Western Integrated Medicine

Western Integrated Medicine (WIM) has been receiving a lot of attention lately. It is actually the combination of both complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) and conventional Western medicine. This is no surprise, given how more and more people are using herbs, natural pain remedies, and other alternative options, especially for medical conditions that cannot be treated completely by modern medicine.

But what exactly is Western Integrated Medicine, and what does this mean for alternative therapies now being used by millions of people worldwide? If you’ve been using remedies from herbalists and other therapists who do not have a doctor’s degree, then it’s time you learned about what WIM is all about.

Western Integrated Medicine Updates

Eastern medicine, alternative medicine, and complementary medicine have received a lot of criticism from doctors and other health professionals. However, studies have shown that some of the alternative therapies available actually work. Below are some of the updates on Western Integrated Medicine.

• Alternative therapies are now recommended, as long as there is evidence to support their use. It is the belief of WIM practitioners that although complementary and alternative medicine holds promising treatments, the scientific approach of western medicine should be applied accordingly. In other words, reason, logic, and evidence have to exist before a specific alternative treatment should be used. That’s just about fair, right?
• The National Institutes of Health established the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine to further support research on alternative therapies. If you prefer natural pain remedies instead of pills and over-the-counter drugs, then this is good news for you.
• Medical schools have started to incorporate Complementary Medicine and Alternative Medicine into their curriculum. Yes, even medical schools have started to notice the value of natural pain remedies and other alternative treatment.
• Western Integrated Medicine is the best of both worlds. Western medicine alone seems too snobbish, while alternative medicine relies heavily on hearsay instead of solid evidence. WIM, however, is the integration of both. This shall lead to a shift in belief and practice worldwide. After all, neither party is perfect, which is why both Western and alternative medicine have critics and haters.

In other words, Western Integrated Medicine is a team effort. Both sides cooperate to come up with a solution. If you are a fan of western medicine, you should also be open to alternative therapies and should watch out for research on these. If you prefer natural or alternative medicine, then you should seek out evidence to prove that they indeed work. And with western integrated medicine, you get to have your cake and eat it, too. This is especially true for headache treatment, such as shown HERE.

If you have come across alternative therapies or natural pain remedies that work for you, share them with us and we shall do the research! Let us find out if it really works for most people – that’s what Western Integrated Medicine is all about, after all. Leave us a comment and we will write about your preferred natural pain remedy!

Alma Jones wrote this article on Western Integrated Medicine. She is an advocate of holistic approaches to cure and prevention, relying on hard facts for the articles that she writes. A graduate of medicine, she has seen the value of Western Medicine research and Eastern Medicine treatment.

Gum Disease: Natural Oral Health

From a smile, the teeth and gums are the first indication of the general health of an individual. The gums in particular are the most important component of the mouth with which to maintain good overall health. Through the centuries, humans have recognized the importance of healthy gums and have discovered natural remedies with which to successfully battle gum disease and sustain oral wellbeing.

Periodontal disease is a severe form of infection to the gum which untreated, can lead to tooth loss. Gingivitis is a milder form of gum disease, but still causes reddening and bleeding of the gums and can become the more severe form of periodontal disease. Conventional treatment of gum disease consists of scaling and root planning which requires the removal of plaque and tartar from deep periodontal pockets and cleaning of the teeth root surfaces.

 

Herbal Remedies for Gum Disease

Fortunately, there are more natural and effective approaches in treating gum disease. Aside from regular brushing and flossing as habitual gum maintenance, there are many herbal approaches that can be applied and used as alternative and complementary methods.

• Calendula Tincture- This is a very effective herb in treating bleeding and receding gums. A few drops on the toothpaste then brushing and massaging the gums gently, will help revitalize and heal the gum tissues.
• Golden Seal- This herb has a natural anti-bacterial quality that is particularly effective with periodontal disease. It also helps with mouth sores and inflammation.
• Aloe Vera- Is most effective in the gel form when applying it to the gums. Aloe Vera has a soothing quality for sore gums.
• Clove Oil- Works as an anesthetic when rubbed on tender and sore gums.
• Hawthorn Berry- If used over a period of time has a tightening effect on the gums.
• Tea Tree- Also contains natural anti-bacterial properties. It is suggested to use commercial tea tree toothpaste as tea tree oil itself does not reduce plaque build-up.
• Cranberry- Amazingly, cranberry contains properties that prevent bacteria from attaching to the teeth. A recommended amount is 4 ounces of sugar-free cranberry juice as found in health food stores.
• Coenzyme Q10- coenzyme Q10 is an antioxidant that is found throughout the cells of the body and can be taken in supplement form. Some researchers have claimed that coenzyme Q10 is essential in healing gum tissue.

