A study published in the April issue of the International Journal of Radiation Oncology-Biology-Physics concluded that acupuncture provides long-lasting relief for hot flashes, heart palpitation, and anxiety that are common side effects of hormonal therapy commonly used for prostate cancer. Hormonal therapy to reduce the level of testosterone in the body or surgery are the two most used treatments for prostate cancer. Because it is known that testosterone induces prostate cancer, reducing this hormone in treatment has been shown to keep the cancer in check by starving the cancer cells of the hormone it needs to grow and spread. However, the therapy produces hot flashes as one side effect.
In a prospective study 14 men experiencing hot flashes due to hormone therapy were evaluated. Upon enrollment they were given a hot flash score (HFS) evaluating their daily hot flashes and the mean score was 28.3. Subjects then received acupuncture twice weekly for 30 minutes for 4 weeks. After two weeks the HFS was remeasured and had dropped over a half to 10.3. Six weeks following treatment their HFS had dropped to 7.5. Further research is planned. More information is available at: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2011-04/asfr-arh042111.php

Yesterday on the Holistic Health Show Dr Carl O Helvie interviewed Dr Murray Grossan, M.D., Dr Steven Morrissey, O.M.D., and Dr Bianca Garilli, N.D. about natural ways to deal with seasonal allergies. Dr Grossan is board certified by the American Board of Otolarngology and Head and Neck Surgery and is currently at Cedars-Sinai Medical Towers in Los Angeles. More information is available on an earlier blog on this website or at www.ent-consult.com

Dr Steven Morrissey has more than 25 years experience in oriental and herbal medicine and has two joint companies with others in China to undertake research on safety, efficacy and quality of botanical medicine. More information is available on an earlier blog and on www.plantiva.com

Dr Bianca Garilli, a naturopathic physician, practices in Orange County, California. More information was presented earlier on this site and can also be found at www.ocnmp.com and www.allergyeliminationdiet.com

Enjoy the interview below.

Dr Carl O Helvie, Host, Holistic Health Show interviewed three guests who talked about natural solutions to seasonal allergies on his show yesterday.

Dr Allan Stillerman joined the Allergy and Asthma specialists, P.A. in 1998 and lectures regionally and nationally in the fields of asthma, food allergy, anaphylaxis and allergic Rhino-conjunctivitis. More information was presented earlier on this blog and can be found at Http://www.allergy-asthma-docs.com
/allanstillermanmd.cfmle.at

Dr Terrawong Kasiolarnis a certified naturopathic physician with certification in acupuncture and is on the staff of the NOVA Medical and Urgent Care Center. More information was presented earlier on this blog and can be found at www.novamedgroup.com

Mr Daniel Chapman is founder and CEO of Redd Remedies with origins dating back to 1961. They recently received the Best of Expo 2010 Gold Award in the vitamin/supplements category at the National Products Expo West trade show in Anaheim, California. More information was presented earlier and can be found at www.reddremedies.com

The interview follows.

In a recent study published in Spine researchers concluded that contrary to previous published studies their results on treatment expectations and preferences of patients were not predictive of treatment outcomes for patients with chronic back pain. This was one of the first studies using acupuncture as the treatment and there were 477 acupuncture naive individuals with chronic back pain as subjects. Subjects were randomized to 1 of 3 acupuncture or simulated acupuncture treatment groups for 10 treatments over a 7 week period and were masked regarding treatment assignments. Before treatment subjects were asked about their expectations of treatment success, impressions, knowledge about acupuncture and treatment preferences. Outcome measures included functional status measured on the Roland score and symptoms bothersome and were measured at 8 and 52 weeks by telephone interviewers who were unaware of which group the person being interviewed was in. Those with high pretreatment expectations for the success of acupuncture were more likely to report higher general expectations of improvement,a preference for acupuncture, had heard that acupuncture was an effective treatment, and had a positive impression of acupuncture. Yet, none of these variables was a significant predictor of improvement of back pain symptoms at 8 or 52 weeks. The researchers concluded that the relationship between expectations and outcomes may be more complex that previously thought.

