Ryan Bradley

• ND, MPH
• Research Director at National University of Natural Medicine

Background: Natural products may provide a source for the discovery and development of adjunctive pharmacological interventions to modulate the inflammatory pathways contributing to chronic disease. Xanthohumol, a flavonoid from the hops plant (Humulus lupulus), has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties and may act as a prebiotic to the int...

Background Marine lipids contain omega-3 fatty acids that can be metabolized into anti-inflammatory and pro-resolving mediators—namely 17-HDHA and 18-HEPE—which can serve as modulators of the pain experience. The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of 4 weeks of oral supplementation with a fractionated marine lipid concentration, stan...

Scope Xanthohumol, a prenylflavonoid from hops, has been extensively studied preclinically but has undergone limited research in human subjects. A triple‐masked, placebo‐controlled phase I clinical trial was conducted to examine the safety and tolerability of xanthohumol. Methods and results Thirty healthy volunteers were randomized to 24 mg/day x...

Manipulations to slow biological aging and extend healthspan are of interest given the societal and healthcare costs of our aging population. Herein we report on a randomized controlled clinical trial conducted among 43 healthy adult males between the ages of 50-72. The 8-week treatment program included diet, sleep, exercise and relaxation guidance...

Objective Traditional Indian breath control practices of Pranayama have been shown to increase indices of heart rate variability (HRV) that are generally held to reflect parasympathetic nervous system (PNS) tone. To our knowledge, individual components of pranayama have not been separately evaluated for impact on HRV. The objective of this study wa...

Background: Aging is the primary risk factor for developing non-communicable chronic diseases, necessitating interventions targeting the aging process. Outcome measures of biological aging used in these interventions are mathematical algorithms applied to DNA methylation patterns, known as epigenetic clocks. The Methylation Diet and Lifestyle study...

Background Observational evidence investigating associations between cannabis use and blood pressure and hypertension is inconsistent. Methods Cross-sectional data from 3,255 participants at Exam 6 (2016–2018) of the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA) were analyzed, including self-reported cannabis smoking patterns, standardized measures...

Background Studies on cannabis use and adverse cardiovascular outcomes have reported conflicting results. Research on its relationship to calcified arterial plaque remains limited. Methods Cross-sectional data from 2152 participants at Exam 6 (2016–2018) in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA) were analyzed, including self-reported can...

Background Preliminary evidence suggests that Qigong (QG), a mind-body therapy, may help address symptoms of multiple sclerosis (MS), but the heterogeneity of QG content and delivery may affect its feasibility, acceptability, and efficacy. Objective To survey researchers, clinicians, and QG instructors with experience working with people with MS t...

Background & Aims Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) are increasingly used to treat chronic pain, with some MBIs, such as, Mindfulness-Oriented Recovery Enhancement (MORE), specifically designed to target it. A key component of MORE is its process of guided inquiry: PURER. MORE sessions involve a rich dialogue between the instructor and partici...

Essential minerals are cofactors for synthesis of neurotransmitters supporting cognition and mood. An 8-week fully-blind RCT of multinutrients for ADHD demonstrated three times as many children (age 6-12) had significantly improved behavior (“treatment responders”) on multinutrients (54%) compared to placebo (18%). The aim of this secondary study w...

Introduction Lumbosacral radiculopathy (LR), also known as sciatica, is a common type of radiating neurologic pain involving burning, tingling, and numbness in the lower extremities. It has an estimated lifetime prevalence as high as 43%. Objectives The objective of this randomized controlled trial was to evaluate the impact of virtually delivered...

While polyphenol consumption is often associated with an increased abundance of beneficial microbes and decreased opportunistic pathogens, these relationships are not completely described for polyphenols consumed via habitual diet, including culinary herb and spice consumption. This analysis of the International Cohort on Lifestyle Determinants of...

Xanthohumol (XN), a polyphenol found in the hop plant (Humulus lupulus), has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, prebiotic, and anti-hyperlipidemic activity. Preclinical evidence suggests the gut microbiome is essential in mediating these bioactivities; however, relatively little is known about XN’s impact on human gut microbiota in vivo. We conducted...

Xanthohumol, the principle prenylflavonoid found in hops (Humulus lupulus) and a reported anti-inflammatory agent, has great potential for pharmaceutical interventions related to inflammatory disorders in the gut. A suite of probes was prepared from xanthohumol and its structural isomer isoxanthohumol to enable profiling of both protein affinity bi...

