We must give patients the evidence on complementary therapies

Complementary/Integrative Therapies That Work: A Review of the Evidence.

Significant evidence supports the effectiveness and safety of several complementary or integrative treatment approaches to common primary care problems. Acupuncture is effective in the management of chronic low back pain. Mind-body interventions such as cognitive behavior therapy, yoga, tai chi, qi gong, and music therapy may be helpful for treating insomnia. Exercise can reduce anxiety symptom...

The evidence base of complementary and alternative therapies in depression.

BACKGROUND Depression is one of the leading indications for using Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM). This paper reviews the evidence of efficacy of different types of CAM in depression with the aim of identifying the highest level of evidence. METHODS We conducted literature searches restricted to the English language for studies on CAM as monotherapy in depression. All papers were...

We must--and we can--do better.

Complementary therapies for patients undergoing cardiac surgery: an evidence based literature review

Background: Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are increasing rapidly and have become a major health problem worldwide. India, a developing country, is facing the same issue now and has the epidemic of coronary artery disease (CAD). Stress and poor lifestyle habits are identified as well-known risk factors contributing to the development of CVD in many patients. Patients with cardiovascular disease ...

An Introduction - Patents versus Patients: Must We Choose

Are patents a tool for promoting the development of medical treatments for patients or merely a roadblock to access to health care? This is a perennial question to which there are often strenuous opinions. This Symposium Issue complements the Second Annual Beazley Symposium on Access to Health Care, "Perspectives on Patents and Patients: Can They Coexist?," by providing a variety of perspective...