for our clients. We serve a wide client base ranging from Fortune 1000 companies to small and medium enterprises. Our reports cover over 100 industries across established and emerging markets researched by our skilled analysts who track the latest economic, demographic, trade and market data globally.

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*We at Expert Market Research always thrive to give you the latest information. The numbers in the article are only indicative and may be different from the actual report.

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Global Cold Pressed Sesame Oil Market To Be Driven By The Rising Uses Of The Oil In Alternative Medicine, Cooking, And Body Massage In The Forecast...

Complementary and alternative medicines were promoted as health supplements, immune-boosters and COVID-19 preventive drugs through visual, print, and social media, during the pandemic. In this context, specifically in India, the homeopathic remedy, Arsenicum Album 30C prepared from arsenic trioxide was widely prescribed and publicly supplied through government agencies among adults and school-going children. Inorganic arsenic, known as the king of poisons is a highly toxic substance with the potential to cause acute as well as chronic injury to multiple organ systems, mainly skin, lung, liver, and kidneys. Acute liver injury due to arsenic-containing formulations is seldom reported. We present three cases of acute liver injury, leading to death in one patient with underlying non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) cirrhosis, after consumption of the homeopathic remedy AA30 for COVID-19 prevention.

The novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) challenged the scientific community to discover preventive and therapeutic measures to ameliorate morbidity and mortality associated with the unanticipated pandemic. In developing countries, complementary and alternative medical (CAM) systems were promoted and pushed to the forefront via visual, print, and social media, as supposed COVID-19 preventive measures that were advertised as immune-boosters (IB). In India, a homeopathic remedy, Arsenicum Album 30C (AA30, from arsenic trioxide) was widely promoted, prescribed, and publicly supplied through government agencies from house to house as an IB and COVID-19 preventive in adults and school-going children [1]. The Indian Ayush Ministry guideline recommended dose of AA30 for COVID-19 prevention is four pills or three drops of liquid formulation in one spoon of water for three consecutive days, repeated every 21 days until end of pandemic [2]. We report a novel association of acute severe liver injury attributable to AA30 in three patients.

A 70-year-old man with compensated non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH)-related cirrhosis and diabetes mellitus consumed the homeopathic IB AA30 as prescribed for 12 weeks prior to the onset of symptoms. He presented with jaundice and abdominal distension within four weeks after the onset of loss of appetite and well-being. The patient was not on any other hepatotoxic agents, over-the-counter medications, or herbal and dietary supplements. Investigations revealed the presence of conjugated hyperbilirubinemia, ascites, and abnormal coagulation, suggestive of acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF). Further investigations to identify known causes of acute deterioration of underlying cirrhosis were performed, including a transjugular liver biopsy. All competing causes for acute liver injury were meticulously ruled out. These included infections-tests for immunoglobulin M (IgM) for viral hepatitis A and E; hepatitis Bsurface antigen and IgM antibody to hepatitis B core antigen; nucleic acid tests via polymerase chain reaction for hepatitis C; IgM for herpes zoster and herpes simplex, cytomegalovirus, parvovirus, Epstein-Barr virus. Complete auto-antibody testing for autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) was negative. The Roussel Uclaf Causality Assessment (RUCAM) demonstrated probable (score 7) drug-induced liver injury (DILI) and simplified AIH score was less than 5, revealing the cause of acute liver injury leading to ACLF as the homeopathic remedy, AA30.The liver biopsy revealed multiacinar hepatocyte necrosis, lymphocytic, neutrophilic, and eosinophilic inflammation in the absence of interface hepatitis, which were predominantly portal-based in the background of cirrhosis, suggestive of DILI. Analysis of drugs consumed could not be performed in view of inadequate sample availability. The patient and family consented to arsenic analysis in nail and hair samples which revealed extremely high levels of the heavy metal, supportive of arsenic toxicity and associated liver injury in the patient.Evaluation of hair and hair samples of two family members (below detection limits, method detection limit being 0.1 mg/kg), staying in the same household did not reveal levels signifying cluster arsenic poisoning from water or soil sources. The patient succumbed to complications related to ACLF, nine months after the initial diagnosis.

