Category Archives: Alternative Medicine

Dr. Ordon believes he had a bad reaction to fluoroquinolones and explains says he developed Achilles tendinitis due to cipro toxicity, which was very sore and lasted a few months. After he got an MRI, a tear in his Achilles tendon was found, and he attributes these health issues to the fluoroquinolones. To help him heal, he visited internal medicine specialist Dr. Mark Ghalili to get a customized Nad IV therapy protocol that actually helps rebuild the mitochondria within the tendon. Dr. Ghalili says the IV Therapy Dr. Ordon received helped to increase collagen production, reduce pain and increase stamina. Like Dr. Ordon, Dr. Ghalili also had a negative reaction to this type of antibiotic and says he had brain fog, could not walk or care for himself and was confined to a wheelchair for 5 months. He tells us he has treated hundreds of patients for issues related to the use of fluoroquinolones. Dr. Ordon says after enduring this health scare, he will no longer take or prescribe fluoroquinolones. He urges everyone to ask questions about the antibiotics your doctor is prescribing, like if you really need it, what are alternative options?

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Regenerative Medicine LA | Natural Medicine | Alternative ...

Alternative or complementary treatments for cancer that have not demonstrated efficacy

Alternative cancer treatment describes any cancer treatment or practice that is not part of the conventional standard of cancer care.[2] These include special diets and exercises, chemicals, herbs, devices, and manual procedures. Most alternative cancer treatments do not have high-quality evidence supporting their use. Concerns have been raised about the safety of some of them. Some have even been found to be unsafe in certain settings. Despite this, many untested and disproven treatments are used around the world. Promoting or marketing such treatments is illegal in most of the developed world.[citation needed]

Alternative cancer treatments are typically contrasted with experimental cancer treatments science-based treatment methods and complementary treatments, which are non-invasive practices used in combination with conventional treatment. All approved chemotherapy medications were considered experimental treatments before completing safety and efficacy testing.[citation needed]

Since the late 19th century, medical researchers have established modern cancer care through the development of chemotherapy, radiation therapy, targeted therapies, and refined surgical techniques. As of 2019[update], only 32.9% of cancer patients in the United States died within five years of their diagnosis.[3] Despite their effectiveness, many conventional treatments are accompanied by a wide range of side effects, including pain, fatigue, and nausea.[4][5] Some side effects can even be life-threatening.[citation needed] Many supporters of alternative treatments claim increased effectiveness and decreased side effects when compared to conventional treatments. However, one retrospective cohort study showed that patients using alternative treatments instead of conventional treatments were 2.5 times more likely to die within five years.[6]

Most alternative cancer treatments have not been tested in proper clinical trials. Among studies that have been published, the quality is often poor. A 2006 review of 196 clinical trials that studied unconventional cancer treatments found a lack of early-phase testing, little rationale for dosing regimens, and poor statistical analyses.[7] These kinds of treatments have appeared and vanished throughout history.[8]

Complementary and alternative cancer treatments are often grouped together, in part because of the adoption of the phrase "complementary and alternative medicine" by the United States Congress.[9]

Complementary treatments are used in conjunction with proven mainstream treatments. They tend to be pleasant for the patient, not involve substances with any pharmacological effects, inexpensive, and intended to treat side effects rather than to kill cancer cells.[10] Medical massage and self-hypnosis to treat pain are examples of complementary treatments.

About half the practitioners who dispense complementary treatments are physicians, although they tend to be generalists rather than oncologists.[8] As many as 60% of American physicians have referred their patients to a complementary practitioner for some purpose.[8] While conventional physicians should always be kept aware of any complementary treatments used by a patient, many physicians in the United Kingdom are at least tolerant of their use, and some might recommend them.[11]

Alternative treatments, by contrast, are used in place of mainstream treatments. The most popular alternative cancer therapies include restrictive diets, mind-body interventions, bioelectromagnetics, nutritional supplements, and herbs.[8] The popularity and prevalence of different treatments varies widely by region.[12] Cancer Research UK warns that alternative treatments may interact with conventional treatment, may increase the side effects of medication, and can give people false hope.[11]

Survey data about how many cancer patients use alternative or complementary therapies vary from nation to nation as well as from region to region. A 2000 study published by the European Journal of Cancer evaluated a sample of 1023 women from a British cancer registry suffering from breast cancer and found that 22.4% had consulted with a practitioner of complementary therapies in the previous twelve months. The study concluded that the patients had spent many thousands of pounds on such measures and that use "of practitioners of complementary therapies following diagnosis is a significant and possibly growing phenomenon".[13]

In Australia, one study reported that 46% of children suffering from cancer have been treated with at least one non-traditional therapy. Further 40% of those of any age receiving palliative care had tried at least one such therapy. Some of the most popular alternative cancer treatments were found to be dietary therapies, antioxidants, high dose vitamins, and herbal therapies.[14]

Use of unconventional cancer treatments in the United States has been influenced by the U.S. federal government's National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM), initially known as the Office of Alternative Medicine (OAM), which was established in 1992 as a National Institutes of Health (NIH) adjunct by the U.S. Congress. More specifically, the NIC's Office of Cancer Complementary and Alternative Medicine sponsors over $105 million a year in grants for pseudoscientific cancer research. Over thirty American medical schools have offered general courses in alternative medicine, including the Georgetown, Columbia, and Harvard university systems, among others.[8]

People who are drawn to alternative treatments tend to believe that evidence-based medicine is extremely invasive or ineffective, while still hoping that their own health could be improved.[15] They are loyal to their alternative healthcare providers and believe that "treatment should concentrate on the whole person".[15] Among people who (correctly or incorrectly) believe their condition is untreatable, "desperation drives them into the hands of anyone with a promise and a smile."[16] Con artists have long exploited patients' perceived lack of options to extract payments for ineffectual and even harmful treatments.[16]

No evidence suggests that the use of alternative treatments improves survival.[17] In 2017, one retrospective, observational study suggested that people who chose alternative medicine instead of conventional treatments were more than twice as likely to die within five years of diagnosis.[6] Breast cancer patients choosing alternative medicine were 5.68 times more likely to die within five years of diagnosis.[6]

Although they are more likely to die than non-users, some users of alternative treatments feel a greater sense of control over their destinies and report less anxiety and depression.[18] They are more likely to engage in benefit finding, which is the psychological process of adapting to a traumatic situation and deciding that the trauma was valuable, usually because of perceived personal and spiritual growth during the crisis.[19]

In a survey of American cancer patients, baby boomers were more likely to support complementary and alternative treatments than people from an older generation.[20] White, female, college-educated patients who had been diagnosed more than a year ago were more likely than others to report a favorable impression of at least some complementary and alternative benefits.[20]

Many therapies without evidence have been promoted to treat or prevent cancer in humans. In many cases, evidence suggests that the treatments do not work. Unlike accepted cancer treatments, unproven and disproven treatments are generally ignored or avoided by the medical community.[21]

Despite this, many of these therapies have continued to be promoted as effective, particularly by promoters of alternative medicine. Scientists consider this practice quackery,[22][23] and some of those engaged in it have been investigated and prosecuted by public health regulators such as the US Federal Trade Commission,[24] the Mexican Secretariat of Health[25] and the Canadian Competition Bureau. In the United Kingdom, the Cancer Act makes the unauthorized promotion of cancer treatments a criminal offense.[26][27]

In 2008, the United States Federal Trade Commission acted against some companies that made unsupported claims that their products, some of which included highly toxic chemicals, could cure cancer. Targets included Omega Supply, Native Essence Herb Company, Daniel Chapter One, Gemtronics, Inc., Herbs for Cancer, Nu-Gen Nutrition, Inc., Westberry Enterprises, Inc., Jim Clark's All Natural Cancer Therapy, Bioque Technologies, Cleansing Time Pro, and Premium-essiac-tea-4less.[28]

Most studies of complementary and alternative medicine in the treatment of cancer pain are of low quality in terms of scientific evidence. Studies of massage therapy have produced mixed results, but overall show some temporary benefit for reducing pain, anxiety, and depression and a very low risk of harm, unless the patient is at risk for bleeding disorders.[35][36] There is weak evidence for a modest benefit from hypnosis, supportive psychotherapy and cognitive therapy. Results about Reiki and touch therapy were inconclusive. The most studied such treatment, acupuncture, has demonstrated no benefit as an adjunct analgesic in cancer pain. The evidence for music therapy is equivocal, and some herbal interventions such as PC-SPES, mistletoe, and saw palmetto are known to be toxic to some cancer patients. The most promising evidence, though still weak, is for mindbody interventions such as biofeedback and relaxation techniques.[37]

As stated in the scientific literature, the measures listed below are defined as 'complementary' because they are applied in conjunction with mainstream anti-cancer measures such as chemotherapy, in contrast to the ineffective therapies viewed as 'alternative' since they are offered as substitutes for mainstream measures.[8]

Some alternative cancer treatments are based on unproven or disproven theories of how cancer begins or is sustained in the body. Some common concepts are:

This idea says that cancer progression is related to a person's mental and emotional state. Treatments based on this idea are mindbody interventions. Proponents say that cancer forms because the person is unhappy or stressed, or that a positive attitude can cure cancer after it has formed. A typical claim is that stress, anger, fear, or sadness depresses the immune system, whereas that love, forgiveness, confidence, and happiness cause the immune system to improve, and that this improved immune system will destroy the cancer. This belief that generally boosting the immune system's activity will kill the cancer cells is not supported by any scientific research.[46] In fact, many cancers require the support of an active immune system (especially through inflammation) to establish the tumor microenvironment necessary for a tumor to grow.[47]

In this idea, the body's metabolic processes are overwhelmed by normal, everyday byproducts. These byproducts, called "toxins", are said to build up in the cells and cause cancer and other diseases through a process sometimes called autointoxication or autotoxemia. Treatments following this approach are usually aimed at detoxification or body cleansing, such as enemas.