Background Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a chronic condition marked by progressive objective cognitive impairment (OCI). No monotherapy has substantially altered disease progression, suggesting the disease is multifactorial and may require a multimodal therapeutic approach. Objective We sought to determine if cognitive function in a sample with OCI...

Objectives: Numerous studies have shown the pharmacological effects of pomegranate, such as: anti-cancer, cholesterol-lowering, anti-diabetic, and antihypertensive features. Pomegranate consumption has also revealed some adverse effects. This systematic review aimed to explore the adverse effects of pomegranate reported in clinical studies. Conte...

Objectives: We aimed to examine trial feasibility plus physiological and psychological effects of a guided meditation practice, Yoga Nidra, in adults with self-reported insomnia. Methods: Twenty-two adults with self-reported insomnia were recruited to attend two visits at our research center. At Visit 1 (V1), participants were asked to lie quiet...

Introduction Research on binge eating disorder continues to evolve and advance our understanding of recurrent binge eating. Methods This mixed-methods, cross-sectional survey aimed to collect information from experts in the field about clinical aspects of adult binge eating disorder pathology. Fourteen experts in binge eating disorder research and...

Introduction: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder affecting motor and nonmotor function including physical and cognitive decline, fatigue, anxiety, and depression. Qigong is a mind-body self-care practice with the potential to address MS symptoms. Publicly available community qigong classes may provide opportunities...

Background Xanthohumol (XN), a bioactive flavonoid from Humulus lupulus with anti-inflammatory properties, has potential benefits for patients with Crohn’s disease (CD), a type of inflammatory bowel disease. We recently completed and published results of a placebo-controlled phase I clinical trial demonstrating the safety and tolerability of 24 mg...

Background Complementary and Integrative Medicine (CIM) is often taken up by individuals seeking relief from different diseases. This study investigates the prevalence and associated factors of CIM use in patients with COVID-19. Methods In this telephone-based, cross-sectional study, data on CIM usage were collected from COVID-19 patients from Feb...

Binge eating disorder has high comorbidity with a variety of mental health diagnoses and significantly impairs quality of life. This mixed-methods cross-sectional survey study aimed to collect information from experts in the field about mental health issues pertaining to adult binge eating disorder pathology. Fourteen expert binge eating disorder r...

Increasing translational evidence suggests that intestinal permeability may be a contributing factor to systemic inflammatory events and numerous pathologies. While associations between IgE-mediated food allergies and increased intestinal permeability have been well-characterized, the relationship between IgG-mediated food sensitivities and intesti...

Introduction: Lumbosacral radiculopathy/radiculitis (LR) or “sciatica” is a commonly intractable sequelae of chronic low back pain (LBP), and challenges in the treatment of LR indicate that persistent pain may have both mechanical and neuropathic origins. Mindfulness-based interventions have been demonstrated to be effective tools in mitigating sel...

Objectives Naturopathy is a traditional medicine system informed by codified philosophies and principles, and an emphasis on non-pharmacologic therapeutic interventions. While naturopathy is practised by approximately 75 000–100 000 000 naturopathic practitioners in at least 98 countries, little is known about the international prevalence of histor...

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a public health concern and Hispanic/Latinos are disproportionately affected. There is evidence for favorable effects of dietary intake of monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) on NAFLD, yet studies examining avocados as a source of MUFA on hepatic function have not been assessed. We investigated the effect...

This poster describes the study design and preliminary findings on a clinical trial evaluating the efficacy of managing chronic pain and disability symptoms with Mindfulness-Oriented Recovery Enhancement in patients with Lumbar Radiculopathy.

Background: Binge eating disorder is an autonomous DSM-V diagnosis characterized by discrete rapid consumption of objectively large amounts of food without compensation, associated with loss of control and distress. Environmental factors that contribute to binge eating disorder continue to evolve. This mixed-methods cross-sectional study assessed...

While evidence suggests that culinary herbs have the potential to modulate gut microbiota, much of the current research investigating the interactions between diet and the human gut microbiome either largely excludes culinary herbs or does not assess use in standard culinary settings. As such, the primary objective of this study was to evaluate how...

Background The International Cohort on Lifestyle Determinants of Health (INCLD Health) is an ongoing, prospective cohort study assessing the health behaviours and lifestyles of higher education students, including their use of specialty diets and complementary and integrative health (CIH) practices. Purpose: This cross-sectional analysis of the INC...

