Many chiropractors believe that chiropractic treatments are effective for gastrointestinal disorders. The aim of the present systematic review was to critically evaluate the evidence from controlled clinical trials supporting or not supporting this notion. Six electronic databases were searched for relevant studies. No limits were applied to language or publication date. Prospective, controlled, clinical trials of any type of chiropractic treatment for any type of gastrointestinal problem, except infant colic, were included. Only two trials were found--one was a pilot study, and the other had reached a positive conclusion; however, both had serious methodological flaws. There is no supportive evidence that chiropractic is an effective treatment for gastrointestinal disorders.

Can J Gastroenterol. 2011 Jan;25(1):39-40. Ernst E. Department of Complementary Medicine, Peninsula Medical School, University of Exeter, UK. edzard.ernst@pms.ac.uk

by Tim Brunson, PhD

In our culture alcohol consumption has often been synonymous with being socially accepted. Somehow we have linked the ingestion of these liquids, which everyone knows contains toxic substances, to our desire to be socially connected. It has always been the baby boomers version of Facebook and Twitter. In fact, decades ago while serving as a young Army officer, it would have been considered an insult not to share a few "cold ones" with the men as a form of celebration. I'm not saying the Generation X and Y'ers are immune to becoming alcoholics. It seems to be a problem that transcends generations. Yet, when we allow occasional or moderate use to become a compulsion, then we have transitioned from participating in a social activity to developing and maintaining an addiction, which can easily ruin relationships, end careers, and even end in death.

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The use of complementary and alternative therapies for depression is an issue of growing interest for practitioners who care for women. Postpartum depression is a serious and debilitating illness that affects many women, their infants, and families. Often, women do not report feelings of sadness or depression to their health care providers due to stigma. Some women have multiple concerns in using prescription drugs, especially if they are breastfeeding their infants. In addition, more women are educating themselves about the potential side and adverse effects of prescriptions drugs and are exploring complementary and alternative therapies. With the availability of information from multiple sources, whether accurate or not, women may be using these therapies inappropriately. Two major concerns in using complementary and alternative therapies are the purity and safety of the herbs and herbal formulations and the potential lack of communication between the client and health care provider.

J Psychosoc Nurs Ment Health Serv. 2010 Nov;48(11):30-6. doi: 10.3928/02793695-20100930-02. Epub 2010 Oct 22. Gossler SM. University of Tennessee, College of Nursing, Knoxville, Tennessee 37996-4180, USA. sgossler@utk.edu

Full title: High expectation in non-evidence-based smoking cessation interventions among smokers-The Colaus study.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the preferred methods to quit smoking among current smokers. METHOD: Cross-sectional, population-based study conducted in Lausanne between 2003 and 2006 including 988 current smokers. Preference was assessed by questionnaire. Evidence-based (EB) methods were nicotine replacement, bupropion, physician or group consultations; non-EB-based methods were acupuncture, hypnosis and autogenic training.

RESULTS: EB methods were frequently (physician consultation: 48%, 95% confidence interval (45-51); nicotine replacement therapy: 35% (32-38)) or rarely (bupropion and group consultations: 13% (11-15)) preferred by the participants. Non-EB methods were preferred by a third (acupuncture: 33% (30-36)), a quarter (hypnosis: 26% (23-29)) or a seventh (autogenic training: 13% (11-15)) of responders. On multivariate analysis, women preferred both EB and non-EB methods more frequently than men (odds ratio and 95% confidence interval: 1.46 (1.10-1.93) and 2.26 (1.72-2.96) for any EB and non-EB method, respectively). Preference for non-EB methods was higher among highly educated participants, while no such relationship was found for EB methods.

DISCUSSION: Many smokers are unaware of the full variety of methods to quit smoking. Better information regarding these methods is necessary.

Prev Med. 2011 Mar-Apr;52(3-4):258-61. Epub 2011 Feb 17. Marques-Vidal P, Melich-Cerveira J, Paccaud F, Waeber G, Vollenweider P, Cornuz J. Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine (IUMSP), University Hospital Center and Faculty of Biology and Medicine, Lausanne, 17 rue du Bugnon, 1005 Lausanne, Switzerland.

