Category Archives: Alternative Medicine

by Dr. J. Hareendran Nair

India is witnessing a second wave of coronavirus, with daily Covid-19 cases rising exponentially in the country. The rapid mutation of the virus and never-ending new strains have now become more severe and it is hard to tell, how this situation will manifest in future. This rise in Covid-19 cases has put a toll on the healthcare system, leading to uncertainty in the minds of the people. While government is taking requisite steps to ensure vaccination is ramping up in the country, there is still a long road to recovery.

This has led to a renewed focus on alternative natural therapies and lifestyle changes that will help the body cope with this deadly virus. Given Indias rich history in traditional medicine - the need of the hour is to look at innovative approaches and solutions. The Central governments impetus on Ayurveda drugs formulated to treat Covid-19 across the nation comes at the most appropriate time when more than 22 million people in the country are affected by the virus and the entire administrative and healthcare machinery are at work 24/7 to slow down the spread of the pandemic. The initiative of the Ministry of Ayush is a recognition and encouragement to hundreds of researchers and practitioners from traditional streams of medicine who have been relentlessly working towards finding a cure for Covid-19 as part of the Atmanirbhar drive.

I have been a practitioner and researcher of Ayurveda since the early 80s and have encountered different types of fevers (Jwaras) and is well aware of the ways in which Ayurveda deals with the diagnosis, pathophysiology, classification, management, prognosis and treatment of fevers and pandemics. I have also experienced how the medicines and its composition evolved according to the changing requirements of the environment and patients lifestyle and physique.

I have been working with a team of researchers to evolve a system that solves health problems through an approach based on the protocols of western medicine on formulas based on herbal origin. All the drugs that we formulate in our laboratory goes through stringent testing including toxicity studies which is published. Our research aims at discovering the reasons for the imbalances that a disease can cause the body and formulate poly-herbal drugs that address the external element that causes the detrimental effect.

The medicines that have been introduced are aimed at restoring respiratory health and have proven to be effective in clinical trials on patients affected by the disease. The move by the government to distribute drugs that have been proven effective comes at the most opportune time when the nation is struggling from a massive surge of the disease.

Moreover, as many studies have shown integrative therapy using Ayurveda and Yoga have proven to be effective even for Covid 19 positive patients with multiple comorbidities. As a practitioner of modern Ayurveda medicine, I would recommend the use of integrative therapy using Ayurveda and western medicine for emergency treatment for patients who are affected by Covid-19. There have been a few studies based on this which are available for the public.

And finally, it is heartening to note that India is walking the path of the countries from South East Asia where traditional systems of medicines have been treated on a par with Modern Western medicine. Almost all the countries have displayed remarkable level of success in curbing the pandemic.

To conclude, India and other nations of the world have to note the example of countries in the South Asian region where traditional systems of medicines are an integral part of their treatment system. Almost all the countries in the region have weathered the pandemic with remarkable success and the use of traditional systems of knowledge have a large role to play in the manner in which people in these areas have overcome the crisis and managed to put their economies back in the growth path.

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Efficacy of traditional medicine to combat Covid-19 pandemic - ETHealthworld.com

DetailsCategory: AntibodiesPublished on Friday, 04 June 2021 11:16Hits: 565

KEYNOTE-564 is the First Phase 3 Study to Show Positive Results for Adjuvant Immunotherapy in RCC

First-Time Disease-Free Survival Data to be Presented During Plenary Session at the 2021 ASCO Annual Meeting

KENILWORTH, NJ, USA I June 3, 2021 I Merck (NYSE: MRK), known as MSD outside the United States and Canada, today announced first-time results from the pivotal Phase 3 KEYNOTE-564 trial evaluating KEYTRUDA, Mercks anti-PD-1 therapy, for the potential adjuvant treatment of patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC) at intermediate-high or high risk of recurrence following nephrectomy (surgical removal of a kidney) or following nephrectomy and resection of metastatic lesions. After a median follow-up of 24.1 months (14.9-41.5), KEYTRUDA demonstrated a statistically significant and clinically meaningful reduction in the risk of disease recurrence or death by 32% compared to placebo (HR=0.68 [95% CI, 0.530.87]; p=0.0010). Additionally, a favorable trend in overall survival (OS) was observed with a 46% reduction in the risk of death with KEYTRUDA as compared to placebo (HR=0.54 [95% CI, 0.300.96]; p=0.0164). As previously announced, the trial will continue to evaluate OS, a key secondary endpoint.

With the results of KEYNOTE-564, pembrolizumab is the first immunotherapy to show a clinical benefit in the adjuvant setting in kidney cancer, said Dr. Toni K. Choueiri, director of the Lank Center for Genitourinary Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School. It took several decades to achieve this milestone. We hope to build on this important research and provide new treatment options to kidney cancer patients.

As nearly half of early-stage renal cell carcinoma patients experience disease recurrence after surgery, we are particularly encouraged to see that KEYTRUDA demonstrated a statistically significant reduction in the risk of recurrence or death by 32% compared with placebo in this study, said Dr. Scot Ebbinghaus, vice president, clinical research, Merck Research Laboratories. These data highlight the opportunity for KEYTRUDA to become a new standard of care for patients with early-stage renal cell carcinoma and we look forward to working closely with regulatory authorities to make this treatment option available to patients.

