M H Pittler

..We undertook this study to test whether artichoke extract is effective in preventing the signs and symptoms of alcohol-induced hangover...

..The objective of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to assess the evidence for or against the effectiveness of spa therapy and balneotherapy for treating low back pain...

..The clinical relevance of the effect is debatable and the lack of robustness means that the result has to be interpreted with caution...

..Large proportions of patients use herbal medicinal products, and encouraging data in terms of effectiveness exist for some of these. One aspect, however, which is still largely under-investigated is the question of potential harm...

..To assess the clinical evidence on the effectiveness of any medical intervention for preventing or treating alcohol hangover...

..Compliance with conventional weight-management programs is notoriously poor, and a plethora of over-the-counter slimming aids are sold with claims of effectiveness...

..For reducing blood pressure, few studies are available and the reported effects are too small to be clinically meaningful. For all other conditions not enough data are available for clinical recommendations...

..For all other complementary treatment options there is no evidence beyond reasonable doubt to suggest effectiveness for patients with peripheral arterial disease...

..However, the intake of E. sinica and ephedrine is associated with an increased risk of adverse events. Interventions suggesting positive effects in single RCTs require independent replication...

..69; 95% confidence interval, 3.54-15.83). These data imply that kava extract is superior to placebo as a symptomatic treatment for anxiety. Therefore, kava extract is an herbal treatment option for anxiety that is worthy of consideration...

..38; 95% CI, 0.14-1.02). These data demonstrate the equality of artemether and quinine for severe malaria and indicate a trend toward greater effectiveness of artemether in regions where there is recognized quinine resistance...

..To assess the evidence from rigorous clinical trials, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses of complementary and alternative therapies for treating neuropathic and neuralgic pain...

..In conclusion, these results suggest that there is a significant benefit from hawthorn extract as an adjunctive treatment for chronic heart failure...

..Exceptions are Garcinia cambogia and yerba mate, which merit further investigation...

..The aim of this article is to compare the evidence relating to the effectiveness of complementary/alternative medicine (CAM) in palliative cancer care as it existed in 2000 and 2005...

..Considering the popularity of herbal medicine among chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients, rigorously designed studies seem warranted...

..Considering the adverse events associated with its use, the risks of taking guar gum outweigh its benefits for this indication. Therefore, guar gum cannot be recommended as a treatment for lowering body weight...

..Thus location of trials in terms of journal type and impact factor should be taken into account when the literature on complementary therapies is being examined...

..The aims of this systematic review are to update the evidence from rigorous clinical trials for or against the efficacy of feverfew for migraine prevention and to provide a safety profile of this herbal remedy...

..favoring acupuncture) and for 6 it had changed in the opposite direction. It is concluded, that acupuncture research is active. The emerging clinical evidence seems to imply that acupuncture is effective for some but not all conditions...

..An important argument against spa treatment has been the supposed lack of evidence for its efficacy. This analysis was undertaken to gather firm data bearing on this problem...

..The efficacy of homeopathic remedies has remained controversial. The homeopathic remedy most frequently studied in placebo-controlled clinical trials is Arnica montana...

..Asian HMPs are most often implicated. It is concluded that HMPs are not free of risk. More research and more information are required in order to maximize consumers' safety...

..The aim of this systematic review is to summarise and critically evaluate the evidence for the effectiveness of reiki...

..CAM journals, and most likely CAM itself, are associated with a lack of clinical trials and a bias in favour of positive conclusions...

..Considering its favourable safety profile acupuncture seems an option worthy of consideration particularly for knee OA. Further studies are required particularly for manual or electro-acupuncture in hip OA...

..The purpose of this systematic review was to evaluate evidence from controlled clinical trials testing the effectiveness of tai chi for osteoporosis...

..The research required to fill the gaps in present knowledge should have a high priority...

..The direction of the evidence, however, remained unchanged for all but one therapy. We conclude that the value of complementary therapies in the management of back pain remains encouraging but not fully convincing...

..The improvement in observer-rated skin condition suggested by this study needs confirmation in larger trials...

..Collectively this evidence is not convincing enough to suggest that tai chi is an effective treatment for RA. The value of tai chi for this indication therefore remains unproven...

..The data for aloe vera gel and tea tree oil indicate that for neither is there compelling evidence of effectiveness. The use of CAM treatments is not free of risk; direct and indirect risks associated with CAM must be considered...

..To critically assess the evidence of supplements containing Trifolium pratense (red clover) isoflavones in the reduction of hot flush frequency in menopausal women...

..To assess systematically the clinical evidence of qigong for hypertension...

..To evaluate the efficacy of herbal medicines for the treatment of allergic rhinitis (AR)...

..For avian influenza, no data are currently available. These results strengthen conventional approaches for seasonal influenza...

..Previous research suggests that complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) journals publish few clinical trials, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses and a high proportion of positive articles...

..To assess the evidence of any type of therapeutic or preventive intervention testing homeopathy for childhood and adolescence ailments...

..We found no evidence for drug interactions with S. repens. However, higher quality reporting of adverse events is essential if safety assessments are to be improved in future...

..To collect contemporary accounts of celebrity use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), to aid clinicians in determining which CAM treatments patients are likely to use...

..Moreover, the unsupervised use of this drug can be associated with problems, especially if given with concomitant medications...

..This systematic review was aimed at assessing the evidence for or against the efficacy and safety of ginger (Zingiber officinale) therapy for nausea and vomiting during pregnancy...

..It is concluded that an evidence-based approach for mind-body therapies is constructive and can generate positive results...

..Some encouraging data do exist that warrant further investigation in independent rigorous trials...

..Theoretically, VAC might also interfere with dopaminergic antagonists. Although further rigorous studies are needed to assess the safety of VAC, the data available seem to indicate that VAC is a safe herbal medicine...