A 68-year-old male with systemic hypertension controlled on telmisartan who ingested AA30 as prescribed for four weeks prior to the onset of symptoms. There was no associated jaundice or cholestatic symptoms, but liver tests revealed acute hepatitis with an elevation of liver enzymes. The patient was not on any other hepatotoxic agents, over-the-counter medications, or herbal and dietary supplements. Further investigations did not reveal the presence of underlying chronic liver disease or portal hypertension.All competing causes for acute liver injury were meticulously ruled out similar to the extensive workup that was done in case one. The RUCAM demonstrated probable (score 8) DILI and simplified AIH score was less than 5, revealing the cause of acute non-icteric hepatitis as the homeopathic remedy, AA30. The liver biopsy revealed perivenular hepatocyte necrosis, with predominantly portal-based mixed cellular inflammation consisting of plasma cells, eosinophils, lymphocytes, and scattered neutrophils. Additionally, ballooning of hepatocytes was marked with scattered rosettes and moderate interphase hepatitis in the presence of mild portal and sinusoidal fibrosis suggestive of DILI. Acute hepatitis resolved after drug withdrawal and finite course of steroids within three months, without any recurrence on follow-up.

A 48-year-old overweight woman consumed homeopathic AA30 pills as COVID-19 preventive for one week prior to the onset of her symptoms of cholestatic jaundice. Prior to the development of jaundice, she had nonspecific gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea and progressive loss of appetite. Liver tests revealed conjugated hyperbilirubinemia with highly raised liver enzymes. The patient was not on any other hepatotoxic prescription drugs, over-the-counter medications, or herbal and dietary supplements. Further investigations did not reveal the presence of underlying chronic liver disease or portal hypertension.All competing causes for acute liver injury were meticulously ruled out similar to the extensive workup that was done in case one. The RUCAM demonstrated probable (score 7) DILI and simplified AIH score was less than 5, revealing the cause of acute cholestatic hepatitis as the homeopathic remedy, AA30. The liver biopsy revealed spotty, focal hepatocyte necrosis, with predominantly portal-based neutrophilic and eosinophil-rich inflammation, moderate steatosis, and mild interface hepatitis with underlying mild perisinusoidal fibrosis, suggestive of DILI. The acute cholestatic hepatitis resolved after drug withdrawal and a finite course of steroids within six months, without any recurrence on follow-up.Chemical analysis and toxicology (inductively coupled optical emission spectroscopy and triple-quadrupole gas chromatography with tandem mass spectroscopy method) on two sets of AA30 samples retrieved from case three revealed D-mannose, and melezitose, and arsenic respectively, demonstrating batch-to-batch variation due to poor manufacturing practices. The pertinent, representational liver biopsy findings are shown in Figure 1.

The at-presentation clinical, investigational parameters, pertinent treatments, and clinical outcomes of all three patients are shown in Table 1.

The liver histology findings of all three patients are shown in Table 2.

Table 3 shows chemical and toxicology analyses performed on the three patients.

Cases one and two patients were vaccinated against COVID-19 infection with a single dose while case three did not undergo vaccination at all prior to symptomatic presentation. The first patient did not complete the vaccination schedule, whilecase twocompleted the second dose of vaccine, and case three initiated scheduled vaccination on follow-up of 2-3 weeks after complete resolution of DILI.

Complementary and alternative medicines, specifically Ayurvedic and Homeopathic supplements were promoted as COVID-19 preventive drugs during the pandemic. The homeopathic remedy, AA30 prepared from mother compound arsenic trioxide was touted as an immunity booster and vaccine-equivalent by alternative medicine practitioners, was supplied via government agencies among adults and school-going children as a preventive measure. Acute liver injury due to arsenic-containing formulations is reported rarely. We presented three cases of acute hepatitis leading to death in one patient with underlying NASH cirrhosis, after consumption of the homeopathic remedy AA30 for COVID-19 prevention. We have meticulously excluded all other major competing causes for acute liver injury in our cohort of patients, including underlying AIH through systematic clinical, investigational, and histopathology evaluations. Homeopathic medicines in high dilutions, even though ineffective for any disease condition, are probably safe and unlikely to provoke severe adverse reactions. Nonetheless, systematic reviews have shown that Homeopathy has the potential to harm patients and consumers in both direct and indirect ways. The incidence of adverse effects of homeopathic drugs was not uncommon and was at times greater than placebo in some controlled clinical trials [3,4]. Arsenic toxicity from Homeopathic drugs is well described in the literature, but the acute liver injury is seldom reported [5-7]. Arsenic occurs in two oxidative forms-the trivalent arsenite and arsenate, the pentavalent form. The former is 60 times more toxic than the latter. Organic arsenic is nontoxic whereas inorganic arsenic (arsenic trioxide, the mother compound used in homeopathic AA30) is toxic. Arsenic toxicity occurs in the presence of reactive oxygen intermediates generation during redox cycling and metabolic activation processes resulting in lipid peroxidation. Arsenic trioxide binds thiol or sulfhydryl groups in tissue proteins of the liver, lungs, kidney, gastrointestinal mucosa, and keratin-rich tissues such as skin, hair, and nails [6,7]. Acute severe exposure to large amounts of arsenical compounds produces predominantly gastrointestinal symptoms which was classically absent in our patients except for case three who presented with liver and gastrointestinal symptoms within a short duration of exposure. Exposure to inorganic arsenic through drinking water is a major public health problem in both developing and developed countries. The United States Environmental Protection Agencys safe cut-off value for arsenic exposure in drinking water is 10 g/L. Drugs and health supplements are ideally not supposed to contain arsenic and hence safe limits or cut-off remain undefined. In acute exposure, the maximal deposition of arsenic occurs within the kidneys and liver and in the hair and nails after two weeks of ingestion. Arsenic toxicity leads to hepatomegaly, steatosis, hepatocyte necrosis, and portal fibrosis and arsenic exposure in steatotic livers is associated with necro-inflammatory changes and progressive liver damage, a notable finding in our group of patients with underlying fatty liver disease [8]. The liver is usually vulnerable to prolonged exposure to small amounts of arsenic. Nonetheless, liver-related injury and response to arsenic from person to person cannot be predicted due to idiosyncratic type of injury. The earliest description of arsenic-induced liver disease was reported by Bang in the 18th century in a patient who developed ascites due to prolonged use of therapeutic doses of liquid arsenic. Subsequently, an outbreak of liver disease among beer drinkers in the north of England, where arsenopyrite had been used to produce beer from starch was described by a group of investigators. Acute liver injury and jaundice after consuming therapeutic doses of arsenicals,similar to the current patient cohort, were also described in 1945 [9]. AA30 was found ineffective as a preventive of COVID-19 infection in a randomized placebo-controlled trial [10].

