Natural Therapies In Medical Literature
We list below a number of studies showing the benefit of certain naturopathic interventions with respect to various disease conditions. These by no means represent all studies, only a sampling of the extant medical literature. Whenever feasible, and for the sake of brevity, we have limited our citations to a maximum of two per therapy and two therapies per disease condition. The amount of research supporting natural therapies is indeed extensive, well over one hundred times the number of medical journal articles cited herein. In choosing this relatively very small number of articles to cite here, we have opted for both a breadth of coverage of the many diseases having successful natural treatments, as well as a preference for the meta-analyses and larger studies over smaller studies and case studies.
The reader should never consider the following information as a substitute for consultation with a naturopathic physician or another qualified health professional; if you are interested you can do so here. In fact, from reading the list below, one could not determine appropriate dosing or follow-up for any of the remedies described. Also, in some situations the below treatments may not be appropriate under a given set of circumstances or conditions. A basic tennant of Naturopathic treastment is to treat the whole person. Therefore, your naturopathic physician will work with you to determine which treatments are most appropriate given your condition and circumstances.
Holistic Treatments By Condition
Condition |
Treatment |
Resources |
|---|---|---|
Addiction |
Acupuncture |
G. ter Riet, et al. “A meta-analysis of studies into the effect of acupuncture on addiction,” British Journal of General Practice 1990; 40: 379-382. |
Alzheimer’s Disease |
L-Acetyl Carnitine |
B. Bowman, “Acetyl-L-Carnitine and Alzheimer’s Disease,” Nutrition Reviews 1992; 50: 142-44.M. Calvani, “Action of Acetyl-L-Carnitine In Neurodegeneration and Alzheimer’s Disease,” Ann NY Academy of Science 1993; 663: 483-86. |
Ginkgo Biloba |
F. V. de Feudis, ed. “Ginkgo Biloba Extract (EGB 761),” Pharmacological Activities and Clinical Implications, (Paris: Elsevier, 1991).J. Kleijnen and P. Knipschild, “Ginkgo Biloba,” Lancet 1992; 340: 1136-39. | |
Anemia, Pernicious |
Vitamin B-12 (Cobalamin) |
F. A. Lederly, “Oral Cobalamin for Pernicious Anemia: medicine’s best-kept secret,”JAMA 1991; 265: 94-95.E. H. Reisner et al., “Oral treatment of pernicious anemia with Vitamin B-12 without intrinsic factor,” New England Journal of Medicine 1955; 253: 205-06. |
Angina |
L-Carnitine |
T. Kamikawa, et al. “Effects of L-Carnitine on exercise tolerance in patients with stable angina pectoris,” Japanese Heart J 1984; 25: 587-97.L. Cacciatore, et al. “The therapeutic effect of L-Carnitine in patients with exercise-induced stable angina: a controlled study,” Drugs Exptl Clin Res 1991; 17: 225-335. |
Coenzyme Q-10 |
K. Folkers and Y. Yamamura, eds. Biomedical and Clinical Aspects of Coenzyme Q-10. Vols. 1-4 (Amsterdam: Elsevier Science Publishers, Vol. 1: 1977, Vol. 2: 1980, Vol. 3: 1982., Vol. 4: 1984).T. Kamikawa et al. “Effects of Co-Enzyme Q-10 on exercise tolerance in chronic stable angina pectoris,” American Journal Cardiol 1985; 56: 247. | |
Anxiety/Panic Attacks |
Omega-3 Essential Fatty Acids |
