Research Roundup
"Research Roundup" presents examples of NCCAM-funded research recently published in peer-reviewed journals listed in the National Library of Medicine's PubMed database.
Tai Chi May Help with Some Symptoms of Heart Failure
Chronic heart failure, a condition in which the heart cannot pump enough oxygen throughout the body, impairs the health of millions of adults. Studies show that low-intensity exercise can be helpful. Led by Harvard Medical School's Gloria Yeh, M.D., researchers there and at the New England School of Acupuncture carried out a randomized controlled trial of tai chi—a gentle, low-impact practice from traditional Chinese medicine that involves movement, breathing, and mental focusing—in people with heart failure. The control group received standard care for heart failure. The tai chi group received both standard care and 12 weeks of tai chi training. The tai chi group had significant improvements in physical condition, heart function, and quality of life; the control group did not. The report (American Journal of Medicine, October 15, 2004) notes that tai chi may be a useful addition to standard heart failure treatment.
Pilot Study Shows Chiropractic Care May Relieve One Type of Headache
Many people suffer from headaches regularly. Cervicogenic headache—head pain that starts in the neck area—is a common type of headache, and one CAM treatment that people seek is chiropractic manipulation.
A team of researchers at Western States Chiropractic College, Kaiser Permanente Northwest, and the National College of Naturopathic Medicine sought to find out whether there is a relationship between the number of chiropractic visits and relief from this type of headache pain. In this randomized pilot study, participants received one, three, or four treatments per week for 3 weeks. Those who had three or four treatments per week reported significantly fewer headaches at follow-up visits than those who had one treatment per week.
The authors caution that the sample size was small and note that larger studies are needed (Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, November/December 2004).
For more findings, see the NCCAM Grantee Publications Database. Sorting by "Publication Date" yields the most recent records first.