In our series, certain limitations require further deliberation. AA30 as a definite cause of DILI could not be ascertained due to lack of rechallenge which is also currently not recommended by experts. The empirical decision to not use steroids in the first case was due to the presence of underlying cirrhosis, suspected secondary bacterial infection, and diabetes mellitus in the elderly gentleman. A diagnosis of DILI does not require a demonstration of the potential toxic agent in the affected patient and a causality assessment, even in the presence of its limitations, is a strong and accepted method to identify drug-related liver damage along with the exclusion of competent causes. Even though other members of the family in case one consumed AA30, this was only for a very short duration, unlike the patient, who consumed it for close to 90 days.

Health regulatory authorities, physicians, general and patient population must be aware of the potential harms associated with the large-scale promotion of untested, alternative medical systems during a medical emergency so as to prevent an epidemic of avoidable DILI within the ongoing pandemic. Even though ultra-diluted homeopathic remedies, found ineffective as shown in large-scale meta-analysis, are considered safe for use due to the absence of any active compound beyond 12C dilution. Nonetheless, poor manufacturing practices, use of concentrated tincture formulations, and adulteration and contamination of homeopathic remedies can still pose considerable toxicity in predisposed persons. From a scientific and evidence-based standpoint, it is imperative that the general population and at-risk persons understand that vaccination, and not untested, misleading IBs, remainsthe best available armamentarium against COVID-19 which helps in fighting back the pandemic.

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Dangerous Placebo During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Series of Homoeopathic Arsenicum Album-Induced Liver Injury - Cureus

Before the advent of formal medicine, people largely depended on herbal plant knowledge that has been passed through generations of families. From poultices for wounds and bruises to tinctures and concentrated oils for disease treatments, herbal medicine has been around since time immemorial. Ancient civilizations were known to have relied on the power of herbal medicines, with evidence pointing to herbal medicine being practiced by Sumerians and the Ancient Chinese. Because of the proven effect of herbal medicine, its practice has survived the test of time and is now still part of modern practices in the Philippines and around the world, with medicinal plants and herbs figuring largely in alternative medicine.

In the Philippines where herbal plant species abound, it is customary for Filipinos to use them in nursing minor sicknesses such as cough, colds, flu, infections, and other skin infections. Though there are still many Pinoys who still question the efficacy of these plants, medical research and studies have already acknowledged their value in the world of medicine. Following the establishment of the efficacy of these herbal medicines in the Philippines, the Department of Health (DOH) and Department of Science and Technology (DOST) have released their recommended list of herbal plants found in the Philippines and the health benefits they provide, further concretizing the role of alternative medicine in medical practice.

In this article, weve compiled some of the most well-known herbal and medicinal plants in the Philippines, the conditions that theyve been proven to be effective against, as well as their folk medicinal applications.

Among the medicinal uses and benefits of lagundi are to stop coughing, relieve asthma, facilitate the discharge of phlegm and lower fever due to colds or flu. It is also a pain reliever for headaches and toothache.

