When people think of ’alternative’ medicine, they often associate it with charlatans, quacks and p
Public Group active 3 years, 1 month agoWhen people think of ‘alternative’ medicine, they often associate it with charlatans, quacks and pseudoscience.But research suggests some remedies once written off as bunk may in fact help treat a range of conditions, from pain to , and even cancer.Last week, claimed to show for the first time that mindfulness meditation can act as a painkiller, dampening responses in the brain responsible for aches.It followed major research in March that found a supplement made from shellfish had ‘anti-cancer benefits’.
In the study of 400,000 people, there was a 16 per cent lower risk of lung cancer in those who took the tablets regularly.And research spanning decades has indicated the flower St John’s wort can be as effective as antidepressants in people with mild or moderate depression.Such research has convinced even the staunchest of critics there may be a place for alternative medicine in the way we treat modern disease.Professor Edzard Ernst, chair of complementary medicine at the University of Exeter, has made a career out of calling out treatments with no scientific backing.He recently authored the book , in which he denounced the Prince of Wales’ obsession with homeopathy.But he has admitted not all alternative medicine should be tarred with the same brush, and is keeping his eye on five of the most promising treatments in the field: Professor Edzard Ernst (inset), the world’s foremost expert in alternative medicine, says research has suggested glucosamine (top left), researchave.com meditation (top), St John’s wort (top right), TENS (bottom left) and melatonin (bottom right) could all be beneficial for a range of medical conditions RELATED ARTICLES
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St John’s wort for depressionAlternative medicines could also help treat another affliction becoming more prevalent in modern day society — depression.Around 4.5 per cent of Britons are thought to be clinically depressed, according to some estimates, up by a fifth since the turn of the century.NHS doctors currently prescribe cognitive behavioural therapy or antidepressants. But the latter can cause a range of side effects, including headaches, nausea and problems sleeping, leading some to seek alternatives.St John’s wort is a flower that has long been used to treat mental health problems.
It is one of the best-researched herbal remedies and is taken as a daily capsule, costing around 25p per pill.There is good evidence that St John’s wort may reduce symptoms in people with mild-to-moderate, but not major depression. In many studies it seems to work as well as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), a popular type of antidepressant often prescribed to treat depression.<div class="art-ins mol-factbox health halfRHS" data-version="2" id="mol-e5f836e0-1187-11ed-8c08-4355dd23605d" website medicines that actually work, according to leading expert
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