The late-breaking results will be presented in the Plenary session of the 2021 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting (Abstract #LBA5) on Sunday, June 6, 2021. As announced, data spanning more than 20 types of cancer will be presented from Mercks oncology research program at ASCO. A compendium of presentations and posters of Merck-led studies will be posted by Merck on Friday, June 4 at 9 a.m. ET. Follow Merck on Twitter via @Merck and keep up to date with ASCO news and updates by using the hashtag #ASCO21.

Merck is continuing to study KEYTRUDA, in combination or as monotherapy, as well as other investigational products across multiple settings and stages of RCC including adjuvant and advanced or metastatic disease through our broad clinical development program, which includes over 20 clinical studies and more than 4,000 patients.

KEYTRUDA is currently approved in the U.S., Europe and Japan in combination with axitinib for the first-line treatment of patients with advanced RCC.

Study Design and Additional Data from KEYNOTE-564

KEYNOTE-564 is a randomized, double-blind, Phase 3 trial (ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03142334) evaluating KEYTRUDA monotherapy versus placebo for the adjuvant treatment of patients with RCC who have undergone nephrectomy and who have intermediate-high risk, high risk, or M1 no evidence of disease (M1 NED) RCC with clear cell component. The study enrolled 994 patients who were randomized to receive either KEYTRUDA (200 mg intravenously [IV] on Day 1 of each three-week cycle for up to 17 cycles) or placebo (saline solution IV on Day 1 of each three-week cycle for up to 17 cycles). The primary endpoint is disease-free survival (DFS), and the secondary endpoints include OS and safety.

As of data cutoff (Dec. 14, 2020), the median study follow-up was 24.1 months. Findings showed KEYTRUDA demonstrated a statistically significant improvement in DFS in patients with RCC following nephrectomy or following nephrectomy and resection of metastatic lesions compared with placebo (HR=0.68 [95% CI, 0.530.87]; p=0.0010). Additionally, the two-year estimated DFS rate was 77.3% with KEYTRUDA versus 68.1% with placebo. Overall, the DFS benefit was consistent across subgroups. Median DFS was not achieved in either treatment arm based on event accrual.

Grade 3-5 treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs) occurred in 18.9% of patients in the KEYTRUDA arm and 1.2% of patients in the placebo arm. TRAEs resulting in discontinuation of any treatment occurred in 17.6% of patients in the KEYTRUDA arm and 0.6% of patients in the placebo arm. The most common TRAEs of any grade (occurring in 5% of patients) were fatigue (20.3%), pruritus (18.6%) and hypothyroidism (17.6%) in the KEYTRUDA arm and fatigue (14.3%), pruritus (11.5%) and diarrhea (10.3%) in the placebo arm. The most common immune-mediated adverse events of any grade (occurring in 3% of patients) were hypothyroidism (21.1%) and hyperthyroidism (11.9%) in the KEYTRUDA arm and hypothyroidism (3.6%) in the placebo arm. No treatment-related deaths occurred.

About Renal Cell Carcinoma (RCC)

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is by far the most common type of kidney cancer; about nine out of 10 kidney cancers are RCCs. Renal cell carcinoma is about twice as common in men as in women. Most cases of RCC are discovered incidentally during imaging tests for other abdominal diseases. Worldwide, it is estimated there were nearly 431,300 new cases of kidney cancer diagnosed and almost 179,400 deaths from the disease in 2020. In the U.S. alone, it is estimated there will be nearly 76,100 new cases of kidney cancer diagnosed and almost 13,800 deaths from the disease in 2021.

About KEYTRUDA (pembrolizumab) Injection, 100 mg

KEYTRUDA is an anti-PD-1 therapy that works by increasing the ability of the bodys immune system to help detect and fight tumor cells. KEYTRUDA is a humanized monoclonal antibody that blocks the interaction between PD-1 and its ligands, PD-L1 and PD-L2, thereby activating T lymphocytes which may affect both tumor cells and healthy cells.

Merck has the industrys largest immuno-oncology clinical research program. There are currently more than 1,400 trials studying KEYTRUDA across a wide variety of cancers and treatment settings. The KEYTRUDA clinical program seeks to understand the role of KEYTRUDA across cancers and the factors that may predict a patient's likelihood of benefitting from treatment with KEYTRUDA, including exploring several different biomarkers.

Selected KEYTRUDA (pembrolizumab) Indications in the U.S.

Melanoma

KEYTRUDA is indicated for the treatment of patients with unresectable or metastatic melanoma.

KEYTRUDA is indicated for the adjuvant treatment of patients with melanoma with involvement of lymph node(s) following complete resection.

Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

KEYTRUDA, in combination with pemetrexed and platinum chemotherapy, is indicated for the first-line treatment of patients with metastatic nonsquamous non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), with no EGFR or ALK genomic tumor aberrations.

KEYTRUDA, in combination with carboplatin and either paclitaxel or paclitaxel protein-bound, is indicated for the first-line treatment of patients with metastatic squamous NSCLC.

KEYTRUDA, as a single agent, is indicated for the first-line treatment of patients with NSCLC expressing PD-L1 [tumor proportion score (TPS) 1%] as determined by an FDA-approved test, with no EGFR or ALK genomic tumor aberrations, and is stage III where patients are not candidates for surgical resection or definitive chemoradiation, or metastatic.