For cough, asthma and fever, heres how to prepare lagundi leaves. Boil lagundi leaves in two glasses of water for at least 15 minutes. This boiled mixture is called among experts as decoction. To stop coughing, take glass of decoction three times a day. In addition, drink at least eight glasses of water a day to further help loosen phlegm.

If youre suffering from asthma, take 1/3 glass of decoction three times a day. However, if your asthma does not improve after one dose of the decoction or when the attack is severe, consult your physician right away.

For fever, take glass of decoction every three hours, or as needed. To relieve headache, heat enough fresh lagundi leaves over a fire until slightly wilted. Then crush the leaves and apply the poultice to the forehead and temples. Bandage the leaves in place. Change the dressing every four hours when needed.

A known antitussive and antipyretic, ampalaya leaf juice is known to assist the human body to clear viral infections that often lead to cough and colds. To use ampalaya to alleviate cough, grind and juice ampalaya leaves every day. Drink a spoonful of concentrated ampalaya leaf juice every day. However, if youre planning on taking ampalaya as a treatment option when youre pregnant, its best that you first ask for a health experts opinion.

Also known as gatas-gatas, tawa-tawa is a powerful herbal medicine that is used in the Philippines to treat viral infections, including colds and cough, and fever symptoms. Aside from its antiviral properties, tawa-tawa is also a well-known anti-bacterial, antifungal, and anti-inflammatory. To use this herb, you can boil its leaves and drink it as a tea to help relieve respiratory symptoms associated with cough and even asthma.

Sambong is an effective antipyretic that can aid in lowering high temperatures brought on by fevers. To utilize sambong leaves, soak the leaves in cold water and wring them out. Place the leaves on clean cloths, and apply the cloths to the feverish persons armpits and forehead.

Sambong is a medicinal herb that is well-known in the Philippines for its useful traits in treating kidney stones, wounds, and cuts. It can be helpful as well in healing rheumatism, colds, coughs, and acts as an anti-diarrhea and anti-spasmodic.

Patients with kidney problems are familiar with sambong, as its popular to carry diuretic treatment for hypertension. It also regulates uric acid in the body, making it a great preventive for gout.

To use sambong to ease arthritic pain, crush or grind sambong leaves into a paste and directly apply it to your sore joints and muscles.

Relieve arthritis pain with Yerba Buenas anti-inflammatory properties. Heat fresh Yerba Buena leaves over a fire, then pound them into a rough paste. While still warm, apply the poultice to your affected joints. Tie a bandage around over the Yerba Buena leaf pastes, and change the dressing every four hours or as needed.

Scientific studies have shown the efficacy of pansit-pansitan as a conjunct treatment for arthritic pain, thanks to its anti-inflammatory and analgesic characteristics. Aside from these, this herbal plant from the Philippines is also able to keep uric acid in balance, thus lowering the chances of gout development.

To use this plant, you can either add it to salads or cook it with other vegetables, or you can drink it as pansit-pansitan tea. Brew your own pansit-pansitan tea by gathering fresh leaves and boiling them for 10 to 15 minutes. Strain the concoction and drink half a cup of this tea 3 times a day.

Also called kalabonog, maramara, semente and buyo-buyo, tsaang-gubat is a Philippine herbal plant that may be utilized to treat diarrhea or LBM (loose bowel movement). To treat LBM using tsaang-gubat, boil dried or fresh leaves in two glasses of water for 15 minutes. Let cool, then strain and divide into four parts. Drink one part every two hours (until stool becomes solid).

While Lagundi leaves are known to alleviate cough symptoms, the plants flowers may also play an important role in easing diarrhea symptoms. To use Lagundi to stop loose bowel movement, extract the juices of the Lagundi flowers and take the extracts until your diarrhea symptoms are eased.

Also known as the Rangoon Creeper, Niyog-niyogan offers numerous benefits, including working as an effective remedy for diarrhea and loose bowel movement. To use this Philippine medicinal plant, harvest its ripe fruits and roast them. Take them internally until your symptoms subside. This plant may also aid in expelling intestinal parasites and worms. Get dried niyog-niyogan seeds and take 4 to 7 seeds orally.

If youre looking for a natural and calming remedy for diarrhea, sambong tea is a good choice. Used to help bulk up stool and treat stomach cramps and spasms, sambong tea can be prepared by gathering fresh sambong leaves and steeping them in hot water for 10 minutes. Drink up to 4 glasses of sambong tea a day and wait for your symptoms to be alleviated.

Tsaang-gubat is a versatile plant that can treat numerous conditions, depending on how it is prepared. Because it boasts anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties, this Philippine herbal plant can help promote wound healing and shorten the healing time. To use this herb, pound tsaang-gubat leaves and boil them for about 10 to 15 minutes. Use the cooled-down tea to clean and disinfect the wound periodically.

