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Shark cartilage, cat's claw and other complementary cancer therapies
... Signs of allergic reactions including swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat, difficulty breathing, and hives have been observed [62]. Additionally, acute renal failure was noticed in systemic lupus erythematosus patients after the daily administration of four capsules of the cat's claw [31,63,64]. ...
... Based on the possible safety data, U. tomentosa extracts appears to be safe when administered to several cases of inflammation. Cat's claw safety has not been documented in breastfeeding and pregnant women, or children under three years of age because of insufficient safety research [31,64]. ...
Uncaria tomentosa (Willd. ex Schult.) DC. (Family: Rubiaceae), commonly known as cat’s claw, is a tropical medicinal vine originating at the Amazon rainforest and other areas of South and Central America. It has been traditionally used to treat asthma, abscesses, fever, urinary tract infections, viral infections, and wounds and found to be effective as an immune system rejuvenator, antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory agent. U. tomentosa is rich in many phytoconstituents such as oxindole and indole alkaloids, glycosides, organic acids, proanthocyanidins, sterols, and triterpenes. Biological activities of U. tomentosa have been examined against various microorganisms and parasites, including pathogenic bacteria, viruses, and Plasmodium, Babesia and Theileria parasites. Several formulations of cat’s claw (e.g., tinctures, decoctions, capsules, extracts, and teas) are recently available in the market. The current review covers the chemical constituents, biological activities, pharmacokinetics, and toxic properties of U. tomentosa extracts.
... Signs of allergic reactions including swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat, difficulty breathing, and hives have been observed [62]. Additionally, acute renal failure was noticed in systemic lupus erythematosus patients after the daily administration of four capsules of the cat's claw [31,63,64]. ...
... Based on the possible safety data, U. tomentosa extracts appears to be safe when administered to several cases of inflammation. Cat's claw safety has not been documented in breastfeeding and pregnant women, or children under three years of age because of insufficient safety research [31,64]. ...
The use of complementary and alternative therapies by children with cancer is common. Up to 84% of children have used complementary therapies along with conventional medical treatment for cancer.
We reviewed the PubMed and CINAHL databases for studies published between 1994 and 2004 on the use of complementary and alternative therapies by children with cancer and reports from any publication year through 2004 of clinical trials involving complementary and alternative therapies for children with cancer.
Fourteen studies were retrieved reporting the results of survey or interview data collected from parents on children's use of complementary and alternative therapies during or after childhood cancer. Across studies, the use of such therapies ranged from 31% to 84%. Common reasons for using complementary and alternative therapies were to do everything possible for their child, to help with symptom management, and to boost the immune system. Many parents indicated they also hoped to treat or cure the cancer. In most cases, the child's treating physician had not been informed of the child's use of complementary and alternative therapies.
Use of complementary therapies by children with cancer is common, although methodological variations limit the ability to compare results across studies. Treating physicians often do not know the child is using complementary therapies in addition to medical treatments. The scientific evidence is limited regarding the effects and mechanisms of action of complementary or alternative therapies, but research is being conducted on these topics.
To explore adolescents' knowledge of and beliefs about dietary supplements, including herbs, and over-the-counter (OTC) medications.
Eighteen focus groups with 81 adolescents in Monroe County, New York, explored teens' familiarity with and beliefs about CAM, specifically dietary supplements. We asked about general health beliefs and opinions of OTC medications to provide a framework for understanding how dietary supplements are conceptualized. Groups were conducted with suburban adolescents, urban minority adolescents, adolescents with chronic illness, (asthma, eating disorders, and diabetes), and patients of complementary/alternative practitioners ("CAM practitioners"). Transcripts were analyzed for themes relating to prevention ("staying healthy") and treatment of illness ("getting better"); direct quotations are used to illustrate adolescents' views.
Most adolescents are familiar with "herbal medicine," "herbal remedies," or "nutritional supplements," and are able to name specific products or complementary/alternative medicine (CAM) therapies; however, many are unfamiliar with the term "alternative medicine." Adolescents are more familiar with remedies or CAM therapies commonly used by people from their own cultural or ethnic background. Older suburban females and those with chronic illnesses are more familiar with herbs and supplements than other adolescents. Most supplement use is conceptually linked with treating illness rather than with preventive care.
Most adolescents are familiar with culturally based herbal products and nutritional supplements, used for treatment of illnesses, and not for preventive care. Providers and researchers should consider chronic illness status and culture/family tradition, and clarify terms, when asking adolescents about self-care, OTCs, or CAM.
Thirteen million dollars funds the Office of Alternative Medicine within the $11 billion National Institutes of Health budget for this year—a small fraction, yet an outrage to some more conservative physicians and just as insulting to more fervent advocates of what are variously termed alternative, unorthodox, or quack methods of health care. You can usually guess where a health professional stands by the term chosen.
