TheConsortiumofAcademicHealthCenters for Integrative Medicine (CAHCIM) has chosen to highlight developments in integrative mental health. According to a recent notice to members, the CAHCIM executive committee approved establishment of a sub-group of the CAHCIM Clinical Working Group that focuses on integrative mental health care. The action was taken “in response to the unsatisfactory state of mental health care in the U.S. and other countries, and increasing public and research interest in integrative mental health care.” The new sub-group operates with 4 goals:
• systematically evaluating research evidence pertaining to non-conventional and integrative assessment and treatment approaches in mental health care
• recommending research priorities to the Consortium leadership
• developing resources for educating and training mental health professionals in integrative mental health care, and
• establishing best practice clinical guidelines in integrative mental health care for common psychiatric disorders. Important aspects of the group’s work in 2011 are expected to be developing an agenda on research priorities in integrative mental health and facilitating collaborative research efforts between different Consortium member institutions. Leaders include Ron Glick, MD and Kelsey Hippen.

A recent study out of Queensland University in Australia reports that complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) has become increasingly popular in maternity care. Healthcareprofessionalsneedmoreevidence- based information about its use, according to Dr Adams, lead author and Executive Director of the Network of Researchers in the Public Health of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NORPHCAM). Adams says there is a need for greater respect and cooperation between conventional and alternative practitioners. The study reviewed 19 studies covering the views of more than 3,000 maternity professionals from Australia, Canada, the USA, UK, Germany, New Zealand and Israel. The review raised concern that most medical professionals have no CAM training and little understanding of the pharmacological nature of alternative therapies and their possible risks to pregnant women. The study was published in the most recent issue of the Journal of Advanced Nursing. Key findings from the most recent 2008 and 2009 studies include: * A survey of 343 midwives from Canada and New Zealand found that 72 per cent had recommended or offered CAM. The most common referrals were to homeopaths (51 per cent), acupuncturists (50 per cent), naturopathic doctors (48 per cent), chiropractors (36 per cent), massage therapists (31 per cent) and osteopaths (20 per cent).
8 A study of 401 American obstetricians found that 98 per cent routinely endorsed, provided or referred patients for at least one CAM treatment. Movement therapies topped the list at 86 per cent, followed by biofeedback and acupuncture (both 80%).
* All but one of the 381 obstetric departments who took part in a German survey said they offered at least one CAM therapy, with acupuncture (97 per cent), homeopathy (93 per cent) and aromatherapy (77 per cent) heading the list.

The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center has been awarded a grant to study whether xerostomia, a debilitating side effect caused by head and neck cancer radiation treatment, can be prevented when acupuncture is part of a patient’s treatment regimen. The $2.7 million grant from the National Cancer Institute (NCI) for the study of acupuncture in cancer was awarded to Lorenzo Cohen, Ph.D., professor in the Departments of General Oncology and Behavioral Science. The MD Anderson has offered acupuncture, when appropriate, to patients for pain or other cancer or treatment-related symptoms since 2004. This Phase III randomized clinical trial will enroll 300 head and neck cancer patients receiving radiation treatment at either Shanghai Cancer Center or MD Anderson. Those enrolled in the sister Shanghai center will have nasopharyngeal carcinoma, a malignancy much less common in the United States. Prior to undergoing radiation, patients will be randomized to receive either acupuncture (needles inserted at appropriate, selected points), sham acupuncture (real and placebo needles inserted at inactive points), or standard care. Subjective and objective assessments of xerostomia will be collected prior to, during and at the completion of therapy, as well at three, six and 12 months post-radiation.

A powerful consortium of the Palmer Center for Chiropractic Research (PCCR), the RAND Corporation and the Samueli Institute were recently awarded a $7.4 million grant for a 4-year research project “to assess chiropractic treatment for military readiness in active duty personnel.” The funds came through the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program. The grant is the largest single award for a chiropractic research project in the history of chiropractic. Ian Coulter, PhD, the Samueli Institute Chair in Policy for Integrative Medicine at RAND Corporation, is the research project’s principal investigator. Christine Goertz, DC, PhD, Palmer’s vice chancellor for research and health policy and Joan Walter JD, Samueli Institute medical research head, are co-principal investigators. The project will assess chiropractic’s effectiveness in: relieving low back pain and improving function in active duty service members; evaluating the effects of chiropractic treatment on reflexes and reaction times for Special Operations forces; determining the effect of chiropractic treatment on strength, balance and injury prevention for members of the Armed Forces with combat specialties; and, assessing the impact of a chiropractic intervention on smoking cessation in military service members.