Full Title: From Passionate Process to Poetic and Playful Puzzle – Part III: The Art of Reviving and Writing "The Reorg Rag" ™

by Mark Gorkin, LICSW

The latest imaginative arena-adventure involved writing a dark yet witty and wicked lyric about being caught in the web of workplace change in today's uncertain and unstable climate – from reorganizations and downsizings to regime transfers and mergers. The immediate trigger was working with several organizations in varying stages of reorganization and disorganization. "The Reorg Rag" is a product of transforming a passionate process and a long-lingering lyric into a poetic and playful puzzle. Here are the transformative strategies and steps from Parts I & II:

1. Embrace the Compelling Process and Challenging Puzzle
2. Take Time for the Pain and the Brain
3. Go Back to the Future
4. Thrive on "Thrustration" and Come Alive with Conflict
5. Encourage both Short-Term Incubation and Long-Term Hibernation
6. Shift the Cognitive Structure, Substance and Style: A Prose to Poetry Process

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by Tim Brunson, PhD

It is difficult to live a life without some form of regret. By the time that you reach adolescence, you probably have developed a substantial list of things you wish you hadn't said, hadn't done, or failed to say or do. Then by the time you reach your middle age years or even later in life, that list seems to be almost encyclopedic in size. Furthermore, we often have others – who may think that they are well-meaning – who communicate by telling us that the reason that we need to do or say something is to satisfy others. And, if we don't, we will be sorry later. Yes, parents, teachers, and preachers show their concern for us by installing the most damaging and long-lasting feelings of guilt.

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On April 27, 2011, six southern US states were devasted by several bands of severe thunderstorms, which produced over 20 tornados. There were over 200 confirmed deaths in Alabama alone. Many of our members and subscribers may know that our office is in Anniston, Alabama, which is midway between Birmingham and Atlanta. The downtown city of Tuscaloosa, which is about 40 miles west of Birmingham and the home of the University of Alabama, was just about flattened.

I was still at the office as weather alarms started going off that evening. I immediately departed for home. Annie and I went into our basement where we were able to continue watching the weather on TV. Around 7:50 pm, a tornado formed about a mile from our office. Luckily, it never touched down and passed over a few minutes later. The only damage we sustained was a blown network switch. That was promptly replaced the next morning.

The worst part for us was around 8:45 pm. A vortex was detected just west of the Talledega, which is about 20 miles southwest of our home in Oxford. Winds quickly accelerated to 70 miles per hour and were once reported to be over 150. It was then confirmed to be a tornado. Weathermen stated that it was heading directly for an area right between the Army depot at Bynum and Hobson City. This area of Oxford is the location of my home. Annie and I had no choice but to remain in our basement and pray for the best.

What happened next surprised us. When the tornado got about 10 miles to the northwest of our home, it completely disappeared. The super cell storm that surrounded it began to dissipate. The official tornado warning was cancelled by the weather service. We were very lucky.

In addition to hundreds of death, thousands have been injured, and homes and businesses completely destroyed. And, that is not the whole story. During the month of April we have had several lesser -- but still devastating -- storms cross this area. Clearly, the impact has been and will continue to be traumatic. The rescue phase is just about complete. Our political leaders, to include President Obama, who will arrive in TUscaloosa within the hour, are stepping up, consoling, and inspiring people to move forward. However, the adults and children in this area have just gone through a very traumatic event, which will impact their lives for decades.

If you are located within the affected states, our hearts go out to you. I hope that you and your family survived this tragedy. However, if were not directly affected or are capable of being of service, I would like you to consider how can use your skills to help. I first considered donating a day or so of my time and provide free stress relief sessions for those affected in our area. However, we wanted to do something on a larger scale. Meanwhile, we decided to provide free copies of our popular Stress Eliminator MP3 via download through Stress.TimBrunson.com. As we continue to explore how we can make a healing difference, I would encourage you to do the same.

Annie and I are extremely glad that we survived what could have devasted our neighbors and us personally and financially. Being nearly missed by a tornado makes one reevaluate priorities. Indeed, we have lots for which to be thankful.

