When Herbs And Surgery Don’t MixApril 17, 2009 Failing to ask clients about any herbs their pet has received before surgery could lead to bleeding disasters during surgery. Specifically, botanicals that interfere with clotting could transform an otherwise routine surgery into a frustrating and lengthy exercise.1 False Sense of Security While the true clinical impact remains clouded by lack of controlled research in both veterinary and human patients,2 this paucity of safety information may be creating a self-perpetuating cycle of false-negative information.3 The unregulated and untested nature of veterinary plant-based products amplifies uncertainties over product strength, potential misidentification, adulteration and species-specific or idiosyncratic variations in drug metabolism or effects.4 In particular, products with a multiplicity of ingredients, such as Chinese herbal formulations, especially when administered chronically, exhibit a disproportionately greater percentage and severity of side effects, compared to single-herb supplements.5,6,7 Harmful drug-herb interactions involving mixtures of herbs heighten the hurdles of identifying the source of the interaction. Mechanisms by which herbs may influence bleeding include direct pharmacologic actions and indirect interactions.8 Indirect (namely, herb-drug) interactions involve either pharmacodynamic or pharmacokinetic influences. Antiplatelet Effects From top to botton, garic, ginger, ginko and ginseng. Veterinary …
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Complementary Medicine Footnotes July 2007April 17, 2009 1. Polzin DJ, Osborne CA, Haden DW, et al. Influence of reduced protein diets on morbidity, mortality, and renal function in dogs with induced chronic renal failure. American Journal of Veterinary Research. 1984; 45(3):506-517. Cited in: Pugliese A, Gruppillo A, and Di Pietro S. Clinical nutrition in gerontology: chronic renal disorders of the dog and cat. Veterinary Research Communications. 2005;29(Suppl. 2):57-63. 2. Freeman LM, Abood SK, Fascetti AJ, et al. Disease prevalence among dogs and cats in the United States and Australia and proportions of dogs and cats that receive therapeutic diets or dietary supplements. J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2006;229:531-534. 3. Lana SE, Kogan LR, Crump KA, Graham JT, Robinson NG. The use of complementary and alternative therapies in dogs and cats with cancer. J Am Anim Hosp Assoc. 2006;42:361-365. 4. Freeman LM, Abood SK, Fascetti AJ, et al. Disease prevalence among dogs and cats in the United States and Australia and proportions of dogs and cats that receive therapeutic diets or dietary supplements. J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2006;229:531-534. 5. Cited in: Pugliese A, Gruppillo A, and Di Pietro S. Clinical nutrition in gerontology: chronic renal disorders of the dog and cat. Veterinary Research …
Small Animals Benefit On Whole Foods DietApril 17, 2009 1. Liu H.R., "Health benefits of fruit and vegetables are from additive and synergistic combinations of phytochemicals.” American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 2003; Vol. 78, No. 3, 517S-520S 2. Raghavan M., et al, “Evaluation of the effect of dietary vegetable consumption on reducing risk of transitional cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder in Scottish Terriers.” Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 2005; Vol. 227, 94-100 3. Remillard R.L., Paragon B.M., Crane S.W., et al: “Making pet foods at home,” in Hand MS, Thatcher CD, Remillard RL, Roudebush P (eds): Small Animal Clinical Nutrition, ed 4. Topeka, KS, Mark Morris Institute, Walsworth Publishing Company, 2000; 163–182. 4. Angelino PD et al, “Residual alkaline phosphatase activity in pasteurized milk heated at various temperatures-measurement with the fluorophos and Scharer rapid phosphatase tests.” Journal of Food Protection, 1999; 62(1):81-85 5. Severi S., et al, “Effects of home-based food preparation practices on micronutrient content of foods.” European Journal of Cancer Prevention, 1998; 7(4): 331-335 6. Yadav SK and Sehgal S, “Effect of home processing on ascorbic acid and beta-carotine content of spinach (Spinacia oleracia) and amaranth (Amaranthus tricolor) leaves.” Plant Foods for Human Nutrition, 1995; 47(2): 125-131 …
