Body, Mind & Spirit Articles and Latest News

Headaches are one of the most common forms of pain. For some people a headache may be a minor irritation once or twice a year, while others can suffer disabling pain on an almost daily basis. Researchers are studying treatments for different types of headaches, including a number of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) therapies. This fact sheet provides basic information on headaches, summarizes research on the effectiveness and safety of selected complementary and alternative practices for headaches, and suggests sources for additional information. If you are considering a complementary and alternative therapy for headaches, this information can help you talk to your health care provider about it.

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St. John's wort is a plant with yellow flowers whose medicinal uses were first recorded in ancient Greece. The flowering tops of St. John's wort are used to prepare teas, tablets, and capsules containing concentrated extracts. Liquid extracts and topical preparations are also used. Today, St. John's wort is used by some for depression, anxiety, and/or sleep disorders.

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This fact sheet provides basic information about cinnamon—common names, what the science says, potential side effects and cautions, and resources for more information.

Cinnamon comes from the bark of trees native to China, India, and Southeast Asia. A popular cooking spice in many cultures for centuries, cinnamon also has a long history of use as a folk or traditional medicine. For example, many ancient societies used cinnamon for bronchitis. Additional folk or traditional uses include gastrointestinal problems, loss of appetite, and control of diabetes, as well as a variety of other conditions.

Cinnamon bark is used to make powders, capsules, teas, and liquid extracts. Although there are many kinds of cinnamon, Ceylon cinnamon (sometimes referred to as “true” cinnamon) and cassia cinnamon (also known as Chinese cinnamon) are the most familiar.

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Headaches are one of the most common forms of pain. More than 45 million Americans have headaches severe enough to require the help of a health care professional. Headaches occur when pain-sensitive nerve endings around the scalp, in the blood vessels that surround the skull, in the lining around the brain, and in other areas around the head send impulses to the part of the brain that interprets pain signals from the rest of the body. Some headaches are related to tender spots in head, neck, and shoulder muscles.

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Headaches are one of the most common forms of pain. For some people a headache may be a minor irritation once or twice a year, while others can suffer disabling pain on an almost daily basis. Headaches occur when pain-sensitive nerve endings around the scalp, in the blood vessels that surround the skull, in the lining around the brain, and in other areas around the head send impulses to the part of the brain that interprets pain signals from the rest of the body. Some headaches are related to tender spots in head, neck, and shoulder muscles.

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As a Health Specialist (Clinical Studies), you will perform the following tasks:

• Provide regulatory guidance for the design of NCCAM studies;
• Participate in development and implementation of procedures to establish and maintain coordination among the various components of clinical trials;
• Oversee the clinical monitoring/auditing of assigned studies;
• Oversee the process for clinical study site visits;
• Assist in the development of planning activities for potential future clinical studies; and
• Review the adequacy of information provided in proposals for clinical studies.

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As a Health Specialist (Clinical Studies), you will perform the following tasks:

• Provide regulatory guidance for the design of NCCAM studies;
• Participate in development and implementation of procedures to establish and maintain coordination among the various components of clinical trials;
• Oversee the clinical monitoring/auditing of assigned studies;
• Oversee the process for clinical study site visits;
• Assist in the development of planning activities for potential future clinical studies; and
• Review the adequacy of information provided in proposals for clinical studies.

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Recent news reports about the decisions Steve Jobs made regarding his cancer treatment raise a recurring question that is timely and relevant for millions of people seeking to treat serious or life-threatening diseases: What is the role for complementary and alternative medicine?

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Yoga is more effective than a self-care book, but not more effective than stretching classes, in improving function and reducing symptoms of chronic low-back pain, according to a study. Results from previous smaller studies had suggested that yoga may have benefits for chronic low-back pain—a common condition lacking highly effective treatment options. Findings from the NCCAM-funded trial were published in the Archives of Internal Medicine.

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Three recently published studies have highlighted the use and research surrounding natural products.Vitamin E and the risk of prostate cancer: the Selenium and Vitamin E Cancer Prevention Trial (SELECT) in the Journal of the American Medical Association.Effect of increasing doses of saw palmetto extract on lower urinary tract symptoms: a randomized trial in the Journal of the American Medical Association.Monounsaturated, trans, and saturated fatty acids and cognitive decline in women in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.

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