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NHS Evidence - complementary and alternative medicine: November 2009 Newsletter

This newsletter is to keep you informed about the latest developments and additions to the NHS Evidence - complementary and alternative medicine specialist collection. We welcome your feedback about any aspect of the CAM specialist collection website. 

What's new in the CAM specialist collection?

Latest additions from the Cochrane Library 2009, Issue 4

New Cochrane reviews

• Antioxidants and other pharmacological treatments for Friedreich ataxia
• Blood pressure lowering efficacy of coenzyme Q10 for primary hypertension
• Chinese herbal medicines for people with impaired glucose tolerance or impaired fasting blood glucose
• Probiotics for the treatment of bacterial vaginosis
• S-Adenosylmethionine for osteoarthritis of the knee or hip
• Topical capsaicin for chronic neuropathic pain in adults
• Traditional Chinese medicinal herbs for the treatment of idiopathic chronic fatigue and chronic fatigue syndrome

Updated Cochrane reviews (new search for studies completed, or conclusions changed, or major change)

• Artichoke leaf extract for treating hypercholesterolaemia (New search)
• Chinese herbal medicines for esophageal cancer (Edited, conclusions changed)
• Chinese medicinal herbs for measles (New search)
• Glucosamine therapy for treating osteoarthritis (New search)
• Interventions for cutaneous molluscum contagiosum (New search)

New Cochrane protocols

• Acupuncture for tinnitus
• Auricular acupuncture for opiate dependence in substance misuse treatment programmes
• Coenzyme Q10 for Parkinson's disease  
• Fermented milk for hypertension
• Reflexology for treatment of constipation
• Rheum officinale (a Chinese medicinal herb) for chronic kidney disease
• Spinal manipulative therapy for chronic low-back pain
• Traditional Chinese medicine for preventing postpartum hemorrhage

Latest additions from the Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effects (DARE)

The following systematic reviews have been recently appraised by the Centre for Reviews and Dissemination (CRD) and have been added to the collection:

• A systematic review of the effectiveness of Chinese herbal medication in symptom management and improvement of quality of life in adult cancer patients
• Acupuncture for rheumatoid arthritis: a systematic review
• Drugs and herbs given to prevent hepatotoxicity of tuberculosis therapy: systematic review of ingredients and evaluation studies
• Effect of fermented milk-based probiotic preparations on Helicobacter pylori eradication: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized-controlled trials
• Effect of music on procedure time and sedation during colonoscopy: a meta-analysis
• Herbal medicines for the treatment of allergic rhinitis: a systematic review
• Is acupuncture beneficial in depression: a meta-analysis of 8 randomized controlled trials
• Tai chi for osteoarthritis: a systematic review
• The functional effects of physical exercise training in frail older people: a systematic review

Recently added systematic reviews not yet appraised by the CRD:

• Safety and efficacy of blue cohosh (Caulophyllum thalictroides) during pregnancy and lactation
• Safety and efficacy of chastetree (Vitex agnus-castus) during pregnancy and lactation
• Safety and efficacy of cranberry (vaccinium macrocarpon) during pregnancy and lactation
• Benefits of fish oil supplementation in hyperlipidemia: a systematic review and meta-analysis
• On the benefit of probiotics in the management of pouchitis in patients underwent ileal pouch anal anastomosis: a meta-analysis of controlled clinical trials

News

The following News items have been added to the collection:

• Behind the headlines - Mediterranean diet 'fights' depression
• Behind the headlines - Olive oil and Alzheimer's disease
• Harnessing the biological activity of natural products
• Manual for Cancer Services 2008: Complementary Therapy (Safeguarding Practice) Measures
• Reducing childhood deaths from diarrhoea
• Warning over unlicensed ‘herbal valium’

You can read the latest stories in the News section on our website. Alternatively, if you are using an RSS newsreader, you can subscribe to the News RSS feed:  http://www.library.nhs.uk/cam/RSS/News.aspx.

Events

Below is a list of events for the next three months:

• Sixth Annual International Conference of the Society for Integrative Oncology, 12-13 Nov 2009
• Traditional herbal medicines masterclass, 13 Nov 2009 
• 2nd European Congress of Integrative Medicine, 20-21 Nov 2009
• Reflexology in the end of life care (Study day), 18 Nov 2009
• Integrated Care and the Management of Chronic Illness: The Patient's Agenda for Healthy Living, 9 Dec 2009 

The following events for 2010 have recently been added:

• CAMSTRAND Conference 2010, 21-22 Apr 2010

What's on the horizon?

2009 Annual Evidence Update on CAM for Low Back Pain COMING SOON!

To be published on 16 November 2009

• Publication Date: 09 Nov 2009
• Publication Type: News
• Publisher: NHS Evidence - complementary and alternative medicine
• Creator: NHS Evidence - complementary and alternative medicine
• Next Review Date: 03 Nov 2010