This claim asserts that if only the body's immune system were strong enough, it would kill the "invading" or "foreign" cancer. Unfortunately, most cancer cells retain normal cell characteristics, making them appear to the immune system to be a normal part of the body. Cancerous tumors also actively induce immune tolerance, which prevents the immune system from attacking them.[46]

This claim uses research into the mechanism of epigenetics to understand how mutations in the epigenetic machinery of cells will altered histone acetylation patterns to create cancer epigenetics. DNA damage appears to be the primary underlying cause of cancer.[48][49] If DNA repair is deficient, DNA damage tends to accumulate. Such excess DNA damage can increase mutational errors during DNA replication due to error-prone translesion synthesis. Excess DNA damage can also increase epigenetic alterations due to errors during DNA repair. Such mutations and epigenetic alterations can give rise to cancer.[citation needed]

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Alternative cancer treatments - Wikipedia

CHILLICOTHE The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs reported that the Chillicothe VA is being reviewed after allegations thatan urgent care provider failed to follow a consultation process, resulting in undocumented patient care.

In a 19-page report released on May 12, the VA Office of Inspector General (OIG) outlines the providersending a patient with a T12 vertebrae compression fracture to have chiropractic care at the Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) clinic in 202. The patient returned a week later with a T12 burst fracture and rib fractures.

The OIG found that an urgent care provider verbally referred the 87-year-old patient for pain management and not for chiropractic care. However, the OIG found that the urgent care provider did not enter a CAM consult until eight days after seeing the patient.

Veterans Health Administration (VHA) and facility policies require that the sending provider enters a consult, and the receiving provider links the visit note directly to the consult. For a STAT (or a same-day) consult, the sending provider must also contact the receiving provider to discuss the patients case.

Due to this delay, the chiropractor and clinical massage therapist failed to review the consult prior to seeing the patient. Additionally, the chiropractor and massage therapist could not link documentation to the consult and had no other process to complete the documentation resulting in the failure to document care provided within the medical record.

The patient returned to the Urgent Care Center eight days later where a computerized tomography scan showed an acute burst fracture and acute rib fractures. Because of the lack of documentation and provider recall, the OIG could not conclusively determine the relationship between the actions taken by the chiropractor and clinical massage therapist and the patients bone fractures.

The OIG believes that the patients care coordination would have improved for subsequent facility visits by the patient had the urgent care provider entered the consult on the day of the visit,and chiropractor 1and the clinical massage therapist documented the care provided within the patients electronic health record (EHR.)

The OIG conducted a virtual site visit, interviewed several related parties including the complainant, facility leaders and staff, reviewed the patients' EHRs and more to investigate the allegation.

The OIG made two recommendations to the CVAMC facility director:

The OIG conducted a healthcare inspection for 10 allegations related to the quality and management of patient care and the availability of resources within the Urgent Care Center at the Chillicothe VA Medical Center in Ohio. The other nine allegations were"unsupported and lacked merit."

Megan Becker is a reporter for the Chillicothe Gazette. Call her at 740-349-1106, email her at mbecker@gannett.com or follow her on Twitter @BeckerReporting

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Allegations against VA for failing to follow a consultation process - Chillicothe Gazette

After Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second most common age-related neurodegenerative disease [1]. A PD diagnosis can be devastating for the person who has it and the family, who often would also be the caregivers. Moreover, despite the surgical and pharmacological interventions, the patient's physical and mental health declines from a certain period after the onset of the disease.

PD is characterized by loss of dopamine due to dysfunctional dopaminergic neurons and can be classified as a hypokinetic disorder. Dopamine is not only directly involved in movement and cognition but also plays a broad role in many other nervous system processes. Therefore, the loss of dopamine can lead to a broad range of sometimes severe neuropsychological symptoms, including motor defects, cognitive impairment, and depression. The PD progression is divided into six stages, each associated with a distinct area in the CNS. The first stage appears due to the lesions/dysfunction in the lower medulla oblongata. It includes subtle symptoms like unilateral resting tremors and changes in facial expression. The second stage ensues with damage to the raphe's lower nuclei, which manifests as motor symptoms affecting walking and posture. Stage 3 of the disease progresses to the substantia nigra, and patients begin to progress to motor symptoms such as difficulty balancing. The temporal mesocortex is affected in the fourth stage, followed by neocortical temporal fields. Many daily tasks are not possible, and even walking may need assistance. Finally, the cortex will be involved in stage 6, and patients are almost completely immobile and can have psychological manifestations such as hallucinations [2]. Although there are distinct stages of PD after diagnosis, initial symptoms of the disease (bradykinesia, resting tremor, and postural instability) are not present until approximately 70%-80% of dopaminergic neurons have been damaged [3]. Due to this fact, PD is considered a disease with a long latency period as the diagnosis is not likely to occur for years after the initial damage. It is, therefore, essential to diagnose PD as early as possible. The physical progression of the disease through the CNS is accompanied by a drastic worsening of symptoms and a decrease in treatment effectiveness [2].

Oxidative stress leading to dopaminergic neuron dysfunction in the substantia nigra has been considered the most plausible cause of PD [4,5]. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) can activate the caspase cascade in mitochondria, resulting in the cell's death [6]. Heavy metal poisoning, for example, often results in the accumulation of these toxins in the nigra material, resulting in reactive oxidative harm [2].

In addition, alpha-synuclein aggregation is a common finding in PD. These aggregations are harmful to dopaminergic neurons and may cause the formation of Lewy bodies (LB) and eventual necrosis [4]. The formation of LB can trigger a cascade of events. In a non-pathological state, LB aggregates are usually scavenged by a proteasome complex or lysosome. However, defects in these scavenging pathways are common in PD, which causes a further spread of aggregates [2]. LB are considered a defining pathological characteristic of PD and are also commonly found in dementia. It has been assumed that the initial alpha-synuclein travels through the vagus nerve, the major parasympathetic unit, from the enteric nervous system [2].

A cytochrome P450 2D6-deficient individual is nearly 2x more likely to develop PD in the presence of pesticides [2]. The normal function of this cytochrome is to metabolize pesticides, and the deficiency leads to the build-up of toxins. In addition, the presence of any ROS is likely to increase the risk of developing PD [2].

Antioxidants, natural sources, have recently gained popularity in combating the effects ofROS. The Zingiberaceae family contains the rhizome turmeric (Curcuma longa). For centuries, it has been used in India, China, and Southeast Asia for flavoring, food processing, coloring, and as traditional medicine [7]. Turmeric has long been used to treat rheumatism, eye infections, and liver problems [8]. Curcumin, turmeric's active ingredient, has antioxidant, anti-apoptotic, and anti-inflammatory properties that protect tissues from the harmful effects of ROS[9]. The phenol moiety, which donates a proton to ROS, is thought to be responsible for curcumin's antioxidant properties [8]. Curcumin also protects against A53T -synuclein aggregation and monoamine oxidase B, becoming a compound of interest in treating neurodegenerative disorders such as PD [10,11]. Curcumin has been found to protect nigrostriatal dopaminergic neurons from damage in animal models. Curcumin had protective effects on alpha7-nicotinic acetylcholine receptors after administration of 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) in rats with a curcumin dose of 200 mg/kg [12]. Curcumin restored nigrostriatal dopamine neurons to 87.3% and 84.8%after low-dose 11-methyl-4-phenyl-1, 2, 3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) administration, compared to 49.1% in the MPTP group [3]. The use of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) immunohistochemistry to determine dopamine denervation in coronal parts of the brain [12] further confirmed these findings [3].