Postpartum depression (PPD) is a cross-cultural form of major depressive disorder that affects some 13% of women and can have serious health consequences for both the mother and her child. Easy-to-use, reliable, self-administered screening tools are available. PPD may have a variety of etiologies, which include changing plasma levels of estrogen and progesterone, postpartum hypothyroidism, sleep deprivation, or difficult life circumstances. Standard treatments for PPD include psychotherapy and antidepressants. However, treatment of a thyroid condition or insomnia, or even regular exercise or massage may also be beneficial. PPD is underdiagnosed, therefore more screening is needed. Obstetricians and pediatricians have a unique opportunity to test women for PPD, but general practitioners may encounter patients with undiagnosed PPD, too. These physicians could positively impact the lives of depressed mothers and their children by identifying them, then treating or providing referrals for care as appropriate.

South Med J. 2011 Feb;104(2):128-32. Breese McCoy SJ. Department of Physiology, Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences and College of Osteopathic Medicine and Surgery, Tulsa, OK 74107, USA. sjmccoy98@aol.com

Catherine is a certified hynotherapist and Reiki instructor. Her background is in bibliotherapy, research for Sesame Street, guest relations for Disney, performance, education, meditation, yoga, and decades of serving children and teens.

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by Tim Brunson, PhD

Unless you are one of very few lucky people, most likely the only way that you will ever be successful is to commit to taking the massive action required to achieve a goal. Star athletes, successful business people, and even those who have found the love of their lives realize that without commitment, nothing will ever be achieved. So, if this is such as well-established fact, why isn't everyone a total success.

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by Tim Brunson, PhD

Grieving is a natural process, which I never thought I would experience personally. Of course, I know that that was never true. Whether it involves the loss of a precious pet, a friend, a very dear loved one, or a close family member, if it hasn't happened to you yet, it will eventually.

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Peter Strong, PhD is a Buddhist Psychotherapist, author and spiritual teacher and specializes in the study of mindfulness and its applications in psychotherapy for treating anxiety and depression, trauma, anger and other forms of emotional stress. Peter works with individuals and couples both IN-PERSON and ONLINE through email correspondence and Skype. Dr Strong also offers teaching courses on mindfulness based stress reduction to groups and companies.

Dr. Thomas Yarema has passionately committed to bridge the best of all systems of medicine – East & West, Conventional, Non-Conventional, Scientific & Intuitive.

He has learned that much of good medicine is common sense, resource management, and respect for an individual's dignity. His professional tools consist of Allopathy, Ayurveda, Traditional Oriental Medicine and Acupuncture, Immune Stimulation, and Intra-Venous Nutrition & Heavy Metal Detoxification Therapy. Dr. Yarema is a co-author of "Eat, Taste, Heal: An Ayurvedic Guidebook & Cookbook for Modern Living," a seven-time National award-winning book, and co-owner of Five Elements Press. In 1996, he founded the Kauai Center for Holistic Medicine and Research, which he directed until 2007, and in 2003 he founded the Aloha Ayurveda Academy, the first certification course of Ayurveda in the state of Hawaii. He currently serves as the Medical Director of Center for Wellness & Integrative Medicine in Aptos, California, and the National Director of Kerala Ayurveda Wellness Centers & Clinics in USA. He is also the co-formulator of Zrii, an Ayurveda-based liquid nutritional in the Network Marketing Industry and serves as a member of the Scientific Advisory Board of same.

For more information visit: drtomyarema.com.

by Tim Brunson, PhD

When excessive worry interferes with your ability to function, then you medical doctors or psychologists may determine that you are suffering from an anxiety. If you do not respond to psychotherapy or counseling, medical doctors may prescript one of several medications. I've researched these meds and wish to share with you what I found out.

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Full title: A Practice-Based Comparison of Brief Cognitive Behavioural Treatment, Two Kinds of Hypnosis and General Anaesthesia in Dental Phobia.