KEYTRUDA, as a single agent, is indicated for the treatment of patients with metastatic NSCLC whose tumors express PD-L1 (TPS 1%) as determined by an FDA-approved test, with disease progression on or after platinum-containing chemotherapy. Patients with EGFR or ALK genomic tumor aberrations should have disease progression on FDA-approved therapy for these aberrations prior to receiving KEYTRUDA.

Head and Neck Squamous Cell Cancer

KEYTRUDA, in combination with platinum and fluorouracil (FU), is indicated for the first-line treatment of patients with metastatic or with unresectable, recurrent head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC).

KEYTRUDA, as a single agent, is indicated for the first-line treatment of patients with metastatic or with unresectable, recurrent HNSCC whose tumors express PD-L1 [combined positive score (CPS) 1] as determined by an FDA-approved test.

KEYTRUDA, as a single agent, is indicated for the treatment of patients with recurrent or metastatic HNSCC with disease progression on or after platinum-containing chemotherapy.

Classical Hodgkin Lymphoma

KEYTRUDA is indicated for the treatment of adult patients with relapsed or refractory classical Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL).

KEYTRUDA is indicated for the treatment of pediatric patients with refractory cHL, or cHL that has relapsed after 2 or more lines of therapy.

Primary Mediastinal Large B-Cell Lymphoma

KEYTRUDA is indicated for the treatment of adult and pediatric patients with refractory primary mediastinal large B-cell lymphoma (PMBCL), or who have relapsed after 2 or more prior lines of therapy. KEYTRUDA is not recommended for treatment of patients with PMBCL who require urgent cytoreductive therapy.

Urothelial Carcinoma

KEYTRUDA is indicated for the treatment of patients with locally advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma (mUC) who are not eligible for cisplatin-containing chemotherapy and whose tumors express PD-L1 (CPS 10), as determined by an FDA-approved test, or in patients who are not eligible for any platinum-containing chemotherapy regardless of PD-L1 status. This indication is approved under accelerated approval based on tumor response rate and duration of response. Continued approval for this indication may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in confirmatory trials.

KEYTRUDA is indicated for the treatment of patients with locally advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma (mUC) who have disease progression during or following platinum-containing chemotherapy or within 12 months of neoadjuvant or adjuvant treatment with platinum-containing chemotherapy.

KEYTRUDA is indicated for the treatment of patients with Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG)-unresponsive, high-risk, non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) with carcinoma in situ (CIS) with or without papillary tumors who are ineligible for or have elected not to undergo cystectomy.

Microsatellite Instability-High or Mismatch Repair Deficient Cancer

KEYTRUDA is indicated for the treatment of adult and pediatric patients with unresectable or metastatic microsatellite instability-high (MSI-H) or mismatch repair deficient (dMMR)

This indication is approved under accelerated approval based on tumor response rate and durability of response. Continued approval for this indication may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in the confirmatory trials. The safety and effectiveness of KEYTRUDA in pediatric patients with MSI-H central nervous system cancers have not been established.

Microsatellite Instability-High or Mismatch Repair Deficient Colorectal Cancer

KEYTRUDA is indicated for the first-line treatment of patients with unresectable or metastatic MSI-H or dMMR colorectal cancer (CRC).

Gastric Carcinoma

KEYTRUDA, in combination with trastuzumab, and fluoropyrimidine- and platinum-containing chemotherapy, is indicated for the first-line treatment of patients with locally advanced unresectable or metastatic HER2-positive gastric or gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) adenocarcinoma. This indication is approved under accelerated approval based on tumor response rate and durability of response. Continued approval for this indication may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in the confirmatory trials.

KEYTRUDA, as a single agent, is indicated for the treatment of patients with recurrent locally advanced or metastatic gastric or gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) adenocarcinoma whose tumors express PD-L1 (CPS 1) as determined by an FDA-approved test, with disease progression on or after two or more prior lines of therapy including fluoropyrimidine- and platinum-containing chemotherapy and if appropriate, HER2/neu-targeted therapy. This indication is approved under accelerated approval based on tumor response rate and durability of response. Continued approval for this indication may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in the confirmatory trials.

Esophageal Carcinoma

KEYTRUDA is indicated for the treatment of patients with locally advanced or metastatic esophageal or gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) (tumors with epicenter 1 to 5 centimeters above the GEJ) carcinoma that is not amenable to surgical resection or definitive chemoradiation either:

Cervical Carcinoma

KEYTRUDA is indicated for the treatment of patients with recurrent or metastatic cervical cancer with disease progression on or after chemotherapy whose tumors express PD-L1 (CPS 1) as determined by an FDA-approved test. This indication is approved under accelerated approval based on tumor response rate and durability of response. Continued approval for this indication may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in the confirmatory trials.

Hepatocellular Carcinoma

KEYTRUDA is indicated for the treatment of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) who have been previously treated with sorafenib. This indication is approved under accelerated approval based on tumor response rate and durability of response. Continued approval for this indication may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in the confirmatory trials.

Merkel Cell Carcinoma

KEYTRUDA is indicated for the treatment of adult and pediatric patients with recurrent locally advanced or metastatic Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC). This indication is approved under accelerated approval based on tumor response rate and durability of response. Continued approval for this indication may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in the confirmatory trials.

Renal Cell Carcinoma

KEYTRUDA, in combination with axitinib, is indicated for the first-line treatment of patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC).