The author of this text, a professional political scientist, PhD, and educator (I hear some physicians grumbling "Oh, oh..."), chooses the term "complementary." In that, he immediately makes a bridge that many skeptics can at least approach. The text is both critical and hopeful toward both conventional and complementary methods of cancer therapy. Nowhere does the book discourage the undeniably toxic but standard methods, nor is "cure" ever promised for any of the panoply of methods he simply asks be considered as possible complements.
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Do some parents of your patients know more about medicinal herbs than you do? This review of the seven you're most likely to encounter— their uses, main effects, and side effects—will help you catch up. use this tea tree oil instead of the Lotrimin you prescribed for my son's ringworm. I'd like to avoid medication. Is it worth a try?" I've heard all these questions in recent weeks, from patients and colleagues both, as more and more patients turn to herbal remedies for common ailments. Herbs have been written up in natural health and parenting magazines and occa-sionally get glaring headlines in Consumer Reports (November 1995), Newsweek (May 6, 1996) and the New York Times (April 21, 1996). Yet despite the ready availability of herbs everywhere from grocery stores to gardens, these plants re-main a mystery to most physicians. Colleagues who are well trained in pharmacology are often igno-rant about medicinal herbs, while increasingly well-informed pa-tients expect physicians to have answers about the safety and ef-fectiveness of herbal remedies and advice about the herbs' more refined pharmaceutical cousins. At one time, physicians would have been able to answer questions about herbs. Indeed, the history of medicine is largely the history of using herbs to help and heal. The fourth edition of Henry Morris's Essentials of Materia Medica, Therapeutics, and Prescription Writing (WB Saunders, 1896) dis-penses detailed advice about the use of herbs such as colchicum for gout, salicin for fever, opium as a hypnotic, and belladonna as a my-driatic and asthma remedy. Many modern medications were originally derived from herbs, but nowadays few pharmacology courses cover widely used herbal remedies. The information I've gathered on seven of the herbal remedies most commonly used for children will help fill in some of those gaps. Substantial research supports the use of several of these remedies in common childhood illnesses, such as chamomile for colic, feverfew to prevent migraines in adolescents, goldenseal for diarrhea, and tea tree oil for skin infections. Others require caution, because of risks for serious toxicity with overdoses (of ephedra, for example) or mis-use (the oral ingestion of tea tree oil). Table 1 provides an overview of all seven, with information on the parts of the plant they are made from, the form in which they are used (teas, poultices, tinc-tures), the conditions they are used to treat, and the side effects they produce.
In light of the research in progress on the benefits of various phytochemicals in foods, it appears feasible that the chemical compounds from herbs also could be helpful in prevention or treatment of cancer and other diseases. Prior to 1994, the burden of proving that a product was not harmful was the manufacturer's responsibility. Now the FDA has to prove beyond a doubt that the product is unsafe to remove it from the market. Product standardization is optional at this point, and substitution with less expensive herbs presents a risk. The FDA soon will publish a proposal for good manufacturing practices that was developed by a coalition of supplement organizations to assist in establishing quality control. Dietetics professionals can contribute value in this area by talking with patients, keeping interested physicians informed, and maintaining information on alternative therapies.
A large and increasing number of patients use medicinal herbs or seek the advice of their physician regarding their use. More than one third of Americans use herbs for health purposes, yet patients (and physicians) often lack accurate information about the safety and efficacy of herbal remedies. Burgeoning interest in medicinal herbs has increased scientific scrutiny of their therapeutic potential and safety, thereby providing physicians with data to help patients make wise decisions about their use. This article provides a review of the data on 12 of the most commonly used herbs in the United States. In addition, we provide practical information and guidelines for the judicious use of medicinal herbs.
Seven herbs every pediatrician should know. C o n t e m p o r a r y P e d i a t r i c s 1 9 9 6
- Kj Kemper
Kemper KJ: Seven herbs every pediatrician should know. C o n t e m p o r a r y
P e d i a t r i c s 1 9 9 6 ; 1 3(1 2 ) : 7 9
Herb Research Foundation: http://www.herbs.org Longwood Herbal Task Force: http://www.mcp.edu/herbal/default.htm NIH National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine
- American Botanical
- Council
American Botanical Council: http://www.herbalgram.org/ m i s s i o n. h t m l
Herb Research Foundation: http://www.herbs.org
Longwood Herbal Task Force: http://www.mcp.edu/herbal/default.htm
NIH National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine:
h t t p : / / a l t m e d. o d. n i h. g o v / n c c a m /
University of Texas School of Public Health, Center for Alternative
Medicine Research in Cancer: http:/ / w w w. s p h. u t h. t m c. e du/ u t c a m
verse drug interactions have been
re p o rt e d.