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Complementary and Alternative Therapies

This site is intended to gather the best evidence available about complementary and alternative therapies (CAT) for sufferers and professionals. The principal mechanism will be by searching for systematic reviews and meta-analyses of complementary and alternative therapies, and providing abstracts of them. It contains stories from Bandolier, plus abstracts of systematic reviews, meta-analyses, or other studies about CAT. We are able to do this because of generous initial sponsorship from an unconditional educational grant from the BUPA Foundation.

The nature of evidence

Why bogus therapies seem to work Acupuncture trials from around the world Why systematic review of homeopathy is absurd Homeopathy: systematic review of systematic reviews Bias in critical appraisal - the example of acupuncture for stroke rehabilitation

Safety concerns

Ayurvedic herbal medicines and heavy metals Ephedra adverse reactions Homeotherapy and adverse effects Harm from acupuncture Herbal therapies and safety

Acupuncture

Systematic reviews of acupuncture Asthma Back pain Back and neck pain Cancer pain Chronic pain, quality and bias Cocaine addiction Elbow pain Fibromyalgia Acupuncture for idiopathic headache Idiopathic headache Menopausal hot flushes Nausea and vomiting after surgery - acupuncture Osteoarthritis Osteoarthritis - 2006 update Recurrent Headache Smoking cessation - acupuncture doesn't help Stroke Surgery Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction Trials and quality Weight Reduction

Homeopathy

Homeopathy for osteoarthritis Homeopathic remedies and quality Homeopathy - dilute information and little knowledge Homeotherapy and adverse effects Arnica efficacy Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness and Homeopathy Headache: homeopathy ineffective Homeopathy versus Standard Treatments Homeopathy for flu Migraine Prophylaxis with homeopathy Migraine prophylaxis: no evidence Pollinosis and Homeopathy Postoperative ileus

Wounds

Honey as a wound dressing More on honey and wounds Even more on honey and wounds Update on honey therapy: 2007 Hyperbaric oxygen for chronic wounds

Other topics

Aromatherapy for agitation in severe dementia Breathing exercises for asthma Complementary and alternative therapies for cancer pain Chelation therapy for claudication Cognitive behaviour therapy for chronic fatigue Back pain: physiotherapy exercises Balneotherapy for arthritis Biofeedback for anismus Complementary and alternative therapies at the end of life Dementia: music therapy no good evidence CBT for chronic pain Diet and dementia Electromagnetic energy for knee OA Exercise and osteoporosis Exercise therapy for OA of the hip or knee Exercise therapy for low back pain Fasting and vegetarian diet in rheumatoid arthritis Group education for low back pain Hyperbaric Oxygen ineffective for MS Hypnotherapy for IBS Ionised wrist bracelets for musculoskeletal pain Iridology for diagnosis Low level laser therapy for osteoarthritis Low level laser therapy for rheumatoid arthritis Magnetic insoles for foot pain Melatonin ineffective for jet lag Musculoskeletal disorders: Ultrasound Osteopathy for back pain Physiotherapy for shoulder pain Plantar heel pain treatments Prayer Probiotics for pouchitis Relaxation ineffective for acute and chronic pain Relaxation and music therapy for postoperative pain Serratiopeptidase - finding the evidence Spinal manipulation for neck pain Spinal manipulation reviewed Subcutaneous carbon dioxide insufflation for claudication Therapeutic touch Thymus therapy for cancer Vaginal infections: yoghurt ineffective Complementary AIDs therapies Ultrasound for wound healing Yoga for epilepsy

Herbal and supplements

Aloe vera effectiveness Artemether for severe malaria Artichoke for cholesterol reduction Avocado/soybean unsaponifiables for osteoarthritis Beta-sitosterol for benign prostatic hyperplasia Calcium supplementation for blood pressure Cernilton for BPH Chelation therapy fails Chinese herbal medicine adulterated Chinese herbal medicine for irritable bowel disease Chinese herbal medicine for eczema Chinese herbal for respiratory tract infection Chinese herbs for hepatitis B Chitosan for weight loss Chondroitin sulphate for osteoarthritis Coenzyme Q10 for migraine Coenzyme Q10 for statin myopathy Coenzyme Q10 in hypertension Cranberry juice and urinary tract infections Cranberry to prevent UTI - 2006 update Echinacea for the common cold Echinacea treatments for colds Evening primrose oil for premenstrual syndrome Evening primrose oil and fish oil for schizophrenia Feverfew may be effective in preventing migraine Feverfew for Migraine Prophylaxis Garlic for blood pressure Garlic for hyperlipidaemia Garlic for hypercholesterolemia: Update Garlic for arterial occlusive disease Ginger for nausea and vomiting? Ginkgo biloba Ginkgo for dementia Ginkgo biloba for intermittent claudication Ginkgo for tinnitus Ginseng is no help for older people Glucosamine is helpful in arthritis Glucosamine and arthritis update Grapefruit seed extract contains chemicals Grapefruit seed extract and health 2005 update Green tea and risk of gastric cancer Horse-chestnut beats chronic venous insufficiency Kava extract reduces anxiety Laetrile (amygdalin) for cancer Melatonin ineffective for jet lag Melatonin and sleep disorders Noni juice Peppermint oil for irritable bowel syndrome Permixon for BPH Phytodolor for musculoskeletal pain Policosanol review - PDF download Policosanol for cholesterol reduction? update Pygeum africanum for BPH Selenium and CHD St John's wort for depression Saw palmetto and prostatic hypertrophy Soya is helpful in the menopause Vitamin B-6 for premenstrual syndrome Vitamin E improves tardive dyskinesia Yohimbine for erectile dysfunction Valerian for insomnia

Massage

Massage for growth and development of pre-term infants Abdominal massage for chronic constipation Autogenic training for hypertension Effectiveness of massage Effleurage backrub for relaxation Massage for delayed-onset muscle soreness Massage for low back pain