The overconsumption of calorie-dense foods high in added salt, sugar, and fat is a major contributor to current rates of obesity, and methods to reduce consumption are needed. Prolonged water-only fasting followed by an exclusively whole-plant-food diet free of added salt, oil, and sugar may reduce the consumption of these hyper-palatable foods, bu...

Objectives To evaluate the safety and tolerability of encapsulated Tabebuia avellanedae in generally healthy women aged 18-45 with primary dysmenorrhea. Methods A single arm, open-label trial was conducted in which 1,050 mg/day of encapsulated Tabebuia avellanedae (pau d’ arco) was administered to twelve healthy women aged 18-45 for eight weeks. T...

Naturopathy, recognized by the National Institutes of Health and the World Health Organization as a distinct system of complementary and integrative health care, is an existing model of whole health delivery. Its unifying principles, respect for the interconnectedness of biological systems, and representation globally uniquely positions naturopathy...

Background and purpose: Naturopathic practitioners (NPs) in the United States (US) and Australia are consulted for the prevention and management of a range of health conditions, including cardiovascular disease (CVD). Despite this, little is known about how NPs approach the management of CVD risk factors. The aim of this study was to explore NPs ap...

Functional dyspepsia (FD) is a very common condition globally. Relevant keywords were searched for in title and abstract of selected databases, that is, Medline/PubMed, Scopus, Embase, Web of knowledge, and Google Scholar. Placebo and active-control trials on herbal remedies amongst adults who were diagnosed with FD were included. Dichotomous outco...

Avocados are a nutrient-dense plant-food, but limited trial-derived evidence exists about the effects of avocado intake on family nutritional status. We investigated the impact of two levels of avocado allotment, plus a standard nutrition education intervention on the nutritional status of Hispanic/Latino families. Seventy-two families consisting o...

Objectives The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has led to significant morbidity and mortality. Although COVID-19 vaccination is available, therapeutic options are still needed. The goal of the present manuscript is to report on a treatment strategy used in a naturopathic medical practice for mild and moderate COVID-19. Design A retros...

Background Acne vulgaris is one of the most prevalent skin diseases, which also contributes to many psychological problems. Despite the recent progress in the treatment of acne vulgaris, the necessity for discovering more effective solutions has motivated many lines of research on natural and medicinal plants. The Traditional Persian Medicine (TPM)...

Objectives Insomnia and sleep disorders are common and can be severe amongst patients with cancer, especially during chemotherapy. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of lettuce seed syrup in breast cancer patients who suffer from insomnia or disordered sleep. Methods This pilot study was a double-blinded randomized controlled clini...

Introduction: Antibiotic overuse is a significant driver of bacterial resistance. Urinary tract infections (UTIs, cystitis) are the most common condition for which antibiotics are prescribed in the ambulatory setting. Many complementary and integrative approaches to cystitis have been proposed, including probiotics, D-mannose, and several herbal th...

Objectives: Naturopathy is a traditional medicine system informed by codified philosophies and principles, and an emphasis on non-pharmacologic therapeutic interventions. While naturopathy is practiced by approximately 75 000 to 100 000 naturopathic practitioners in at least 98 countries, little is known about the international prevalence of histor...

Introduction: Insomnia affects up to half of the U.S. population, and due to limitations of current treatments, there is a growing interest in mind-body practices to reduce insomnia. To understand how a guided meditation practice, Yoga Nidra, may affect relaxation and align with current descriptions of nonpharmaceutical practices that could improve...

Introduction Insomnia and related anxiety affect 30 - 50% of the US adult population. These conditions often coexist, and contribute to increased mortality from depression, heart disease, and stroke. The current COVID-19 pandemic has heightened anxiety and sleeplessness, and 53% of US adults report the pandemic has affected their mental health. The...

Background Trauma is highly prevalent among vulnerable populations, including those who are incarcerated, in treatment for substance use, or seeking mental health services. Trauma-informed yoga seeks to create a safer yoga practice for individuals with a trauma history and may improve emotional and physical wellbeing. Thus, we conducted an evaluati...

Objectives: qigong, a traditional Chinese mind-body exercise, has been shown to improve balance and gait in several neurological conditions; however, community-delivered qigong has never been assessed for people with multiple sclerosis (MS). The authors assessed the feasibility of community qigong classes for people with MS and explored outcomes of...