Yesterday, Dr Carl O Helvie, Host of the Holistic Health Show interviewed Dr Elizabeth Lombardo (left) , Dr Sigmund Mille (center), and Gary Sandman (right) on natural ways to deal with back pain. Elizabeth has a masters in physical therapy and a doctorate in psychology and combines these areas in practice. She has been interviewed for T.V., radio and magazines. More information was presented earlier on this site or can be found at: www.controlstressforgood.com

Sigmund is a chiropractor who has practiced in Florida and
California. He is now the executive director of the Association of New Jersey Chiropractors. More information was presented earlier on this blog or can be found at www.njchiropractors.com

Gary Sandman has suffered back problems as a result of 3 automobile accidents and now is the CEO Founder, Individualized Health Solutions, llc/Signature Supplements. More information appeared earlier on this site or can be found at www.signaturesupplements.com

The Interview Follows. Enjoy.

A study appearing in Pain Medicine concluded that socioeconomic factors, mainly in the form of race and age, play a large role in the use of alternative treatments for chronic pain. In the study those who were white used alternative interventions more frequently than those who were black, and elderly individuals were more likely to use alternative interventions than younger people. The researchers say the differences may be due to alternative therapies attracting individuals with high education levels and income or may be a result of different insurance coverage.

Results were based upon the ethnic and racial disparities in treating chronic pain among 5,750 adults over a six year period. Using the Pain Assessment Inventory Narrative the researchers assessed the treatment methods used, pain-related symptoms, data on socioeconomic characteristics, medical history, and physical and social characteristics in the black and white adults. Alternative treatments considered in the study included manipulation therapy such as chiropractors or physical therapists, biofeedback, and acupuncture.
Thirty five percent reported using at least one form of complementary and alternative therapy with 25% using manipulation, 13% using biofeedback, and 8% using acupuncture.

A new study published in a letter to the editor in the most recent issue of the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (52 (3), 256-157, concluded that high-touch Integrative Medicine (IM) therapies can help employees manage their back pain by using fewer medications. The study utilized assembly workers at Ford Motor Company diagnosed with low back pain. The subjects were divided into 2 groups and both groups received care at the onsite clinic. One group received conventional therapies including pain medication. The other group received integrative therapies including acupuncture, and relaxation/meditation CD’s to manage stress and pain. Both groups received treatment over 6 weeks with a 12 week follow up.

The sample size was too small for definitive conclusions but the researchers were encouraged because the group who used integrative therapies in conjunction with conventional medicine had the same outcomes as the conventional medicine group but they also had a 58% reduction in pain medication use.

Dr Jacob Teitelbaum (left) and Dr David Russell were interviewed by Dr Carl O. Helvie on the Holistic Health Show last night. Dr Teitelbaum, a Board Certified Internist and Medical Director of a National Chain of Fibromyalgia and Fatigue Centers (www.fibroandfatigue.com)suffered from and overcome these diseases. He is senior author of landmark studies in these areas and author of the best seller From Fatigue to Fantasy and also author of additional books mentioned earlier on this website. More information is available on www.Vitality101.com

My second guest, Dr Davids Russell, holds a doctorate in Naturopathic Medicine and is competing another Doctorate of Divinity and is the Founder and Director of the non-profit organization Caritas Traditionalis whose goal is to create a self-sustainable medical presence in economically depressed communities. He has studied classical medicine around the world including Europe, Nepal and the Middle East. More information can be found on an earlier blog here.

Their interviews follow. I hope they are informative for you.

ON SATURDAY MY GUESTS ARE DR. JACOB TEITELBAUM (LEFT) AND DR. DAVID RUSSELL. DR TEITELBAUM, A BOARD CERTIFIED INTERNIST AND MEDICAL DIRECTOR OF A NATIONAL CHAIN OF FIBROMYALGIA AND FATIGUE CENTERS (WWW.FIBROANDFATIGUE.COM) SUFFERED WITH AND OVERCOME THESE ILLNESSES IN 1975. HE SPENT THE NEXT 30 YEARS CREATING, RESEARCHING, AND TEACHING ABOUT EFFECTIVE THERAPIES FOR FATIGUE AND PAIN. HE IS THE SENIOR AUTHOR OF THE LANDMARK STUDIES EFFECTIVE TREATMENT OF CHRONIC FATIGUE SYNDROME AND FIBROMYALGIA-A PLACEBO CONTROLLED STUDY AND OF EFFECTIVE TREATMENT OF CHRONIC FATIGUE SYNDROME AND FIBROMYALGIA WITH D-RIBOSE.
DR TEITELBAUM LECTURES INTERNATIONALLY AND IS THE AUTHOR OF THE BEST-SELLING BOOK FROM FATIGUE TO FANTASTIC. HE IS ALSO THE AUTHOR OF THREE STEPS TO HAPPINESS:HEALING THROUGH JOY AND THE RECENTLY RELEASED PAIN FREE 1-2-3-A PROVEN PROGRAM TO GET YOU PAIN FREE BY MCGRAW HILL PUBLISHERS IN 2006. AS A PATIENT ADVOCATE DR TIETELBAUM HAS A POLICY OF NOT TAKING MONEY FROM ANY PHARMACEUTICAL OR NATURAL PRODUCT COMPANIES, AND 100% OF THE ROYALTIES FROM HIS PRODUCTS GO TO CHARITY. HIS WEBSITE IS: www.vitality101.com

