Category Archives: Alternative Medicine

More than 6 million Americans are currently living with Alzheimers disease. As we age we become significantly at risk for declining brain health as one in nine people age 65 and older have dementia. This debilitating disease also affects women more than men at disproportionate numbers as two-thirds of Americans with Alzheimers are women. What can we do to support a healthy brain? Our brain is the leading conductor that drives all activities in many of our biological systems, making it one of, if not the most important organ in our body. We must nurture our brains and care for them with intention and ease the same way we do the rest of our bodies. A healthy brain leads to lasting longevity and improved overall health. Research has shown that our daily habits and lifestyles build strong brain health. The following five lifestyle practices are the gateway to a happy, healthy brain: Maintain adequate sleep patterns There is good reason why it is recommended that we get eight, quality hours of sleep each night. Adequate sleep patterns help our brain and body to recover and recharge. A healthy night of sleep involves the 90-minute repeat cycle of four different stages of non-REM sleep, followed by a very important stage, rapid eye movement (REM). Both non-REM and REM stages are critical to cognitive functions. Disruptions in sleep derail the sleep cycle, preventing us from achieving the optimum value of all of the stages of sleep. Inadequate sleep affects the whole brain but theres a particularly vulnerable part of the brain called the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN). The SCN controls your bodys sleep-wake cycle. When the SCN is activated, it affects many different biological functions including how hormones are released, body temperature and how sugars are metabolized. Cognitively, it affects your thinking, Read More

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Alternative Medicine Magazine

Wouldnt it be great if when you had a headache you could pick a Tylenol from a plant on your windowsill? Or even cancel your insomnia with the leaves of an unassuming shrub? Well, buck up: You can make your home a veritable forest of medicinal wonders, treating an array of lifes maladies.

No, big pharma wont be shaking in their boots, and nothing here is a replacement for real medicine, but everything on this list has some real, verifiable science backing up its efficacy. Beyond that, the plants Ive listed have been researched for thousands of years, initially through the Indian Ayurvedic belief that illness stems from an imbalance of a persons consciousness.

And of course, before you sample any of the remedies, be sure to speak with your doctor.

Live plant basil plant tulsi

Live Plant - Holy Basil Plant Tulsi

Little Nest

amazon.com

$14.98

Also known as Holy Basil, the medical uses for this amazing plant date back some 3,000 years. Its so revered in Hindu culture that its said to represent the earthly presence of the goddess Tulsi.

This adaptogenic herb (reduces stress while increasing energy), is most often consumed as a tea, which can be spicy, but with zero caffeine content. The remedies include anxiety, lowering of blood pressure, protecting internal organs from pollutants or heavy metals, hyperthyroidism, and even acne.

Overall, this good-to-have-around-the-house plant is thought to assist the body in maintaining its proper state of homeostasis. That is, it helps our natural systems stay in proper balance. You might have a look-see at the kind words for Tulsi from the National Library of Medicine:

A total of 24 studies were identified that reported therapeutic effects on metabolic disorders, cardiovascular disease, immunity, and neurocognition. All studies reported favourable[sic] clinical outcomes with no studies reporting any significant adverse events.

Jeez, NLIM, just marry them already. Learn to grow it here. Oh, and check out these interesting recipes.

Lemon Grass Seeds for Planting Outdoor

Lemon Grass Seeds for Planting Outdoor

Mountain Valley Seed Company

amazon.com

$4.98

The Cymbopogon citratus (lemongrass plant) is often found in Thai cooking, but theres more to it than that. In fact, the list of health advantages to drinking lemongrass tea is a particularly long one.

First of all, it has some mean detoxification qualities, not to mention it fights bacteria, viruses, and fungus. More? Its thought to lower cholesterol, ease joint pain, fight anxiety and depression.

Skeptical? Take a read from the Journal of Advanced Pharmaceutical Technology and Research based on the culmination of recent study data:

Studies indicate that Cymbopogon citratus possesses various pharmacological activities such as anti-amoebic, antibacterial, antidiarrheal, antifilarial, antifungal and anti-inflammatory properties These results are very encouraging and indicate that this herb should be studied more extensively to confirm these results and reveal other potential therapeutic effects.

Learn how to grow your own.

Texas Sage Live Plant

AMERICAN PLANT EXCHANGE Texas Sage Live Plant, 3 Gallon, Lavender Purple Flowers

American Plant Exchange

amazon.com

$38.24

Thats right, like the stuff in a shaker you keep in your spice rack. Its a member of the mint family, though you wouldnt know it when its swimming in your Butternut Squash Ravioli.