  A mouthwash of myrrh, Echinacea and chamomile, have proven to effectively treat gum disease. Using herbal dental floss gently is a great way of lightly infusing the herbs into the gums. But it is to be noted that these natural remedies are not proven by science, so if the problem persists go to a dentist. And if you know of any natural oral health solutions, do share them through a comment!



Allison Brooks went to the University of Mississippi and earned her degree in Biomedical Anthropology. Now, she is currently studying to finish an ethnography on the effects of biomedicalization on Bolivian cultures. That is why she is a fan of alternative therapies and traditional medicine and would like to spread the word about their effectiveness.

Does Lipigesic Work For Migraines?

Lipigesic-M, a product with feverfew, is being marketed as an alternative medicine for migraines. This was also the same product used for the study by Cady et al, a study which has been dissected and analysed in this post. But does Lipigesic-M work for migraines?

Before we analyse if Lipigesic M is effective for migraine therapy, let us review what has been said about this drug preparation.

 

Lipigesic-M

This drug is manufactured by PuraMed Bioscience and was used as the drug for the feverfew and ginger study by Cady et al. The following information has been provided by that study and the website of the manufacturer.

• Most studies involving feverfew claim that it is not effective in treating migraines, but that’s because the concentration of feverfew is low in these products. The concentration of the active ingredient varies greatly among different products, which partly explains why these studies have failed to show the effectiveness of feverfew in migraine treatment.
• Lipigesic-M is problematic because its formulation needs further improvement; however, the manufacturer claims that feverfew in itself is actually quite effective in relieving migraines and providing natural pain relief. PuraMed Bioscience claimed that perhaps they need to change how the drug is delivered systemically to improve the anti-inflammatory action of the drug and also its anti-platelet action.

Perhaps Lipigesic-M has a long way to go before it can be declared effective for migraine therapy. Are you suffering from migraines? Have you found a drug or natural pain remedies that work? Many people suffering from migraines will sure want to know about what you have to share, so leave a comment and let us know what has provided you natural pain relief from migraines.

Sources:
Cady R, Goldstein J, Nett R, Mitchell R, Beach ME, Browning R. A DBL-blind controlled pilot study of sublingual feverfew and ginger in the treatment of migraine. Headache. 2011;51:1078–1086.

Feverfew, Ginger: Effective for Migraine?

Are feverfew and ginger effective for migraines? Migraines can cause much disability, which is why people often look to alternative medicine for migraine pain relief when conventional Western medicine fails. However, is feverfew or ginger an effective migraine treatment? Let’s see what the best research has to say.

What is the most recent research on feverfew and ginger as migraine treatment?

In a randomized, double blind, placebo control (RDBPC) study by Cady et al, feverfew and ginger were found to be effective for mild headaches.

In the study, there were about 45 participants who complained of headaches. They were divided into two groups: one group received a preparation of feverfew and ginger, while the other groups received placebo, which had no active ingredients.

Was the above study reliable?

An RDBPC study, such as the one above, is the best study design because it eliminates bias. However, all studies, regardless of design, should be evaluated for other flaws.

What were the flaws of the feverfew and ginger study?

Several flaws were found in the study that determined the effectiveness of feverfew and ginger for migraines. Some are listed below:

• Randomization was incomplete. That means that although the researchers tried their best to group the patients without bias (without meaning to favor either the group receiving the treatment or the group receiving the placebo), those with less severe headaches were actually grouped under the feverfew plus ginger group. It would then suggest that because they had less severe headaches, they would also experience less pain after treatment with ginger and feverfew compared to placebo – and that lead to a false conclusion that ginger and feverfew are effective for migraines.
• Almost 17 percent of the participants might have discovered if they were receiving placebo or the actual feverfew + ginger combination. This was due to the difference in taste between the placebo and the feverfew-ginger combination. That would also influence their perception of what was effective and what wasn’t.

Does that mean that ginger and feverfew are not effective for migraine treatment?

No; it simply means that the study was flawed and that a better design is necessary to come up with reliable findings. The above study by Cady et al was a pilot study, so more studies should be done to supplement or improve its findings.

Is alternative medicine effective for migraines?

There is no magic bullet for migraines. Western medicine recommends that treatment be based on evidence gleaned from research; Eastern medicine, on the other hand, relies on cultural beliefs and anecdotal (story-based) evidence. However, Western Integrative Medicine (WIM) is on the rise, promoting the idea that Eastern medicine may be effective, and that they should be thoroughly researched based on Western medicine theories. Already, much about Eastern or alternative medicine is being proven (or disproven) as effective natural pain remedies.