The measurement of accurate biomarkers has become highly significant due to the long latent time between the onset of dopaminergic neuronal failure and PD symptom onset. Biomarkers to monitor the potential diagnosis of PD include neurochemical biomarkers and neuroimaging biomarkers. There are various risk factors associated with an increased likelihood of developing PD. A family genomic PD occurs earlier, but this accounts for only 10%-15% of all PD cases [2]. This indicates that a significant environmental factor plays a role in the pathology of PD. Any environmental factor that causes dopaminergic cell death may be considered a risk factor for developing PD.

PD is a global condition affecting people of all races and ethnicities. However, Wright et al. examined ethnic disparities and proposed that the prevalence of PD is higher in Caucasians than in African and Asian populations. As a result, there are known differences in PD incidence between Caucasians and Asians. Wright Willis et al. [13] found that Caucasian Americans had a higher incidence of PD than African Americans and Asians in a population-based study of Medicare recipients over 65 in the United States. In a study, Pringsheim et al. [14]observed a substantial difference in the prevalence of PD between Asia (646/100,000) and North America, Europe, and Australia (1601/100,000) in the population aged 70-79 years. According to these age-based studies, there is a variation in the prevalence of PD in different races at different ages.

Wright Willis et al. [13] support their claim with data from a population-based survey of over 65-year-olds in the United States conducted between 1995 and 2005, including over 450,000 PD cases per year. According to the findings, the prevalence of age-standardized PD (per 100,000) in white males was 2168.18 (95.64), 1036.41 (86.01) in blacks, and 1138.56 (46.47) in Asians. In a meta-analysis of the prevalence of PD by Pringsheim et al. [14], a significant difference in prevalence by geographical location and age (70-79 years of age) between 1985 and 2010 is noted. The results reported a prevalence of 1,601/100,000 in individuals from North America, Europe (including France, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, and Germany), Australia, and South America (including Brazil, Uruguay, Argentina, and Bolivia), compared to a prevalence of 646/100,000 in individuals from Asia (including India, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Korea, China, Japan, Singapore, and Saudi Arabia) (P < 0), thusconcluding that the prevalence of PD was much lower in Asia than in Europe, North America, and Australia. However, there is still a large variability in results in existing studies, so there is still much debate. This is due to other factors such as geographical location, cultural beliefs, and practices.

The data reported by Wright Willis et al. [13] and Pringsheim et al. [14] show that the highest prevalence of PD is in the white population, as with most existing studies. However, it is important to note [15] that other factors beyond ethnicity affect the prevalence of PD. They proposed that geographic area, rather than race, may be a more important determinant of PD prevalence. For example, the prevalence of PD in Black Africans in sub-Saharan Africa (40/100,000) is much lower than in people of African descent in the United States. In addition, the results of age-based studies may also be confused by cultural beliefs. For example, Dotchin and Walker [15] reported that many Chinese Americans viewed Parkinsonian symptoms as a consequence of aging, leading to delayed diagnosis. This could be a point of argument that PD prevalence is the same across ethnic groups. Nagashayana et al. [16] reported that the use of Ayurveda in Indian people impacts the presentation of PD symptoms and could potentially improve the outcome of the disease. Therefore, cultural practices also have a significant role in the prevalence of PD. In addition, Ben-Joseph et al. [17] noted that there is little public evidence of differences in the prevalence of PD in different ethnic groups that accommodate health inequalities, cultural practices, and geographical location. It is, therefore, imperative to note that while there is still evidence that PD claims are more prevalent in Caucasians than in the rest of the world, it is not yet sufficient in its bulk to make a firm conclusion. These differences among races should also alert healthcare providers when they are evaluating patients of different ethnicities as the appearance and presentation of disease may be variant. Providers must be cognizant of these variations to prevent missed diagnoses.

However, we cannot say that the difference is due exclusively to these two factors; we must also consider sociocultural differences. According to Dotchin and Walker [15], many Chinese Americans believe that Parkinsonian symptoms are a result of aging. This illustrates that different societies have different meanings of disease. As a result, there is a delay in diagnosis, and, as a result, the findings of age-based research are muddled. Furthermore, there are documented inequalities in access to advanced healthcare based on race and ethnicity [17]. As a result, the medical community needs to accept and investigate allopathic treatment practices as viable for treating conditions like PD. This is because they can have a higher uptake in some populations, reducing symptom incidence and disease progression. Nagashayana et al. [16], for example, found that the use of Ayurveda in Indians affects the presentation of PD symptoms and could potentially enhance the disease's outcome. This variation may be a result of the additional benefits of curcumin.

Unfortunately, there is currently no curative treatment for PD. There are, however, a variety of ways to treat the symptoms and improve one's quality of life. Currently, both medications are designed to compensate for dopamine deficiency by either increasing dopamine levels, acting as dopamine agonists, or inhibiting dopamine metabolism. Common medicines include levodopa (L-dopa, L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine), selegiline/rasagiline, entacapone/tolcapone, rapamycin, and adenosine A2A antagonists [2]. Surgery is a potential treatment, but it is used as a last resort when other methods are exhausted.

For this reason, it is only used in patients with highly advanced PD who are no longer able to manage their symptoms with drugs. Surgical intervention is a deep stimulation of the subthalamic nucleus of the brain [2]. Since advanced PD does not respond to levodopa, gene therapy for PD has been a developing area of research over the last decade. Target genes include aromatic amino acid decarboxylase (AADC) and glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) [2]. All of the traditional allopathic PD therapies have been designed to treat symptoms. Since they are less effective in treating advanced PD, we believe that a holistic approach could provide a better prognosis for these patients.

Levodopa

Tyrosine-based levodopa is a precursor to dopamine and is one of the most effective treatments for PD. Levodopa is converted to dopamine by the enzyme dopa decarboxylase.

However, this could be problematic because the enzyme could have decarboxylated orally administered levodopa before it reaches the CNS and would, therefore, not have been able to cross the blood-brain barrier. Carbidopa or benserazide is administered in conjunction with levodopa to ensure that it is not decarboxylated before the blood-brain barrier is crossed and the CNS is reached. Carbidopa and benserazide are classified as peripheral decarboxylation inhibitors. Carboxylated levodopa, combined with these inhibitors, can reach the CNS and decarboxylated to dopamine by serotonergic neurons [18,19].

Monoamine Oxidase (MAO) Inhibitors

MAOis the oxidative deamination and neurotransmitter degradation enzyme responsible for catecholamine families. Selegiline and rasagiline are included in this class. The dopamine metabolism can result in neuronal damage in dopaminergic neurons as a byproduct of oxidative deamination caused by the growth of ROS. However, those neurons are also protected against other ROS damage from dopamine metabolites by inhibiting the degradation of dopamine and not only by increasing dopamine function throughout the CNS [20].

Catechol o Methyltransferase (COMT) Inhibitors

COMTis a brain enzyme responsible for the inactivation of levodopa via methylation. Entacapone and tocapone inhibit COMT and thus prevent the inactivation of levodopa. These drugs may allow the levodopa dose to be effective for a more extended period of time [2,18].

Autophagy Upregulators

Part of the pathophysiology of PD is the accumulation of protein aggregates and LB. Autophagy refers to a cell's ability to destroy dysfunctional or pathogenic components.Rapamycinis a drug that can enhance the autophagy of neurons by inhibiting kinase mTOR (mammalian target of rapamycin). Therefore, the potential treatment of PD could be considered as reducing the accumulation of protein aggregates in the subthalamic nucleus [21].

Adenosine A2A

Adenosine A2A is a CNS receptor that antagonizes dopaminergic neurotransmission [22]. Adenosine A2A receptor antagonists such as caffeine have shown remarkable results in laboratory studies with transgenic mice and, more recently, in humans. Transgenic mice with mutant alpha-synuclein have been protected from PD if their adenosine A2A gene has also been removed [23]. Istradefylline has shown tremendous promise in reducing "OFF" time in PD patients. "OFF" time is considered to be the period during which PD patients return their motor symptoms and dyskinesia. Generally, "OFF" time increases the longer the patient has PD, more specifically, the longer the patient has been treated with levodopa [22,24]. Therefore, the combination of istradefylline and levodopa therapy is likely to reduce "OFF" time in advanced PD patients effectively.

Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS)

DBS is considered only when PD symptoms are extremely advanced and can no longer be controlled adequately with oral medication. Generally, DBS targets the subthalamic nucleus through an electrical stimulator using radiologically guided intracranial electrodes [25]. The diseased neuronal pathways would be either excited or inhibited by this electrical excitement. The release of dopamine could be activated through this process [25]. However, the risk of post-DBS infection and waiting time for treatment are high for PD surgery [2].