Just the same, this spicy contender packs a real therapeutic wallop. First of all, sage is high in nutrients. Next, its a righteous antioxidant. In one study, drinking a single cup of sage tea twice daily significantly heightened antioxidant defenses. In addition, it lowered LDL cholesterol (the bad stuff) and raised the good HDL cholesterol.

Your little pantry buddy is also thought to lower blood sugar levels, acting similar to the pharmaceutical drug metformin; ease menopause symptoms, and perhaps be helpful in treating cancer.

But get a load of this: an article in Science Daily reports that British scientists conducting clinical trials with healthy, young adults confirm centuries-old beliefs that sage can improve memory function. Which means that all my difficulty remembering to pick it up at the supermarket is entirely my fault.

Anyway, you can grow your own sage. For some help with that, just click the little blue phrase right here. And while youre at it, learn some cool sage recipes.

Marigold flower starter kit

Window Garden - Marigold Flower Starter Kit

Window Garden

amazon.com

$10.99

I know what youre thinking: the obscure Nirvana song that Dave Grohl wrote? No, were talking about the plant Calendula, also known as pot marigold. The common ornamental marigolds just wont do this trick.

Steep the flowers in boiling water to make a tea and youve got yourself an outrageous antioxidant. Thats pretty tough to beat right there.

But wait... theres more. Marigold tea may actually kill certain types of cancer cells. As is often the case, results are far from conclusive, but it's a promising start.

Bacopa Monnieri Moneywort Freshwater Live

The Sun Ave Bacopa Monnieri Moneywort Freshwater Live Aquarium Plants Stems with Roots (1 Pack)

Generic

amazon.com

$10.97

Heres another oldie but goodie from the ancient world of Ayurvedic medicine. For thousands of years, the people of India have relied on Bacopa monnieri, an aquatic plant, as an answer for pain relief, epilepsy, attention deficit disorder, and even stress relief.

Lets review that last mention stress relief and its impact on our health. Many health professionals estimate that up to 90% of visits to primary care physicians are for stress-related issues. While most of us do our best to keep from running (from our problems, or murdering our bosses when we feel theyve been unfair). This keeps us out of prison cells, but there is a cost to our health. In fact, the Japanese, known for their relentless work ethic, have a term for this: "karoshi," which translates loosely to death by overwork.

I dont know about you, but Im stressed from reading this. So how about a nice cup of bacopa tea? Its simple, just pour some hot water over your fresh bacopa leaves (Im sure you have some handy), and let it steep for 10 minutes. Theres no caffeine so you can have it anytime, but brace for the bitterness. Honey makes it better.

You can read about some other serious benefits (and side effects) associated with Bacopa monnieri or you can just read the specifics of the study from the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine.

As always, there are caveats to imbibing the tea or sampling the many bacopa supplements available. Do some research, and consult your doctor.

Having said that, if youd like to try your hand at growing bacopa, just click right here.

Excerpt from:

5 houseplants that double as alternative medicine - Manistee News Advocate

Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is a broad term for many health care treatments and medicines not generally used by the traditional medical community. Complementary or Integrative therapies are applied in tandem with traditional western medicine whereas alternative therapies are adopted in place of the traditional. Integrative practices might include acupuncture and yoga for pain or nutritional supplements for post surgical recovery. Alternative practices forgo the traditional and can be harmful, such as special diets rather than chemotherapy for a cancer diagnosis.

Herbal supplements, acupuncture, various Eastern medicines and techniques, mind and body practices, meditation, Traditional Chinese or Korean medicine, Tai Chi and other exercise programs, and even chiropractic care are examples of what are considered alternative or complementary to Western traditional (also known as allopathic) medicine.

The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) is the new (2014) name for the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) and is one of the 27 institutions that comprise the National Institutes of Health (NIH) within the United States Department of Health and Human Services. NCCIH is the lead agency for scientific research on complementary and alternative medicine and practices.

The National Health Interview Survey, an episodic study conducted by the National Center for health Statistics, asks tens of thousands of Americans about their health and/or illness related practices and experiences. The 2007 survey found that approximately 38% of adults and 12 percent of children use some form of complementary or alternative medicine. Questions about complementary care were added in 2002, 2007, 2012, and 2017.