It is not yet certain whether feverfew and ginger are effective in providing natural pain relief from migraines. The study mentioned above provides optimistic results, but the study was flawed. It may be best to stick to proven remedies; however, new research just might prove that feverfew and ginger provide natural relief from migraines in the future, fingers crossed.

Think the above post on feverfew and ginger for migraine treatment is inaccurate? Have any suggestions or comments? Do leave your comment below.

Sources:
Cady R, Goldstein J, Nett R, Mitchell R, Beach ME, Browning R. A DBL-blind controlled pilot study of sublingual feverfew and ginger in the treatment of migraine. Headache. 2011;51:1078–1086.

Zilongjin in Cancer Treatment

Zilongjin for cancer treatment has been used in China for many years before Western medicine took notice. After anecdotal success in the use of Zilongjin to treat cancer, different studies were conducted to prove whether or not this Chinese concoction is indeed a viable alternative medicine for cancer management.

How does Zilongjin work?

Zilongjin was thought to affect different receptors found in the cell membrane. The cell membrane is actually the outer covering of the cell and it contains receptors that control how certain substances enter and exit the cell. Zilongjin influences these receptors (Wang Dai-Shu, 2004).

One specific action of Zilongjin on cancer treatment is how it promotes the action of adenylyl cyclase. This enzyme, located in the cell membrane, acts to increase the production of cyclic adenosine monophosphate or cAMP. The substance cAMP, in turn, allows many other enzymes to influence cell function. Ultimately, cAMP increase results in decreased cell replication, decreasing the production of cancer cells (Wang Dai-Shu, 2004).

How does Zilongjin affect the cell cycle?

Zilongjin disrupts the cell cycle by preventing CDK4, a substance that promotes cell reproduction, from entering the nucleus. As a result, cell cycle does not ensue – and cell reproduction is stopped or delayed. Zilongjin also inhibits the synthesis phase of the cell cycle, again putting a stop to cell replication (Wang Dai-Shu, 2004).

How does Zilongjin affect the genes?

Zilongjin acts on oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes. Oncogenes are actually normal genes, but once they mutate, they may lead to cancer. Tumor suppressor genes, on the other hand, help inhibit cancer cell proliferation. Zilongjin suppresses the activity of certain oncogenes while promoting the activity of tumor suppressor genes (Wang Dai-Shu, 2004).

What happens to cells when exposed to Zilongjin?

Cells are known to exhibit less cancer-like activities. For instance, the production of microvilli (finger-like projections) on a cell’s surface, which is known to be associated with cancer, is decreased (Wang Dai-Shu, 2004). Zilongjin does this by strengthening the microfilaments inside the cell, keeping the cell membrane from outpouching into microvilli.

Another interesting finding is that Zilongjin also controls pre-existing cancer cells. It stops cancer cells from producing really large tumors.

What research has been done to support the role of Zilongjin in cancer treatment?

One study by Zhang Xingi, et al (1995) determined how effective Zilongjin was when used in conjunction with chemotherapy. There were 63 patients, grouped into two: one group received chemotherapy alone, while the other received chemotherapy plus Zilongjin. The function scores of those who received both chemotherapy and Zilongjin were better after treatment than those who received chemotherapy only. More patients from the Zilongjin group were also able to complete their chemotherapy.

Another significant finding was that Zilongjin seemed to lower the side effects of chemotherapy. It was also found that T cell assays, which showed one’s immune function, was higher in the Zilongjin group.

Of course, more research is needed to establish the role of Zilongjin in cancer treatment. But according to the above study, Zilongjin as part of cancer management is a very promising option.

Sources:
Wang Dai-Shu, Latest Theories on the Genesis and Development of Cancer and Studies on Zilongjin, 2004
Zhang Xinqi et al, Zilongjin in combination with chemotherapy in the Treatment of Moderate and Advanced Cancers, 1995

Happy Valentine’s Day

Happy Valentine’s Day, everyone! Natural Pain Remedies is finally back. We have taken quite a long sabbatical but we are ready to provide you once again with updates on health and natural pain remedies. And, as always, we promote information that is supported by research.

No matter how natural, organic, or “alternative” the options we provide for pain management and other conditions, we always try our best to provide a foundation for our recommendations. We use studies, journal articles, and research for all our posts. So, even if you will read a recommended therapy from Eastern medicine, it will have been supported by Western medicine. And what’s better than both parties taking one side to help provide a cure?

So, enjoy reading our posts and always check back for more updates and natural pain remedies!