Magnetic Field Therapy An Attractive OptionApril 17, 2009 Biophysical treatments such as pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) therapy are pushing patient recovery in new dimensions. Enthusiasm for these techniques is mounting, as evidence and applications expand. For magnetic fields to influence cellular behavior, signal transduction must take place across the cell membrane.1 PEMFs appear to alter a variety of membrane components capable of affecting transmembrane signaling, such as ion channels, ligand binding and alternations in receptor distribution and density.2 Bone Healing Decades ago, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved PEMF for the treatment of nonunion fractures. More recently, a 2006 study in Connective Tissue Research indicated that an exposure of eight or 16 hours of PEMF significantly accelerated apoptosis in osteoclasts in vitro, suggesting a potential application for osteoporosis.3 Tendon Repair PEMF applied to a rat Achilles’ tendon repair model revealed an increase in tensile strength at the repair site.4 Cartilage Health Biophysical stimulation with PEMF after arthroscopic reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament limited the expected but potentially damaging post-surgical joint inflammation. It also shortened recovery time.5 Chondrocytes exposed to PEMFs adopted a spherical shape and retracted their processes, although the clinical significance of these changes …
CoQ10 Shows Promise For HeartsApril 17, 2009FOOTNOTES 1. Freeman LM and Rush JE. Nutrition and cardiomyopathy: lessons from spontaneous animal models. Curr Heart Fail Rep. 2007;4(2):84-90. 2. Hamlin RL and Buffington CAT. Nutrition and the heart. Veterinary Clinics of North America: Small Animal Practice. 1989;19(3):527-538. 3. Freeman LM. Interventional nutrition for cardiac disease. Clinical Techniques in Small Animal Practice. 1998;13(4):232-237. 4. Rocha M and Victor VM. Targeting antioxidants to mitochondria and cardiovascular diseases: the effects of mitoquinone. Med Sci Monit. 2007;13(7):RA132-RA145. 5. Bolcal CC, Yildirim V, Doganci S, et al. Do N-acetylcystein, ß-glucan, and coenzyme Q10 mollify myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury? The Heart Surgery Forum. 2007;10(3):E222-E227. 6. Bolcal CC, Yildirim V, Doganci S, et al. Do N-acetylcystein, ß-glucan, and coenzyme Q10 mollify myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury? The Heart Surgery Forum. 2007;10(3):E222-E227. 7. Haas RH. The evidence basis for coenzyme Q therapy in oxidative phosphorylation disease. Mitochondrion. 2007;7S:S136-S145. 8. Haas RH. The evidence basis for coenzyme Q therapy in oxidative phosphorylation disease. Mitochondrion. 2007;7S:S136-S145. 9. Bolcal CC, Yildirim V, Doganci S, et al. Do N-acetylcystein, ß-glucan, and coenzyme Q10 mollify myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury? The Heart Surgery Forum. 2007;10(3):E222-E227. 10. Pepe S, Marasco SF, Haas SJ, et al. Coenzyme Q10 …
August Issue Footnotes For Complementary MedicineApril 17, 2009 1 Cuendet M and Pezzuto JM. The role of cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase in cancer chemoprevention. COX and LOX in Cancer Prevention. 2000;17(1-4); 109-157. 2 Salvioli S, Sikora E, Cooper EL, et al. Curcumin in cell death processes: a challenge for CAM of age-related pathologies. eCAM. 2007;4(2):181-190. 3 Aggarwal BB, Kumar A, and Bharti AC. Review. Anticancer potential of curcumin: preclinical and clinical studies. Anticancer Research. 2003;23:363-398. 4 Aggarwal BB, Kumar A, and Bharti AC. Review. Anticancer potential of curcumin: preclinical and clinical studies. Anticancer Research. 2003;23:363-398. 