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Complementary Medicine
Many older adults look beyond conventional medicine for help, but few talk to their doctors about it – is this true for you?
Credit: University of MichiganKey findings about the use of integrative medicine strategies by adults age 50 to 80
Nearly 40% of older adults currently use at least one integrative medicine strategy to try to ease symptoms of a physical or mental health issue, or to help them relax, a new poll finds.
Whether they chose chiropractic care, massage therapy, meditation, yoga, or another non-conventional option, 38% found it very beneficial, and another 54% said it was somewhat beneficial. Women, and adults aged 50 to 64, were more likely to use such strategies than men or those age 65 to 80.
But only 18% of older adults who currently use, formerly used or are interested in using integrative health strategies have actually talked about it with a health care provider.
The new results from the University of Michigan National Poll on Healthy Aging suggest that primary care clinicians should discuss with patients whether they’re using any integrative medicine strategies, which ones, and why.
The poll is based at the U-M Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation and supported by AARP and Michigan Medicine, the University of Michigan’s academic medical center.
The new findings also highlight the insurance and cost-related issues related to accessing these strategies, as health plans offer varying levels of coverage for integrative medicine approaches.
Among older adults who use or have an interest in using integrative medicine strategies, only 15% say their health insurance covers them, 19% say they have no coverage, and two-thirds were unsure about their coverage. Among those who said insurance did not cover these types of services or were unsure about their coverage, 84% said they would be likely to try integrative medicine strategies if they had health insurance coverage for them. Of those who have stopped using integrative health strategies, more than one quarter cited cost as one of the reasons.
Nearly all poll respondents said that they believe that the mind impacts health, with 82% saying it has a major impact, and 14% saying it has a minor impact.
“As research continues to show the importance of the mind-body connection in health, and as more rigorous studies are done to determine what effects integrative strategies can have on various conditions, it’s important for patients and providers to keep the lines of communication open,” says Rachael Maciasz, M.D., a general internal medicine physician at Michigan Medicine and the VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System who worked with the poll team on the report. Maciasz is clinical director of the VA Whole Health program at VAAAHS.
“This poll offered insight into primary care influence on modalities patients use to address their health and wellness,” Maciasz added. “Patients whose doctors talked with them about lifestyle factors were more likely to have used integrative medicine strategies. Educating physicians and encouraging patients to communicate about evidence-informed integrative modalities could lead to a larger tool box for treating and preventing illness and supporting health and wellness.”
The older adults in the poll who currently use, or used to use, integrative strategies said they did so in an effort to treat or prevent pain, insomnia, digestive issues, to relax or manage stress, to address an acute physical injury, and/or to improve mental health from conditions such as depression or anxiety.
Since primary care providers also help patients handle such conditions by providing lifestyle counseling, prescribing medications or making referrals to specialty care, it’s important for them to know what their patients are doing on their own.
“Providers may want to acquaint themselves with the level of evidence surrounding the use of each approach for different conditions,” says poll co-director Jeffrey Kullgren, M.D., M.P.H., M.S., a Michigan Medicine and VA primary care physician and researcher. “The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, part of the National Institutes of Health, funds research on such approaches, and offers overviews of the state of evidence for many approaches, including massage therapy, meditation and yoga.”
AARP’s Mental Health Center offers resources for older adults to learn about their mental health, news and information about treatment options.
“The COVID-19 pandemic made it hard for all of us to take care of our mental and physical health, and this research shows that almost all older adults believe they are connected,” said Indira Venkat, Senior Vice President, AARP Research. “If you are currently using or are interested in using integrative treatments for your mental or physical health, it’s important to talk about them with your health care provider.”
The poll report is based on findings from a nationally representative survey conducted by NORC at the University of Chicago for IHPI, and administered online and via phone in January and February 2022 among 2,277 adults age 50–80. The sample was subsequently weighted to reflect the U.S. population. Read past National Poll on Healthy Aging reports and about the poll methodology.
Can Acupuncture Reduce Headaches?
Acupuncture may reduce headaches for people who have chronic tension-type headaches, according to a study published in the June 22, 2022, online issue of Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.
Tension-type headaches most often involve a pressing or tightening feeling on both sides of the head with mild to moderate intensity. These headaches are not worsened by physical activity, and do not include nausea. Tension-type headaches are considered chronic when they occur at least 15 days per month.
“Tension-type headaches are one of the most common types of headaches and people who have a lot of these headaches may be looking for alternatives to medication,” said study author Ying Li, MD, PhD, of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Chengdu, China. “Our study found that acupuncture reduces the average number of headache days per month for those struggling with these painful and disruptive headache attacks.”