D. Rudin. “The Major Psychoses and Neuroses as Omega-3 Essential Fatty Acid Deficiency Syndrome: Substrate Pellagra.” Biol Psychiatry 1981; 16: 837-50. |
Kava root |
Y. Singh. “Kava: an overview,” J Ethnopharmacol 1992; 37: 13-45.E. Kinzler, J Kromer et al. “Clinical efficacy of a kava extract in patients with anxiety syndrome: double-blind placebo controlled study over 4 weeks,” Arzneim Forsch 1991; 41: 584-88. | |
Asthma |
Fish oil |
L. Hedge, et al. “Consumption of oily fish and childhood asthma risk,” MJA 1996; 164: 137-40.J. Dry, D. Vincent. “Effect of a fish oil diet on asthma: results of a 1-year double-blind study,” Int Arch Allergy Apply Immunol 1991; 95: 156-57. |
Vitamin B-6 (Pyridoxine) |
P. Collip, S. Goldzeir, et al. “Pyridoxine treatment of childhood asthma,” Ann Allergy 1975; 35: 93-7.S. Sur, et al. “Double-blind trial of pyridoxine (Vit. B-6) in the treatment of steroid-dependent asthma.” Ann Allergy 1993; 70: 147-52. | |
Homeopathy |
J. H. Campbell, et al. “Is homeopathy a placebo response? A controlled trial of homeopathic immunotherapy in atopic asthma,” Am. Rev. Resp. Dis. 1990; 141: A24.K. Linde, et al. “Homeopathy for chronic asthma,” Cochrane. Database. Syst. Rev. 2000; CD000353. | |
Attention Deficit Disorders |
Diet, general |
M. Lipton, J. Mayo. “Diet and hyperkinesis: an update,” J Am Diet Assoc, 1983; 83: 132-34.R. Prinz, et al. “Dietary correlates of hyperactive behavior in children,” J Consult Clin Psych 1980; 48: 760-69. |
Removing lead |
O. David, et al. “Lead and hyperactivity,” Lancet 2(1972) 900-03.R. W. Tuthill, “Hair lead levels related to children’s classroom attention deficit behavior,” Arch Environ Health 1996; 51: 214-20. | |
Bronchitis |
Homeopathy |
F. Balsano, et al. “Effetto di un composto glicoproteico estratto da Klebsiella pneumoniae sul decorso clinico di infezioni acute delle vie aeree in pazienti affetti da bronchite cronica,” Rec. Prog. Med. 1988; 79: 73. |
Cancer |
Homeopathy |
P. Drossou, et al. “Homoeopathic treatment of leukaemias,” Homeopathy International 1990 May: 12. |
Cervical Dysplasia |
Folic acid |
W. Van Niekerk, “Cervical cytological abnormalities caused by folic acid deficiency,” Acta Cytol 1966; 10: 67-73.N. Whitehead, et al. “Megaloblastic changes in the cervical epithelium association with oral contraceptive therapy and reversal with folic acid,” JAMA 1973; 226: 1421-4. |
Cholesterol |
Pantothenic Acid (Vitamin B-5) |
A. Gaddi, et al. “Controlled evaluation of pantethine, a natural hypolipidemic compound, in patients with different forms of hyperlipoproteinemia,” Atheroscl 1984; 50: 73-83.C. Donati, et al. “Pantethine, diabetes mellitus and atherosclerosis: clinical study of 1045 patients,” Clin Ter 1989; 128(6): 411-22. |
Garlic |
M. Steiner, et al. “A double-blind crossover study in moderately hypercholesterolemic men that compared the effect of aged garlic extract and placebo administration on blood lipids,” American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 1996; 64: 866-70.S. Warshafsky, et al. “Effect of garlic on total serum cholesterol,” Ann Intern Med 1993; 119: 599-605. | |
Chronic Fatigue Syndome |
Magnesium |
I. M. Cox, et al. “Red blood cell magnesium and chronic fatigue syndrome,” Lancet 1991; 337: 757-60. |
Common Cold |
Vitamin C |