In November of 2010, the presidency of the RCCSS(C) was passed from Dr. Greg Uchacz to Dr. Glen Harris. According to the RCCSS(C) Sport Report, Winter 2011, Dr. Glen Harris is a long standing valued contributor to the activities of sport chiropractic in Canada, who moves into the president position for the first time. Serving previously as first and second vice president, secretary and member at large, Dr. Harris brings experience, a passion for involvement, new ideas and a fresh perspective on today’s environment for sports chiropractic in Canada to the position. Other selected to positions with the RCCSS(C) are Drs. Chris deGraauw (first vice-president), Scott Howitt (second vice-president), Cameron Borody (continuing as secretary) and Janice Drover (treasurer). A special presentation, including a plaque honouring his years in service to the RCCSS(C) and to sports sciences in Canada, was made to immediate past-president Dr. Greg Uchacz at the AGM.

The Ottawa Integrated Cancer Centre received the green light from The Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine Board of Governors last week. The centre will be a healing, research and education centre where naturopathic doctors and other health-care professionals will use natural therapies with a focus on whole- person cancer care. OICC will be the first integrative oncology and research centre in Eastern Canada to provide care, advocacy and education for the use of whole- person care to the cancer community and health-care practitioners, regionally and nationally. Often cancer patients do not communicate their complementary care choices with conventional oncologists. One of oncologists’ biggest concerns with complementary medicine is the potential for this care to interfere with conventional therapies like chemotherapy and radiation therapy. OICC will work with patients, their families and their health-care professionals to develop a complementary, non-interfering therapy program to optimize overall wellness. More information will be forthcoming via website, and social media outlets.

FDA has approved and expanded the age indication for Zoster Vaccine Live, (Zostavax, Merck) for the prevention of herpes zoster, commonly known as shingles, in adults ages 50 years and older. Zostavax was first approved in May 2006 for the prevention of shingles in individuals aged 60 years and older. Zostavax is the only shingles vaccine licensed for use in the United States. According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 1 in 3 people will experience shingles in their lifetime and nearly 1 million cases of shingles occur each year, and the incidence and severity of shingles increase with age. Zostavax is not indicated for the treatment of shingles or postherpetic neuralgia, or for the prevention of chickenpox. Zostavax is contraindicated for individuals who are allergic to any of its ingredients, including gelatin or neomycin; have a weakened immune system; or take high doses of steroids. It is also contraindicated for individuals who are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Vaccination with Zostavax may not result in protection of all vaccine recipients. Zostavax is currently on back order.

Data from a recent 52-question survey of 2,000 primary care physicians conducted by Holistic Primary Care-News for Health & Healing and Signet Research, shows very encouraging signs that conventionally trained physicians – including many who identify as “mainstream” – have begun to incorporate nutrition, stress management, and many other non-pharmaceutical alternatives into their practices. Nearly 80% of respondents are conventionally trained MDs, the other 20+% being naturopaths, osteopaths, nurses, chiropractors and other health care professionals. Two-thirds of the survey respondents self-identified as “primarily conventional” in their practice style; a robust 29% identified as “integrative/mixed,” while 7% identified as fully “holistic.” Nearly 90% of respondents are taking some sort of nutraceuticals or natural products, and over half prefer to buy organic foods. In general, practitioners are more comfortable with relatively well-established supplement categories like multivitamins, omega-3 fatty acids, and probiotics.

Sita Ananth, MHA has co-authored ACOs and Integrative Healthcare, published online in early February for Hospitals and Health Networks, the American Hospital Association magazine. The article reads: “Integrative health care can help accountable care organizations (ACOs) reduce costs and improve health.” The authors reference a U.S. study of integrative health care that found that “clinical and cost utilization over a seven-year period showed a 60.2 percent reduction in hospital admissions, 59 percent reduction in hospital days, 62 percent decrease in outpatient surgeries and procedures, and 85 percent reduction in pharmaceutical costs when compared with conventional medicine alone.”

On February 17, Bastyr University kicked off a new Center for Health Policy and Research. The center will be led by Gregory Goode, chief of staff to Bastyr president Daniel Church, PhD. The vision for the new center has 3 elements:
• Encourage active participation in public affairs through thoughtful citizenship and public service. • Provide a forum for nonpartisan, critical discussion of all topics relating to health. • Serve to build community and integrate the disciplines of natural medicine through education, discussion and connection. The ceremony coincided with an on-site meeting of the board of directors of the Integrated Healthcare Policy Consortium (IHPC) for which the multi-disciplinary Bastyr, alone among the institutions with a naturopathic medical program, is a Partner in Health. William Reddy, LAc, helped kick off the Bastyr Center with a talk on the role of health reform on the acupuncture and Oriental medicine field. Bastyr has engaged considerably in integrative care policy action historically. The university’s founding president, Joseph Pizzorno, ND served on the White House Commission on CAM Policy and its former policy leader Pamela Snider, ND played key roles in both the language in the NCCAM mandate and the development of the National Policy Dialogue to Advance Integrated Health Care.