Blog

Recent scientific research include:

In a placebo-controlled randomized clinical trial of 72 patients with subclinical/recurrent urinary tract infection (UTI), a standardized Cranberry extract (Vaccinium microcarpum) containing Proanthocyanidin-A was shown to reduce the occurrence of UTIs and associated symptoms and signs (see meeting abstract).

Dill (Anethum graveolens) was reported to be as effective as mefenamic acid at decreasing pain severity in women with moderate to severe primary dysmenorrhea in a placebo controlled randomised controlled trial involving 75 female students (see full text).

Holy basil or Tulsi (Ocimum sanctum) mouthwash was shown to be as effective as chlorhexidine (considered the gold standard) in reducing oral plaque and gingivitis: both mouthwashes showing significant reductions over saline (placebo) in a randomised controlled trial of 108 volunteer students. Holy basil had the additional benefit of no side effect (see full text).

A meta-analysis of 19 randomised controlled trials of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) supplementation in people with depressive symptoms, with and without a diagnosis of major depressive disorder, concluded that omega-3 PUFA had significant clinical benefit (see full text).

In a placebo-controlled randomised controlled trial of 100 patients linseed oil (Linum usitatissimum) was shown to reduce the severity and functional status in carpal tunnel syndrome (see full text).

A large study of 255 men, with lower urinary tract symptoms as a result of benign prostatic hyperplasia, randomised to combined Profluss (Saw palmetto [Serenoa repens], lycopene and selenium) alongside tamsulosin, or Profluss or tamsulosin separately. After 1-year the combined treatment of Profluss and tamsulosin was shown to be more effective than either monotherapy in reducing the International Prostate Symptom Score and increasing the peak urinary flow rate (see meeting abstract).