Gene Therapy

Patients with PD have shown a decrease in AADC, leading to less conversion of levodopa (L-DOPA) to dopamine. Because of this, the upregulation of this gene combined with sufficient levodopa intake would be beneficial for PD symptoms [2]. GABA is a neurotransmitter inhibitor.GADhelps GABA-ergic neurons produce more GABA. The lack of dopamine in PD triggers a chain of events that result in unnecessary muscle contractions and motor symptoms. These symptoms could be reduced by the upregulation of GAD and the subsequent increase in the inhibitory GABA neurotransmitter [26].

Curcumin's Mode of Action

Curcumin's protective properties start with its ability to cross the blood-brain barrier due to its lipophilic nature [27]. Curcumin has various protective properties in the brain, including protection against toxic metals and ROS. Toxic metal ions can interfere improperly with tissues in the brain, causing neurological damage. Curcumin, as a flavonoid, has antioxidant properties that are potentially stronger than typical antioxidants such as vitamins C and E [3]. The brain is more susceptible to oxidative damage than other body tissues because it absorbs a higher percentage of oxygen (around 20%) than other tissues. With too much oxygen, the formation of ROSsuch as peroxide accumulates over time, resulting in lower mitochondrial density, lower overall ATP output, and a decreased ability to sustain intracellular ion concentrations, ultimately leading to neuron death. Curcumin's ability to donate an H ion from the beta-diketone moiety is thought to be responsible for its anti-ROS properties [28]. Curcumin protects mitochondria and neurons from the damaging effects of ROSby donating an H ion. The development of LB is related to the onset of PD. Alpha-synuclein oligomers clump together to form LB. Curcumin has been shown to prevent alpha-synuclein oligomer aggregation [28].

Protecting Effects of Curcumin in Animal Atudies

In one study, intrastriatal 6-OHDA injections were administered to rats to induce parkinsonism. One group received 200 mg/kg of curcumin over four weeks, but not the other. A reverse response to cognitive impairment was used to determine. Average control groups over the 30-minute test averaged 8.9 5 turns. The rats treated with 6-OHDA had, on average, 257.8 23.4, which was considerably superior to control. There has been a significant reduction in turns with just 126.9 23.8 turns in the group administered with 6-OHDA and curcumin during the 30-minute test. Following the experiment, TH antibodies stained the brains of the test animals. The staining density was used to determine the amount of fibers that produced dopamine left after each treatment.

In contrast to the control group, the curcumin rat kept 32.46% 4.2%of its fibers (98.29% 5.9%). In the group with 6-OHDA without curcumin, the control was only 7.14% 3.2% [29]. In another animal study, MPTP administration of parkinsonism was applied to rats. MPTP was given to the first group only, MPTP + 1 mg/kg of curcumin to the second group, and MPTP + 2 mg/kg of curcumin to the third group. All test groups were assessed the total movement distance in 10 minutes. The group treated with MPTP alone had a 32.0% decrease in movement over control. The MPTP + 1 mg/kg curcumin-treated trial group only saw a 59.4% increase, with MPTP + 2 mg/kg curcumin movement increasing by 136% over the control group. The experiment involved taking brain sections and the analysis of TH antibody expression. The group without curcumin but administered MPTP experienced an increaseto 42.9% from the control of TH expression. The MPTP + 1 mg/kg group of curcumin has increased to 60.3%, and the MPTP + 2 mg/kg of curcumin has increased to 74.8% compared to the control group. The dose-dependent response of curcumin has become clear in this study [30].

The differences in the prevalence of PD among different ethnicities are reported in many studies. Researchers have found that genetic factors, geographical location, and cultural practices all play a significant role in the presentation, diagnosis, and management of this complex disease. Though we speculate curcumin consumption as a significant determinant of the observed differences in the prevalence of PD, future studies directly comparing the dosage with the prevalence of PD would provide unequivocal evidence for the protective role of curcumin in PD. Current allopathic treatments are discussed in Table 1.

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An Overview of Parkinson's Disease: Curcumin as a Possible Alternative Treatment - Cureus

Many retirees are concerned with staying physically and mentally healthy. As we age, our risk for diseases and injuries begins to increase. This is where integrative medicine can come into play.

As a primary care doctor and Osteopathic Physician (D.O.), I found looking for the root cause of illness and possible prevention much more challenging and rewarding than just diagnosing and medicating. Imagine if we can decrease breast cancer rates because of what we eat, how we reduce stress, and taking a look at advanced biomarkers and genetic testing. What if we can reverse diabetes and lower the risk of heart attacks and strokes and dementia? This is what gets me excited. Talking with my patients about alternative methods like using a sauna for 15-20 minutes four times a week is much more exciting than writing another diabetic script.

The term integrative medicine was born from combining the practice of so-called conventional medicine and complementary medicine. Conventional medicine is what most doctors practice. This is also called traditional Western medicine. Adding outside-the-box treatments such as chiropractic care, acupuncture, and other lifestyle recommendations like improving diet, supplements, herbs, exercise, stress management, and functional specialty labs results in the actual integration of the two disciplines. And we need both.

In some cases, especially those that are true emergencies, traditional medicine is lifesaving. But, in some cases, another prescription, procedure, or surgery is not going to help. One of the largest movements of integrative medicine in the United States is called Functional Medicine. Functional Medicine at its basic definition looks at the root cause of illness. While we look to undo the damage of the presenting complaints, doctors might integrate using traditional and complementary medicine to achieve healing. It makes sense. Look for why you have a problem and work backward. This contrasts the traditional medical diagnosis of a problem and writing a script to help.

You should look for where they received their integrative certificate. One of the most challenging programs is the Institute of Functional Medicine program. Its generally 3 additional years of study. Providers also have to take a board exam and present an actual patient case to be reviewed as part of the board examination. Once completed, they receive their certificate.

Another good idea is to read up on why someone is an integrative doctor. If they offer a free consultation, sign up and interview them. See if they have any reviews on their websites or if you can contact any of their current patients.

Pro Tip: Another consideration with an integrative doctor is how long they have been in practice. My suggestion is to find someone with 5 or more years of experience.

Integrative medicine is not covered because insurance companies cannot compensate properly for longer visit times or specialized and individualized medical and lifestyle care. This takes time. That is not how the traditional medical model was created. Insurance companies also dont recognize specialty blood work and other labs.

When you have a complex problem, a 10-minute office visit is not going to solve it. Integrative medicine takes time and is very complex. It is strategic in its approach. For example, if you have a medical condition called small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) and have mold exposure, the questions become Which medical problem do you treat first? and How do you keep a patient from getting sick while treating?

Pro Tip: Have an HSA or FSA? Even though integrative medicine isnt covered by insurance, we take FSA and HSA payments. After every visit, a patient will receive an after-visit summary/receipt/invoice that they can turn into their insurance for potential partial reimbursement. Also, if prescribed by a doctor, we can fill out an insurance form allowing supplements to also be covered either with insurance or FSA/HSA funds.

There is no one answer to this question. But I can tell you why most of my patients see me. They are tired of being told everything is normal when they dont feel normal. They are looking for alternatives to hormone replacement therapy in the form of BHRT (bioidentical hormone replacement therapy).

My patients are also looking for someone who can help them become and stay healthy. Intuitively, you know that lifestyle medicine is important but you need someone to put it all together for you. You might be looking for the right diet for your body. You might want to lose weight because you know that even being 15 pounds overweight is causing many problems like diabetes, heart disease, and inflammation.

After an initial consultation with me, my patients receive health coaching, dietician consultation, and stress reduction tips. They learn how to sleep better and understand the importance of having a strong network of support. We also work through the right exercise programs.

I also order advanced medical lab testing for my patients. This is going way beyond and deeper than any traditional labs. Were doing stool studies, advanced mitochondrial studies, micronutrient testing, DNA aging testing, genetic testing, and more to improve lifestyle and function with an ultimate goal of disease prevention, longevity, and vitality.

Most of my patients come to me because they read something online and they get excited that there is a type of doctor out there who can help. Generally, they visit the Institution For Functional Medicine site to find a practitioner near them.

My patients come to me with a variety of issues: the guy who has eczema and is tired of using steroid creams learns gut health could be the root cause, the woman going through perimenopause or menopause who feels like she is going crazy but no one knows how to safely administer bioidentical hormones, the patient who has bloating after every meal and everyone tells her she is fine.

I also have patients who want to be able to put their own suitcases up on the top bin of an airplane well into their 70s and 80s. My patients value being functional. This is important. Not just growing old but growing old and staying functional. These are real patients with real issues who need more than conventional medicine to fix a problem.