L. Pauling, “Vitamin C and the common cold” (San Francisco: Freeman, 1970).H. Hemila, et al. “Vitamin C and the common cold: A retrospective analysis of Chalmers’ review,” J Am Coll Nutr 1995; 14: 116-23. |
Echinacea |
D. Melchart, et al. “Immunomodulation with Echinacea: A systemic review of controlled clinical trials,” Phytomed 1994; 1: 245-54.D. Schoneberger, “The influence of immune-stimulating effects of pressed juice from Echinacea purpurea on the course and severity of colds: Results of a double-blind study,” Forum Immunologie 1992; 8: 2-12. | |
Traditional Chinese Medicine |
C. Liu, et al. “Chinese herbal medicines in the treatment of acute respiratory infections: a review of randomized and controlled clinical trials,” Medical Journal of Australia 1998: 579-582. | |
Depression |
Folic acid |
E. Reynolds, et al. “Folate deficiency in depressive illness,” Br J Psychiat 1970; 117: 287-92.S. L. Kivela, et al. “Depression in the aged: Relation to folate and vitamins C and B-12,” Biol Psychiatry 1989; 26: 209-13. |
St. John’s Wort (Hypericum) |
H. Sommer, et al. “Placebo-controlled double-blind study examining the effectiveness of a hypericum preparation in 105 mildly depressed patients,” J GeriatrPsychiatry Neurol 1994; 7 (Suppl 1): S9-11.G. Harrer, et al. “Effectiveness and tolerance of the hypericum extract LI 160 compared to Maprotiline: A multicenter double-blind study,” J Geriatr Psychiatry Neurol 1994; 7 (Suppl 1): S24-8.E. U. Vorbach, et al. “Effectiveness and tolerance of the hpyericum extract LI 160 in comparison with imipramine: randomized double-blind study with 135 outpatients,” J Geriatr Psychiatry Neurol 1994; 7 (Suppl. 1): S19-23. | |
Detoxification |
Homeopathy |
P. Fisher, et al. “The influence of the homoeopathic remedy Plumbum metallicum on the excretion kinetics of lead in rats,” Human Toxicology 1987; 6: 321. |
Diabetes |
Chromium |
R. Anderson, et al. “Beneficial effect of chromium for people with type II diabetes,” Diabetes 1996; 45 (Suppl. 2): 124A/454.R. Levine, et al. “Effect of oral chromium supplementation on the glucose tolerance of elderly human subjects,” Metabolism 1968; 17: 114-25. |
Fish |
L. Cobias, et al. “Lipid, lipoprotein, and hemostatic effects of fish vs fish oil w-3 fatty acids in mildly hyperlipidemic males,” Am J Clin Nutr 1991; 53: 1210-16.E. J. M. Feskens, et al. “Inverse association between fish intake and risk of glucose intolerance in normoglycemic elderly men and woman, Diabetes Care 1991; 14: 935-41. | |
Homeopathy |
A. Cier, et al. “Sur le traitement du diabete expérimental par des dilutions infinitésimals d’alloxane,” Ann. Hom. Fr. 1966; 8: 137. | |
Diarrhea |
Homeopathy |
J. Jacobs, et al. “Treatment of acute childhood diarrhea with homeopathic medicine: a randomized clinical trial in Nicaragua,” Pediatrics 1994; 93: 719.J. Jacobs, et al. “Homeopathic treatment of acute childhood diarrhea: results from a clinical trial in Nepal,” J. Alt. Compl. Med. 2000; 6: 131. |
Ear Infections |
Homeopathy |
H. Harrison, et al. “A randomized comparison of homoeopathic and standard care for the treatment of glue ear in children,” Complement. Ther. Med. 1999; 7: 132.J. Jacobs, et al. “Homeopathic treatment of acute otitis media in children: a preliminary randomized placebo-controlled trial,” Pediatr. Infect. Dis. J. 2001; 20: 177. |
Eczema |
Evening Primrose Oil |