Background: A practice-based study was carried out to assess the comparative effectiveness and acceptability of standardised hypnosis, hypnosis with individualised imagery, cognitive behavioural treatment (CBT) and generalanaesthesia (GA) in the treatment of dental phobia. Methods: A 4-group design was used with 4 repeated measurement occasions. Of an initial total of 137 dental phobics, 77 completed the study with sample sizes of between 14 and 29 patients in the 4 groups. Participants completed questionnaires of dental anxiety at the beginning of the trial, before and after the first dental appointment and again before the second dental appointment a week later. Results: Standardised hypnosis evidenced a significantly higher rate of premature termination of treatment than CBT. The completer analysis showed a significant reduction of dental anxiety after CBT and individualised hypnosis compared to the GA condition. The intent-to-treat analysis showed significant improvement only after CBT. Conclusions: The results suggest that CBT is the treatment of choice in dental phobia when taking both effectiveness and acceptability into account.

Psychother Psychosom. 2011 Mar 3;80(3):159-165. Wannemueller A, Joehren P, Haug S, Hatting M, Elsesser K, Sartory G. Department of Clinical Psychology, University of Wuppertal, Wuppertal, Germany.

by Tim Brunson, PhD

When I work with bodybuilders, I teach them the relationship between how they conceive the shape of their body and how it actually is. Going further, I show them how by changing their mental image of their body, they can actually accelerate improving their strength, building up muscle mass, and burning off fat. Even though most people are more concerned about losing a few pounds and improving their physical fitness and not winning a bodybuilding competition, these lessons may very well apply to them as well.

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by Tim Brunson, PhD

Addictions are serious chronic brain diseases, which have biological, psychological, and social implications. They are powerful because they employ neurological processes required for learning and survival. However, they use these vital systems in a way that threatens the addict's health, relationships, and may often end in criminal prosecution and jail time. So, to understand and treat this problem both the patient and the counselor must know how abuse is encoded, triggered, and reinforced.

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Full title: Families' visits to practitioners of complementary and alternative medicine in a total population (the HUNT studies).

AIMS: To investigate characteristics of families with adolescent children who have visited practitioners of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). METHODS: The Nord-Trøndelag Health Studies (HUNT) invited all inhabitants aged 13 years and older to a population-based study. The data of parents and adolescents were merged through the Norwegian family register. A family CAM visitor was a family where either the adolescent or the mother or father had visited a CAM practitioner in the previous year. The data were analyzed using multivariable logistic regression. RESULTS: A total of 7,888 adolescents with mother and/or fathers were included. The prevalence of families visiting CAM practitioners was 19.8%. The odds of a family visiting a CAM practitioner was significantly associated (p < 0.01) with a father with poor self-reported global health (adjusted odds ratio (adjOR) 3.0, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.7-5.3), who exercised (adjOR 1.3, 1.1-1.5) or smoked daily (adjOR 0.7, 0.6-0.8). Family CAM visits were also associated with the mother having a recent health complaint (adjOR 1.4, 1.1-1.7) or having fair global health (adjOR 1.6, 1.2-2.0), or with the adolescent, mother or father having visited a general practitioner during the past year (adolescent adjOR 1.3, 1.2-1.5; mother 1.7, 1.5-2.0; father 1.4, 1.2-1.6). For family visits to a homeopath, the strongest association was the mother having visited a general practitioner (adjOR 1.9, 1.4-2.5). For visits to chiropractors the strongest association was whether the father was currently working (adjOR 2.1, 1.2-3.8). CONCLUSIONS: The factor most strongly associated with families' visits to CAM practitioners was a father who had poor self-reported health.

Scand J Public Health. 2010 Nov;38(5 Suppl):96-104. Steinsbekk A. Department of Public Health and General Practice, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway. aslak.steinsbekk@ntnu.no

