MARCH-APRIL 2012 NEWS
March - A review of spinal manipulation therapy for pediatric conditions concluded that the “data failed to demonstrate that spinal manipulation therapy is useful,” and its safety is “less than clear” (Posadzki and Ernst, Focus on Altern. and Complement. Ther. 17, 22-26 (2012) Abstract).
March - Ernst and others reviewed trials of acupuncture funded by the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (Focus on Altern. and Complement. Ther. 17, 15-21 (2012) Abstract). They identified “numerous methodological shortcomings.” In particular, none of the trials “made a serious attempt to control for the influence of the acupuncturist on the clinical outcome.”
March - Ernst has reviewed the subject of alternative detox (AD) (Br. Med. Bull. 101, 33-38 (2012) Paper). He concludes that “The principles of AD make no sense from a scientific perspective and there is no clinical evidence to support them...The promotion of AD treatments provides income for some entrepreneurs but has the potential to cause harm to patients and consumers.”
March - Zheng and others performed a meta-analysis of studies of acupuncture for in vitro fertilization (Fertil. Steril. 97, 599-611 (2012) Abstract). Acupuncture appeared to have benefits compared to some controls, but not when a certain type of control (involving a blunt needle that does not actually penetrate the skin) was used. The authors interpret this as suggesting a beneficial acupressure effect from this type of control. However, it may be that the effects are psychological and that this is a more convincing placebo.
March - Lee and others reviewed previous reviews of aromatherapy (Maturitas 71, 257-260 (2012) Abstract). “Most of the systematic reviews were of poor methodological quality...the evidence is not sufficiently convincing that aromatherapy is an effective therapy for any condition.”
March - Ernst (Eur. J. Gen. Pract. 18, 63-66 (2012)) has described eight “errors of alternative medicine”: 1. AM defies science (claims that it cannot be tested by the normal methods of science); 2. Disregard of biological plausibility (e.g., homeopathy and the meridians of Chinese medicine); 3. High-jacking of core principles of primary care (claims that treatment of the whole person, etc., are special to alternative medicine when they in fact “are core values of any good medicine”); 4. Over-estimation of observational data (in contrast to carefully controlled studies); 5. Mistaking popularity for efficacy and safety; 6. Cherry-picking (selecting positive studies when there are many negative ones); 7. Emphasis on non-specific effects (which are mostly due to the placebo effect); 8. Rejection of criticism (there are many “charlatans” in alternative medicine, but there is little “internal criticism or cleansing mechanism” to deal with them, and a general lack of “constructive insight into its most fundamental errors”).
March - A study of acupuncture for functional dyspepsia (Ma et al., Aliment Pharmacol. Ther. 35, 552-561 (2012) Abstract) indicated benefits. In contrast to many studies of acupuncture, treatment at specific acupuncture points gave significantly better results than at nonspecific points.
March 5 - “An investigation by Nature has found that patients in Texas are receiving unproven stem-cell treatments,” with the backing of governor Rick Perry but without having approval from the FDA Story Editorial.
March 5 - A Cochrane Collaboration review (Abstract, updated Sept. 12) concluded that “There is currently insufficient evidence to support the use of black cohosh for menopausal symptoms. However, there is adequate justification for conducting further studies in this area.”
March 6 - Li and others studied effects of electroacupuncture on migraine (CMAJ 184, 401-410 (2012) Paper). Although the treatments were beneficial, results with specific acupuncture points were not much better than sham treatments. A Commentarydiscusses the results.
April - In work by Pfab and others, acupuncture had benefits, compared to placebo acupuncture, in the treatment of atopic dermatitis (Allergy 67, 566-573 (2012) Abstract).
April 12 - According to a News story by E. Callaway, “Chinese herbal medicines contain ingredients derived from endangered animals, toxic plants and livestock, a genetic audit has discovered. Few of these ingredients were listed on the packaging.”
April 18 - A Cochrane Collaboration review of Pycnogenol® (extract of French maritime pine bark) found that “Current evidence is insufficient to support Pycnogenol® use for the treatment of any chronic disorder.”
April 27 – The U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) issued warning letters to manufacturers of 1,3-dimethylamylamine (DMAA, methylhexamine, geranium extract) Press release News story. The supplement, marketed as a “natural” stimulant and “fat burner,” has been connected to many adverse effects and a few deaths.