Tumor Mutational Burden-High

KEYTRUDA is indicated for the treatment of adult and pediatric patients with unresectable or metastatic tumor mutational burden-high (TMB-H) [10 mutations/megabase] solid tumors, as determined by an FDA-approved test, that have progressed following prior treatment and who have no satisfactory alternative treatment options. This indication is approved under accelerated approval based on tumor response rate and durability of response. Continued approval for this indication may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in the confirmatory trials. The safety and effectiveness of KEYTRUDA in pediatric patients with TMB-H central nervous system cancers have not been established.

Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma

KEYTRUDA is indicated for the treatment of patients with recurrent or metastatic cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) that is not curable by surgery or radiation.

Triple-Negative Breast Cancer

KEYTRUDA, in combination with chemotherapy, is indicated for the treatment of patients with locally recurrent unresectable or metastatic triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) whose tumors express PD-L1 (CPS 10) as determined by an FDA-approved test. This indication is approved under accelerated approval based on progression-free survival. Continued approval for this indication may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in the confirmatory trials.

Mercks Focus on Cancer

Our goal is to translate breakthrough science into innovative oncology medicines to help people with cancer worldwide. At Merck, the potential to bring new hope to people with cancer drives our purpose and supporting accessibility to our cancer medicines is our commitment. As part of our focus on cancer, Merck is committed to exploring the potential of immuno-oncology with one of the largest development programs in the industry across more than 30 tumor types. We also continue to strengthen our portfolio through strategic acquisitions and are prioritizing the development of several promising oncology candidates with the potential to improve the treatment of advanced cancers. For more information about our oncology clinical trials, visit http://www.merck.com/clinicaltrials.

About Merck

For 130 years, Merck, known as MSD outside of the United States and Canada, has been inventing for life, bringing forward medicines and vaccines for many of the worlds most challenging diseases in pursuit of our mission to save and improve lives. We demonstrate our commitment to patients and population health by increasing access to health care through far-reaching policies, programs and partnerships. Today, Merck continues to be at the forefront of research to prevent and treat diseases that threaten people and animals including cancer, infectious diseases such as HIV and Ebola, and emerging animal diseases as we aspire to be the premier research-intensive biopharmaceutical company in the world. For more information, visit http://www.merck.com and connect with us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and LinkedIn.

Please see Prescribing Information for KEYTRUDA (pembrolizumab) at http://www.merck.com/product/usa/pi_circulars/k/keytruda/keytruda_pi.pdf and Medication Guide for KEYTRUDA at http://www.merck.com/product/usa/pi_circulars/k/keytruda/keytruda_mg.pdf.

SOURCE: Merck

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Merck's KEYTRUDA (pembrolizumab) Given After Surgery Reduced the Risk of Disease Recurrence or Death by 32% Versus Placebo as Adjuvant Therapy in...

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced the approval of a once-daily atypical antipsychotic drug, Lybalvi (olanzapine and samidorphan), to treat adults with schizophrenia and adults with bipolar I disorder.

According to its manufacturer, Alkermes, the combination of olanzapine and samidorphan causes significantly less weight gain than traditional Zyprexa (olanzapine), one of the most widely prescribed antipsychotic drugs for treating schizophrenia and bipolar I disorder.

"The weight gain on olanzapine has limited its use in patients, due to reluctance of healthcare providers to prescribe it and as a result of patients discontinuing the medication. This is unfortunate since olanzapine is one of the most effective antipsychotics on the market," says Ren S. Kahn, MD, PhD, who is a professor and chair of the department of psychiatry and behavioral health system at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City. Dr. Kahn was one of the researchers who studied the effects of Lybalvi in clinical trials.

"Lybalvi combines the efficacy of olanzapine with limited weight gain, and thus provides an important alternative to olanzapine monotherapy," Kahn adds.

RELATED: Schizophrenia: Popular Myths, Real Facts

The new approval is based on the results of the ENLIGHTEN-1 and ENLIGHTEN-2 studies. In ENLIGHTEN-1, which was published in the MarchApril issue of the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, adults with acutely exacerbated (or worsened) schizophrenia who completed four weeks of treatment with Lybalvi experienced significant improvements compared with those who received placebo.

In ENLIGHTEN-2, a phase 3 study published in August 2020 in the American Journal of Psychiatry, researchers assessed the impact of Lybalvi on weight gain compared with olanzapine alone. Over the course of 24 weeks, the researchers found that Lybalvi had similar effectiveness while causing significantly less weight gain and smaller increases in waist size compared with olanzapine alone.

Lybalvi, which is taken by mouth, was found to be well tolerated in both studies. According to Lybalvis website, the most common side effects in adults with schizophrenia were weight gain, sleepiness, dry mouth, and headache.

In adults with bipolar I disorder, common side effects when using Lybalvi included constipation, weakness, dry mouth, dizziness, and increased appetite. In adults with bipolar I disorder who took Lybalvi along with lithium or valproate, side effects included dry mouth, back pain, memory and speaking issues, weight gain, and dizziness. Lybalvi should not be used by people who are taking opioids or going through acute opioid withdrawal.

Lybalvi is anticipated to be available for patients in late 2021, Alkermes said in a press release.

RELATED: Keeping Your Relationship Strong After a Schizophrenia Diagnosis

Antipsychotic drugs like Lybalvi and olanzapine play a key role in managing conditions like schizophrenia, but as Kahn mentioned, they often come with significant side effects like weight gain. A review of 307 studies that assessed weight change with antipsychotic treatment, which was published in PLOS ONE, showed that the majority of antipsychotic medications are associated with some degree of weight gain when used long term. The amount of weight gain caused by each drug ranged from mild to severe, the researchers wrote.