MY SECOND GUEST IS DR DAVID RUSSELL WHO HOLDS A DOCTORATE IN NATUROPATHIC MEDICINE AND IS COMPLETING ANOTHER DOCTORATE OF DIVINITY AND IS THE FOUNDER AND DIRECTOR OF THE NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION CARITAS TRADITIONALIS, AN INTERNATIONAL PROJECT WHOSE GOAL IS TO CREATE A SELF-SUSTAINABLE MEDICAL PRESENCE IN ECONOMICALLY DEPRESSED COMMUNITIES. HE ALSO MAINTAINS CONSULTATION ON INTEGRATED HEALTH IN TUCSON, ARIZONA AND DENMARK. . FOR THE PAST 30 YEARS HE HAS TAUGHT CLASSICAL MEDICAL DISCIPLINES IN EUROPE, NEPAL AND THE UNITED STATES AS WELL AS DIAGNOSTICS AND HOMEOPATHY IN NATUROPATHIC SCHOOLS IN DENMARK AND NORWAY.
IN ADDITION TO HIS DOCTORAL DEGREE HIS EDUCATION INCLUDED STUDYING AND PRACTICING WITH CLASSICAL MASTERS IN EUROPE, NEPAL, AND THE MIDDLE EAST. HE HOLDS CERTIFICATION IN REFLEXOLOGY, HOMEOPATHY, ACUPUNCTURE, BIOCHEMISTRY, IRIDOLOGY, AND KNEIPP THERAPY. HE IS ALSO QUALIFIED IN CHINESE, TIBETIAN, AYURVEDIC AND ISLAMIC MEDICINE.
HE LIVED IN DENMARK FROM 1969 TO 1991 AND HAS WORKED IN THE HEALTH FIELD SINCE 1974, DURING THAT TIME HE BECAME A FOUNDING MEMBER OF THE DANISH SOCIETY FOR INTEGRATED MEDICINE AND WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN ESTABLISHING THE THREE MAJOR CLINICS FOR INTEGRATED MEDICINE IN DENMARK. HE IS ALSO A MEDICAL CONSULTANT FOR A DANISH CLINIC FOR DRUG AND ALCOHOL ABUSE.
DAVID IS THE AUTHOR OF HEALTHY SOLUTIONS: A GUIDE TO SIMPLE HEALING AND HEALTHY WISDOM, FOR WHICH HE RECEIVED THE ARIZONA BOOK AWARD FOR BEST HEALTH/NUTRITION/WELLNESS BOOK. HE LECTURES WIDELY AND HAS BEEN FEATURED AT EVENTS AND CONFERENCES INCLUDING THE INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION OF PROBIOTIC MEDICINE, INSTITUTE OF NOETIC SCIENCES, AMERICAN ACADEMY OF BIOLOGICAL DENTISTRY, CANCER COTROL SOCIETY, JUNGIAN SOCIETY, AND THE U OF ARIZONA.

Last night Dr Carl O Helvie, Host, Holistic Health Show interviewed Dr Ross Hauser (left) and Dr Thom Lobe (right).

Dr Hauser talked about prolotherapy a medical procedure of injecting natural substances into a site such as the knee to regenerate cartilage. He has been performing this procedure sucessfully for 12 years and studied with the physician who invented the procedure., He has also written books on the procedure. More of his biography was presented on this site earlier and can be found at http://www.caringmedical.com

My second guest was Dr Thom Lobe who is the founder and medical director of Beneveda Medical Group in Beverly Hills, California. He has been first many times such as successful separation of siamese twins, establishment of first pediatric surgery training program in the south, first textbook on pediatric surgery, first medical journal devoted to advanced surgical treatments in children and others. He is also a long time host and moderator of a medical talk show on GHS television in Germantown, Tennessee called “Whats Up Doc?”. Others aspects of his biography were identified earlier on this site and can be found at www.beneveda.com Dr Lobe talks about natural ways to deal with arthritis.

The interview follows. I hope you enjoy it.