Integrative Medicine Alert – April 1, 2010
April 1, 2010
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Variety IN the Spice of Life: An Update on the Pleiotropic Therapeutic Potential of Curcumin
The traditional culinary and medicinal spice turmeric (curcuma longa) is sometimes referred to as the "golden spice of life." Native to South and Southeast Asia, this plant is now widely cultivated. -
Acupuncture for Depression in Pregnancy
Although depression is a serious condition that needs to be treated, many women are reluctant to take antidepressant medications during pregnancy. Depression during pregnancy tends to be underdiagnosed and undertreated. -
Exercise Programs Help Reduce Anxiety in Patients with Chronic Illnesses
A meta-analysis of 40 randomized controlled trials found evidence of reduced anxiety among patients with chronic illnesses who exercised regularly. -
Good Only When It's Bad: Drugs for Depression
This unique meta-analysis of antidepressant drug therapy for depression focused on randomized, placebo-controlled trials of at least 6 weeks' duration and included subjects with a wide range of symptomatology, from mild to very severe. -
Religiosity and Cardiovascular Disease
Feinstein and colleagues assessed the association of religious activity with concurrent risk factors for cardiovascular disease, and with later adverse cardiovascular events. They found that those who were more religious were less likely to smoke and more likely to be obese, even after controlling for several other demographic factors. -
Omega-3s and Old Age: Fish Oil and Telomere Length
Results of this longitudinal observation study reveal that, in people with stable coronary artery disease who were followed for 5 years, baseline levels of omega-3 fatty acids were inversely related to leukocyte telomere length, the latter a unique marker of aging.