OBJECTIVE: The aims of this study were to identify the types and frequencies of pain treatments used by individuals with cerebral palsy, examine the perceived effectiveness of these treatments, and identify the types of healthcare providers that were accessed for pain-related services. DESIGN: A cross-sectional survey design was used. A total of 83 adults (mean [SD] age, 40.3 [13.6] yrs) with cerebral palsy indicated their pain location and intensity during the past 3 mos. Next, they indicated their use of 24 different pain treatments and the effectiveness of each. Finally, participants indicated the frequency of pain-related healthcare visits to specific providers over the past 6 mos. RESULTS: Of the participants, 63% reported experiencing chronic pain and rated their pain intensity over the past week as 5.1 of 10, on average. The most common pain locations were the lower back, hips, and legs. Physical interventions (e.g., physical therapy, strengthening) were the most common pain treatments reportedly used and were rated as moderately effective. Many other treatments were also used, and participants sought pain-related care from a variety of providers. CONCLUSIONS: Although participants reportedly accessed pain care from a variety of providers and perceived that several types of treatments were effective, many of the treatments rated as effective were rarely used or provided. Future research using clinical trial methods would further elucidate the specific pain treatments that are most beneficial for adults with cerebral palsy.

Am J Phys Med Rehabil. 2011 Mar;90(3):207-16. Hirsh AT, Kratz AL, Engel JM, Jensen MP. Department of Psychology, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, 402 N. Blackford Street, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA.

Cancer pain is a complex and multidimensional experience that affects and is affected by psychological and social factors. This article reviews recent research that points to a number of key psychosocial factors associated with pain, including psychological distress, coping, and social support, as well as the impact of socioeconomic factors on barriers to pain management. We also review recent research suggesting that psychosocial interventions, including education, coping-skills training, and hypnosis, may be useful adjuncts to medical management of pain. Clinical implications and recommendations for future research are discussed.

Curr Pain Headache Rep. 2011 Mar 15. Porter LS, Keefe FJ. Duke University Medical Center, 2200 West Main Street, Suite 340, Durham, NC, 27705, USA, laura.porter@duke.edu.

OBJECTIVE: To observe the curative effect of TCM massage on difficulty in falling asleep, waking during night and other sleep disorder of infants.

METHODS: The 51 outpatients were treated by basic recipe for massage treatment and modified recipe according to syndromes.

RESULTS: The total Athens Insomnia Scale (AIS) score 3.2800 +/- 1.5784 after treatment is lower than 9.2400 +/- 1.4286 before treatment (P < 0.01), there is statistical difference in AIS scores before and after treatment.

CONCLUSION: TCM massage can remarkably improve sleep condition of infants with dyssomnia.

J Tradit Chin Med. 2010 Dec;30(4):299-301. Dong HY, Wang W. Acupuncture and Moxibustion College of Tianjin TCM University, Tianjin 300193, China.

Jon Kabat-Zinn, Ph.D. is internationally known for his work as a scientist, writer, and meditation teacher engaged in bringing mindfulness into the mainstream of medicine and society. He is Professor of Medicine emeritus at the University of Massachusetts Medical School, where he was founding executive director of the Center for Mindfulness in Medicine, Health Care, and Society, and founder (in 1979) and former director of its world-renowned Stress Reduction Clinic. He is the author of two best-selling books: Full Catastrophe Living: Using the Wisdom of Your Body and Mind to Face Stress, Pain and Illness (Dell, 1990), and Wherever You Go, There You Are: Mindfulness Meditation in Everyday Life (Hyperion, 1994). He is also co-author, with his wife Myla, of Everyday Blessings: The Inner Work of Mindful Parenting (Hyperion, 1997). Everyday Blessings was rated by Amazon.com as one of the top ten books of 1998 in the inspirational category. He is also the author of Coming to Our Senses: Healing Ourselves and the World Through Mindfulness (Hyperion, 2005), The Mindful Way Through Depression: Freeing Yourself from Chronic Unhappiness (with Williams, Teasdale, and Segal - Guildford, 2007), Arriving at Your Own Door (Hyperion, 2007), a book of excerpts from Coming to Our Senses, and Letting Everything Become Your Teacher (Bantam Dell, 2009), a book of excerpts from Full Catastrophe Living.

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Full title: Effect of a novel Omegacoeur®/Doluperine® nutritional combination on human embryonic kidney cell viability.

