A significant amount of data exists supporting the effectiveness of acupuncture for treating osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee. The recently completed phase III trial strongly supports the role of acupuncture for treating knee OA. Continue Reading »
Nine double-blind randomized clinical trials of GBE versus controls for treatment of intermittent claudication were reviewed. GBE found superior to placebo (8 studies) and equal to pentoxifyliine (one study). Measurements of pain-free walking distance and maximum walking distance dramtically increased. Blood flow increased through the affective limb, and blood lactate levels dropped. Longer use of GBE provided maximal benefit. Most studies suggested 120-160mg per day of GBE, given over 3 doses. [American Journal of Natural Medicine (1995)]
Reference:
Freedman, Lynda W, PhD et al. Best Practices in Compelmentary and Alternative Medicine. Maryland: Aspen Publishers, 2001.
Patients with peripheral arterial occlusive disease, Frontaine’s stage II, received a standard dose (120mg) or a high dose (240mg) of Egb 761. Pain-free walking distance was significantly improved for both groups but significantly more improved with the higher dose. [Schwizer & Hautmann (1999)]
Reference:
Freedman, Lynda W, PhD et al. Best Practices in Compelmentary and Alternative Medicine. Maryland: Aspen Publishers, 2001.
Back pain is the fifth most common reason for all physician visits.(1) The direct health care expenditure for treating back pain is estimated to be more than $20 billion annually and as much as $50 billion per year when indirect costs are included.(2) In the United States, 90% of adults experience back pain at some time in their lives, and 50% of the working population complains of back pain annually.(3,4) Continue Reading »