Research on Science of Healing

The Oaxaca Project - Giving Hope to Kids with Cancer

2011-09-24T11:37:45Z

This is a beautiful story of using a technique called EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques) to help children with cancer in a hospital ward in Oaxaca, Mexico. If you want more information about the project you can go to http://www.oaxacaproject.com.

Eating 7 walnuts a day could reduce your risk of breast cancer

2011-09-09T17:42:46Z

Researchers from Marshall University have recently reported that small amounts of walnuts eaten daily can significantly lower the risk of breast cancer in women. Unfortunately the research is, in my opinion, highly unethical as it involved using laboratory mice. However, the results remain that a small amount of walnut in the diet slowed the development and reduced the multiplicity of mammary gland cancers. Dr Hardman, the lead researcher states, “These reductions are particularly important when you consider that the mice were genetically programmed to develop cancer at a high rate… we were able to reduce the risk for cancer even in the presence of a preexisting genetic mutation.”

Walnuts are a great source of omega-3 fats, minerals, vitamins and protein. A handful of walnuts every day is all you need to benefit from its preventative effect. Previous studies have shown the benefits of walnuts in reducing blood pressure.

Citation: Hardman, WE, Ion, G, Akinsete JA and Witte, TR (2011) ‘Walnut Suppressed Mammary Gland Tumorigenesis in the C(3)1 TAg Mouse’ Nutrition and Cancer Aug-Sep 63(6):960-70.

Available online http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/01635581.2011.589959#tabModule

Worldwide cancer rates could be cut by 2.8 million with healthier lifestyles

2011-09-07T12:04:48Z

The World Cancer Research Fund has today published a comprehensive report on Food, Nutrition, Physical Activity and the Prevention of Cancer: a Global Perspective as well as a companion report, Policy and Action for Cancer Prevention. According to this report, around 2.8 million cancers worldwide could be prevented if people adopted healthier lifestyles and better diets. You can access the full report here.

Integrative Hospital Care in Boston, Massachusettes

2011-05-05T21:58:06Z

The more I look, the more I find examples of Integrative Cancer Care in the US. By integrative I mean using complementary medicine alongside conventional treatments (such as radiotherapy, chemotherapy and surgery). These therapies are part of the whole package of care offered to patients to minimise symptoms and side-effects, to improve the patient experience and to improve the chances of recovery.

One such example is at the Zakim Centre for Integrative Therapies at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston.

Alternative Complementary Health Research Network in the UK

2011-05-04T20:19:02Z

I thought I’d let you know about a useful network of researchers and CAM practitioners in the UK called the Alternative Complementary Health Research Network (ACHRN) who will be having a conference in Manchester on 6th July 2011. The keynote speaker is Professor Alexander Molassiotis who is Chair of Cancer & Supportive Care at the University of Manchester, and Head of the Academic Cancer Nursing Research Unit, Christie Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. His research has recently been focused on looking at interventions to manage chemotherapy-related symptoms such as nausea, cancer-related fatigue and cough/breathlessness in lung cancer. I’m not sure who else will be speaking at the Conference but I’ll let you know as I find out.

Major International Conference on Integrative Medicine for Cancer Care

2010-11-27T15:51:56Z

This conference is to be held in Amsterdam 11-12 March 2011 as a way of bringing together leading practitioners, researchers and educators from across the world to discuss opportunities for integrative cancer care.

Medical students in Bristol taught to look at the whole person. True.

2010-11-18T23:10:56Z

Medical training in the UK varies enormously in approach from one University to the next and each department has its own strengths I guess. But we have to celebrate and welcome any effort to bring humanity back into education and I’ve come across one such example in the University of Bristol School of Social and Community Medicine.

Longitudinal research shows you can die of a broken heart

2010-11-14T23:17:17Z

‘ve just read the abstract of a journal article to be published in Epidemiology in 2011 and thought I’d share it with you. This study is yet another demonstration of how emotions can impact our health.

Astounding effects of placebos

2010-10-07T13:03:01Z

One of the most fascinating phenomena in mind-body medicine is how our perception of healing practices affects how we respond. Clinical trials on the effects of new drugs have demonstrated for years that people actually get better after taking a placebo, in somewhere between 30-90% of cases. Recently, new research on randomised control trials has shown that anti-depressants really have minimal or non-existent benefits on people with mild to moderate depression and are in actual fact no better than placebos for the vast majority of people (Fournier et al 2010). And even knee surgery has been shown to be no more effective than a placebo knee surgery.

An amazing film has been made about the power of the placebo, the latest research and how we can harness the self-healing powers of our mind-body. You can watch the first part below and the rest are on youtube. Prepare to be amazed.

6 Things Your Doctor isn't Telling You

2010-05-12T22:01:45Z

I don’t know if you’ve heard of Dr Mercola yet or not - he’s an American doctor who has been at the forefront of new medicine and nutrition for many years - there’s so much information on his website it could take a life time to read it all. However, I’ve just been sent a link to this 18 minute clip of him talking at a conference in March 2010. I really do believe every one should watch this clip - and act on it. He lists the tests EVERY ONE should have as a preventative measure, and the importance of B12 and D3 in maintaining optimum health (saying in years to come not testing for vitamin D deficiency will be ‘criminal’). Seriously, watch it !

http://blip.tv/file/3649403?utm_source=player_embedded