MEDICAL NEWS HEADLINES

Herbs Found Most Effective Against Menstrual Pain
In a recent study in Australia, Chinese herbs were found to relieve menstrual cramps better than other treatments. The herbs also reduce recurrence of cramps over a three-month period. The herbs included Chinese angelica root, Szechuan lovage root, red peony root, white peony root, Chinese motherwort, and cinnamon bark.
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The Chinese herbs were more effective than non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), oral contraceptive pills, acupuncture, heat compressions, placebos, or no treatment at all. (See Menstruphen™) Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 

Probiotics and Diarrhea
Two strains of lactobacillus bacteria commonly found in yogurt can help ease bouts of severe diarrhea in children. Probiotics work by altering the microbial ecology in the digestive tract and cut the amount of time children with diarrhea spent in the hospital. Probiotic-treated children spent 1.6 days in the hospital, on average, versus 2.6 days for the patients given placebo. Children who received treatment within 60 hours of when their diarrhea began spent an average of 1.7 days in the hospital, versus 3.5 days for kids who received placebo within this time. 

The research team also found that children given lactobacillus were less likely to show signs of infection with rotavirus, the leading cause of diarrhea in infants, than youngsters who did not receive the probiotic treatment. (See Probiosyn™) The Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal. 

Anti-Inflammatory Drugs Damage Bones
Painkilling drugs (NSAIDs) may delay or prevent the healing of fractures of bones. 

Over the last 20 years there have been multiple reports of impaired bone healing in patients taking NSAIDS. 

The main concern is that the new generation of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs block bone healing completely, as opposed to the older generation of NSAIDs (such as ibuprofen) that appear to have delayed healing by a few weeks. In tests involving Celebrex, none showed complete bone healing. Drugs such as Celebrex block the production of prostaglandins exclusively, which in turn inhibit bone healing. (See Arthegic™, Joint Complex™) Journal of Bone and Mineral Research. 

Supplementation with long-chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids ameliorates depressive symptoms and improves quality of life in elderly women with depression.
(See E.F.A.™, Krill Oil™, Marine Lipids™) J Am Coll Nutr. 

Supplementation with coenzyme Q10, alpha-lipoic acid, and vitamin E may benefit diabetics with chronic complications.
(See Daily Combo™, Antioxidant Spectrum™, Immulyn™, Carvasol™, Carboprin™) Bratisl Lek Listy. 

Folate supplementation helps protect against age-related hearing loss.
(See Daily Combo™, Optimal™) J Nutr.

Vitamin D supplementation improves poor vitamin D status in African American and Hispanic women, and benefits HIV+ women.
(See O-Mega D™) Osteoporos Int. 

Green tea supplementation benefits obese subjects with metabolic syndrome.
(See Daily Combo™, Antioxidant Spectrum™) J Am Coll Nutr. 

Omega-3 fatty acids reduce oxidative stress in newborns. Oxidative stress results in various pathologic changes in response to excessive levels of cytotoxic oxidants and free radicals in the environment. At birth, newborns are exposed to an environment with increased oxygen bioavailability with greatly enhanced generation of free radicals.
(See E.F.A.™, Krill Oil™, Marine Lipids™) Eur J Clin Nutr.