Holistica Laboratories (Eguilles, France) developed the nutritional supplements Omegacoeur® and Doluperine® based on two of the most ancient and unique dietary health traditions. Omegacoeur® is formulated to supply key active components of Mediterranean diet (omega 3,6,9 fatty acids, garlic, and basil) and the formulation of Doluperine® was based on the Ayurvedic tradition (curcuma, pepper, ginger extracts). Interestingly, recent studies suggest that an combination of the ingredients supplied by these two supplements could provide additional and previously unanticipated benefit through synergistic actions of some of their key components. However, the effect of such combination on human cell viability has not been investigated. In this present article, a review of the various effects of the individual compounds of the new combination and the reported active doses, and the result of a study of an combination of Omegacoeur® / Dolupérine® on Human Embryonic Kidney (HEK 293) cells. Incremental doses of 4 Omegacoeur® / Dolupérine® combinations prepared so that the molar ratio DHA (Docosahexaenoic acid) in Omegacoeur® / curcumin in Dolupérine® was kept constant, at 2.5 DHA / 1 curcumin, were added to the culture media. After 24h of incubation, cell viability was assessed by the trypan blue exclusion method. The data suggest that the combination of Omegacoeur® with Dolupérine® does not affect HEK 293 cells viability in the range of doses that have demonstrated beneficial effects in earlier studies.

Cell Mol Biol (Noisy-le-grand). 2010 Oct 5;56 Suppl:OL1400-9. Sottejeau Y, Patel AM, Gerber G, Pierre SV, Maixent JM. Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, College of Medicine, University of Toledo, Toledo, Ohio, USA.

Full title: Effect of a novel Omegacoeur®/Doluperine® nutritional combination on human embryonic kidney cell viability.

Holistica Laboratories (Eguilles, France) developed the nutritional supplements Omegacoeur® and Doluperine® based on two of the most ancient and unique dietary health traditions. Omegacoeur® is formulated to supply key active components of Mediterranean diet (omega 3,6,9 fatty acids, garlic, and basil) and the formulation of Doluperine® was based on the Ayurvedic tradition (curcuma, pepper, ginger extracts). Interestingly, recent studies suggest that an combination of the ingredients supplied by these two supplements could provide additional and previously unanticipated benefit through synergistic actions of some of their key components. However, the effect of such combination on human cell viability has not been investigated. In this present article, a review of the various effects of the individual compounds of the new combination and the reported active doses, and the result of a study of an combination of Omegacoeur® / Dolupérine® on Human Embryonic Kidney (HEK 293) cells. Incremental doses of 4 Omegacoeur® / Dolupérine® combinations prepared so that the molar ratio DHA (Docosahexaenoic acid) in Omegacoeur® / curcumin in Dolupérine® was kept constant, at 2.5 DHA / 1 curcumin, were added to the culture media. After 24h of incubation, cell viability was assessed by the trypan blue exclusion method. The data suggest that the combination of Omegacoeur® with Dolupérine® does not affect HEK 293 cells viability in the range of doses that have demonstrated beneficial effects in earlier studies.

Cell Mol Biol (Noisy-le-grand). 2010 Oct 5;56 Suppl:OL1400-9. Sottejeau Y, Patel AM, Gerber G, Pierre SV, Maixent JM. Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, College of Medicine, University of Toledo, Toledo, Ohio, USA.

Too often self proclaimed experts recklessly throw around the words "sciene" and "scientific" absoltutely without any knowledge as to what the words actually mean. This minicourse provides a three-step clear explanation as to what the word science really means.

Bob Stahl has founded 7 Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction programs in medical centers throughout the San Francisco bay Area and currently directs programs at Dominican Hospital in Santa Cruz, El Camino Hospital in Mountain View, and O'Connor Hospital in San Jose. Bob also serves as an Adjunct Senior Oasis Teacher for Oasis - the institute for mindfulness-based professional education and innovation of the Center for Mindfulness in Medicine, Health Care, and Society at the University of Massachusetts Medical School. Bob has conducted many mindfulness programs for physicians and health care professionals, as well as for those seeking relief from chronic stress and illness. He is a long time practitioner of mindfulness meditation, having practiced for over eight years in a Buddhist monastery. Bob is a certified mindfulness-based stress reduction teacher from UMass Medical Center.

Full title: Enhancing witness memory with techniques derived from hypnotic investigative interviewing: focused meditation, eye-closure, and context reinstatement.

