Bastyr University(January 2009) – The 2008 top 10 news highlights from the world of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) include:
1. Use of CAM increasing among American adults and children.
A new government study released in December 2008 reports CAM usage in America at 38 percent among adults and approximately 12 percent among children. Almost 18 percent of adults using CAM say they employ natural products like glucosamine, echinacea and ginseng. Almost 13 percent use deep breathing exercises and 9.4 percent meditate. Adults using CAM most often report doing so to treat conditions like back pain, neck pain, joint pain and arthritis. Children also employ CAM for pain, as well as for head and chest colds and to treat Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADD/ADHD). Read the press release.
2. Minnesota and Nova Scotia officially recognize and regulate NDs.
The US state of Minnesota and the Canadian province of Nova Scotia have officially recognized the practice of naturopathic medicine. NDs in these regions are now permitted to register with the government and identify themselves as doctors in their practices. They are not, however, allowed to prescribe drugs as are licensed NDs in many other states and provinces. Read more on Minnesota ND recognition. Also beneficial to Nova Scotians is the new ability to claim naturopathic medical services on income tax returns. Read more on Nova Scotia NDs recognition.
Find out which states and provinces currently license naturopathic doctors.
3. US News and World Report features lengthy account of top hospitals’ embrace of CAM.
Leading with a story about a two-year-old leukemia patient utilizing touch therapy and featuring prominent photos of acupuncture, US News and World Report ran an extensive essay on how the nation’s top 18 hospitals are embracing complementary and alternative medicine. The story reported that Children's Memorial Hospital in Chicago, the Mayo Clinic, Duke University Medical Center and the University of California-San Francisco now offer acupuncture, massage and other CAM services. The story also noted that 15 of the top hospitals belong to the Consortium of Academic Health Centers for Integrative Medicine. Read Top Hospitals Embrace Alternative Medicine.
Another major and highly regarded news source, The Wall Street Journal, recently published the article ‘Alternative’ Medicine is Mainstream. The article makes an outstanding case for integrative medicine, providing both a medically- and cost-effective solution for chronic illnesses. Co-authored by Deepak Chopra, read 'Alternative' Medicine is Mainstream.
4. Several studies document the cancer-related health benefits of naturopathic-based approaches to health.
According to a study by Dr. Dean Ornish, improved nutrition, daily stress-reducing techniques (yoga-based stretching, breathing techniques, meditation and guided imagery), walking and psychosocial support "turn off" many disease-promoting genes in men with early stage prostate cancer. At the same time, protective, disease-preventing genes were "turned on" by these same practices. Read the Newsweek article. In another study, gardening and eating salads reduced lung cancer risk in current and former smokers by up to 71 percent. Read the Holistic Option article. Yet other research shows that yoga decreases fatigue and sleep disturbances while increasing vigor in women with early stage breast cancer. Read the News & Observer article.
5. Complementary and alternative medicine content added to government site for older adults.
"Complementary and Alternative Medicine" is a new topic on NIHSeniorHealth, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) website for older adults. Visitors to the website will find comprehensible information and tips on how to be an informed consumer, choose a CAM practitioner and talk candidly with doctors about CAM use. Over 40 percent of adults aged 60 to 69 use complementary and alternative medicine, and the NIH urges CAM users to tell their health care providers about any CAM therapies they use in order to avoid negative interactions with other medications. Read the NIH press release.
6. Collaborative AANP/AHMA convention breaks new ground.
The American Association of Naturopathic Physicians (AANP) and the American Holistic Medical Association (AHMA) broke new ground in 2008 by holding their annual conventions in partnership. Initially, there were concerns as to whether these professions, which have historically had reservations about each other, could join in a single conference as full partners. However in keynote presentations, breakout sessions, membership meetings and social occasions, the event was a great success. Said one participant, “I didn’t know what to expect with AHMA’s medical doctors and the AANP’s naturopathic doctors joining together for an annual conference, but it was awesome. The two groups came together seamlessly. Thank you to the leadership of both organizations for your vision and courage.” Read more.
7. Oncologist Dr. Marcia Prenguber named AANP’s 2008 Physician of the Year.
The AANP honored Dr. Marcia Prenguber as the 2008 Physician of the Year for her outstanding work in the practice of naturopathic medicine. As 2008 president of the Council on Naturopathic Medical Education (CNME), Dr. Prenguber renewed the US Department of Education’s five-year recognition of the CNME and gave international presentations on naturopathic medicine. Dr. Prenguber is the director of Integrative Care at the Goshen (Indiana) Center for Cancer Care, where she and her staff use naturopathic medicine to strengthen the body's innate cancer-fighting abilities and reduce the side effects of conventional cancer treatments. Dr. Prenguber recently achieved board certification in naturopathic oncology. Read more.
8. New online naturopathic resources introduced, including new video series.
Students considering becoming NDs can now watch a series of brief videos that answer important questions about naturopathic coursework, what it’s really like on each of the AANMC school campuses and much more. Watch Mind of a Doctor, Heart of a Healer, produced by the American Association of Naturopathic Medical Colleges (AANMC). The AANMC also expanded content and gave its website a fresh new look this year. Leaders in the Field of Naturopathic Medicine and Naturopathic Medicine FAQ are two of the most popular pages on the redesigned site. And a new website called NaturopathicExperts.com debuted, providing a collaborative naturopathic information exchange forum for doctors, patients, research scientists, academics and the media.
9. FDA approves natural, non-caloric sweetener Stevia.
In December, the US Food and Drug Administration acknowledged two forms of Stevia, a naturally sweet zero-calorie herb, with the status of “Generally Recognized as Safe.” After a history of seizing and destroying Stevia shipments, the FDA reversed its position on this natural sweetener, which is native to Paraguay and widely used in Japan. Corporate backing is reported to have been behind the change. Now Stevia products, like Cargill’s Truvia and PureVia (developed by PepsiCo and Whole Earth Sweetener Company), may eventually phase out artificial sweeteners like aspartame and sucralose. The new Stevia status means that any American with a sweet tooth who wants to maintain a healthy weight naturally will soon have many more options. Read more.
10. FDA urges caution in the use of Ayurvedic products due to detectable presence of lead, mercury and arsenic.
In October, the FDA issued a consumer update urging cautious use of Ayurvedic medicine, a traditional healing system native to India. Some Ayurvedic preparations combine herbs with minerals and metals. The FDA update cited a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) that detected lead, mercury or arsenic in one-fifth of US-manufactured and Indian-manufactured Ayurvedic products bought on the Internet. Notably, the update did not discourage use of Ayurvedic products, but rather recommended careful purchase practices. Many naturopathic physicians are trained in the safe use of Ayurvedic medicine, and NDs are one of the most reliable sources of high-quality Ayurvedic healing products. Read the update.
Also, read Time magazine’s 2008 report: Top 10 medical breakthroughs.
And for the academic news highlights of year 2008, read Naturopathic Medical Schools - Milestones 2008.
Author Patty Bates-Ballard is a writer, owner of WordSmooth and co-author of the new book Navigating Diversity. An advocate of respect for the earth and its people, Patty has written extensively on diversity, ecology, wellness and politics for publications like Environmental News Network and Environmental Design + Construction magazine.