Weight gain associated with antipsychotic medication can play a role in a variety of problems ranging from a worse quality of life to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease and death. There is also a greater likelihood that patients who are prescribed these medications may fail to stick with them, according to an August 2017 article published in the journal Nonpsychiatric Disease and Treatment.

The authors of the August 2017 article wrote that the risk of weight gain appears to be highest with olanzapine and clozapine [another antipsychotic drug that can be used to treat people with schizophrenia], and tends to happen quickly after starting antipsychotic treatment and continue over time. Strategies to address weight gain, such as dietary counseling, exercise programs, and cognitive and behavioral interventions, appear to have modest effects, the authors stated, adding that although switching medication is an option, it can lead to a relapse in ones illness.

RELATED: Schizophrenia Signs and Symptoms

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New Antipsychotic That Causes Less Weight Gain Gets FDA Approval - Everyday Health

Almost 40% of Americans believe cancer can be cured through alternative therapies alone, according to a survey conducted by the American Society of Clinical Oncology. This is alarming because evidence shows that people who use alternative therapies in place of standard cancer treatments have much higher death rates.

The terms alternative, complementary, and lifestyle medicine are used to describe many kinds of products, practices, and treatments that are not part of standard or traditional medicine. Alternative therapy refers to non-standard treatment used in place of standard treatment, while complementary therapy usually means methods used along with standard treatment. Lifestyle medicine is a newer field that describes its approach as preventing and treating illness through healthy eating, physical activity, and other healthy behaviors without the use of medicine.

In some cases, complementary methods can help cancer patients feel better when used alongside standard treatment and with the advice of a health care provider. Alternative and complementary therapies are often appealing because they use your own body, your own mind, or things that may be found in nature. But sometimes these methods wrongly claim to prevent, diagnose, or treat cancer even when they have not been proven to work through scientific testing.

And in the worst cases, some alternative or complementary therapies may be dangerous or even deadly. Some may also interfere with how standard cancer treatment works. If youre thinking about using any non-traditional therapy, its important to first discuss it with your health care team.

Some of these therapies promise wellness using a method that sounds simple, wholesome, and without harmful side effects. But this is not always true. Some concerns include:

Some complementary methods have been studied and shown to help people feel better while theyre undergoing standard cancer treatment under a doctors care. Examples might include meditation to reduce stress, peppermint or ginger tea for nausea, or guided imagery to help relieve stress and pain during medical procedures.

Many complementary treatments are unlikely to cause harm and wont interfere with your cancer treatment. Here are some examples:

If you are thinking about using any method instead of standard evidence-based medical treatment, it is important to talk to your health care team first. And watch out for these warning signs:

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The Truth About Alternative Medical Treatments

Alternative medicine is that one branch of medicine that majority of the people have second guesses about. While the pros and cons of alternative medicine are quite extensive, there could very well be a number of factors that could make people question the integrity of the impacts the same would have on the body.

While many people do prefer the synthetic medications for faster recovery, some like the field of alternative medicine because of the lack or little of the side effects they impose.

By the end of this article, you will have a better idea about the herbal medicine pros and cons that will help you make a better decision about whether or not they are worthy of usage or not.

With the kind of diseases that is affecting our health on a daily basis, it is important that we have notion of good medicines that would cure and prevent the condition and even not impose any kind of negative side effects on the long run.

In order to help you through the same, we have listed out some of the side effects of alternative medicine along with the amazing benefits as well.

The very first prospect when it comes to the Alternative Medicine is to focus on the prospect of the positives under the same. This is the part which is going to help you get a better notion and idea surrounding the same without any further downsides whatsoever.

Let us take a look at some of the positive around this, shall we?

We are subjected to a lot of stress in our day to day life and the best way to combat that is by ensuring that we do opt for the alternative medicine because the same is set to not just help in getting rid of the stress but even help in keeping your levels of cortisol in check as well.

While the stress is often considered as a burden on the mental health, it has been found to have physical ramifications on the health as well. It is best suggested to ensure that you do opt for the same mainly because of the fact that it has been found to have better impacts on ones heart health and such as well.

Alternative forms of medicine have been found to have beneficial impacts in helping through the conditions associated with the management of stress levels in a natural way.

Instead of relying on pills constantly to get you through the tough times, it has been found that the alternative medicine or the therapies help in keeping the same in check without any kind of negative impacts on the body.

Owing to the fact that the holistic medicine helps you gain better perception of your body and mind and the synchronized functioning of the two. You will be surprised as to how different things actually are for this.

It helps in getting a better understanding of the primary cause behind the pain and the illness, thus helping get rid of the condition altogether. Owing to the fact that you know the cause behind the problem which further help your acquire better healing without much negativity altogether.

Yet another one of the advantages of alternative medicine is that it is not going to cost you a fortune. Majority of the holistic medicines are often targeted with the natural means which ensures that it wont end up digging a hole in your pocket. It goes without saying that finding good doctors under this stream of medicine can be a tough nut to crack but the approach to the cure is quite amazing.

Traditional medicine, without any doubt, is quite expensive. The prospect of healthcare is constantly growing and becoming more expensive which is why opting for the alternative medicine is actually a better option.