The study involved 218 people who were diagnosed with chronic tension-type headachesThey had chronic tension-type headaches for an average of 11 years and had 22 days per month with headaches on average. Participants were randomly assigned to receive either true acupuncture or superficial acupuncture. True acupuncture treatments involved achieving a deqi sensation, which involves placing and moving a needle in the body to reach a tingling, numbness, or heaviness feeling. The superficial treatments had a lesser depth in the body to avoid achieving the deqi sensation. Both groups received two or three sessions per week, for a total of 20 sessions, for two months and were followed for an additional six months.
The main result measured in the study was a reduction of at least 50% in the number of days with headaches. All participants had clinic visits every four weeks. They also used headache diaries to record their symptoms and use of acute medications.
At the end of the study, 68% of the people receiving true acupuncture reported at least a 50% reduction in the monthly number of headache days compared to 50% of the people who received superficial acupuncture.
Researchers found the number of monthly headache days gradually decreased after treatment, in both those who received true acupuncture treatments and superficial acupuncture treatments. For those who received true acupuncture, headache days decreased from 20 days per month at the beginning of the study to seven days per month by the end of the study. For those who received superficial acupuncture, headache days decreased from 23 days per month at the beginning of the study to 12 days per month at the end of the study.
The only side effects from the treatment were mild and did not require treatment.
“While this study showed that acupuncture can reduce headaches, more research is needed to determine the longer-term effectiveness of acupuncture and how it compares to other treatment options,” said Li. “In comparing treatment options, cost-effectiveness is another important factor to evaluate.”
A limitation of the study was that the research was conducted in one hospital, so the results may not apply to all populations.
Nature’s Healer: 5 Ways That Going Vegan Could Help with Managing Menopause Symptoms
With plant-based diets now being linked to reduced menopausal symptoms, nutrition experts Free Soul have analysed the most unexpected ways that going vegan could support women experiencing menopause.
Key Findings:
- Doctors are claiming that treating menopause as a hormone deficiency and over-medicalising the condition can increase anxiety and stress in women.
- Recent research also found that negative expectations of menopause increased the likelihood of women experiencing distressing symptoms.
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- Over 75% of menopausal women report their symptoms, with almost a quarter describing them as severe and although many women achieve reduced symptoms from hormone therapy, changing diet and regular exercise can also relieve symptoms.
- Six key medical organisations, including the British Menopause Society and Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, have drawn up 11 new standards for menopause care which focus on lifestyle advice and dietary modification.
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- Adopting a plant-based, soy-rich diet has been proven to reduce moderate-to-severe hot flushes in menopause by 84%.
- A recent study has uncovered that menopausal women who followed a vegan diet with no other restrictions lost more weight at a higher rate overall than those following a low-fat restricted diet.
How Severe are Menopausal Symptoms?
It’s no secret that menopause is not a chapter that many women look forward to in their lives. Menopausal symptoms last for an average duration of 7 years, with 1 in 3 women experiencing symptoms beyond this time. This time in a woman’s life impacts individuals in different ways, however common symptoms of menopause and perimenopause include hot flushes, anxiety, fatigue, poor sleep or insomnia and weight gain.
Long-term, more concerning health issues related to menopause can include reduced libido, osteoporosis, heart disease and even dementia as a result of lowered oestrogen levels.
What are the Experts Saying?
When it comes to managing symptoms and providing sufficient support to women experiencing menopause, six key medical organisations, including the British Menopause Society and Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, have drawn up 11 new standards for menopause care.
Within the new standards is a call for a “holistic and individualised approach” in assessing and advising women with particular reference to lifestyle advice and dietary modification. These 2022 standards suggest that the UK’s main authorities on menopause and peri-menopause are acknowledging the importance of diet as a tool to manage menopause symptoms. Additionally, the British Dietetic Association highlight that a range of lifestyle changes can reduce the severity of symptoms and whilst hormone replacement therapy (HRT) can be used to help many women control symptoms, some cannot take the treatment due to health issues and others simply choose not to. They outline diet and taking the correct dietary supplements as key factors that can help women to reduce their symptoms.
Ingredients in dietary supplements specifically targeted to menopause and perimenopause, such as Free Soul’s Peri-Menopause Advanced Support, have been proven to effectively relieve symptoms. For instance, multiple studies have demonstrated that isoflavone, found in many menopause and perimenopause supplements, effectively reduces hot flushes, reduces lumbar spine bone mineral density loss and improves glycaemic control.
In terms of diet, adopting a plant-based, soy-rich diet has been proven reduce moderate-to-severe hot flushes in menopause by 84% according to a recent study. During the 12-week study, nearly 60% of women became totally free of moderate-to-severe hot flushes, demonstrating the undeniable power of choosing to go vegan during menopause.