5 Salvioli S, Sikora E, Cooper EL, et al. Curcumin in cell death processes: a challenge for CAM of age-related pathologies. eCAM. 2007;4(2):181-190. 6 Attri A, Rajora VS, Gupta DK, et al. Therapeutic efficacy of topical herbal formulation against dermatomycoses and bacterioal dermatitis in dogs. Indian J Vet Med. 2005;25(1):51-52. 7 Kiuchi F, Goto Y, Sugimoto N, et al. Nematocidal activity of turmeric: synergistic action of curcuminoids. Chem Pharm Bull. 1993;41(9):1640-1643. 8 Innes JF, Fuller CJ, Grover ER, et al. Randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled parallel group study of P54FP for the treatment of dogs with osteoarthritis. Veterinary Record. 2003;152:457-460. 9 Rema M and Pradeepa R. Diabetic …
A Non-Toxic Way To Calm The OfficeApril 17, 2009 1. Avers L, Mathur A, and Kamat D. Music therapy in pediatrics. Clinical Pediatrics. 2007;46(7):575-579. 2. Watanabe S, Uozumi M, and Tanaka N. Discrimination of consonance and dissonance in Java sparrows. Behavioural Processes. 2005;70:203-208. 3. Gess A. Birds like music, too. [Letter to the Editor]. Science. 2007;317:1864. 4. Baptista LF and Keister RA. Why birdsong is sometimes like music. Perspectives in Biology and Medicine. 2005;48(3):426-443. 5. McDermott J and Hauser MD. Nonhuman primates prefer slow tempos but dislike music overall. Cognition. 2007;104(3):654-668. 6. Barrera ME, Rykov MH, and Doyle SL. The effects of interactive music therapy on hospitalized children with -cancer: a pilot study. Psycho-Oncology. 2002;11:379-388. 7. hertzer KE and Keck JF. Music and the PACU environment. Journal of PeriAnesthesia Nursing. 2001;16(2):90-102. 8. Lee OKA, Chung YFL, Chan MF, et al. Music and its effect on the physiological responses and anxiety levels of patients receiving mechanical ventilation: a pilot study. Journal of Clinical Nursing. 2005;14: 9. Twiss E, Seaver J, and McCaffrey R. The effect of music listening on older adults undergoing cardiovascular surgery. Nursing in Critical Care. 200;11(5):224-231. 10. Chan MF. Effects of music on patients undergoing a C-clamp …
'Feel The Feedback' in energy workFebruary 8, 2009Along the continuum of veterinary medicine, perhaps no alternative treatments stand further from drugs and surgery than do those nested under the umbrella of “energy work.”
Acupuncture For Bone Cancer PainJune 24, 20081. Thoresen A. Acupuncture and cancer therapy. Obtained at http://home.online.no/~arethore/engelsk/foredrag/kreft.html on 05-26-08. 2. Thoresen A. Small animal cancer. Obtained at http://med-vetacupuncture.org/english/articles/an-canc.html on 05-26-08. 3. Kaphle K, Wu Y-L, and Lin JH. Thirtieth Annual Congress on Veterinary Acupuncture: IVAS Report. eCAM. 2005;2(2):239-242. 4. Chi Institute of Chinese Medicine. TCVM News. Issue 4. September 3, 2004. P. 6. 5. Flaim D. Worth their weight in gold. Animal House. July 16, 2002. Obtained at Newday .com at http://64.233.167.104/search?q=cache:_jWqyEXHYOYJ:www.newsday.com/entertainment/nyc-pets-implants,0,918948.column+gold+beads+cancer+durkes&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=2&gl=us on 05-26-08. 6. Dvorak RF. Permanent acupuncture with gold bead implants. Obtained at http://www.himmlisch.com/goldbeads.htm on 05-26-08. 7. Repeated personal experience and personal communication with other veterinary acupuncturists, 1997-2008. 8. Buridan’s ass. Defined at http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O87-Buridansass.html. 9. Wesa K, Gubili J, and Cassileth B. Integrative oncology: complementary therapies for cancer survivors. Hematol Oncol Clin North Am. 2008;22(2):343-353, viii. 10. TCM Local Applications for Cancer Pain Management. Obtained at http://www.shen-nong.com/eng/exam/specialties_cancer2pain.html on 05-27-08. 11. Sabino MAC and Mantyh PW. Pathophysiology of bone cancer pain. Supportive Oncology. 2005;3(1):15-24. 12. Sabino MAC and Mantyh PW. Pathophysiology of bone cancer pain. Supportive Oncology. 2005;3(1):15-24. 13. Sabino MAC and Mantyh PW. Pathophysiology of bone cancer pain. …
