Browse Integrative Medicine General Articles by Topic

Optimism (Hopefully!) Increases Odds of ‘Exceptional Longevity’

Analysis of 10-year follow-up data from the Nurses’ Health Study and 30-year follow-up data from the Veteran Affairs Normative Aging Study show a significant association between baseline levels of higher optimism and longevity, even when data is adjusted for health behaviors and psychosocial factors.

Soft Drinks and Death

This long-term, large-scale European study finds that higher use of total soft drinks is associated with a higher risk of death; additionally, higher use of artificially sweetened soft drinks is associated with higher risk of death from cardiovascular illness and higher use of sugar-sweetened soft drinks is associated with higher risk of death from digestive illnesses.

Vegetarians and Stroke

A prospective cohort study in the United Kingdom demonstrated that vegetarians have a 22% lower incidence of ischemic heart disease, but a 20% increased incidence of total stroke, mostly related to hemorrhagic stroke, when compared to meat eaters. No difference in ischemic stroke or acute myocardial infarction was found.

Lavender Aromatherapy During Chemotherapy

Lavender oil aromatherapy demonstrated some benefits in sleep and anxiety for people undergoing chemotherapy.

Peppermint Oil for IBS?

The PERSUADE study, a randomized, placebo-controlled trial of two formulations of peppermint oil, demonstrated no statistically significant reduction in abdominal pain response nor overall symptom relief in Rome IV IBS patients using Food and Drug Administration/European Medicines Agency endpoint criteria over an eight-week trial period.

Predictors of Response to a Specific Psychological Treatment in Chronic Low-Back Pain

A theoretical model employed to predict response to either mindfulness meditation, cognitive therapy, or mindfulness-based therapy in patients with chronic low-back pain showed evidence that this type of model may be useful in determining which patients are most likely to benefit from a specified intervention.

Effects of Probiotics on Cognition and Falls Risk in Patients With Cirrhosis

Patients with cirrhosis and mild cognitive impairment and falls were randomized to a probiotic formulation vs. placebo. Probiotic treatment improved cognitive outcomes and reduced the risk of falls.

Mortality and Vitamin D Supplementation: A Meta-Analysis

In this systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials, researchers determined that when compared with placebo or no treatment, vitamin D supplementation alone was not associated with an increase in overall all-cause mortality, though there were some nuances based on vitamin D form and type of mortality.

Iron Absorption in Iron Deficiency Anemia With Alternate-Day Dosing

In a cohort of 19 women with iron deficiency anemia, alternate-day doses of iron led to 40-50% more iron absorption compared to consecutive-day doses.

Stopping Cannabis Improves Cognitive Function in Patients With Multiple Sclerosis

The authors of a recent study evaluated the effect of discontinuing cannabis use in patients with multiple sclerosis. Stopping cannabis led to significant improvements in memory, processing speed, and executive function.