Johns Hopkins Health Alerts

Spotlight on Complementary Medicine

Johns Hopkins Health Alerts Spotlight on Complementary Medicine

The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM), a component of the National Institutes of Health, defines complementary medicine as a group of diverse medical and health care systems, practices, and products, that are not presently considered to be part of conventional medicine, but which can be USED TOGETHER with conventional medicine by doctors and allied health professionals.

Spotlight on Complementary Medicine provides links to articles relevant to this category published on our various Health Alerts topics. The treatments discussed in these articles are based on the latest results from well-conducted studies and clinical trials, with Johns Hopkins' evaluations based on the most current, high-quality evidence concerning whether they are safe and/or effective.

Please feel free to browse the list of articles below, or use the navigation on the right to view all articles at this site on the topics of interest to you.

Arthritis

• Arthritis Pain Relief Report: Pain Relief for Arthritis with Topical Analgesics

• Living With Arthritis Report: Easing Foot, Ankle, and Knee Pain With Orthotics
• Evidence Mounts Against Glucosamine Use for Osteoarthritis Pain

• Tai Chi Offers Many Health Benefits

Back Pain and Osteoporosis

• Back Pain Relief Report: The Mind-Body Connection
• Back Pain Relief Alert: Evidence That Iyengar Yoga Can Ease Your Chronic Back Pain
• Back Pain Relief Alert: Easing Back Pain with Good Posture
• Back Pain Relief Report: Self-Treatment for Back Pain

• Back Pain Relief Alert: Choosing Acupuncture for Back Pain Relief

• Living With Osteoporosis Report: Calcium Supplements Still Count
• Living With Osteoporosis Alert: No Whey -- Getting Enough Calcium If You Don't Eat Dairy

• Back Pain Relief Alert: How to Minimize Back Pain Around the House

• Research Update on Back Pain Relief: Depression and Back Pain, Acupuncture and Back Pain Relief

Colon Cancer

• Preventing Colon Cancer Alert: The Link Between Fiber and Colon Cancer
• Preventing Colon Cancer Alert: What You Eat Affects Your Colorectal Cancer Risk

Depression and Anxiety

• Anxiety Report: Managing Anxiety Without Medication
• Anxiety Report: Treating Anxiety -- Avoiding Dependence on Xanax, Klonopin, Valium and Other Antianxiety Drugs

• Anxiety Alert: Using Relaxation Techniques to Help Conquer Anxiety

• Living With Depression and Anxiety Report: Cognitive-Behavioral Treatment for Phobias
• Living With Depression and Anxiety Alert: Results from the STAR*D study
• Living With Depression and Anxiety Report: Could You Benefit From Cognitive-Behavorial Therapy?
• Living With Depression and Anxiety Alert: Natural—--but not Always Harmless—--Remedies for Depression and Anxiety

Diabetes

• Type 2 Diabetes Alert: Yet Another Good Reason to Eat More High-Fiber Foods
• Living with Diabetes Alert: Can "Low-Glycemic-Index" Diets Control Diabetes?

Digestive Health

• Preventing Digestive Disorders Alert: The Power of Friendly Bacteria – Probiotics for Ulcerative Colitis and Irritable Bowel Syndrome

• Living With Digestive Disorders: Colonics--How Risky Are They?
• Living With Digestive Disorders Alert: Is Your Stomach Depressed?
• Living With Digestive Disorders Report: Living with Lactose Intolerance

Healthy Living

• Disease Prevention Alert: Ask the Doctor About Flaxseed and Triglycerides
• Tai Chi Offers Many Health Benefits

Heart Health

• How to Reduce Cholesterol Alert: Cholesterol-Busting Foods

• How to Reduce Cholesterol Alert: A Pat Solution to Cholesterol Troubles

Hypertension and Stroke

• Living With High Blood Pressure Alert: Meditation -- A New Way to Lower Blood Pressure
• Living With High Blood Pressure Alert: Simple Steps to Help You Reduce Your Blood Pressure Without Medication

Lung Disorders

• Living with Lung Disorders Report: Avoiding Environmental Triggers for Asthma
• Living with Lung Disorders Alert: Living with COPD – Breathing Training Brings Benefits

Memory, Alzheimer's and Dementia

• Memory Loss Alert: Four Strategies to Stretch Your Memory

• Memory Loss Alert: Fats That Help the Heart Can Also Help the Mind

Nutrition and Weight Control

• Weight Loss Alert: On the Glycemic Index and Healthy Carb Choices
• Weight Loss Report: Ten Strategies for Successful Weight Loss
  
  

• Weight Loss Alert: Using BMI And Waist Circumference To Assess Healthy Weight

• Nutrition Report: Dietary Supplements--Unsafe at Certain Doses
• Nutrition Alert: Going Organic – What Does the “USDA Certified Organic” Seal Really Guarantee?
• Nutrition Alert: Are You Getting Enough Vitamin B?
• Nutrition Alert: New Findings On Folic Acid and Fish Oil Supplements
• Nutrition Alert: The Promise of Pomegranates

• Nutrition Report: Diet and Longevity – A Dietary Arsenal Against 8 Serious Disorders

• Are Antioxidant Supplements Worth Your Money?

Prescription Drugs

• Prescription Drug Information Alert: Drugstore Aisle Updates on Warfarin, DHEA, Black Cohosh

Prostate Disorders

• Prostate Alert: Can Diet Reduce Your Risk of Prostate Cancer?

• Recent Research Spells Good News for Prostate Cancer Patients

• BPH Alert: Saw Palmetto Losing Ground

Vision

• Eye Diseases Alert: How to Prevent Age-Related Macular Degeneration

• Eye Care Alert: Herbs and Your Eyes

Johns Hopkins Health Alerts

Spotlight on Complementary Medicine