Mindfulness Meditation Is Associated With Structural Changes in the Brain

According to a recent study, practicing mindfulness meditation appears to be associated with measurable changes in the brain regions involved in memory, learning, and emotion. Mindfulness meditation focuses attention on breathing to develop increased awareness of the present. Previous research has demonstrated that mindfulness mediation may reduce symptoms of anxiety, depression, and chronic pain, but

In the News: Echinacea for the Common Cold

Echinacea is an herb that has traditionally been used to treat or prevent colds, flu, and other infections. According to the 2007 NHIS, echinacea was the most commonly used natural nonvitamin/nonmineral supplement among children, and the third most commonly used supplement among adults. These products vary widely, using different echinacea species, plant parts, and preparations.

Harvard Researcher To Speak at NIH on the Promise of Traditional Therapies

Vikas P. Sukhatme, M.D., Ph.D., the Victor J. Aresty Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School, and Chief Academic Officer at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center will be the featured speaker for the Second Annual Stephen E. Straus Distinguished Lecture in the Science of Complementary and Alternative Medicine. Dr. Sukhatme’s lecture is entitled "Promise for

NCCAM Clinical Digest: Sleep Disorders and CAM

People who have trouble sleeping may try dietary supplements, relaxation therapies, or other forms of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in an effort to fall asleep faster, stay asleep longer, and improve the overall quality of their sleep. Research on CAM and insomnia has produced promising results for some CAM therapies. However, evidence of effectiveness

In the News: Calcium and Vitamin D

Recently, a report from the Institute of Medicine, which was partially sponsored by the National Institutes of Health, set new dietary intake levels for calcium and vitamin D to maintain health and avoid risks associated with excess. The recommendations take into account published studies and statements from scientists and stakeholders. NCCAM In the News: Calcium