Known for their antiseptic properties, bayabas leaves have been used since time immemorial to treat wounds and cure bacterial infections. To create an astringent and antibacterial wash out of this Philippine herbal plant, boil clean leaves for 8 to 10 minutes and let cool. Wash the affected area with the bayabas tea 2 to 3 times a day until the wound is completely healed.

Aside from the conditions and disorders mentioned above that herbal medicine may effectively treat, there are also other uses that herbal plants have. These include purposes for daily hygiene as well as for nutritional supplementation. Here are a few of the other uses of some traditional Filipino herbal plants:

There are hundreds of home remedies, thousands maybe from our grasses, plants, bushes, shrubs and trees. Some time ago, we read that a Chinese scientist compiled herbal plants in China and his list ran close to 6,000 to 7,700. Our very own, the late Filipino scientist Eduardo Quisumbing, had a book on medicinal plants and trees. It has been reprinted and is now sold in bookstores.

This means that while this list includes some of the herbal plants in the Philippines deemed effective by both the Philippines Department of Health and Department of Science and Technology, the country is gifted with hundreds more of medicinal plants that people can utilize for a more natural way of treating minor ailments and health problems. Together with modern technology and medical practice, alternative medicine can not only help prolong life, but it can also improve quality of life as well as general healthcare.

Image credits: Wasana Jaigunta | Dreamstime.com, Ppy2010ha | Dreamstime.com

Originally posted here:

Herbal Plants in the Philippines for Effective Alternative Medicine - BusinessMirror

Though COVID-19 vaccines didnt end the pandemic, they have helped beat back the virus, preventing an estimated 66 million infections and 2.2 million deaths in the United States alone, according to the Commonwealth Fund.

But the vaccines dont provide equal protection for all. If youre one of the estimated 3 percent of the population who are moderately or severely immunocompromised, you are still very much at risk for severe disease, hospitalization, and worse even after two doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna mRNA vaccines.

Fortunately, the outlook is improving, thanks to vaccine boosters and medications that the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have okayed to treat COVID-19 in high-risk groups and prevent infection in exceptionally vulnerable people.

Shireesha Dhanireddy, MD, a professor of medicine in the division of allergy and infectious diseases and an infectious-disease specialist with UW Medicine in Seattle, explains how immunocompromised people can protect themselves.

When we say someone is immunocompromised, generally what it means is the person isnt able to mount a good immune response to the [COVID-19] vaccine for whatever reason, says Dr. Dhanireddy.

That could be due to an underlying medical problem that makes the immune system weaker, or a medication that weakens or suppresses the immune system, she adds.

Theres a broad range of people who are considered immunocompromised, Dhanireddy says. Usually, these individuals would be under the care of a provider who would be managing their chronic condition.

According to the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, you may be considered immunocompromised if you:

This is not a comprehensive list of immune-system issues that might dramatically increase your COVID-19 risk. Talk to your doctor if you are unsure about your status.

Vaccine recommendations for the immunocompromised are special because both laboratory studies and real-world data have shown these individuals are less likely to respond well to immunization, says Dhanireddy.

A meta-analysis published in December 2021 in the Journal of Infection found that although COVID-19 vaccines were effective against symptomatic COVID-19 in immunocompromised people, the protective antibodies they generated were much lower than in people with normally functioning immune systems.

While most people get two doses of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine for their so-called primary series, immunocompromised individuals should get three, according to current public-health guidelines. Studies have noted that there was very low response in terms of antibodies after two doses for immunocompromised individuals, particularly in solid organ transplant patients, but a third primary dose led to a much more significant response, Dhanireddy says.

People who are immunocompromised are now eligible for a second COVID-19 booster, which means that some of these individuals will be getting five doses of vaccine, says Dhanireddy. People who are moderately to severely immunocompromised can get a second booster if they got their first booster at least four months before, according to the CDC.

The CDC states that the Pfizer and Moderna mRNA vaccines are preferable to the Johnson & Johnson (J&J)/Janssen vaccine in most cases. If a person does receive the J&J vaccine for whatever reason, the CDC advises that anyone age 18 and older who is moderately or severely immunocompromised get a single primary dose, followed by a second (additional) dose of an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine at least 28 days (four weeks) later.

The agency recommends a single booster dose at least two months after the second (additional) dose, for a total of three doses (one J&J vaccine dose followed by one additional mRNA vaccine dose, then one booster dose).

