Hepatitis C, a liver disease caused by a virus, is usually chronic (long-lasting), with symptoms ranging from mild (or even none) to severe. Conventional medical treatments are available for hepatitis C; however, some people also try complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) therapies, especially herbal supplements. This issue summarizes the scientific research on the effectiveness and safety of

People with cancer want to do everything they can to combat the disease, manage its symptoms, and cope with the side effects of treatment. Many turn to complementary and alternative medicine—for example, botanical (herbal) and other dietary supplements, acupuncture, massage, and yoga. A special analysis of 2002 NHIS data found that CAM use was more

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

Zinc is an important trace mineral and is second to iron in its concentration in the body. Zinc is also present in a number of products sold as natural medicines for colds. In 2009, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration warned consumers to stop using intranasal zinc products (zinc-containing homeopathic cold remedies), because of case

There are many types of meditation, most of which originated in ancient religious and spiritual traditions. Mindfulness meditation focuses attention on breathing to develop increased awareness of the present. The intent is to reduce stress and control emotions in order to improve health. NCCAM In the News: Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction

According to an analysis of the 2007 National Health Interview Survey, approximately 44 percent of American adults with pain or neurological conditions, compared to about 33 percent of people without those conditions, used complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) during the previous year. The analysis, published in the Journal of Neurology, also revealed that 51 percent of adults with

Historically, cranberry fruits and leaves were used for a variety of problems, such as wounds, diarrhea, diabetes, stomach ailments, and liver problems. Most notably, cranberry products have been used in the hope of preventing or treating urinary tract infections. The berries are used to produce beverages and many other food products, as well as dietary

Menopause is the permanent end of a woman’s menstrual periods. Menopause can occur naturally or be caused by surgery, chemotherapy, or radiation. Many women use complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) for menopausal symptoms. For decades, hormone replacement therapy (HRT)—more recently known as menopausal hormone therapy (MHT)—was conventional medicine’s main treatment for menopausal symptoms. In 2002,