The best part under the herbal medicine pros and cons is the fact that the alternative medicines do have a very versatile approach to their treatment. It can be used as the primary medication, as an accessory form of treatment or even the supportive treatments as well.

For example, for people suffering from depression and anxiety, indulging in meditation as well as yoga has been found to have beneficial impacts in helping people recover from the condition without any form of negative impacts as such.

The best fact around the alternative medicine is the fact that the practitioners focus on the prevention and not on cure right at the moment which is what helps in assuring an overall better health without much complications to deal with.

The practitioners have been found to emphasise their focus on preventing the disease by looking and finding the root cause of the problem which further helps in curing it for good without any issues whatsoever.

Every coin has two sides to it and with the alternative medicine, the problem is the same. Much like the benefits, under the pros and cons of alternative medicine, you have the side effects and the downsides too.

Let us take a look at some of them, shall we?

One of the major downsides to the alternative medicine is the fact that the general insurance most possible doesnt cover its expenses under its claims.

Given the fact that therapies still need better scientific explanations to be marked safe, it is often the reason that majority of the health insurance dont cover the expenses around it because of the same reason.

Some of the insurances might cover some aspects under the holistic healing but not all of them do the same which is definitely one of the primary factors that one needs to know of.

Yet another factor about the problems with alternative medicine is the fact that it does take quite some time to show its impacts in the process of healing. The main reason behind the same is because of the fact that it heals from within, does causing the problem to show the positive effects that you have been looking to achieve.

This is one of the reasons why the practitioners tend to suggest opting for the traditional medication if it is something to do with the immediate recovery or such.

If you have heard of the holistic form of treatment, youd know that the confusing buzzwords around these can be a bit confusing at times. Understanding them is often quite confusing which further leads to the prospects of not understanding the problem and ending up with no treatment for the problem all the more.

It is necessary to ensure that you do indulge in having a thorough knowledge around the same because only that will help you get a better idea around the same.

The fact behind this is that natural doesnt technically mean that the thing is completely safe for you. This is the primary reason why it is necessary to ensure that you do take the time out to hassle through the prospects before you do consolidate anything.

Even though the alternative medicine and therapy is touted for its effectiveness, there could very well be a number of instances in which it wont work at all. In such cases, it is important to ensure that you reach out for the traditional medicine for better cure.

It all depends on the severity of the condition and the intensity of the therapy administered on the patient. If it is not enough, chances are that you wont be cured even if you try along with a longer period of time.

One of the biggest disadvantages among the pros and cons of alternative medicine is the fact that it lacks proper research. Scientific evidence regarding the efficacy of majority of the treatments are still not assured which is something that does affect the overall prospect of authenticity and effectiveness of this form of therapy or medication.

All in all, when it comes down to the pros and cons of alternative medicine, the prospects are extensive but it is important to ensure that you do opt for ways that would help you gain a better semblance of what is good for you and what is it that you need to avoid. If it is something severe, it is important that you dont wait for the alternative or the holistic form of healing to take course because the same can end up affecting your health in the long run.

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10 Pros And Cons Of Alternative Medicine Is Contemporary ...

A basic principle behind many kinds of alternative medicine is balance. Acupuncture, tai chi, and various forms of energy medicine are designed to bring the body into balance, which in theory, can help restore health.

This principle of balance is an important one to keep in mind when considering alternative medicine for yourself or a loved one. There are many benefits of using complementary and alternative medicine for a wide variety of conditions, but there are also things to be cautious of. Before trying out any new therapy, it is a good idea to consider the pros and cons.

Alternative Medicine: Pros

Recently, the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) reported that about 38 percent of U.S. adults and about 12 percent of children are using some form of alternative medicine. Here are some of the reasons:

Alternative Medicine: Cons

Before trying a new kind of alternative medicine, there are some key factors to keep in mind. The following concerns should not prevent you or a loved one from using alternative medicine, but offer more information in the decision-making process.

Research what the relevant government agencies, such as the National Institutes of Health and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, have to say about the dietary supplement or herbal product you're thinking of taking. Reports on many alternative medicines can be found by visiting the various agencies Web sites.

When considering alternative medicine, think balance taking the best health care from both the traditional and alternative sides of medicine could be your best option.

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Integrative medicine: Find out what works

Don't take claims of cure at face value. Do your homework when considering complementary and alternative treatments.

Once considered fringe, complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) treatments, such as herbal remedies and meditation, are gaining acceptance in Western medicine. Thanks to increasing research, doctors are better able to understand the role these therapies play in helping to treat and prevent illness.

As a result, doctors are starting to combine these techniques with conventional treatments. This approach called integrative (in-tuh-GRAY-tiv) medicine takes advantage of evidence-based conventional and alternative medicine practices to improve health and treat illness.

While nonconventional approaches such as acupuncture, music therapy and animal-assisted therapy have been found to be effective, others haven't been studied well enough to determine whether they're safe and effective.

When considering any treatment, take time to learn about the risks and benefits. Gather information from a variety of sources and check credentials. Talk with your doctor before trying a new treatment especially if you take medications, have chronic health problems, or you are pregnant or nursing.

When researching treatments, do what doctors do. Look for high-quality studies. These large, controlled and randomized trials are published in peer-reviewed journals journals that only publish articles reviewed by independent experts.

The results of these studies are more likely to be reliable. You can find many of these studies online or by asking a reference librarian at your local library.

Be cautious about studies in animals and studies that include only a small number of people. Their results may not hold up when tested in larger trials or on people. Finally, remember that sound health advice is generally based on a body of research, not a single study.