I got into functional medicine because I knew there were solutions to all these problems. However, we were not taught how to fix them in medical school. Prescription medications can only do so much. I knew there were other ways to get to the root of the problems and not just mask them. My patients are living healthier, more fulfilling lives as we work toward the best solutions for each of them.

For more from Dr. Basima, consider 8 Ways To Improve Brain Function As We Age.

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The One Doctor You Dont Have But Likely Need - TravelAwaits

The majority of adult Americans likely experience reflux at least monthly, and several times more often for some, explains Raman Muthusamy, MD, MAS, professor of medicine and medical director of endoscopy at UCLA Health. It can be quite debilitating, and the management options for reflux have been mostly lifestyle changes, in terms of diet, exercise, timing of meals, and losing weight, he adds. Medications are available to treat GERD, including antacids for mild reflux, H2 blockers, and proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), but many patients have concerns about those medications, particularly proton pump inhibitors, in terms of long-term use.

Data indicate that long-term use of PPIsmedications that reduce stomach acid production by inhibiting the stomachs H/K ATPase proton pumpis generally not advised. We know that PPIs have been associated with certain conditions, such as calcium malabsorption and risk of infection, than can potentially affect patients with GERD, says Dr. Muthusamy. And many patients simply dont like to take a medication over the long term. Additionally, there are occasionally side effects associated with individual drugs that may make some patients reticent to take them or to avoid them altogether. All of these can make patients desire an alternative to taking these medicines over a long period.

Although FDA approvals for PPIs were for short-term use, based on how the trials supporting their approvals were conducted, data do exist to show they can be used long term, according to Dr. Muthusamy. In general, they do more good than harm. Unfortunately, many patients are prescribed these medications and then just seem to stay on them. While I think theyre generally safe, there are some potential concerns of side effects and interactions that should cause clinicians to ensure they precisely choose those patients who would benefit most from their use.

To that end, Dr. Muthusamy notes that symptoms that do not respond well to medication should be an indication for primary care physicians to order additional testing. PPIs only block the production of acid. For a patient with a chief complaint focused more on regurgitationthe backwash of liquid, which can be irritating. PPIs dont address the mechanical barrier to prevent this, only reduce the acid concentration in that fluid. Patients who have hoarseness, perhaps asthma, or when medicines that worked for a while but not as well now, may be signs its time that its time to consider additional testing and perhaps alternative therapies.

Surgical options are available for GERD, but the most commonly used is called Nissen fundoplication. However, this procedure may cause significant side effects, particularly difficulty belching and swallowing after the procedure, which can lead to gas bloat. This side effect affects between one-quarter and one-half of patients who undergo Nissen fundoplication. Another alternative to consider is transoral incisionless fundoplication (TIF), says Muthusamy. This procedure is a mechanical correction of reflux but, perhaps, without the side effect of invasiveness of surgery. TIF is a procedure with a few predecessors. It is an endoscopic, minimally invasive method to perform a fundoplication. In patients with hiatal hernia, we can perform TIF as a direct procedure without the need for hernia repair, so it can be entirely endoscopic in patients who have reflux with larger hernias.

For a straight TIF procedure, the allows clinicians to essentially wrap the fundus, in the lower esophagus, by grabbing some tissue, essentially pulling down a little bit of the esophagus into the stomach, and then securing that wrap with some fasteners, explains Dr. Muthusamy. We typically create a 270 degree wrap and typically place 20-30 fasteners during the TIF procedure. It takes, in experienced hands, around 40-60 minutes to perform.

Experience suggests, according to Dr. Muthusamy, that patients with GERD are opting to try TIF because of promising data in regard to alleviating symptoms, eliminating the need for medication, and avoiding the side effects of traditional fundoplication. Weve been trying to provide endoscopic anti-reflux alternatives for 20 years, with a number of technologies that have been proposed and subsequently withdrawn or failed due to lack of adoption of concerns about efficacy or safety, he says. There has been a real need for this option, but like many things, when there are two alternativesin this case, medications and surgerythat are relatively effective, it becomes difficult to compete newer devices. So, its really taken about 20 years to come up with some good, tried and true techniques. Im hopeful that well see additional variations and modifications, because we know there are hundreds of millions of people in our country who suffer from GERD on a regular basis, many of whom are probably looking for alternatives to medicines. As we can provide them with safe, durable, and effective techniques, I suspect that the number of patients who choose to consider these techniques will only grow in the years to come.

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What You Need to Know About Transoral Incisionless Fundoplication for Your Patients With GERD - Physician's Weekly

Annex Naturopathic Clinic recently spoke about naturopathy and the benefits it has to offer. Naturopathy has been practiced for many years. With many years of research and data to support its methods, naturopathic medicine has proven to be a very safe and effective alternative and/or adjunctive therapy to traditional western medicine.

Toronto, ON May 17, 2022 Annex Naturopathic Clinic is a clinic that offers naturopathy and osteopathic manual therapy in Toronto, ON. Naturopathic medicine is a practice that uses natural remedies to help the body heal itself. It embraces many treatment modalities, including acupuncture, exercise, the use of herbs, and nutritional counseling. Naturopathy is centuries old and has served people before the onset of manufactured medicine.

Naturopathy has its use-cases and can be used to help treat a wide range of conditions. To start receiving naturopathic treatments from a licensed practitioner, one must first find a reliable naturopathic clinic. Annex Naturopathic Clinic in Toronto should be a consideration for anyone living in the Greater Toronto area who wants to improve their health through natural medicine. The team has well-trained and certified naturopathic doctors with many years of combined experience.

The experience and special focus of naturopathic doctors are an important factor in deciding which doctor is best for them. The primary goal for Annexs team is to help people get better, feel better, and lead a healthy and holistic life through natural methods of healing. Their doctors are always open to answer questions patients have. Its common for people that are new to naturopathy to have many questions. Fortunately, the team provides free 15 minute consultations to help new patients determine if a naturopathic doctor is a good fit for their health concerns.

Annex Naturopathic Clinic offers a wide range of services in order to help treat a wide array of symptoms and conditions. Some of the services people can get include the following:

Acupuncture

Bioidentical hormone replacement therapy

Detox plans

Clinical nutrition

Functional diagnostic testing

Naturopathic consultation

Classical osteopathy

B12 injections

Herbal medicine recommendations

The services at Annex Naturopathic Clinic provide support for auto-immune issues, digestive issues, stress & fatigue, and hormonal imbalances. One can obtain the services by visiting their Annex Toronto location.

Health issues dont always have a singular treatment plan or solution. Where pharmaceutical medicine isnt working for someone, its important to consider alternative treatment methods. The benefit of naturopathic medicine is that naturopathy is centered around root cause analysis to identify and treat health concerns holistically. Naturopathy has helped many people improve their health and address various conditions. Annex Naturopathic Clinic has experienced naturopathic doctors who have used evidence based treatments to help and support many people in the Greater Toronto Area. Anyone who wants to get started can do so with a free consultation by contacting Annex Naturopathic at any time.

About Annex Naturopathic Clinic

Annex Naturopathic Clinic is a doctors office that aims to help people with various conditions using safe, evidence based naturopathy treatments. There are many benefits of using natural medicine to address the root cause of health concerns. Their caring team has many years of experience and can help people regain control of their health and wellness.

Media ContactCompany Name: Annex Naturopathic ClinicContact Person: Dr. Marnie Luck & Dr Tanya LeeEmail: Send EmailPhone: +16476245800Address:800 Bathurst St Suite 301 City: TorontoState: ON M5R 3M8Country: CanadaWebsite: https://bit.ly/annex-clinic

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Advantages of Working with a Naturopathic Clinic in Toronto - Digital Journal

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Dhirtek Business Research and Consulting most recent study on the alternative and complementary medicine market provides a comprehensive view of the entire market. The research report delves deeply into the global alternative and complementary medicine markets drivers and restraints. Analysts have extensively researched the global alternative and complementary medicine markets milestones and the current trends that are expected to determine its future. Primary and secondary research methods were used to create an in-depth report on the topic. Analysts have provided clients with unbiased perspectives on the global alternative and complementary medicine industry to assist them in making well-informed business decisions.

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The global alternative and complementary medicine market research studys type, application, and region components are divided into three parts. Each segmentation is divided into chapters that go over the various details. The chapters include graphs that show year-over-year growth and segment-specific drivers and constraints. Furthermore, the study provides government forecasts for regional markets that affect the global alternative and complementary medicine sector.

Alternative And Complementary Medicine Market Segments

Regions Covered in the Global Alternative And Complementary Medicine Market:

In the report on the alternative and complementary medicine market, a detailed chapter on company profiles is included. The leading players in the global alternative and complementary medicine market are examined in this chapter. It contains a synopsis of the companys strategic goals and a description of its primary goods and services. An overall analysis of the organizations strategic initiatives reveals the trends that they are expected to pursue and their R&D statuses and financial outlooks. This research aims to provide readers with a thorough understanding of the global alternative and complementary medicine markets anticipated trajectory.