Some individuals who may have been on heavy immunosuppressants around a transplant period, or those who were vaccinated pre-transplant and then had to take immunosuppressive medications that wiped out their immune system, may actually have to restart their vaccinations and get another primary series, says Dhanireddy.

It can get a little complicated for these individuals regarding timing of these medications and whether to restart that series or not; thats something they should discuss with their doctor, she says.

Evusheld (tixagevimab and cilgavimab) is a monoclonal antibody treatment administered by injection that is designed to prevent COVID-19 in vulnerable and immunocompromised people who may not have an adequate immune response to COVID-19 vaccination.

The FDA granted the drug emergency use authorization (EUA) in December of 2021 for pre-exposure prophylaxis meaning its not intended for people who already have COVID-19.

Evusheld is authorized for individuals who are immunosuppressed and for those who cant tolerate COVID-19 immunization because of severe allergies to components in the vaccine, says Dhanireddy.

Evusheld can provide an extra boost to immunocompromised people who didnt get a robust immune response from vaccination. These lab-created antibodies are given by injection to be ready to fight against the virus in case of infection, says Dhanireddy.

Protection is estimated to last between three and six months, but data is still forthcoming, Dhanireddy adds.

Experts are recommending a two-pronged approach both vaccination and Evusheld to provide maximum protection for immunocompromised people, notes an article published April 27 in JAMA.

According to a spokesperson from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) whose remarks were reported in the JAMA commentary, the federal governments supply of Evusheld currently exceeds demand from states and territories.

If you are eligible to receive Evusheld, contact your healthcare provider or your local health department. The federal government will pay for the drug, but you may be charged for the products administration, depending on the health system and your insurance coverage.

Immunocompromised people should be aware that two different drugs can be taken in pill form after COVID-19 symptoms emerge, in order to prevent severe disease and hospitalization: molnupiravir (sold under the brand name Lagerviro) and Paxlovid.

There are also treatments that can be administered by injection or IV: the antiviral drug remdesivir and the monoclonal antibody therapy bebtelovimab.

PaxlovidThis antiviral medication combines two generic drugs, nirmatrelvir and ritonavir. The FDA granted it emergency use authorization (EUA) in December 2021, and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has prioritized it over all other available treatments for people with a current COVID-19 infection.

The drug was 89 percent effective against hospitalization and death in the clinical trial that led to its approval and that study included both vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals. Its a five-day course of medication that has to be given within five days of when symptoms develop, says Dhanireddy.

Paxlovid can interact with other medications, including blood thinners and cholesterol medicines, so it may not be a good choice for everyone. This drug can be especially problematic for solid organ transplant patients Paxlovid is not a great option for them, says Dhanireddy.

MolnupiravirThis oral antiviral is 30 percent effective at preventing hospitalization and death in people with COVID-19. The drug is still effective, but the efficacy is lower than some of the other available treatments, says Dhanireddy.

The CDC did not authorize the medication for people who are pregnant, and anyone of childbearing age needs to use it with caution, Dhanireddy says. It is also not known if the drug may impact sperm.

Doctors should prescribe molnupiravir only when Paxlovid and the medication remdesivir are not available, feasible to use, or clinically appropriate, per theNIH.

As with Paxlovid, treatment with molnupiravir must begin within five days of symptom onset.

RemdesivirSold under the brand name Veklury, remdesivir is the first (and so far only) COVID-19 therapy to have full FDA approval for treatment of critically ill COVID-19 patients who are hospitalized.

Earlier this year, the drug was also granted authorization to be used for a shorter course of therapy three days for patients with mild to moderate COVID-19 who are recovering at home.

Remdesivir provides an 87 percent reduction in risk of hospitalization in nonhospitalized people who received the three-day dose, according to a study published in January 2022 in the New England Journal of Medicine.

Logistics for this are a little bit difficult because its three days in a row of IV medication that has to be delivered in a healthcare setting, Dhanireddy says.

Patients must begin treatment within seven days of the onset of symptoms.

BebtelovimabIn February 2022 the FDA authorized this monoclonal antibody treatment for people with a current COVID-19 infection.

Not all monoclonal antibodies have been effective against all variants, but data indicates that bebtelovimab is effective against omicron and its BA.2 subvariant, says Dhanireddy.

To be eligible for bebtelovimab, people must be at high risk for severe COVID-19.

Bebtelovimab is considered an alternative treatment and should be used only when Paxlovid and remdesivir are not available, feasible to use, or clinically appropriate, according to theNIH.

The medication must be administered by injection within seven days of symptom onset.

A well-fitting N95 or KN95 mask provides a good defense against COVID-19 infection, says Dhanireddy. Although two-way masking is best, there is evidence that a high quality mask offers substantial protection even if others arent wearing face coverings, according to a modeling study published in December 2021 in the journal PNAS.

