Complementary and Alternative Medicine: Focus on Research and Care

[From http://nccam.nih.gov/news/newsletter/2010_may/naturalproduct.htm ]

 

In a recent US government newsletter, recent studies on the benefits of fish oil, cranberry juice, and probiotics were highlighted.

Research funded by the US National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine enables scientists to study the effects of many natural and complementary medicine products and substances. Omega‑3 supplementation in studies lasting at least a year seem to be beneficial in reducing risk for only specific heart ailments  (as recent heart attack)and thus cardiovascular deaths and overall mortality. 

Recent intermediary level trials involving humans seem to suggest cranberry reduces infections through removing available iron in a person’s body that bacteria needs to live. Also, probiotics (which are living microorganisms living in the human body that may confer health benefits) may prove useful in reducing or preventing gastrointestinal illnesses as diarrhea.