Helene Langevin, the current director of NCCHI, said in a September 2020 video conference that her career as a physician focused on connections, whole person care across multiple domains - physical, psychological, and social. She went on to say that the NCCIH is pursuing objective research into multi-modal therapies as an approach to care. Holistic health looks at the multiple factors that can lead to disease of many organs. Poor diet, chronic stress, poor sleep, and a sedentary lifestyle cause and contribute to illness and these can both be prevented and reversed. A previous director, Josephine Briggs, stated The 2007 NHIS provided the most current, comprehensive, and reliable source of information on Americans use of CAM. She continued, These statistics confirm that CAM practices are a frequently used component of Americans health care regimens, and reinforce the need for rigorous research to study the safety and effectiveness of these therapies. The data also point out the need for patients and health care providers to openly discuss CAM use to ensure safe and coordinated care.

Americans are continuing to employ complementary care in their pursuit of good health. The 2017 report focused mainly on yoga, meditation, and chiropractic care and found that 14% of adult Americans do yoga on a regular basis, 14.2% meditate, and 10.3% regularly see a chiropractor for a myriad of health concerns but mostly pain issues.

Commonly used CAM therapies include such products as fish oil, glucosamine, ginseng, cinnamon, chamomile, milk thistle, green tea, cranberry and many more. Common conditions for which CAM is sought are pain syndromes; back pain, joint pain and stiffness, arthritis and chronic neck pain are all addressed by CAM therapies which are subject to as rigorous a study and investigation as are other therapies. As information regarding usefulness is published, Americans change some practices such as a reduction in the use of CAM such as echinacea, which has been shown to be not particularly effective in reducing cold symptoms.

Due to numerous interruptions in surveys and research due to COVID, more recent statistics are difficult to ascertain. But according to both the 2002 and the 2007 studies, 42.8% of women and 33% of men used CAM therapies. Adults over the age of 30 use CAM therapies more than their younger peers. The greatest percentage is among those 50-59 with 44.1% of this age group using CAM. 41% of people aged 60-69 use CAM therapies. 55.4% of people with higher levels of education (masters, doctorate, or professional degrees) use CAM. People living in the west (44.6%) are more likely to use CAM. 48.1% of people who have quit smoking have used CAM.

Complementary and alternative medicine practices can offer remedies for common problems. Many therapies are safe and effective but some may be harmful. Beware of the word natural as this is not synonymous with healthy (arsenic and strychnine are natural substances!). Do your homework. If you are interested in a particular therapy, look into its advantages and discuss them with your health care provider.

Mia Smitt is a nurse practitioner with a specialty in family practice. She recently retired and settled in Tucson after two-and-a-half years living on a 40-foot sailboat exploring the world. She is originally from San Francisco.

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Health & Wellness: Have you considered complementary or alternative health care? - Tucson Local Media

CDC officials advise talking to your medical provider before trying these alternative treatments

HAMPDEN, Maine According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, a course of antibiotics is the most effective way to kill off Lyme disease if caught early.

The CDC says 300,000 people are diagnosed with Lyme diseaseeach year across the county. But in some cases of post or post-treatment Lyme, neurological and other symptoms can develop.

Symptoms that can linger for years are driving more patients to seek alternative treatments.

Thirteen years ago, Amy Cray started having migraines that came out of nowhere. Then there were more problems so bad that they affected her ability to work.

"I was having blurry vision, started to get the brain fog, joint pain in my knees," Cray said.

A year and a half later, she was diagnosed with Lyme,Bartonellaa tick-borne co-infection, and Bell's Palsy, a condition that causes facial muscle weakness or paralysis, all despite never finding a tick bite. Courses of antibiotics helped but stress brought on new flare-ups and even more symptoms.

"The more time went on, the weaker I got. I got down to 90 pounds," Cray said.

After seeing a host of doctors, including an infectious disease specialist and mental health providers, Amy's daughter came across theLyme Laser Centers which has an affiliate in Hampden. Since this past winter, Amy has been on a half dozen protocols, including herbal supplements, a detox plan including a sugar-free diet, chiropractic work, lymphatic and cold laser therapy treatments.

Unlike a surgical laser which transmits heat and tears down tissue, the protocol uses a cold laser, which has a red light and is placed on acupuncture points, stimulating energy production in the body's cells. The protocol, which is not covered by most insurance plans, is administered bylicensed chiropractor Dr. Debbie Baker. Baker says the multi-step protocol targets thebiofilmwhich acts as a shield for Borrelia burgdorferi, the bacteria that causes Lyme, making the spirochete resistant to treatment.