Due to several well-documented problems, hypnosis as a forensic interviewing tool has been largely replaced by the cognitive interview; however, the latter is problematic in time and complexity. This article builds on previous research showing that some procedures used in traditional hypnotic forensic interviewing might still be useful in developing alternative procedures for use in investigative interviewing. Two experiments are described that include a focused meditation with eye-closure technique with similarities to conventional hypnotic induction but without the label of hypnosis. In the first, focused meditation was comparable to a context reinstatement, or revivification, technique in facilitating memory in children aged 6 to 7 without increasing errors or inflating confidence. In the second, when used in combination with context reinstatement, focused meditation was resistant to the effects of misleading information in adults. Implications are discussed.

Int J Clin Exp Hypn. 2011 Apr;59(2):146-64. Wagstaff GF, Wheatcroft JM, Caddick AM, Kirby LJ, Lamont E. University of Liverpool, United Kingdom.

This video briefly discusses how the public sees hypnotists and hypnotherapists. It also covers the Twelve Hypnotherapist Competencies, which are promoted by The International Hypnosis Research Institute.

In the last year there has been a great deal of public debate about homeopathy, the system of alternative medicine whose main principles are that like cures like and that potency increases relative to dilution. The House of Commons Select Committee on Science and Technology concluded in November 2009 that there is no evidence base for homeopathy, and agreed with some academic commentators that homeopathy should not be funded by the NHS. While homeopathic doctors and hospitals are quite commonplace, some might be surprised to learn that there are also many homeopathic dentists practising in the UK. This paper examines the statements made by several organisations on behalf of homeopathic dentistry and suggests that they are not entirely ethical and may be in breach of various professional guidelines.

Br Dent J. 2010 Nov 27;209(10):493-6. Shaw D. Dental School, Faculty of Medicine, University of Glasgow, 378 Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow, G2 3JZ. david.shaw@.glasgow.ac.uk

Psychotherapits (to include psychologists, counselors, and hypnotherapists) often take how they view the world for granted. However, starting as far back as over 700 years ago, four events shaped the mindset of therapists. This short minicourse briefly discusses each of them.

A Book Review by Tim Brunson, PhD

One of the most refreshing things about When the Past is Always Present: Emotional Traumatization, Causes, and Cures by Ronald A. Ruden, MD, PhD, is that is a trauma book written by someone who is both a medical doctor and has a doctorate in neurochemistry. By explaining this often debilitating issue in terms of the chemical communication between the different substrates of the brain, his non-psychotherapeutic perspective presents a fresh approach. His unique treatment protocol is referred to as "havening," which is a mixture of energy tapping, guided imagery, and reassuring touch.

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Full title: Acute spinal epidural haematoma causing cord compression after chiropractic neck manipulation: an under-recognised serious hazard

Spinal manipulative therapy performed by chiropractors is increasingly common in the United Kingdom. Spinal epidural haematoma is a rare complication of such physical therapy but when identified represents a neurological emergency. We describe the case of a 64 year-old man who presented with a dense hemiplegia due to a spinal epidural haematoma following cervical spine manipulation performed for acute neck pain. The clinical features and surgical management of the case are discussed and we stress the importance of recognition of chiropractic manipulation as a potential cause of neurological sequelae and discuss the potential pitfalls of such therapy as it becomes more widespread.

J R Army Med Corps. 2010 Dec;156(4):255-7. Lidder S, Lang KJ, Masterson S, Blagg S. ST3 in Trauma and Orthopaedics, Royal London Hospital, Whitechapel Road, London, UK. surjitlidder@doctors.org.uk

BACKGROUND: Constipation is a painful and serious condition that patients often find difficult to talk about. It is usually treated with laxatives alone.

AIM: To determine whether abdominal massage is an effective treatment for constipation. METHOD Of 60 people with constipation, half received 15 minutes of abdominal and hand massage a day, five days a week, for eight weeks, as well as prescribed laxatives. The rest received prescribed laxatives only. Interviews with participants were also conducted.

RESULTS: Abdominal massage used with laxatives reduced abdominal pain, increased bowel movements and improved quality of life compared with laxative use alone. Patients reported positive experiences of abdominal massage but it did not reduce their laxative use.

