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NCCAM
Research on Specific Health Issues
The
National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (formerly
the Office for Alternative Medicine and part of NIH) has funded
thirteen research centers that focus on specific health issues.
While the term "complementary and alternative medicine" covers approximately
15 different kinds of therapies, supplementation is one of them,
and the research conducted at the centers shown here does include
a variety of dietary supplements. Useful research about the effects
of supplements on a variety of health concerns is available through
these links.
See
also our summaries
of current research (as of June 2000) in NCCAM centers.
Addiction:
Center for Addiction and Alternative Medicine Research (CAAMR)
www.health.gov/NHIC/NHICScripts/Entry.cfm?HRCode=HR2808
CAAMR research findings include the usefulness of including nutrition
and vitamin therapy in alcohol treatment programs. [Editor's
Note Sept 2003: CAAMR's website has disappeared from its home
at the Minneapolis Medical Research Foundation. This may indicate
a end to that research project.]
Aging:
Complementary and Alternative Medicine Program at Stanford (CAMPS),
at Stanford University, CA
camps.stanford.edu
Many problems that older people experience are caused by specific
diseases rather than an inevitable slide into poor health.
CAMPS is currently reviewing existing knowledge on selected alternative
therapies as they relate to successful aging. Programs include
review teams focusing on nutrition and herbal medicine and and
traditional Chinese medicine.
Asthma:
Center for Alternative Medicine Research in Asthma and Immunology
(CAMRAI), at University of California at Davis
www-camra.ucdavis.edu
Asthma-related deaths have almost doubled in the past 20 years,
and the yearly cost of health care for asthma now exceeds $4.6
billion. CAMRAI is surveying health care professionals and
asthma sufferers to find out what alternative treatments they
use. Current research includes work on vitamins C and E,
and the effect of botanicals on key immune responses. Publications
on the CAMRAI website include treating asthma with vitamin B12
and herbs, and reducing cardiovascular risk with a variety of
vitamins and other dietary supplements.
Cancer:
University of Texas Center for Alternative Medicine (UT-CAM), Austin
TX
www.sph.uth.tmc.edu/utcam
The UT-CAM evaluates biopharmacologic and herbal therapies used
for cancer prevention and treatment, and is co-funded by the National
Cancer Institute. Current research includes clinical studies
of melatonin, animal studies of ginseng and shark cartilage, and
laboratory studies of coenzyme Q10. UT-CAM is currently
designing a clinical trial of high-dosage Vitamin C.
HIV:
Bastyr University AIDS Research Center (BUARC), Seattle WA
www.bastyr.edu/research/buarc
Studies of the HIV-infected population suggest that more than
half are using a variety of alternative therapies, including Chinese
herbal medicine and mega-vitamin therapy. This website contains
a list of BUARC's publications. Also, the Bastyr University
Library has more than 8,000 books on naturopathic and alternative
medicine, and subscribes to approximately 250 journals in these
fields. This extensive collection is available to the public.
Women's
Health Issues: Center for CAM Research in Women's Health (CCRWH)
- Richard and Hinda Rosenthal Center For Complementary and Alternative
Medicine, at Columbia University, New York NY
cpmcnet.columbia.edu/dept/rosenthal
The CCRWH is reviewing the alternative medicine literature on
women's health issues in order to develop a research agenda.
The CCRWH will then establish networks of researchers and will
conduct collaborative research. Clinical studies include
the effect of a Chinese herbal preparation on menopausal hot flashes,
and use of a red clover product for the treatment of uterine fibroids.
A prospective outcomes research study examines traditional Chinese
medicine in the treatment of uterine fibroids. A pilot outcomes
study examines herbal therapies for women's health.
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