The following Companies as the Key Players in the Global Alternative And Complementary Medicine Market Research Report:

Deepure Plus, Helio USA, Herb Pharm., Herbal Hills, Iyengar Yoga Institute, John Schumachers Unity Woods Yoga Center, Nordic Naturals, Pacific Nutritional, Pure encapsulations, Quantum Touch, The Healing Company, Yoga Tree

Dhirtek Business Research and Consulting conducted this study using primary and secondary sources. As primary sources, industry experts from core and adjacent industries and those involved in the market. All primary sources were interviewed to obtain and verify critical qualitative and quantitative data and gain access to prospects. Secondary sources include directories, white papers, blogs, and databases.

The market size for alternative and complementary medicine was estimated and validated using a top-down approach. Secondary research was conducted to identify key players in the industrial value chain, and primary and secondary research was conducted to determine these companies market revenues. This includes analyzing yearly business and financial reports from major industry players and conducting in-depth interviews with CEOs, directors, vice presidents, and marketing executives.

Secondary sources were used to gather geographic market estimates, which were then cross-checked with primary sources. Variables such as key players, sales partners, and distribution networks have an impact on them. The investigation also looks into the scope of each areas research efforts. The total market size for alternative and complementary medicine was computed and validated using revenue and revenue share data from market businesses. The market size of each category was calculated using a top-down approach based on the total market size.

This study provides critical information on the global markets current size and projected growth for alternative and complementary medicine and its related industries. It also discusses geographys market characteristics, significant suppliers, consumer preference trends, and market prospects. As many countries are in a recession, firms are attempting to weather the storm by limiting unanticipated losses and spending related to the alternative and complementary medicine market.

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Alternative And Complementary Medicine Market by Type (Botanicals, Acupuncture, Mind, Body, and Yoga, Magnetic Intervention), Application (Direct...

I like to think that Im plugged into social media, at least about the topics that I care about, such as medicine, quackery, vaccines, and, for the last couple of years, COVID-19. Occasionally, however, I realize that Im not, which is what happened when I saw this Tweet from outspoken Yale epidemiologist Gregg Gonsalves Tweeted a link to an article by Dr. Lucy McBride:

I went to read the article, published in The Huffington Post and titled Im A Doctor Seeing Patients With Coronaphobia. Heres What You Need To Know. I noticed something odd immediately, namely the date (March 2, 2021, over 14 months ago). So I responded:

This led several to point out to me that the reason this awful article was making the rounds again, over a year after it was first published, was because Dr. McBride herself had Tweeted it again on Saturday, in essence doubling down on her year-old words:

So basically, Dr. Social Media hadnt noticed that Dr. McBride herself was responsible for the reappearance of her old article. Mea culpa.

I also was pointed to another article by her that was published in The Washington Post only a week later titled Ive been yearning for an end to the pandemic. Now that its here, Im a little afraid. One cant help but note how, just as Dr. Marty Makary prematurely (and very confidently) declared that the pandemic would be over in April 2021 due to natural herd immunity and so many other contrarian physicians kept predicting throughout 2020-21, Dr. McBrides expression of being afraid now that the end of the pandemic was imminent (in March 2021!) has not aged very well. More importantly, her labeling her patients afraid of the virus as having coronaphobia or, in the WaPo article fear of normal (or FONO), has also not aged very well. It was also particularly vile in its time because by the beginning of March 2021, most of her patients had not been vaccinated, but, as Gonsalves noted:

Remember, the EUA for the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine was issued in December. After that, healthcare and other frontline workers were first in line for the vaccine, followed by those over 65, and then the rest of the population. March 2021 was less than three months after the first frontline workers started receiving their first dose of the Pfizer vaccine, and most of the US population was still not vaccinated.

The reappearance of this article provided me with a convenient excuse to address yet another example of how, during the pandemic, everything old is new again and antivaccine talking points keep popping up again and again from pandemic minimizers and COVID-19 contrarians like Dr. McBride. In this case, its the pathologizing of the fear of infectious disease, representing it as an anxiety disorder, specifically a phobia, that might even need treatment. In other words, if you are afraid of a vaccine, you could be mentally ill.

It is not my intention to deny that there are people out there suffering from anxiety and depression due to the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic, some of whom might even require treatment. There are. What I am going to point out is how the messaging that Dr. McBride is doubling down on a year after she first promoted it is very similar to messaging that Ive been encountering for many years coming from the antivaccine movement. Although Dr. McBride probably doesnt realize it, she is echoing an old antivax trope that does exactly the same thing: Seeks to shame those who fear vaccine-preventable diseases. She denies up and down that thats what shes doing. For instance, in her HuffPo article, she wrote:

When anxiety takes on a life of its own that is, when the cognitive, emotional, physical and behavioral manifestations of anxiety are rooted in reality but out of proportion to the actual threat its time to see a doctor. After all, mental health isnt something that we can opt out of like we can a feature on our iPhone.

Not coincidentally, her message was (and apparently still is) that anything that she doesnt consider to be a rational fear is potentially pathological, a phobia, and her messaging has been consistent about this. As Jonathan Howard mentioned in February, her public appearances at least since those editorials have been all about minimizing the threat of COVID-19 and helping patients deal with their anxiety (coronaphobia in the HuffPo article, FONO in the WaPo article).

Dr. Lucy McBrides messaging has been nothing, if not consistent.

Lets go back to a time before the pandemic, as much as that seems like ancient history now.

I realize that Ive referenced this before, but its time to do so again. Back before the pandemic, when fear of the MMR vaccine and thimerosal-containing vaccines, rather than COVID-19 vaccines, was the main terror being stoked by the antivaccine movement, I liked to divide antivaccine messaging into two broad categories. (There are more, obviously, but for purposes of messaging about vaccines and the pathogens targeted by the vaccines, there are two.) The first was to portray the vaccine as dangerous and/or ineffective, and the second was to portray the disease being vaccinated against as not dangerousor even normal, a necessary experience to achieve that vaunted natural immunity. (Never mind that measles is actually more dangerous than had been commonly thought.) Obviously, as Ive written many times before, these same two messages are being applied to COVID-19 and the vaccines against it, but back in the day these messages were mainly about measles, chickenpox, mumps, and other childhood illnesses.

Indeed, back in the day (e.g., in 2015), I used to refer to what I liked to call the Brady Bunch gambit, in which old sitcoms from the 1950s and 1960s where kids getting measles was played for laughs, with measles portrayed as just a childhood illness that we all got, were weaponized to argue that measles isnt dangerous. I named the gambit after an episode of the classic sitcom The Brady Bunch that antivaxxers were widely referencing. The episode first aired in 1969 and featured hijinks that ensued when all the Brady kids caught the measles in rapid succession, a situation that was mostly handled humorously. Its worth noting that this 52 year old Brady Bunch episode also features natural immunity. When Mike Brady (the father) and Alice (the maid) catch the measles near the end of the episode, it is revealed that they had never had measles as kids but that Mikes wife Carol had and was therefore immune to it as an adult.

The reality was, of course, different from the fuzzy-headed nostalgic thinking of comedy writers in the 1960s, all of whom likely suffered from survivorship bias; i.e., that they had the measles and it wasnt so bad for them, which led them to believe that it wasnt bad for anyone. In factas I like to point outaccording to the CDC, before the vaccine, 48,000 people a year were hospitalized for the measles; 4,000 developed measles-associated encephalitis; and 400 to 500 people died. By any stretch of the imagination that was a significant public health problem, and the introduction of the measles vaccine in 1963, followed by the MMR in 1971, made it much less so. As Dr. John Snyder reminded us nearly 13 years ago in his response to Dr. Sears making the same arguments in his vaccine book that touted an alternative vaccination schedule, measles is not a benign disease, regardless of what popular culture thought of it 50 or 60 years ago. (More recent data show that a severe complication of measles, subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE), is more common than we used to think.) Meanwhile, over 13 years ago, Dr. Sears was claiming that the risk of fatality from measles is as close to zero as you can get without actually being zero, or one in many thousands, in other words practically a rounding error.