J. C. M. Stewart, et al. “Treatment of severe and moderately severe atopic dermatitis with evening primrose oil (epogam): a multicenter study,” J Nutr Med 1991; 2: 9-15.C. A. Hederos, et al. “Epogam evening primrose oil treatment in atopic dermatitis and asthma,” Arch Dis Child 1996; 75(6): 494-7. |
Traditional Chinese Medicine |
D. J. Atherton, et al. “Treatment of atopic eczema with traditional Chinese medicinal plants,” Pediatr Dermatol 1992; 9(4): 373-5.M. P. Sheehan, et al. “Efficacy of traditional Chinese herbal therapy in adult atopic dermatitis,” Lancet 1992; 340: 13-7. | |
Fibrocystic Breast Changes |
Caffeine |
C. A. Boyle, et al. “Caffeine consumption and fibrocystic breast disease: a case-control epidemiologic study,” JNCI 1984; 72: 1015-9.V. L. Ernster, et al. “Effects on caffeine-free diet on benign breast disease: a random trial,” Surgery 1982; 91: 263-7. |
Fibromyalgia |
5HT-1 |
I. Caruso, et al. “Double-blind study of 5-hydroxytryptophan versus placebo in the treatment of primary fibromyalgia syndrome,” J Int Med Res 1990; 18: 201-9. P. S. Puttini, et al. “Primary fibromyalgia syndrome and 5-hydroxy-L-tryptophan: a 90-day open study,” J Int Med Res 1992; 20: 182-9. |
Magnesium |
T. J. Romano, et al. “Magnesium deficiency in fibromyalgia syndrome,” J Nutr Med 1994; 165-7.I. M. Cox, et al. “Red blood cell magnesium and chronic fatigue syndrome,” Lancet 1991; 337: 757-60. | |
Acupuncture |
B.M. Berman, et al. “Is acupuncture effective in the treatment of fibromyalgia?” Journal of Family Practice 1999; 48: 213-218. | |
Homeopathy |
P. Fisher, et al. “Effect of homoeopathic treatment on fibrositis (primary fibromyalgia),” Brit. Med. J. 1989; 299: 365. | |
Flu |
Homeopathy |
G. Lewith, et al. “Controlled study of a homoeopathic dilution of influenza vaccine on antibody titres in man,” Comp. Med. Res. 1989; 3: 22. |
Gallstones |
Food allergy |
J. C. Breneman, “Allergy elimination diet as the most effective gallbladder diet,” Ann All 1968; 26: 83-7.H. Necheles, et al. “Allergy of the gallbladder,” Am J Dig Dis 1949; 7: 238-41. |
Lecithin |
S. A. Tuzhilin, et al. “The treatment of patients with gallstones by lecithin,” Am J Gastroenterol 1976; 65: 231.I. Hanin, et al. “Lecithin: technological, biological and therapeutic aspects,” (New York: Plenum Press 1987). | |
Glaucoma |
Vitamin C |
S. Fishbein, et al. “The pressure lowering effect of ascorbic acid,” Annal Opthamol 1972; 4; 487-91.E. Linner, “The pressure lowering effect of ascorbic acid in ocular hypertension,” Acta Opthamol 1969; 47: 685-9. |
Fish oil |
R. McGuire, “Fish oil lowers ocular pressure,” Medical Tribune 1991; August 19: 25. | |
Gout |
Flavonoids |
T. Yoshimoto, et al. “Flavonoids: potent inhibitors of arachidonate 5-lipoxygenase,” Biochem Biophys Res Comm 1983; 116: 612-8.L. W. Blau, “Cherry diet control for gout and arthritis,” Texas Rep Biol Med 1950; 8: 309-11. |
Hay Fever |
Nettles |
P. Mittman. “Randomized double-blind study of freeze-dried Urtica dioica in the treatment of allergic rhinitis,” Planta Medica. 1990; 56: 44-47. |
Homeopathy |
M. Wiesenauer, et al. “Double-blind trial comparing the effectiveness of the homeopathic preparation Galphimia potentisation D6, Galphimia dilution 10-6 and placebo on pollinosis,” Arzneimittelforschung Drug Res. 1985; 35: 1745.D. Taylor Reilly, et al. “Is homeopathy a placebo response? Controlled trial of homoeopathic potency, with pollen in hayfever as a model,” Lancet 1986; 2: 881. | |