Although scientific studies are the best way to evaluate whether a treatment is safe and effective, it isn't always possible to find good studies about nonconventional therapies. A lack of evidence doesn't necessarily mean a treatment doesn't work but it does make it harder to evaluate whether it's safe and effective. Don't hesitate to talk with your doctor if you have questions.

The web and social media are full of information about integrative health techniques, but not all of it is accurate. To weed out the bad information from the good, use the three D's:

Scammers have perfected ways to convince you that their products are the best. They often target people who have serious and chronic medical problems. Remember, if something sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Be alert for these red flags:

Herbal remedies, vitamins and minerals, and dietary supplements are often marketed as natural products, but that doesn't guarantee that they're safe. These products can have serious side effects. Even some vitamins and minerals can cause problems when taken in large amounts. Play it safe with these tips:

Consider these tips from the NCCIH when looking for integrative health practitioners:

Following these tips should help you find integrative techniques that enhance your health and quality of life. Just remember that these are meant to assist, not replace, conventional medicine. Keep your doctor informed about all integrative therapies you're using.

Don't change your conventional treatment such as the dose of a prescribed medicine without first talking to your doctor. Continue to rely on your doctor to diagnose and treat health problems. Delaying treatment can be dangerous, particularly for chronic or serious conditions, such as diabetes or cancer.

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Integrative medicine: Find out what works - Mayo Clinic

1. GreenMedInfo - The Science of Natural Healing

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Top 100 Alternative Medicine Blogs and Websites in 2021

You may be new to using alternative medicine or perhaps you have already seen the amazing benefits alternative medicine and alternative therapies can bring to your life. But do you know how long it has been practiced and where it originated? Well, let me take you on a journey into the fascinating history of alternativemedicine.

The history of Alternative Medicine is an interesting one and has links with many different cultures. However, its difficult to say exactly when Alternative Medicine began, in part because up until recently the practices that fall under this term were the conventional medical practices of their time.

But if we go back in history and trace several of the forms of healing that are now labeled as an alternative, we find that their origins go back as much as 5000 years.

One of the oldest forms of alternative medicine can be traced back to Chinese history. The ancient Chinese, in much the same way as alternative medicine, is used today, based their healing on the importance of the body and spirit being in balance.

Much of the philosophy of Chinese Medicine is based on Taoist and Buddhist principals and the belief that a person and their environment are closely interlinked. The widely known principles of Yin and Yang come from Chinese Medicine and are integral to its practice.

Yin and Yang explain how opposing forces are integral to each other and how for harmony within the body to take place, these must be in balance. When these are out of balance, the disease occurs. Chinese Medicine works at restoring balance in various ways including herbal medicine, acupuncture, breathing, and movement (Tai Chi and Qigong) and also through diet.

The practitioner looked at the patients health and life in detail to ascertain where their life force or Qi (pronounced Chi) was out of balance.

Various methods would then be used to restore the patient back to health. Such was the effectiveness of Chinese Traditional Medicine that it still forms a large part of modern health care in the East. Its not unusual for these alternative practices to be used in hospitals alongside western medicine.

The other Eastern Culture has a long history of alternative medicine in India. Ayurvedic medicine dates back as far as 6000 years ago and like Chinese Medicine also has links with Buddhism.

Ayurveda comes from 2 Sanskrit words Ayu meaning life and Veda meaning knowledge of. It is a system of medicine that keeps a persons body, mind, and spirit in tune with nature in order to maintain good health.

In the West, the History of Alternative Medicine goes back around 3000 years. Treatments such as hydrotherapy were popular with the Romans and Greeks. The Ancient Greeks who were greatly influenced by the Babylonians and to a lesser extent by India and China brought herbalism into the West. Hippocrates (c. 460-377 BC), a Greek physician commonly referred to as the Father of Medicine, practiced herbal medicine.

During the Middle Ages, Monks in Europe studied and grew medicinal plants and translated many works on the subject from Arabic. Folk Healers also passed on their knowledge of healing through word of mouth, from Master to Apprentice. The understanding of the power different plants have is ingrained in many native civilizations and has allowed a man to understand and thrive in often challenging environments.

When the Europeans settled in America they found that the Native Americans had extensive knowledge of the healing power of their indigenous herbs. Likewise, the Aborigines in Australia understood the power of plants found in their environment.

Moving forward in time towards the 19th Century, before the rise of Western Medicine, as we now know it, medical practitioners were more like todays naturopaths. They would take a detailed medical history paying particular attention to the patients lifestyle. They would then suggest ways to improve this by changes in diet, environment and would also prescribe herbal remedies.

The widespread use of alternative medicine in its various forms decreased during the 20th Century. Treatment of patients became more focused on the use of hospitals, and developments in modern medicine lead to the widespread use of Pharmaceutical Drugs to treat disease.

The discovery of Penicillin and its development into a drug that could treat bacterial infections in the 1940s revolutionized health care and alternative medicine lost favor with most medical practitioners. Although many Doctors let go of what they considered to be outdated treatments such as homeopathy, herbalism, and traditional Chinese Medicine many patients still sort them out, especially when conventional medicine did not appear to be working for them.

The result now is that Alternative Medicine is on the increase. Practices such as acupuncture, herbal medicine, aromatherapy, and healing are kept alive by practitioners who specialize in one or more alternative forms of treatment. Frequently alternatives are used alongside modern medical treatments, which have led to alternatives being given the term complementary medicine.