"It takes probably about nine months to break down the biofilm and that's where the spirochetes hide," Baker said.

Betsie Gonzalez, a senior public affairs specialist with the CDC tells NEWS CENTER "most cases of Lyme disease can be cured with a two to four-week course of antibiotics. People who are considering alternative treatments for ongoing symptoms associated with a Lyme disease infection should talk to their health care provider about the possible risks and effectiveness of such treatments. Pharmacists can also provide helpful information if you have questions about a drug, medicine, supplement, or medical device."

Amy is almost finished with the program and says the majority of her debilitating symptoms like fatigue and brain fog are gone or fading. At a recent physical, her primary care doctor, who is aware of the Lyme Laser Center protocol, was amazed about how Amy is doing.

"She was like 'this is great for you, it's the best I have seen you in a lot of years,'" Cray said.

For more information on prevention, diagnosis, and treatment from the Maine CDC, click here. For real-time tracking information on reported cases of Lyme disease and other illnesses from the Maine CDC, clickhere.

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Patients with post-Lyme disease flocking to alternative treatments - NewsCenterMaine.com WCSH-WLBZ

1. Progression-free survival was extended by the use capecitabine as compared to active monitoring, but at the expense of increased toxicity. There was no difference in overall survival between treatment arms.

2. Quality of life scores were similar between the two treatment arms.

Evidence Rating Level: 1 (Excellent)

Study Rundown: Current standards of care for the palliative treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) include continuing therapy until excess toxicity or progression of the disease occurs. Previous studies have shown that treatment breaks can decrease the burden of toxicity while improving quality of life (QoL). This study compared the progression-free survival (PFS) of two treatment arms: one receiving maintenance therapy with capecitabine (a pro-drug that is activated by tumour cells) and the other receiving active monitoring (AM). Secondary outcomes included overall survival (OS), QoL, toxicity, and safety. Capecitabine improved median PFS as compared to AM, while overall survival did not differ significantly. Quality of life was assessed via EQ-5D forms and there were no significant differences in QoL scores. However, discomfort and pain were somewhat increased in the AM group as compared to the treatment group, potentially due to the increased rate of progression. Toxicity was less in the AM arm. Toxicities manifested as nausea, diarrhea, fatigue, palmar-plantar erythema, and skin rash. A limitation of this study was that it was underpowered to accurately evaluate OS, though it showed similar values when adjustments were made for minimization factors. Additionally, because the study excluded patients with baseline thrombocytosis (a worse prognosis group) between January 2014 and June 2017, the study under-represented about 25% of patients with mCRC. Furthermore, this was a subset of a multi-platform study that excluded patients with actionable mutations which was a source of significant bias. In general, providing treatment breaks can be suitable for stable patients with mCRC.

Click to read the study in JCO

Click to read an accompanying editorial in JCO

Relevant Reading: The Role of Maintenance Strategies in Metastatic Colorectal Cancer: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-analysis of Randomized Clinical Trials

In-Depth [randomized controlled trial]: This study conducted in the United Kingdom compared outcomes of progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), toxicity, and safety in either maintenance therapy with capecitabine or active monitoring in a randomized trial of 254 adult patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). Eligibility criteria for this study (FOCUS4-N) included adult patients with mCRC who were stable at the 16-week CT scan and who did not have targetable mutations. As a result, this trial is potentially biased towards outcomes observed in patients without these mutations. During the first 3.5 years of the study, patients with baseline thrombocytosis were excluded based on existing literature showing they had a worse prognosis. Further analysis discredited these findings and the last 2.5 years of the study included this patient group. A total of 254 patients were randomized, with 127 to each of the study arms (capecitabine versus active monitoring). Capecitabine was dosed orally twice a day for 2 weeks, followed by a one-week rest period (standard dosing guidelines). Patients in this treatment arm were requested to take capecitabine until disease progression, intolerable toxicity, or death. PFS was increased in the treatment arm (hazard ratio (HR) = 0.40; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.21 to 0.75; p < 0.0001), but no significant improvement in OS was seen (HR = 0.93; 95% CI, 0.69 to 1.27; p = 0.66). Toxicity was greater in the treatment arm, while QoL was similar between study arms. Assessment of QoL included measures such as usual activities, self-care, anxiety/depression, or mobility. Pain/discomfort was somewhat less in the treatment arm though not statistically significant (p = 0.11) and the authors postulated this may be because of the progression rates in the active monitoring study arm.