5 Ways That Going Vegan Could Help with Managing Menopause Symptoms
- Minimising Hot Flushes
Night sweats and hot flushes, also known as vasomotor symptoms, impact 80% of women during menopause. However, adopting a vegan diet can dramatically reduce these symptoms, with the Women’s Study for the Alleviation of Vasomotor Symptoms revealing that a combination of a strict plant-based diet combined with half a cup of soybeans each day resulted in moderate-to-severe hot flushes being reduced from nearly five per day to fewer than one per day. Overall hot flushes, including mild ones, also decreased by 79%, emphasising the undeniable fact that a vegan, soy-rich diet Is the way to go when it comes to controlling those dreaded hot flushes and night sweats.
- Maintaining a Healthy Weight
Often during menopause, women experience weight gain due to declining oestrogen levels, age-related loss of muscle tissue and lifestyle factors such as diet. This internal body fat, also known as visceral fat, whilst unproblematic for many, can encourage insulin resistance and lead to health issues such as type 2 diabetes. Therefore, during menopause, it’s important to opt for a balanced diet including wholefoods, fruits and vegetables.
A recent study has uncovered that menopausal women who followed a vegan diet with no other restrictions lost more weight at a higher rate overall than those following a low-fat restricted diet, indicating that a balanced vegan diet could help to support a healthier lifestyle for those concerned with weight gain during menopause. When managed correctly, a vegan diet promotes weight loss, reduces the risk of heart disease by lowering cholesterol, lowers the chance of getting certain cancers such as colon cancer and manages diabetes by lowering AC1 levels.
As with any diet however, sensible choices must be made and important nutrients must be incorporated. Protein-rich foods such as tofu, edamame, soy, chickpeas lentils and nutritional yeast should always be included in a vegan diet, with vegan protein powder also a popular choice for supplementing protein intake. It’s also important to maintain vitamin B12 levels, which can be found in fortified cereals and rice to promote muscle repair and energy. Essential fatty acids from greens and whole grains, iron and vitamin D to boost cognitive function and mood.
- Quality of Sleep
Unfortunately, sleep disorders plague 39-47% of perimenopausal women and 35-60% of postmenopausal women, with the most common issues being hot flushes, insomnia and sleep-disordered breathing according to Sleep Foundation. Not only has the power of plant-based diets been proven to mitigate hot flushes to a large extent, but vegan diets may also lead to increased levels of the amino acid tryptophan which can lead to increased melatonin and serotonin, thus enhancing sleep quality and quantity. Tryptophan can be found in kale, bananas, mushrooms, peas and almonds, all of which can be easily integrated into your vegan diet and can support a great night’s sleep.
- Alleviating Anxiety
It seems that a staggering number of women suffer mental health symptoms as a result of menopause; a 2020 study conducted in Brazil uncovered that 58% of women aged 45–55 who were experiencing perimenopause had anxiety symptoms. In the same study, 62% experienced symptoms of depression.
Interestingly, the brain doesn’t use the amino acid tryptophan to support good sleep alone; it also uses it to provide feelings of happiness and positive mental well-being through serotonin production. In fact, those with a vegan diet reported less stress and anxiety than omnivores in a study investigating the effects of both diets on mood.
To encourage ideal levels of tryptophan and reduce anxiety during menopause, your vegan diet must include a combination of plant proteins along with complex carbohydrates such as fruit, vegetables, whole grains and legumes according to the Physician’s Committee for Responsible Medicine.
- Healthier Hair and Skin
Due to reduced oestrogen production, hair can start to thin and many women can also experience drier skin. Luckily the magic of a plant-based diet also extends to improved health for both the skin and hair.
Naturally, when done correctly, a plant-based diet should increase your intake of whole foods and reduce your intake of harmful processed foods that can negatively impact health. However, when it comes to hair health, a study has shown that a plant-based diet can help to reduce the risk of androgenetic alopecia, proving that going vegan can prevent hair loss to an extent. In addition, a vegan diet is far more likely to promote a healthy scalp and in turn create a healthy environment for hair follicles to flourish.
When it comes to maintaining skin health, a recent narrative review of 20 studies on plant-based foods shows that the beneficial effects on skin include improvement in hydration, wrinkles, and elasticity. Using soy extract and drinking soy beverages (equivalent to 15 grams to 25 grams of soy protein per day) can also boost skin hydration during menopause and beyond. It is therefore clear that capitalising on the incredible benefits of these foods as part of a balanced vegan diet rich in fruit and vegetables could help to counteract the effects of menopause such as dry skin.