When youre immunocompromised, you want to try to reduce your risk as much as possible, says Dhanireddy. She calls using multiple approaches such as vaccines, boosters, medications, and masking creating a cocoon of protection around yourself.

The cocoon should also include those in your household or close circle, who should all be mitigating their risk to keep you safe by protecting themselves with masking and other measures, Dhanireddy says.

The CDC has created a COVID-19 tool kit designed to help people understand the risk COVID-19 poses in their community, and it includes information on where to find free masks and Test-to-Treat programs where you can get tested and obtain treatment if you are diagnosed with COVID-19.

Visit link:

Immunocompromised in the COVID-19 Era: Vaccines, Prevention, Treatment - Everyday Health

Its been making a big splash in the oncology world and outside itthe news that a drug in the monoclonal antibody class has been effective in producing a durable remission lasting up to 25 months (to date) in just over a dozen rectal cancer patients. My inbox has been flooded with people sending me links to the many media reports on this stunning development. A cure for cancer! A cure!

While I am thrilled at the news, nowadays I know enough about cancer to view it with a few grains of caution, which I have shared with my friends.

The data need to be examined by third parties and the study must be replicated. It is not unheard of for research teams to make significant errors with their data or downright lie. So scientific due process needs to happen to be sure that this is really real.

"Cancer is not just one disease. It is a category of diseases that share similar features in general but that also vary quite widely in specific mutations, cellular errors, metabolic defects, etc. Thats why what works like a charm for one patient with X diagnosis may hardly work at all (or not work) for the next patient with the exact same diagnosis.

For instance, breast cancer isnt just one thing. It has types that are quite distinct and can make a big difference in how certain treatments work or dont work. And more to the point, breast cancer isnt the same as colon cancer. Theyre both cancers and both share certain qualities that make them cancer. But the exact nature of some of those defects is not totally identical between the two.

What worked like gangbusters for rectal cancer may not work for all cancers.

However, the fact that this drug produced such wonderful results for this one very small segment of the cancer world serves as a kind of proof of concept. A similar method might be able to be developed for other types of cancers, to the improvement of all.

For example, chemotherapy was first tried in just a very, very few types of cancers that, back in the day, had no real treatments that had any effect. It wasnt a cure-all, but in a setting where there were virtually no remissions, much less cures, it was a huge step forward (and did, in fact, cure a small handful of lucky patients back then), and gradually different kinds of chemotherapies were developed that worked better (or worse) on different kinds of cancers. We take chemo for granted, today. But it wasnt always this way.

So the monoclonal antibody technology that these researchers have used to create this treatment may be applied to other cancers, similar to chemo cracking open and letting us have a peek inside. We just need to learn how to make the crack wide enough for more cancer patients with more types of cancers to walk through.

A complete clinical response is not necessarily a cure, meaning that the cancer wont ever come back because its gone forever. But theyve followed patients for up to 25 months (at the time the study results were reported) and there were no signs of recurrence yet. Thats a very good thing, and definitely a reason to hope.

I find it interesting to note that this is happening within an industry that is routinely vilified by alternative-medicine-only types for not really wanting to cure cancer. If we adopt the a-miracle-occurred"stance toward this research, I guess wed have to say that the cancer industry is making two mistakes at the same time: first in having found something that may possibly do exactly what the cancer industry never really wanted in the first place (to which I think, then why fund the research at all?) and second in publicizing the positive findings instead of keeping them tightly under wraps in a sealed vault deep in the heart of some government fortress in the guts of a hollowed-out mountain somewhere.

Ah, but take heart. (Tongue now firmly in cheek.) Replication studies may not work, or (drum roll for the conspiratorial mindset, here) may be able to be manipulated to appear as if they arent working, so that this incredible breakthrough can be suppressed. After all, theres never so much fun as when youve gotten the hopes of the gullible masses all pumped up, and then you can dash them again, right? What a thrill!

OK. Im done with snarky.

I do agree with my friends. This is very good news and very hopeful news. Ive been watching with some surprise over the last dozen years since I completed my own treatment for inflammatory breast cancer. The newer systemic treatments that are being developed are game changers, as are the improved ways to detect recurrence earlier and the effort to find ways to make that discovery meaningful in extending the lives of terminal patients who we lose todaypossibly, one day, to extend them even to the point of cure.

Cancer treatment seems to be entering a new era. Im glad that Im still here to see it.

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SINGAPORE Iris Koh, the founder of controversial anti-vaccine group Healing the Divide, sought permission from a district court on Friday (June 17) to travel to Malaysia in order to seek "alternative" medical treatment for her thyroid cancer.