Image: PD

2021 2 Minute Medicine, Inc. All rights reserved. No works may be reproduced without expressed written consent from 2 Minute Medicine, Inc. Inquire about licensing here. No article should be construed as medical advice and is not intended as such by the authors or by 2 Minute Medicine, Inc.

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Active monitoring compared to maintenance capecitabine is a viable alternative for stable metastatic colorectal cancer - 2 Minute Medicine

KARACHI: Over 5 million Chinese nationals will be working in Pakistan by 2025 under various development, industrial and other projects by 2025, according to a senior public health expert.

Talking to The News, Health Services Academy (HSA) Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Shahzad Ali Khan said that the health needs of millions of Chinese working in Pakistan could only be met by enhancing collaboration between Pakistani and Chinese medical universities, research institutes and biotechnological firms.

In order to meet the health needs of millions of Chinese nationals working in Pakistan, Afghanistan and Central Asian States, we need to have specialised health facilities, based on both modern and traditional treatment systems, he added.

This can only be achieved by enhancing collaboration between Pakistani and Chinese health institutions under the China-Pakistan Health Corridor, Vice Chancellor Health Services Academy (HSA) Prof Dr Shahzad Ali Khan told The News.

He said talks were in advanced stages to sign multiple, joint collaborative agreements with different Chinese academic, research institutes and biotechnological firms and added that during the 11th Annual Public Health Conference in Islamabad on September 23-24, 2021, several Memorandums of Understanding (MoU) would be signed between Pakistan and Chinese institutions.

We wish to train Pakistani experts in modern medical technologies as well as traditional Chinese medicines, which is a treatment of choice by millions of people in China. These experts would not only fulfill the medical needs of visiting Chinese nationals but also of the Pakistani people, who believe in alternate medicine, he added.

In the first step, Chairman CPHC Dr Lee, also the VC, HSA, will sign an MoU for the HSAs joining into the China Pakistan Health Corridor, he said, adding the Department of Public Health of Wuhan University will sign an MoU for multiple cooperation in the academic partnership between China and Pakistan in the field of public health.

The main component of this collaboration will be digital health, medical technology, traditional medicine and joint health research projects, the HSA official added.

Also, the WHO Traditional Medicine Foundation of China will seek collaboration with HSA in the field of Traditional and Alternative Medicine (TAM) in Pakistan, Prof Khan said, adding the Digital Human will sign an MoU with HSA for the establishment of the Digital Human Project and Digital Medicine Lab in HSA, Islamabad.

With its headquarter in Jinan, CPHC initiative is a multidisciplinary interconnected group of centres consisting of medical universities, hospitals, pharmaceutical, traditional medicine academies, research and training centres, in countries, along Belt and Road linked together by Telemedicine, Artificial Intelligence, VR/AR and Big Data, he said.

He said that the CPHC has multiple initiatives between Chinese and Pakistani universities, hospitals and medical institutes.

See original here:

Number of Chinese nationals working in Pakistan to reach 5m in next four years - Geo News

D. Samba Reddy, professor in the Department of Neurosciences and Experimental Therapeutics at the Texas A&M College of Medicine.

Texas A&M Health Science Center

What do pest control, agricultural workers and members of the armed forces have in common? These three important groups are all at increased risk of toxic exposure to organophosphates.

Organophosphates (OPs) are lethal chemical agents that are commonly used as pesticides, insecticides and nerve agents. An estimated 3 million people worldwide are exposed to organophosphates every year, accounting for approximately 300,000 deaths. Exposure often occurs because of agricultural pesticides, but it can also come from household ant and roach insecticide, as well as nerve gas. This poses a serious threat to agricultural laborers, pest control workers and victims of chemical warfare, respectively.

OPs work by inhibiting something called acetylcholinesterase, an enzyme that breaks down a neurotransmitter called acetylcholine. This neurotransmitter is normally responsible for various functions in the body, including muscle contraction, sweating, salivation, lowering heart rate, decreasing the rate at which breathing occurs, and much more. Normally, acetylcholinesterase keeps acetylcholine from acting too long this allows us to relax our muscles and keep our heart and respiratory rates from dropping too low. However, when OP toxicity occurs and acetylcholinesterase is unable to work, acetylcholine activity is unopposed, which can rapidly be fatal. Consequently, exposure to organophosphates can cause serious problems, including watery eyes, sweating, excessive salivation, vomiting, drowsiness, seizures, cardiac and respiratory depression and possibly death.

