mellowsong
11-07-08, 10:35 AM
"Dr. Alan Inglis" <housecalls@healthiernews.com>
Another natural therapy trounces anti-depressants
I told you recently about a research study where a natural remedy, St. John's wort, beat the pants off prescription anti-depressants. Well, those anti- depressants were just beaten again by a non-drug therapy – and the results could spell relief for women suffering from breast cancer.
In this case, the study looked at acupuncture compared to the antidepressant venlafaxine (Effexor) in breast cancer patients. You see, when women are being treated for breast cancer, they tend to take estrogen blockers to try to slow tumor growth. But these estrogen blockers often cause some pretty serious cases of depression.
Knowing mainstream docs as we do, I'm sure you won't be surprised to learn that most docs write prescriptions for anti-depressants to offset the side effects of the estrogen blockers. It's the same old story – prescribe Drug B to fix the problems caused by Drug A.
Well, researchers looked at breast cancer patients suffering from depression and split them into two groups. One group received venlafaxine, and the other acupuncture. Both saw relief, but the venlaxafine group cited a wide range of side effects, including anxiety, high blood pressure, nausea, headache, double vision, trouble sleeping, dizziness, constipation and fatigue.
There was none of that with the acupuncture group. There were instead some positive side effects: increased energy, sexual desire and an enhanced sense of well-being.
Researchers may have been surprised, but I wasn't. Acupuncture has been used for thousands of years to improve physical and mental well-being. It's showing its worth again for breast cancer patients, who may now need one less drug in their medicine cabinets.
Another natural therapy trounces anti-depressants
I told you recently about a research study where a natural remedy, St. John's wort, beat the pants off prescription anti-depressants. Well, those anti- depressants were just beaten again by a non-drug therapy – and the results could spell relief for women suffering from breast cancer.
In this case, the study looked at acupuncture compared to the antidepressant venlafaxine (Effexor) in breast cancer patients. You see, when women are being treated for breast cancer, they tend to take estrogen blockers to try to slow tumor growth. But these estrogen blockers often cause some pretty serious cases of depression.
Knowing mainstream docs as we do, I'm sure you won't be surprised to learn that most docs write prescriptions for anti-depressants to offset the side effects of the estrogen blockers. It's the same old story – prescribe Drug B to fix the problems caused by Drug A.
Well, researchers looked at breast cancer patients suffering from depression and split them into two groups. One group received venlafaxine, and the other acupuncture. Both saw relief, but the venlaxafine group cited a wide range of side effects, including anxiety, high blood pressure, nausea, headache, double vision, trouble sleeping, dizziness, constipation and fatigue.
There was none of that with the acupuncture group. There were instead some positive side effects: increased energy, sexual desire and an enhanced sense of well-being.
Researchers may have been surprised, but I wasn't. Acupuncture has been used for thousands of years to improve physical and mental well-being. It's showing its worth again for breast cancer patients, who may now need one less drug in their medicine cabinets.