Headache and Migraine |
Food allergy |
L. E. Mansfield, et al. “Food allergy and adult migraine: double-blind and mediator confirmation of an allergic etiology,” Ann Allergy 1985; 55: 126-9.J. Monro, et al. “Food allergy in migraine,” Lancet 1980; ii: 1-4. |
Acupuncture |
L. Lenhard, et al. “Acupuncture in the prophylactic treatment of migraine headache: pilot study,” NZ Med J 1983; 96: 663-6.J. Laiten, “Acupuncture for migraine prophylaxis: a prospective clinical study with six month’s follow-up,” Am J Chin Med 1975; 3: 271-4.D. Melchard, et al. “Acupuncture for recurrent headaches: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials,” Cephalagia 1999; 19: 779-786. | |
Homeopathy |
B. Brigo, et al. “Homeopathic treatment of migraines: a randomized double-blind controlled study of sixty cases,” Berlin J. Res. Homeopathy 1991; 1 (2): 98.P. Straumsheim, et al. “Homeopathic treatment of migraine: a double blind, placebo controlled trial of 68 patients,” Br. Hom. J. 2000; 89: 4.H. Walach, et al. “The long-term effects of homeopathic treatment of chronic headaches: one year follow-up and single case time series analysis,” Br. Hom. J. 2001; 90:63. | |
Heart Disease |
Co-enzyme Q-10 |
T. Ishiyama, et al. “A clinical study of the effect of Coenzyme Q on congestive heart failure,” Jpn Heart J 1976; 17: 32.W. V. Judy, et al. “Myocardial effects of Co-enzyme Q-10 in primary heart failure,” Biomedical and Clinical Aspects of Coenzyme Q, (1984; Vol 4 Amsterdam: Elsevier Science Pub: 353-67). |
Craetaegus |
V. M. O’Conolly, et al. “Treatment of cardiac performance (NYHA Stages I to II) in advanced age with standardized crataegus extract,” Fortschr Med 1986; 104: 805-8.H. Leuchtgens, “Crataegus special extract WS 1442 in NYHA II heart failure: a placebo controlled randomized double-blind study,” Fortschr Med 1993; 111: 352-4. | |
Homeopathy |
G. Ruiz, et al. “Homeopathic effect on heart rate variability,” Br. Hom. J. 1999; 88: 106. | |
Hepatitis |
Glycyrrhizin |
H. Suzuki, et al. “Effects of glycyrrhizin on biochemical tests in patients with chronic hepatitis: double blind trial,” Asian Med J 1984; 26: 423-38.Y. Arase, et al. “The long term efficacy of glycyrrhizin in chronic hepatitis C patients,” Cancer 1997; 79: 1494-500. |
Silymarin |
E. Magliulo, et al. “Results of a double blind study on the effect of Silymarin in the treatment of acute viral hepatitis, carried out at two medical centres,” Med Klin 1978; 73: 1060-5.R. Schandalik, et al. “Pharmacokinetics of Silybin in bile following administration of Silipide and Silymarin in cholecystectomy patients,” Arzneim Forsch 1992; 42: 964-8. | |
Traditional Chinese Medicine |
R. G. Batey, et al. “Preliminary report of a randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled trial of a Chinese herbal medicine preparation CH-100 in the treatment of chronic hepatitis C” Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology 1998; 13: 244-247. | |
Homeopathy |
J. Bildet, et al. “Etude de l’action de differentes diluitions de phosphorus sur l’hepatite toxique du rat,” Ann. Hom. Fr. 1975; 17: (4) 425.J. Bildet, et al. “Etude au microscope électronique de l’action de diluitions de phosporus 15 CH sur l’hepatite toxique du rat,” Homeopathie Francaise 1984; 72: 211. | |
High Blood Pressure |
Potassium |