One issue that troubles neurologists and neuroscientists is OP-induced status epilepticus (SE), a prolonged seizure state in which the victim does not regain consciousness. If left untreated, SE can cause severe neuron damage and even death. Benzodiazepines, a class of medications that are used to treat OP-induced SE, do not always work. Currently, there are no anti-epileptic drugs to quickly terminate SE when benzodiazepines fail in critical care settings. These resistant forms of SE are called refractory status epilepticus (RSE), occurring in most patients with SE and having poor prognosis.

A research team led by D. Samba Reddy, a professor of Neuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics at the Texas A&M University College of Medicine, has published a paper comparing various models utilizing three distinct agents to produce RSE and neurotoxicity. The paper, published in Neuropharmacology, examines the comparative profile of these agents on neuronal injury in the brain. The benzodiazepine diazepam was ineffective in reducing OP-induced RSE.

Reddys team also used a refractory SE model for studying the use of phenobarbital as a second-line agent for the termination of SE after OP exposure. That study, published in Epilepsia Open, examined phenobarbital as alternate anticonvulsant for organophosphateinduced benzodiazepinerefractory status epilepticus and neuronal injury.

At this time, very few options exist for treatment ofrefractory seizuresor status epilepticus, which is often noted in victims of organophosphate pesticide poisoning and nerve agent exposure, Reddy said. Phenobarbital is a second-line drug given for status epilepticus management, usually when the primary benzodiazepine-type anticonvulsants (such as lorazepam, diazepam, or midazolam) fail to control status epilepticus.

Generally, in emergency settings, 40 minutes is often necessary for first responders to arrive and assist in a chemical incident. However, it is unclear whether administration of phenobarbital 40 minutes after OP intoxication is still effective. In the experiments, Reddy and his team investigated the efficacy of phenobarbital treatment at 40 minutes post-exposure to OP intoxication.

Their findings showed that phenobarbital produced a dosedependent seizure protection. A substantial decrease in SE was evident at lower doses, and a complete seizure termination was noted at higher dose within 40minutes after treatment. Neuropathology findings showed significant neuroprotection in groups receiving the drug in brain regions associated with SE.

Though the higher doses resulted in greater protection against refractory SE and neuronal damage, there was no correlation with improved survival rate. Furthermore, phenobarbital caused significant adverse effects, including induction of a comatose state and even death.

We uncovered why benzodiazepine therapies are not able to stop the OP-induced seizures and brain neuronal injury, Reddy said. Now, we tested phenobarbital as alternate therapy for controlling OP-induced seizures and neuronal injury but with unfavorable findings. Despite a strong protection, it caused serious adverse effects including anesthetic or comatose state that would preclude its use in an ambulatory setting without cardio-respiratory support.

Ultimately, phenobarbital appears to be an alternative choice for OPinduced refractive SE in hospital settings. However, a careful riskbenefit analysis is required because of negative outcomes on survival and cardiorespiratory function. Consequently, the need for sophisticated support and critical monitoring in hospital settings may prevent its use as medical countermeasure in mass casualty situations. Looking forward, Reddy and his team hope to take another direction in finding an alternative treatment for OP toxicity synthetic neurosteroids.

Our pursuit for a new anticonvulsant continues, Reddy said. In 2008, we were among the first to identify neurosteroids to have the potential to stop SE more effectively and safely than benzodiazepines, and now phenobarbital. The hope is to aim our efforts on using synthetic neurosteroids for advanced development as future anticonvulsants for nerve agents.

Read this article:

Texas A&M Neuroscientists Discover Possible Treatment For Victims Of Chemical Warfare - Texas A&M University Today

New research has uncovered a precision medicine test using blood proteins to identify a novel patient subgroup of idiopathic multicentric Castleman disease (iMCD), a rare blood disorder, who are more likely to respond to siltuximab, the only FDA approved treatment for the disease. The international study was led by researchers at Penn Medicine and the Castleman Disease Collaborative Network (CDCN).

Prior research suggests that half of patients do not respond to the monoclonal antibody treatment, siltuximab. For those patients, rapid administration of other treatments is needed to prevent deterioration, so understanding who is likely to benefit is critical. This study also revealed that an existing drug approach, Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors, which are already approved for treating certain cancers and rheumatoid arthritis, are a promising alternative treatment option for patients who do not respond to siltuximab. The study, which is the largest to date for iMCD, is published in Blood Advances.