From improved sleep hygiene to reduced hot flushes and anxiety, it is evident that the vegan diet offers feasible natural alternatives to managing symptoms of menopause. With experts now calling for a more holistic and individualised approach to assessing menopause care, now may be the time that more light is shed on the indisputable power of nutrition and a balanced, active lifestyle. Lucy Murray, Vegan Lifestyle Expert at Free Soul, comments:
“There are a whole host of benefits associated with a vegan diet and so many of them can help to support women during the menopausal period. When done in the form of a balanced mix of foods, a plant-based diet can provide the appropriate amounts of protein, essential fatty acids and vitamins to support women going through menopause, with supplements such as our vegan protein powder for women great for helping achieve the right nutritional balance.”
CreakyJoints Survey Reveals Men Are Less Likely to Incorporate Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) Into Their Arthritis Management
A new survey from CreakyJoints, the international digital community for millions of arthritis patients and caregivers who seek education, support, advocacy, and patient-centered research, finds that women are incorporating more complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) into their arthritis management strategy than men and that among Hispanic survey participants, more significantly reported never using CAM versus using it. Common complementary and alternative therapies for arthritis include tai chi and yoga, massage, acupuncture, meditation, vitamins, and other strategies that may help a person with arthritis cope with symptoms of the day-to-day experience of living with a chronic condition.
“At the start of a new year, many people reflect on their goals for the next 12 months. We conducted this survey to better understand how people with arthritis manage their condition going beyond prescribed medications and to start a conversation about why a holistic, patient-centered approach is key to maintaining physical, emotional, and mental wellness all year long,” said Daniel Hernandez, MD, Director of Medical Affairs and Hispanic Outreach, CreakyJoints.
In the new survey (n=847), members of the CreakyJoints community were asked questions about their condition(s), the complementary and alternative therapies they have ever used for their condition(s), and the therapies they found helpful for their symptoms based on the therapies they previously selected. Most survey respondents (89%) reported using a type of complementary or alternative therapy for their condition, with the most common therapies reportedly used being vitamins/minerals (71%), massage (48%), joint supplements (47%), relaxation/mind-body activities (38%), therapeutic herbs (34%), and yoga (33%). The therapies reported helpful by the greatest proportion of people who have ever used the therapy were massage (76%), Chi Gong (76%), yoga (74%), relaxation/mind-body activities (72%), and spiritual activities (71%). Significantly more women reported using CAM than never using it (89% vs 73%, p<0.001) while significantly more men reported never using CAM than having ever used it (27% vs 11%, p<0.001). In terms of race and ethnicity, significantly more white participants reported using CAM than never using it (82% vs 71%, p=0.007) and significantly fewer Hispanic or Latino participants reported ever using CAM than never using it (13% vs 32%, p<0.001).
“An arthritis diagnosis requires a lifetime management commitment and there will be times when a person living with arthritis feels better and worse. Our CreakyJoints survey, and other existing peer-reviewed studies, show that CAM can have a positive impact on the experience of symptoms,” said Dr. Hernandez. “However, our survey also suggests that more education is needed to encourage men and members of the Hispanic community to understand the range of CAM therapies available and to encourage them to speak with the health provider team about which therapy may offer benefit to them.”
For more information about CAM, visit: https://creakyjoints.org/alternative-medicine/
About the Survey
The 6-question survey was fielded from December 2, 2021 – December 16, 2021. Participants were recruited via email from the existing CreakyJoints and COVID-19 Patient Support Program mailing lists. Only adult participants diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), osteoarthritis (OA), ankylosing spondylitis/axial spondyloarthritis (AS/axSpA), or psoriatic arthritis (PsA) were asked to complete the survey. The sample was primarily female (87%) and white (81%), with an average (SD) age of 61 (13). A quarter of the participants (25%) reported having a form of spondyloarthritis (SpA), 65% reported having either RA or JIA, and 10% reported having osteoarthritis without a concomitant condition of interest.
About CreakyJoints
CreakyJoints® is an international digital community for millions of arthritis patients and caregivers who seek education, support, advocacy, and patient-centered research. We represent patients in English, Spanish, and French through our popular social media channels, our websites, and the 50-State Network, which includes more than 1,700 trained volunteer patient, caregiver, and provider health care activists.
Part of the Global Healthy Living Foundation, CreakyJoints also has a patient-reported outcomes registry called ArthritisPower® (ArthritisPower.org), which includes tens of thousands of consented arthritis patients who track their disease while volunteering to participate in longitudinal and observational peer-reviewed research. In addition to online and downloadable educational resources, CreakyJoints publishes many arthritis and chronic disease podcast series, available on all major streaming platforms, that provide both patient and provider perspectives. It also hosts PainSpot (PainSpot.org), a digital risk-assessment tool for musculoskeletal conditions and injuries, and eRheum (eRheum.org), for telehealth and virtual-care support. All programming is free, always. For more information, visit CreakyJoints.org.