May 30, 2006 [Volume 7, Issue 12]

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In this issue of To Your Health:

• Working Together to Resolve Back Pain
• Fighting Type II Diabetes the Herbal Way
• Prevent Kidney Stones With Lemonade?

The whole can be greater than the sum of its parts, especially when it comes to health care. Research presented at a CAM conference in Canada provides evidence that using a combination of therapies in conjunction, rather than just one individual therapy, may produce the best results in the treatment of low back pain.

In this small pilot study, 19 people suffering from subacute LBP were randomized into two groups: six patients who received "usual care," and 13 who received usual care along with "integrated care" from a team of experts in chiropractic, acupuncture, massage therapy and other disciplines. Treatment was provided for 12 weeks, and was modified based on the patient's progress and the team's recommendations. At the start of the trial and at various points throughout the study, the researchers performed tests to assess changes in the patients' pain and ability to function.

The combination of integrated care and usual care reduced pain and improved function to a greater extent than usual care alone. In patients treated with the combination of therapies, pain scores decreased an average of 0.37 points per week, compared to just 0.14 points per week among usual care patients. Functional status, meanwhile, improved an average of 1.11 points per week in usual/integrated care patients, compared to 0.49 points per week in patients treated solely with usual care.

Whether utilized as stand-alone care or as an integrated approach, chiropractic is an effective solution to the low back pain dilemma. For more information on chiropractic care, visit www.chiroweb.com/find/whatis.html.

Eisenberg DM, Post DE, Hrbek AL, et al. Testing a model of integrative care in an academic health center: results of a pilot study. Abstract #366. Presented at The North American Research Conference on Complementary and Integrative Medicine, Edmonton, Alberta, May 24, 2006.

Almost three-fourths of all adults with type II diabetes suffer from hypertension, which not only increases the risk of heart disease and stroke, but may cause damage to the eyes, kidneys and nervous system. While many diabetics are prescribed drugs to help control their high blood pressure, the results of a recent trial suggest there may be a safe, natural alternative to these types of prescription medications.

In this randomized, controlled trial, 79 patients with type II diabetes who were already taking blood pressure medication were allocated into two groups. Thirty-nine patients received a daily extract of hawthorn, an herb that has been shown to reduce blood pressure levels without causing any adverse side effects. The remaining patients took a placebo extract. Blood pressure levels were then measured for 16 weeks to determine any changes between groups. Patients taking the hawthorn extract showed an average decrease of 2.6 points in diastolic blood pressure, which the authors of the study termed a "significant reduction." They added that hawthorn could be used with other natural ways to lower one's blood pressure, such as regular exercise and changes in diet and lifestyle.

Hawthorn is considered extremely safe. It has received a class I rating from the American Herbal Products Association, which means that it can be used safely when taken at the appropriate levels. Nevertheless, make sure to consult with a licensed health care provider before taking hawthorn or any other herbal remedy or dietary supplement. For more information about hawthorn and other herbal products, visit www.chiroweb.com/find/tellmeabout/herbs.html.

Walker AF, Marakis G, Simpson E, et al. Hypotensive effects of hawthorn for patients with diabetes taking prescription drugs: a randomized controlled trial. British Journal of General Practice June 2006;56:437-443.

If life gives you lemons, make lemonade. But what if life gives you kidney stones? For most people, a drug called potassium citrate is prescribed, but for those who can't tolerate potassium citrate's side effects or are allergic to certain medications, the results of a small study published at the American Urological Association's annual meeting indicate that lemonade may work just as well.

Kidney stones develop when minerals in the urine crystallize and build up inside the kidney. In most people, urine contains a chemical called citrate, which breaks down the minerals and prevents the stones from forming. In this study, researchers followed 12 people who suffered from hypocitrauria, a condition that causes a person to produce low levels of urinary citrate. Patients in the group drank lemonade made from 120 milliliters of lemon juice mixed with 2 liters of water throughout the day; small amounts of sugar or sugar substitute were added for taste.

Results showed that 11 of the 12 patients had increased urinary citrate levels during lemonade therapy. The kidney stones of the people taking lemonade therapy also decreased in size and number during the course of treatment.

While lemonade may help reduce the incidence of kidney stones, it's only part of a larger program. Lowering the amount of salt in the diet, eating smaller portions of red meat, and increasing fluid intake can all help slow the formation of existing stones and prevent new ones from developing. For more information, visit www.chiroweb.com/find/archives/nutrition/foods/index.html.

Kang D, et al. Lemonade-based dietary manipulation in patients with hypocitraturic nephrolithiasis. Abstract #1038. Presented at the 101st Annual Scientific Meeting of the American Urological Association, Atlanta, Ga., May 23, 2006.

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