CONCLUSION: Abdominal massage was seen as a pleasant treatment that can be offered as an option in constipation management.

Pak J Biol Sci. 2010 Oct 15;13(20):1006-10. Lämås K. Department of Nursing, Umeå University, Sweden.

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Over the past twenty years, Paul McKenna, Ph.D. has helped millions of people successfully lose weight, quit smoking, overcome insomnia, eliminate stress, and increase self-confidence. He is Britain's bestselling non-fiction author, having sold 3 million books in 3 years, and his TV shows and live appearances have been watched and attended by hundreds of millions of people in 42 countries around the world.

Paul has famously worked his unique brand of personal transformation with Hollywood movie stars, Olympic gold medalists, rock stars, top business achievers, and royalty. He has consistently astounded his audiences and clients by proving how small changes in people's lives can yield huge results, whether it's curing someone of a lifelong phobia, an addiction or clearing up deep-seated issues in a matter of days.

BACKGROUND: Triphala (Sanskrit tri?=?three and phala?=?fruits), composed of the three medicinal fruits Phyllanthus emblica L. or Emblica officinalis Gaertn., Terminalia chebula Retz., and Terminalia belerica Retz. is an important herbal preparation in the traditional Indian system of medicine, Ayurveda. Triphala is an antioxidant-rich herbal formulation and possesses diverse beneficial properties. It is a widely prescribed Ayurvedic drug and is used as a colon cleanser, digestive, diuretic, and laxative. Cancer is a major cause of death, and globally studies are being conducted to prevent cancer or to develop effective nontoxic therapeutic agents. Experimental studies in the past decade have shown that Triphala is useful in the prevention of cancer and that it also possesses antineoplastic, radioprotective and chemoprotective effects. CONCLUSIONS: This review for the first time summarizes these results, with emphasis on published observations. Furthermore, the possible mechanisms responsible for the beneficial effects and lacunas in the existing knowledge that need to be bridged are also discussed.

J Altern Complement Med. 2010 Dec;16(12):1301-8. Baliga MS. Research and Development, Father Muller Medical College, Mangalore, Kankanady, Karnataka, India. msbaliga@gmail.com

Trevor H. Scott, C.Ht. is the founder and Executive Director of Beverly Hills Hypnosis. He is a Certified Clinical Hypnotherapist, a Subconscious Motivational Therapist and a member of The American Counseling Association. In addition to studying Psychology and Neuro-Linguistic Programming, he attended the first nationally accredited college of hypnotherapy. An expert in his field, Trevor specializes in providing private consultations and audio programs for smoking cessation, self-confidence, sleeping disorders and anxiety/stress management. He is a member of the American Counseling Association and the American Hypnosis Association.

by Coach Cary Bayer

A couple of years ago, I was in New York City and happened to catch the opening night of previews on Broadway of the revival of my favorite play, Cyrano de Bergerac, written by Edmond Rostand, in 1897. For those of you unfamiliar with this tragic story, it's set in Paris in 1640, and centers around the eponymous Cyrano, who's as much of a hero with the sword as he is a coward with expressing his love. He's great at swordplay and wordplay, but tragically pathetic at romance. That's because he has a grotesque nose, virtually the size of a cuckoo clock.

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Hypnosis can be seen as a guided induction of various states of consciousness. This article details a time-series analysis that visualized the electrophysiological state changes during a session as a correlate to the instructions. Sixty-four channels of EEG and peripheral physiological measures were recorded in 1 highly susceptible subject. Significant state changes occurred synchronously with specific induction instructions. Some patterns could be physiologically explained, such as sensorimotor desynchronization over the right hemispheric hand area during left arm levitation. There was a highly significant increase in broadband activity during the stepwise trance induction that may point to a deep hypnotic state. This study provides illustrated proof for the detectability of physiological state changes as correlates to different states of awareness, consciousness, or cognition during hypnosis.

Int J Clin Exp Hypn. 2011 Apr;59(2):165-79. Hinterberger T, Schoner J, Halsband U. University Medical Center Freiburg, Germany.