Mushrooms are a potent source of dietary antioxidants and are often marketed for their capability of decreasing oxidative stress and preventing disease. To date, however, little research has been done on the antioxidant activity of commercially available mushroom extractions, or their stability over time. Herein, the antioxidant capacity of six com...

Background: Many adults have risk factors for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Screening all adults with risk factors for NAFLD using imaging is not feasible. Objective: To develop a practical scoring tool for predicting NAFLD using participant demographics, medical history, anthropometrics, and lab values. Design: Cross-sectional....

Design: The International Cohort on Lifestyle Determinants of Health (INCLD Health) longitudinal cohort study is designed to assess health behaviors and lifestyle practices amongst adults studying complementary and integrative health (CIH) and higher-education students more generally after at least one to six years of exposure to CIH education. INC...

Extended sleep onset latency (SOL), or “sleep onset insomnia,” can decrease total sleep time, increasing risk for many health conditions, including heart disease, stroke, and all-cause mortality. Sleep disorders persist in the United States despite current behavioral/pharmaceutical remedies, with 10% to 15% of the population suffering from insomnia...

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via the original article.

Yoga therapy is an emerging profession with recent development of educational competencies, training program accreditation, and practitioner certification. In the United States, most yoga therapy training programs are studio-based and data on mentored clinical encounters are lacking. This study aimed to characterize the client population in a unive...

Brief Overview: Current evidence suggests vitamin D replacement may reduce risk for acute respiratory tract infections (ARTI) in people with deficiency or insufficiency, although the effects of supplementation on incidence and severity of ARTI in the general population remain unknown. Oral vitamin D supplementation taken at routine doses appears to...

Objectives: To date, no formal research has evaluated how naturopathic practitioners approach the care of people living with CVD and associated CVD risk factors. The primary aim of this research was to collect qualitative data from Australian Naturopathic practitioners about their clinical practices for CVD. Design: Semi-structured interviews were...

Manipulations to set back biological age and extend lifespan in animal models are well established, and translation to humans has begun. The length of human life makes it impractical to evaluate results by plotting mortality curves, so surrogate markers of age have been suggested and, at present, the best established surrogates are DNA methylation...

Objectives Avocados are nutrient-dense and could be a favorable component of a healthy dietary pattern, yet there are limited data on the effects of avocado intake on nutritional status. To test if avocados impact energy intake, we examined the effects of two levels of avocado intake, plus a standard nutrition education intervention, on energy and...

Background: Many patients have risk factors for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), the leading cause of liver disease in the US. Screening all patients with risk factors for NAFLD using ultrasound or computed tomography (CT) is not always possible. We present a practical scoring tool for predicting presence of NAFLD based on common anthropo...

Background: Naturopathy is a distinct system of traditional and complementary medicine recognized by the World Health Organization and defined by its philosophic approach to patient care, rather than the treatments used by practitioners. Worldwide, over 98 countries have practicing naturopaths, representing 36% of all countries and every world reg...

Background: The medical use of cannabis has been legislatively restricted for decades in the US and abroad. In recent years, changing local and national policies have given rise to a community of healthcare providers who may be recommending the medical use of cannabis without the benefit of formal clinical practice guidelines or sufficient trainin...

Background and Objective: The concept of a “disruptive innovation,” recently extended to health care, refers to an emerging technology that represents a new market force combined with a new value system, that eventually displaces some, or all, of the current leading “stakeholders, products and strategic alliances.” Naturopathy is a distinct system...

Background: Due to the high prevalence of nutrient deficiencies in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), routine monitoring of nutrient status and supplementation are recommended. Objective: This preliminary study was implemented to prospectively identify potential effects of a nutrition support formula on blood nutrient parameters in...

Context: Elevated serum concentration of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), a biomarker of systemic inflammation, is associated with increased risk for coronary heart disease (CHD) and cardiovascular events (CVEs). Because elevations in hsCRP often occur in parallel with elevations in low-density lipoproteins (LDLs) and both biomarkers a...

Background: Malnutrition is highly prevalent in patients with IBD. This study examined a nutrition support formula in adults with IBD. Case series data on the formula was previously compiled, but this study was the first to collect data in a prospective trial. Methods: Ten adults with Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis were recruited into a si...