A. O. Oble, “Placebo controlled trial of potassium supplements in black patients with mild essential hypertension,” J Cardiovasc Pharmacol 1989; 14: 294-6.P. S. Patki, et al. “Efficacy of potassium and magnesium in essential hypertension: a double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study,” Br J Med 1990; 301: 521-3. |
Linolenic acid |
P. Singer, “Alpha- Linolenic Acid vs. long-chain fatty acids in hypertension and hyperlipidemia,” Nutr 1992; 8: 133-5.E. M. Berry, et al. “Does dietary linolenic acid influence blood pressure,” Am J Clin Nutr 1986; 44: 336-40. | |
HIV/AIDS |
Traditional Chinese Medicine |
J. H. Burack, et al. “Pilot randomized controlled trial of Chinese herbal treatment for HIV-associated symptoms,” Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes and Human Retrovirology 1996; 12: 386-393. |
Homeopathy |
D. P. Rastogi, et al. “Homeopathy in HIV infection: a trial report of double-blind placebo controlled study,” Br. Hom. J. 1999; 88: 49. | |
Inflammatory Bowel Disease |
Sugar consumption |
J. Jarnerot, et al. “Consumption of refined sugar by patients with Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, or irritable bowel syndrome,” Scand J Gastroenterol 1993; 18: 999-1002.J. F. Mayberry, et al., “Increased sugar consumption in crohn’s disease,” Digestion 1980; 20: 323-6. |
Folic acid |
L. Elsborg, et al. “Folate deficiency in chronic inflammatory bowel diseases,” Scand J Gastroenterol 1979; 14: 1019-24.L. B. Carruthers, “Chronic diarrhea treated with folic acid,” Lancet 1946; I: 849-50. | |
Insomnia |
Melatonin |
A. B. Dollins, et al. “Effect of inducing nocturnal serum melatonin concentrations in daytime on sleep, mood, body temperature, and performance,” Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 1994; 91: 1824-8.C. Mallo, et al. “Effects of a four day nocturnal melatonin treatment on the 24 hour plasma melatonin, cortisol and prolactin profiles in humans,” Acta Endocrinologia 1988; 119: 474-97. |
Valerian |
P. Leathwood, et al. “Aqueous extract of Valerian root (Valeriana officinalis L.) improves sleep quality in man,” Pharmacol Biochem Behavior 1982; 17: 65-71.O. Lindahl, et al. “Double blind study of a valerian preparation,” Pharmacol Biochem Behavior 1989; 32(4): 1065-6. | |
Irritable Bowel Syndrome |
Peppermint oil |
J. M. Hills, et al. “The mechanism of action of peppermint oil in gastrointestinal smooth muscle,” Gastroenterol 1991; 101: 55-65.K. Somerville, et al. “Delayed release peppermint oil capsules (colpermin) for the spastic colon syndrome: a pharmacokinetic study,” Br J Clin Pharmacol 1984; 18: 638-40. |
Stress management |
E. B. Blanchard, et al. “Relaxation training as a treatment for irritable bowel syndrome,” Biofeedback self-regulation 1993; 18: 125-32.G. Shaw, et al. “Stress management for irritable bowel syndrome: a controlled trail,” Digestion 1991; 50: 36-42. | |
Traditional Chinese Medicine |
Alan Bensoussan, et al. “Treatment of irritable bowel syndrome with Chinese herbal medicine: a randomized controlled trial,” Journal of the American Medical Association 1998; 280: 1585-1589. | |
Kidney Stones |
Vitamin C |
J. M Rivers, “Safety of high-level vitamin C ingestion,” Int J Vitamin Nutr Res 1989; 30(suppl.): 95-102.T. R. Wanzilak, et al. “Effect of high dose vitamin C on urinary oxalate levels,” J Urol 1994; 151: 834-7. |
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