However, a judge asked for more details of her treatmentafter noting that her condition does not appear to be life-threatening at the moment, based on her current documentation.

Koh made the request to leave Singapore while she is on bail for an ongoing court case.

The 46-year-old faces a criminal charge of conspiring with a doctor to defraud the Ministry of Health (MOH) over fake Covid-19 vaccination records, and another charge of obstructing a police officer by refusing to sign and tearing up a charge sheet.

When she was first hauled to court in January, she was denied bail twice and warded in Singapore General Hospital (SGH) for hyperthyroidism, a pre-existing condition for her.

She was also diagnosed with Graves' disease,an autoimmune disease that affects thethyroidgland. It is a common cause of hyperthyroidism.

She has remained out on a S$20,000 bail since Feb 4.Her husband Raymond Ng, who serves as her bailor, was also present in court.

On Friday, her new defence counsel Wee Pan Lee told the court that SGH doctors found cancer in a thyroid nodule, which is an unusual growth of cells in the thyroid gland.

She was then advised to undergo surgery to remove her thyroid glands. However, she wants a second opinion from foreign doctors to "find a way to save" them, Mr Wee said.

She has therefore made appointments at Mahkota Medical Centre in the city of Malacca, as well as at Aenon Health Care inthe western Malaysian state of Negeri Sembilan, Mr Wee added.

Koh sought to travel there by car and will be in Malaysia for a month from Sunday to July 22. The programme at Mahkota runs until June 29 and a doctor there will recommend a course of therapy treatment at Aenon, Mr Wee told the court.

In response, Deputy Public Prosecutor (DPP) Jiang Ke-Yue asked for clarifications to firm up the prosecution's position on Koh's application.

The prosecutor said that the defence has provided supporting documents that "raise more questions than answers", which "lends itself to the inference that there could be a potential flight risk".

He told the court that he has asked Mr Wee for details on the nature of Kohs treatment, whether she has explored alternative treatment options in Singapore, and the need to go to two places in Malaysia for a month.

DPP Jiang said that the prosecution does not wish to stand in Koh's way to seek alternative treatment of her choosing. However, he argued that the documents do not show any link between the two medical institutions in Malaysia.

Mr Wee also filed a document this morning from a third Malaysian institution Spectrum Of Life Integrated Wellness Centre in Kuala Lumpur. DPP Jiang said that the lawyer has similarly not explained how it is linked to the other institutions.

When the prosecutor questioned why the application and documents were filed at the eleventh hour, Mr Wee said that Koh had been "devastated" by her diagnosis.

"Upon recommendation that there is an alternative, she seized the chance but was unable to go. This doctor was prepared to see her... That's why we made the application as soon as possible," the lawyer added.

District Judge Ng Peng Hong said that based on the documents he was given, Koh's condition "doesn't appear to be life-threatening at this point".

He then agreed with the prosecution that more detailsof her treatmentshould be given. The case will be heard again on June 22.

Koh is said to have worked with general practitioner Jipson Quahto defraud MOH between July last year and January this year, by agreeing to dishonestly make false representations to MOH that people were vaccinated with the Sinopharm vaccine when they were not.

Quah and his clinic assistant, Thomas Chua Cheng Soon, have also been charged with fraud by false representation. Both men remain out on bail.

The police previously said that Koh had allegedly referred clients, believed to be members of Healing the Divide, to Quah and had also suggested administering something else in lieu of the vaccine to patients.

Quah has been suspended from practising medicine for 18 months, after the Singapore Medical Council found that he allegedly administered saline solution to some 15 people in place of a Covid-19 vaccine.

He then uploaded false vaccination statuses into the National Immunisation Registry system of MOH. He also purportedly charged up to S$1,500 for these fake jabs.

Quah is said to have conspired with Chua and a woman named Mehrajunnisha to lie to MOH that she received the Sinopharm vaccine when she did not. It is unclear if Mehrajunnisha was a member of Healing the Divide.

A 43-year-old Australian, David Christopher Newton, was charged last week with conspiring with Quah and Chua to receive a vaccination certificate when he had not received the Sinopharm vaccine.

Quah does not face any charges of conspiring with Koh at the moment. However, prosecutors had said that investigations were ongoing and that they were unsure if more alleged offences would be uncovered.

If convicted of conspiring to dishonestly make false representations to MOH, Koh could be jailed up to 20 years or fined, or punished with both.

Those convicted of obstructing a public servant in discharge of their public functions can be jailed up to three months or fined up to S$2,500, or both.

Link:

Healing the Divide founder Iris Koh seeks permission to travel abroad for alternative cancer treatment while on bail - TODAY