This discovery has the potential to improve precision medicine for iMCDthe concept that the right patient is given the right drug at the right time. Knowing which patients are likely to benefit from which drugs is a key piece of this puzzle, says David Fajgenbaum, an assistant professor of translational medicine and human genetics, Director of the Center for Cytokine Storm Treatment & Laboratory at the Perelman School of Medicine, co-founder of the CDCN, and associate director of patient impact at the Penn Orphan Disease Center, and the studys senior author. Fajgenbaum is also an iMCD patient.

This story is by Sophie Kluthe. Read more at Penn Medicine News.

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Test predicts which patients with rare blood disease will respond to treatment | Penn Today - Penn Today

Why Cairo Needs Reiki to Combat Stress and Anxiety

Everyday life in Cairo is full of surprises that make you come alive, but the citys energy can also feel draining and inescapable.

The Japanese healing practice Reiki (rei meaning universal, and ki meaning life energy) is based on the belief that universal energy surrounds us all. Reiki healing tells us that if we channel this universal energy mindfully, it can help alleviate physical pains and psychological ails such as fear or anxiety. Reiki sessions allegedly assist the bodys natural healing processes and are meant to help develop well-being holistically.

A Reiki session is held by an energy healer, or Reiki Master, who is said to channel universal energy through their palms and directs it towards the patient. The practices origins are associated with the Japanese Reiki Master Mikao Usui who reputedly treated over 2,000 people at the beginning of the 20th century. In the 1970s, Reiki made it to the US and has since been travelling all over the world. It is becoming a dominant wave in the ocean of wellbeing practices and several centres and healers in Cairo are now offering sessions.

Osama Sultan, an Egyptian Reiki healer who heals and co-teaches alongside Rania Nassar at the Giza based The Field of Awakening, originally started out as an engineer. He discovered Reiki while doing his MSc in Robotics and Automation in Germany in 2012. His mother had become a Reiki practitioner and as he was struggling with mental health, she kept suggesting energy healing sessions to him.

I was very skeptical, Osama says. As engineers we have a monopoly over these terms. I know what energy is: the capacity to do work.

From a scientific standpoint, the type of energy his mother was talking about had no basis. However, as his mental health deteriorated, he agreed to do a session.

I was so stressed that I was no longer aware of how stressed I was, he remembers. During the session, I released what was stuck inside me. Afterwards, he was able to finish his dissertation and returned to Egypt to work as an engineer.

Osamas definition of energy has not changed since. Rather, he now sees energy healing and science as two sides of the same coin:

In physics, work is only defined in mechanical and material terms, but in the wider sense, work can be emotions, thought, and connecting with people. You might have the energy to exercise physically and at the same time lack the energy to talk to someone emotionally, he explains.

Most of Osamas patients use Reiki for physical healing. He stresses that it should never be regarded as an alternative for medicine or psychotherapy. Instead, it is complementary to other treatment clients receive and can trigger different results in different people.

We can make sense of Reiki becoming an emerging trend in Egypt through considering local and global social dynamics.

Most Egyptians are skeptical about alternative healing, but they are opening up to it, because living conditions have progressively become more difficult in the past five years, Osama explains.

Challenging conditions for families, in career paths, or in relationships are pushing more people to look deeper into themselves and their consciousness, instead of just pushing through.

Reiki can be practiced one-on-one or in groups. Since it understands itself to channel a universal energy, it can be done in the same physical space as well as online. According to Osama, energy healing works through human connections beyond our apparent disconnection on the physical and psychological level.

The pricing of Reiki services (ranging from 100 1000 LE per session) limits their accessibility, but Osama is in the process of organising free online sessions and youtube videos. The Field of Awakening, which is offering a free Reiki Open Day on 22 September, also runs an open hour for people with severe conditions through which it provides free group healing.

Whether you are looking to cure your recurring headaches, loosen up your sore joints, or embark on a journey of personal self-reflection, Reiki practitioners maintain that connecting with universal energy will lead you on a path of healing.

Globally, lockdowns and pandemic fears have increased collective depressions and increased the popularity of well-being and self-awareness movements. Osama attributes this to rising pressures as well as to young generations who, growing up with the internet, are open to experiencing new things.

Describing Cairo as a concentrated manifestation of the problems of the world, he is grateful to be contributing to this movement in a place that really needs it. There is so much stress and anxiety that Egyptians suffer from collectively. Reiki gives you support to find solutions and resources behind the challenges you face.