Effects of Pau d’ Arco on primary dysmenorrhea Christine McClure∗, Jennifer Ryan, Douglas Hanes, Deanne Tibbitts, Ryan Bradley National University of Natural Medicine, Portland, United States Background: The purpose of this study is to investigate the safety and tolerability of Tabebuia avellanedae for primary dysmenorrhea (PDM). PDM is experien...

Despite wide use by the public, limited evidence is available for many complementary and integrative health (CIH) practices. Thus, clinical researchers knowledgeable about CIH disciplines are necessary to study the efficacy and effectiveness of CIH practices to benefit the public health. To partially address the need for clinical researchers versed...

Background Malnutrition is highly prevalent in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). This preliminary study examined the effect of a nutrition support formula on blood nutrient parameters and explored effects on circulating blood cell counts and inflammatory markers in adults with IBD. Case series data on the formula was previously compil...

Objective:: There is a medical need to evaluate new treatments that may improve wound healing. This study aimed to determine if Original Healing Salve (OHS, Puremedy, Inc.) a topical, botanically-enriched salve (BES), changes distal leg tissue oxygenation in people with type 2 diabetes. Method:: A randomised, controlled, crossover, double-blinde...

Introduction: Naturopathy is a mixture of both traditional and complementary medicine. It incorporates a broad set of health care practices that may or may not be traditional to that country or conventional medicine and are not fully integrated into the dominant health care system. Research required to evaluate or substantiate naturopathic medicin...

Objectives: The goal of this study was to assess changes in serum immunoglobulin G (IgG) food antibody titers and quality-of-life measurements following a targeted elimination diet in overweight/obese adults. Methods: We performed a randomized control trial. Participants were randomized in a 2:1 ratio to either an intervention group or waitlist...

Objective: To prospectively examine the long-term safety of a cardiovascular health dietary supplement by assessing a comprehensive set of safety measures. Design: Single-arm, open-label study. Location: National University of Natural Medicine, Portland, OR. Subjects: Thirty adults with screening blood pressure readings consistent with prehy...

Background Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common functional bowel disorder with a worldwide prevalence estimated between 10% and 20%. It has a significant impact on quality of life and societal expense. While there are pharmaceutical options available, few can be reliably recommended. Many IBS sufferers turn to complementary and alternative me...

Background: Biomarkers to predict the presence and severity of subclinical cardiovascular disease (CVD) in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) are lacking. Methods: 3876 participants from the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA), without known chronic liver disease underwent baseline non-contrast cardiac CT, with NAFLD defined by va...

Background: High expectations about acupuncture might contribute to larger treatment effects (Prady et al., 2015). However, problems in the assessment are well known: 1) floor or ceiling effects lower variance; 2) expectation measures include general beliefs about complementary medicine; 3) construct validity of expectation measures remains unclear...

Background HIV+ adults have reduced quality of life due to disease-related morbidity and adverse events related to standard medical therapy. Constitutional hydrotherapy is a traditional treatment reported to improve immune function and general well-being. Clinical research on hydrotherapy is needed Objective To evaluate the short-term tolerability...

Context: Hypertension (HTN) is a chronic medical condition affecting nearly 1 billion people worldwide. Yoga, typically thought of as a series of physical postures, also includes breath practices and meditation. It has the potential to reduce of blood pressure (BP) through a combination of stress reduction and modification of the physiology of the...

Gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT) is an ubiquitous enzyme in human tissues that recycles precursors to the antioxidant and metabolic substrate, glutathione (GSH). GSH is critical in the dynamic preservation of antioxidant balance and in the elimination of xenobiotic substrates. When the total GSH pool becomes limited, either due to increased exposure...

Background and aims: N-terminal pro B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) is inversely associated with diabetes mellitus, obesity and metabolic syndrome. We aim to characterize the association between NT-proBNP and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), a condition strongly associated with metabolic syndrome. Methods: 4529 participants from...

A novel paper-based Nanoceria Reducing Antioxidant Capacity (NanoCerac) assay for antioxidant detection (Sharpe, Frasco, Andreescu, & Andreescu, 2012), has been adapted for the first time as a high-throughput method, in order to measure the effect of brewing conditions and re-infusion on the antioxidant capacity of twenty-four commercial green teas...

Introduction: Trials of conventional dose vitamin therapy have been largely negative for coronary prevention. TACT studied an ultra-high dose regimen of oral multivitamins and multiminerals (MVM) in post-MI patients. Patients off statins were a pre-specified subgroup. Methods: 1708 patients were randomized in a double-blind factorial trial, to EDTA...