While it is obvious how such tropes might contribute to a message that you should be more afraid of the MMR vaccine (which, antivaxxers proclaimed, caused autism), lets show some examples more directly related to Dr. McBrides argument. For example, in 2017 in the comments section of an antivaccine blog that Ive often referred to as a wretched hive of scum and antivaccine quackery, a pro-vaccine commenter named Curt Watkins (an allergist and immunologist who had apparently made the mistake of thinking that he could persuade anyone on this blog) pointed out that measles is dangerous and can kill children. He then realized the futility but still left the door open:

I guess Im tilting at windmills by posting here, but it really gets my goat when someone claims that measles is this benign illness, shrugging off a one in 3,000 (or 1 in 10,000) case fatality rate for developed countries. In the third world the fatality rate is far higher. I challenge you to find a pediatrician with pre-vaccine experience and ask them about treating measles. If anyone cares to argue that measles is not occasionally a very serious disease, then I would be happy to engage in a discussion. Ill check back.

A commenter named Grace Green promptly portrayed Dr. Watkins as having a phobia:

Curt Watkins, Im very sorry for your phobia of risk-taking. I have survived measles, mumps. rubella, chickenpox and even scarlet fever! I must have been at much greater risk walking out of my front door, as a slate could have fallen on my head, and as for getting into a vehicle, the risk is huge. Come to think of it, most accidents happen in the home, so its not even safe to stay there! I have on the other hand lived with mild vaccine injury for 64 years, and its total misery, prevented me from working, or socializing. So Ive seen both sides of this debate, including my sons having measles, chickenpox (twice) and whooping cough. People who havent had these experiences are being lead astray by fear-mongering into needlessly poisoning their children. The writers here are simply trying to warn others, from our own experiences.

The idea, of course, is that if youre irrationally afraid of something as normal and not dangerous as measles, you must have a phobia, while the antivaxxer is, by comparison, the one who is rationally and carefully weighing risks and benefits. Indeed, another antivaxxer explicitly says this:

From the 1950 Merck manual on Diseases:

Prognosis

Measles usually is a benign infection with a low mortality rate and one attack apparently confers lifelong immunity. However, the disease may be followed, particularly in infants, by bronchopneumonia and other bacterial infections which may be fatal. Postmeaslcs encephalitis, which also may be fatal, occurs only about once in 1,200 to 1,500 cas

Benign doesnt imply innocuous. Most parents I know who have elected by informed consent to decline the MMR vaccine, have an alternative medical philosophy in place on how they would support a childs immune system, as they succumb to measles and other infections.

I must admit that I laughed, because benign actually does imply innocuous. If a disease is not innocuous, then how can it be benign?

Another common antivax message was that the fear of measles was due to physicians, public health officials, and the media hyping the fear and exaggerating the danger, for instance, in this antivaccine article, A Very Brady Measles, which invoked the Brady Bunch gambit:

Things are so different today. Illness is a bad word. What used to be called a common childhood disease is now viewed as impending doom. Fevers, rashes and sicknesses that last longer than a few hours are treated like the plague. Anything that can be passed from one person to another is a death sentence. These types of exaggerations fill many news stories.

And:

Catching a disease can be scary. But as we saw in the clip, the Bradys survived the measles in America. In that clip, were given a peek at how a TV family, likely modeled after hundreds of real-life families, treated and managed the measles with common sense. Instead falling for scare tactics and being filled with doom and gloom, we saw that the parents used good judgment. We saw that the kids rode out the illness. They rested, they got better, and they survived. And God love her, Alice did too.

Sure, in a fictional idealized late 1960s suburban Los Angeles upper middle class white neighborhood, the kids all did fine when they got the measles, as did the two adults who had somehow never had it. Unfortunately, such was not the case for many thousands of others every year before the vaccine, at which time approximately 500 per year would die.

It wasnt just antivaxxers, either. It was some physicians, too, who portrayed the fear of measles as irrational and stoked by the media. For example, in 2014, Dr. Bob Sears, author of The Vaccine Book: Making the Right Decision for Your Child, which was the original alternative vaccine schedule for antivaxxers, actually complained about parents asking him if they should be worried about measles, to the point where he got a bittesty and basically told his patients parents to stop bothering him with their panicked questions about measles:

No doubt that Dr. McBride, should she even see this, will bristle at the comparison. She, after all, has advocated that adults be vaccinated. On the other hand, she also helped to found the Urgency of Normal astroturf effort to open up schools, in which she argued:

In addition to ending mask mandates in schools, she [Dr. McBride] told me, she wants required quarantines to end, as well as testing for asymptomatic children. The problem right now is were isolating and quarantining healthy kids, she said, arguing that the decision to quarantine a child who is exposed to the virus should be up to parents and pediatricians. (Public health experts have told me this policy would likely lead to further spread, since people are highly infectious before they ever show symptoms. This could be particularly problematic if masks are not required in classrooms.)

In fairness, though, Dr. Sears comes off as a prat complaining about his patients parentswhose children, of course, were mostly unvaccinated because, after all, this was Dr. Sears practicebeing too fearful and anxious about measles outbreaks, to the point of being dismissive in the final part of his Facebook post above:

This year there will be more than usual, the way its looking so far, but its not a reason to panic. Make your choice do vaccine, or dont do the vaccine.

So, when SHOULD someone worry? If an actual direct exposure has occurred from a known case, then you might be at risk. This doesnt mean a case in the county in which you live: it means that youve actually been in the same room with someone who has had measles. Or, at the most, maybe the same building. But transmission almost always requires close proximity (same room). There have been a handful of cases over the decades in which someone sitting across a stadium has caught it, but that is almost unheard of. You have to be in the same room, people. If THAT happens, call me. If not, then just relax and go about your life as usual.

IF we see more cases, Ill let you know. Actually, just to give you a heads up, we probably WILL see a few more cases. But virtually all measles outbreaks are limited to 10 to 20 cases in any given county. So, the chance that any one of your unvaccinated children is going to be a case is very very very very very small. I love you all, and love caring for you all. But just chill out. Measles will never go away its always going to be a very small risk. If you arent comfortable with that, get the vaccine. If you dont want the vaccine, accept the risk.

Even eight years later, one cant help but observe the reason why most measles outbreaks were small back then. Can you guess what it was? Obviously, it was because of generally high vaccine uptake in the communities in which the outbreaks occurred that tended to limit such outbreaks to the pockets of unvaccinated children living there.

From the perspective of 2022 compared to 2014, Dr. Sears message actually still sounds more than a little like the message that Dr. McBride and other COVID-19 pandemic minimizers have been promoting: COVID-19 will never go away. Its on you how much risk youre willing to accept. Vaccinate and mask if youre worried, but dont expect anyone else to do the same (or even to isolate if exposed or be quarantined if symptomatic). Chill out.

The only real difference is that Dr. McBride takes the narrative that people are afraid because of the media and government promoting fear-based messages, and kicks it up a notch by implying that a lot of this is coronaphobia, namely an actual, potentially diagnosable phobia, and, even worse, suggesting that the cure for this coronaphobia is to actually catch COVID-19, although she rapidly pivoted to deny that:

And to argue that we should name this fear and anxiety, while cynically invoking Mental Health Awareness Month:

Again, let me emphasize that there is little doubt that the pandemic has caused or exacerbated a lot of anxiety and depression. Also, to be fair, Dr. McBride is correct that some anxiety over a potentially deadly illness circulating through the population is normal and expected. However, by naming this anxiety (as she puts it) and calling it coronaphobia she is, contrary to what she thinks shes doing, not making things easier. Shes pathologizing this anxiety while providing no real solution other than her anti-anxiety regimen that she describes:

To mitigate the expected anxiety rational or irrational we assemble a kit of coping tools. I commonly recommend breathing techniques, guided meditation, regular exercise, prioritizing sleep and spending time in nature, all of which tamp down stress hormones.

All of this is well and good, but also the sorts of things one would expect a concierge doctor practicing in an affluent DC neighborhood who doesnt have any contracts with health insurance companies or maintain Medicare assignment to tell not just her patients who have anxiety over COVID-19 but the worried well. Theres also a degree of privilege here, in that her well-off patients can do these sorts of things far more easily than those who are less privileged and well-off.

At the same time, Dr. McBride, whether she realizes it or not or will admit it or not, regularly parrots longstanding antivaccine messaging about childhood diseases like measles:

I will, however, admit that, unlike Dr. Bob, shes smart enough to be self-deprecating, for instance, describing her accepting her first invitation to a gathering thusly:

With a mix of reticence and relief, I click RSVP YES! to my colleagues party and take my first step toward reentry. The next step? Buttoning my pants.

She also goes out of her way to claim that the reason shes bringing up mental health issues and describing pandemic anxiety as coronaphobia is because of her incredible empathy for her patients:

Dr. Gonsalves had an excellent response:

All of which is true, but hasnt stopped Dr. McBride from self-deprecatingly portraying herself as just trying to work it all out:

Also, I cant help but cite something that antivaxxer Del Bigtree Tweeted over two years ago, before vaccines and when the virus was new:

I also would argue that coronaphobia is not unlike what Bigtree said in another context, either.