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Why Cairo Needs Reiki to Combat Stress and Anxiety - Egyptian Streets

Tulsi plants are given a venerated position in Indian hosueholds  |  Photo Credit: iStock Images

Diabetes has become a huge health menace as modern lifestyles have made excuses for sedentary modes. With calorie-burning activity out of our daily schedules, we are accumulating unhealthy amounts of fats and adding to the pressure on our heart and blood vessels. Diabetes the silent killer creeps in unnoticed and in several cases, goes undetected till some health calamity makes the patient check the blood parameters.

If you have diabetes, your body is not able to properly process and use glucose from the food you eat. The unhealthy accumulation of sugar in the blood is a dangerous phenomenon. According to the Cleveland Clinic, diabetescan cause heart attack, heart failure, stroke, kidney failure and coma. These complications can lead to your death. Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in adults with diabetes. Some types of diabetes can be prevented by adopting a healthy lifestyle.

Apart from recommending a heart-healthy daily routine, our ancestors had woven in traditions in our days and months to make us appreciate the goodness of herbs and naturally available food factors. We have neem patta (leaves) rolled into gur (jaggery) to start the new year. Neem is antibiotic and antioxidant. Similarly, our courtyards are lined with several trees and shrubs, key among them being Tulasi (Tulsi) or Holy Basil and Curry leaves. Tulasi leaves have the status of God and the plant is treated with reverence. Not for nothing. Its medicinal properties are well known. It can be added to food, medicines, water, tea, or eaten raw.

Modern medicine is just now discovering the goodness of Tulasi patta. A study published in the "Macedonian Journal of Medical Scientists" has investigated the effect of Basil on diabetic rats using an extract of the herb. This study has been mentioned in a writeup in Express.co.uk, where the Holy Basil or Tulsi has been called a "vitamin-packed herb that significantly lowers blood sugar levels. In the tests mentioned in the Macedonian Journal of Medical Scientists, the rodents blood glucose was measured before and after induction of the extract, at week one and week four. Findings revealed that basil had a significant lowering effect on blood glucose levels.

The researchers noted: Extract ethanol of basil leaves showed good results in lowering blood glucose and advanced glycation end products in diabetic rats. These findings were echoed in another study on rodents, who were also administered basil extracts of holy basil. At the end of the 30 days of the study, researchers saw a 26.4 per cent decrease in blood sugar levels. Basil has been shown to target metabolic stress too, which might aid with weight loss and cholesterol levels. Other studies have pointed out that the herb could improve pancreatic beta-cell function and insulin secretion - and further increase the uptake of glucose by muscle cells. One showed that the herb significantly improved spikes in blood glucose levels after eating.

The researchers noted that the leaves appeared to have hypoglycaemic properties, which have been shown to lower blood sugar levels and help prevent complications of diabetes.

Indian study on the use of Thulasi to treat Type 2 Diabetes:A similar study had been carried out by the Department of Foods and Nutrition, MS University of Baroda.Titled Effect of Tulasi (Ocimum sanctum) leaf powder supplementation on blood sugar levels, serum lipids and tissue lipids in diabetic rats, the study had observed the following result:Tulasi leaf powder was fed at the 1% level in normal and diabetic rats for a period of one month to explore the effect on fasting blood sugar, uronic acid, total amino acids, and the lipid profile in serum and tissue lipids. The results indicated a significant reduction in fasting blood sugar, uronic acid, total amino acids, total cholesterol, triglyceride, phospholipids and total lipids. In the liver, total cholesterol, triglyceride and total lipids were significantly lowered. Total lipids were significantly reduced in the kidney. In the heart, a significant fall in total cholesterol and phospholipids was observed. All these observations indicate the hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic effect of Tulasi in diabetic rats.

Study of Tulsi medicine to treat diabetes in humans:A study published in the Journal of Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine found that holy basil showed benefits for reducing blood sugar. The study including a group of 90 men, who were all diagnosed with type 2 diabetes at the outset of the analysis.

The results yielded from both the animal and human studies could hold particular relevance for individuals with pre-diabetes, which refers to abnormally high blood sugar levels which are not yet high enough to qualify as type 2 diabetes.

Disclaimer: Tips and suggestions mentioned in the article are for general information purpose only and should not be construed as professional medical advice. Always consult your doctor or a dietician before starting any fitness programme or making any changes to your diet.

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Diabetes: This herb that grows in your courtyard significantly lowers blood sugar levels - Times Now