This brief history of alternative medicine shows that many of the practices used today have been with us for thousands of years. Given the rising popularity of using alternative medicine to deal with health issues today, its likely that these practices will be around for many more.

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HISTORY OF ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE - The Complete Herbal Guide

What is alternative medicine? An alternative medicine does not use self-treatments of conventional medicine . Of course, there are times when both treatments are combined. These treatments are used for curing purposes. Alternative medicine involves the dos that are not at all generally categorized as conventional medical approaches.

Conventional medicine is practiced by the doctors of osteopathy, and associated wellbeing experts. This also include nurses and physical therapists practice alternative medicine.

Yes, instead of contemporary approach alternative medicine can be used. One of the very good examples is by treating a heart disease with chelation therapy in which excess accumulation of metals is taken out of the blood.

In other words, the term alternative medicine is used to describe therapeutics that is not included in learning of conventional medicine, such ashomeopathy, traditional medicine, chiropractic, and acupuncture

People usually consider such therapies outside the mainstream, so that is the main reason it is called alternative. Many patients and medical professionals use alternative therapies along with conventional therapies. This is known as complementary medicine.

The alternative, integrative, or complementary medicine has a number of therapies, methods, techniques and practices. These treatments depend on the elements of nature and have less chemical substances than traditional medicine; therefore they are more beneficial with little or no side effect.

It is practiced by people that want treatment with less side effect and more. So with this belief some people are drawing more towards alternative medicine, as they want a fundamental change in the body, and a balance between body, mind, and spirit.

Many Americans use treatments that are not part of traditional or conventional medicine. These treatments may be called complementary, integrative or alternative. Complementary medicine is used together with conventional medicine. For example, acupuncture can relieve the side effects of cancer treatment.

When doctors or hospitals provided both care together and in a coordinated manner it is called integrative medicine. When not used in conjunction with conventional medicine is called alternative.

The benefits of these non-traditional treatments may sound promising. However, researchers do not know the safety of many alternative medicine treatments does not know if they work well.

Studies are underway to determine the safety and usefulness of many of these practices.

One of the main therapies of alternative medicine is acupuncture. This technique, which is part of traditional Chinese medicine, involves the insertion of very thin needles in certain specific points on the body in order to alleviate some conditions that a patient may have, for example, neck pain, or migraines.

Homeopathy is other alternative therapies that are discussed and practiced at the best health and alternative medicine sites. It can cure some symptoms that are administered in small doses.

Other therapies:

Some see as laughter the best medicine to improve the state, both physical and mental of a person

Homeopathic treatments or acupuncture is available to everyone and anyone can use it. Health and alternative medicines are famous in recent years and it has greatly increased in therapeutic approaches. Because of these reasons, the best health and alternative medicines sites are on the fire.

Many of these alternative practices come from different parts of the world and have been used for thousands of years. So, what is an alternative medicine and what it does?

Alternative medicine is common today due to the interest that many people these days want to access more natural and healthy treatments. This treatment has dependent elements of nature and less of chemicals.

However, alternative medicine has many limitations in resolving situations of complexity greater because the scope of its components is not as extensive, but indeed it is effective.

Typically, alternative medicine is based on two main pillars: on one hand, the use of natural components which are obtained directly from nature and put in combination. This results in many medicines that are available in different formats (drops, sprays, creams, ointments and even tablets or pills).

On the other hand, alternative medicine also uses therapies and not invasive treatments that are structured around systems of meditation and relaxation. Therapies are used as it is believed that many ailments and current complications that are experienced by people mainly relates to stress and other habits as it is a daily routine.

In many cases, alternative medicine can be more effective than other medicine because the use chemical substances is in much lower content, so the body may be less harming.

However, if they are consumed in the longer term, then it is certain that damage or affect can be made. In addition, if we make use of these therapies so it is figured that, the use of other substances limit.

This means there is a less dependency rate that is observed in many people (e.g. dependence on sleeping pills, pills for menstrual cramps, for headaches, etc.). However, it is important to note that alternative medicine has much scope at present and to achieve the solution to more complex cases, it is now very useful.

The fact is that people are requiring and looking for all that which is less harmful, so viewing the best health and alternative medicines sites, they are surely benefited.

Best health and alternative medicine websites are readily available over the net; which are a must to see. Also, not all offer this service, there are however, many existing therapies, but usually some are selected in particular.

However, there are, some treatments that are better known than others and/or that are usually included in most health insurance offered by this type of medicine. But, for some people practicing alternative medicine and reading best health and alternative medicine websites is a charm. Where they can tap knowledge and methods through information provided on those sites.

According to the Mayo Clinic, over 40 percent of adults seek some form of holistic therapy,complementary or alternative medicine, when dealing with their physical health

These best health and alternative medicine websites should be visited on daily basis to stay inform about healthy living;

Note: there are manifold sites that are supporting and talking in favor of health and alternative medicines. This is the best way to cure these days and is a newer yet, accepted practice.

Sources

http://www.alexa.com/topsites/category/Health/Alternative

alternativemedicine.com

http://www.medicinenet.com/alternative_medicine/page2.htm

http://www.alternative-therapies.com

http://www.livestrong.com/article/121642-benefits-alternative-medicines/

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21 Best Health And Alternative Medicine Websites - Must ...