The problem is that, regardless of what Dr. McBride actually says to her own patients in the privacy of her clinic exam rooms, her public utterances do amount to a shaming of those who remain, often with very good reason (e.g., chronic health conditions), fearful of COVID-19 as having unreasonable fears out of proportion to reality; i.e., an anxiety disorder, a phobia. Certainly, her coronaphobia label contributes to that shaming:

Ill conclude, as I do too often, by simply reiterating that in the age of the pandemic everything old is new again. Every antivaccine and disease minimizing/denying narrative and trope that I have seen thus far about COVID-19 existed long before the pandemic in one form or another. To this I will add the observation that in the age of the pandemic it has been disturbing to see how many doctors who consider themselves so very reasonable, science-based, and evendare I say it?provaccine have found those pre-COVID-19 narratives compelling. Implying that those who have an overwrought fear of a vaccine-preventable disease must have a diagnosable mental health condition, such as an anxiety disorder like a phobia, is just another example.

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Coronaphobia: How antivaxxers and pandemic minimizers pathologize fear of disease - Science Based Medicine

College is a time of many changes, including new classes, new friends, and new freedoms.

But you might also find some old things, like your high school acne, stubbornly sticking around.

Acne tends to be more common, and often more severe, during adolescence. Research suggests it tends to peak earlier for females, generally between the ages of 14 and 17. For males, acne tends to peak between the ages of 16 and 19.

But for many people, acne doesnt fully retreat until around age 25 and sometimes not even then. Evidence suggests around 64 percent of adults still have acne in their 20s, while about 43 percent continue to experience acne into their 30s.

If youre dealing with acne in college, youve more than likely had some pimples before. But your acne may seem more severe than you remember, or perhaps its made a sudden return after years of clear skin.

Trying to understand the mysteries of your college acne? In search of tips to help make it disappear? Read on for more details.

First, a refresher: Acne often happens when dirt and dead skin cells block pores in your skin. The blocked opening means your skins natural oil (sebum) has nowhere to go. As the oil builds up, it creates a great environment for the bacteria Propionibacterium acnes to thrive.

Your white blood cells quickly show up to shut down the party and duke it out with the bacteria. Their battle creates the pus and inflammation you know as a zit.

So, how does college contribute to all this? A few different ways, including:

One small but widely-cited 2003 study found university students tended to have more severe acne during stressful exam periods. The link between acne and stress remained strong even after controlling for how well the students slept and ate.

Stress alone doesnt create zits, but it can worsen your acne or prompt a new breakout. According to the study, stress can affect acne in three ways:

When you live with a roommate, it may seem easy or less expensive to share supplies. Maybe you:

But any of these can play a part in acne. Microbes, oil, and dead skin cells can easily transfer from shared products to skin, causing a new outbreak of pimples.

Keep in mind, too, that skin care products dont work the same way for everyone, so the brand your roommate swears by may not have the same beneficial effects for you especially if you have different skin types.

Although you may legally reach adulthood your 18th birthday, that benchmark means nothing to your body, which continues to grow and change.

Your hormones are also still figuring themselves out. One particular hormone, androgen, prompts your skin to produce more oil, making pores fill up quicker. High androgen levels can lead to inflamed acne thats hard to get rid of.

Estrogen, meanwhile, can reduce oil production and directly counter androgens effects. If you menstruate, you may notice acne breakouts right before starting your period the point in your cycle where estrogen levels fall and progesterone and androgen levels rise.

When you go to college, your food intake may change. You may have less time and space to cook for yourself. You might also find yourself taking advantage of your new freedom to opt for foods that werent around when you lived at home.

Experts continue to debate whether the food you eat has any influence on acne. Some research suggests eating a lot of certain foods, including chocolate and certain dairy products, may prompt breakouts.

Researchers dont entirely know why, but its possible that high fat and sugar levels in these foods may increase inflammation. Sugar can also cause your body to release insulin, which can, in turn, trigger the production of certain skin cells involved in acne.

Sure, knowing a little more about where your acne may have come from might be nice. But how do you make it leave?

The most effective acne remedies currently available include:

Topical medications can be a good first line of defense. These come in creams and gels you apply directly to your skin.

Common topical remedies include:

Oral acne medications might come in the form of a pill, capsule, or liquid. These medications may take longer to work than topical ones, but they can help address more severe breakouts when topical treatments arent effective.

A healthcare professional can prescribe short-term oral antibiotics like doxycycline (Monodox) or minocycline (Minocin). With these medications, youll often notice some improvement after about 12 weeks, give or take a few weeks. If you have severe acne, you may need to continue antibiotic treatment for up to 6 months.

Your care team will likely recommend using topical remedies alongside oral antibiotics. This combined approach to treating your acne can help reduce the amount of time you need to take an antibiotic.

You might wonder why you cant take an antibiotic for several months, if it gets rid of your acne.

Antibiotics dont just kill acne-causing bacteria. They can also kill helpful bacteria living in your gut. Whats more, taking an antibiotic for long periods of time can lead to antibiotic resistance, a serious public health threat.

In short, its important to follow your treatment plan. If you have any questions or concerns about a medication youre using, your care team can offer more guidance.

If you menstruate, you can also treat hormonal acne with birth control pills that release estrogen. Estrogen can convince your skin to pump out less oil and tamp down spikes of androgen hormones.

While research on alternative remedies acne remains limited, some existing evidence suggests encouraging results.

Other approaches that may help with acne include:

Once you get your current acne under control, you may wonder how to prevent future breakouts.

These tips can help you prevent pimples before they happen:

A balanced diet can benefit your mind, your body, and your skin.

More specifically, 2020 research suggests eating plenty of fruits and vegetables may reduce your chances of experiencing acne Thats because fruits and vegetables have lots of fiber, which can help prevent the spikes of insulin that may contribute to acne.

Fish might also offer some protection against acne breakouts, since the omega-3 fatty acids in fish may help lower inflammation along with helping prevent insulin spikes.

Get more nutrition tips to help reduce breakouts.

All-nighters may be a college tradition, but they dont do much for your skin. In fact, research has linked poor sleep and insomnia to increased acne.

A lack of sleep can increase your stress levels. Stress, in turn, can prompt the release of cortisol and other hormones that dont play nice with your skin.

Making a habit of getting at least 8 hours of sleep can help prevent those zits from popping up.

According to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), skin care products like makeup and sunscreen can sometimes clog your pores.

If you have product-related acne, you might notice tiny bumps on your cheeks, chin, and forehead.

Switching to products labeled noncomedogenic can help. Noncomedogenic simply means products are less likely to clog your pores and lead to acne breakouts.

It can also help to make a habit of cleaning your makeup brushes and sponges every week. If someone does borrow your makeup tools, its a good idea to wash them before using them yourself.

Even with effective skin care and self-care routines, sometimes acne can be too much to handle on your own.

Persistent acne can also happen with other health conditions, including:

A dermatologist can help identify underlying skin conditions and prescribe medicine to help treat even severe acne. Connecting with a dermatologist may be a good next step if your acne:

Even with professional treatment, acne blemishes wont go away overnight. Still, its important to stick with your medication long enough to give it a chance to work.

If you dont notice results after a few months, ask your care team about trying another medication.

Although acne is a skin condition, it can also deeply affect mental and emotional well-being.

According to research from 2012, a significant percentage of people who visit a dermatologist for acne treatment experience acne-related emotional distress:

Many people blame themselves for their acne. You might, for example, think youre causing it by not washing your face often enough, or by using the wrong cleanser, towel, or acne remedy.

But in reality, acne is a medical condition often caused by underlying physical factors like high androgen levels or inflammation. So, you can have great hygiene and still get breakouts.

If youre finding it tough to cope with acne-related emotional distress, a therapist can offer more support.

Contrary to popular belief, acne doesnt necessarily vanish when you leave high school. In fact, acne can be particularly prevalent in college due to things like extra stress, lifestyle shifts, and hormonal changes.

When it comes to acne remedies, you have plenty of options, including lotions, pills, and even lasers. You can also take steps to prevent future acne by eating a balanced diet, getting plenty of sleep, and changing your skin care routine.

If you have severe or persistent acne, a dermatologist can offer professional support with sleuthing out acne triggers and exploring helpful treatments.

Emily Swaim is a freelance health writer and editor who specializes in psychology. She has a BA in English from Kenyon College and an MFA in writing from California College of the Arts. In 2021, she received her Board of Editors in Life Sciences (BELS) certification. You can find more of her work on GoodTherapy, Verywell, Investopedia, Vox, and Insider. Find her on Twitter and LinkedIn.

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Acne in College: Causes, Treatment, and Prevention - Healthline