Fish Oil May Help Stave Off Psychosis
For people at extremely high risk of psychosis, taking fish oil supplements may help cut the odds of developing psychotic disorders. That’s the finding of a new study that focused on 81 individuals at “ultra-high risk” for psychosis (defined as a loss of contact with reality). All participants had mild psychotic symptoms, transient psychosis, or a family history of psychotic disorders, in addition to a decrease in functioning.
For 12 weeks, 41 of the study members took daily fish oil supplements containing 1.2 grams of omega-3 fatty acids, while the other 41 participants took a placebo. By the end of the study, two percent of those taking fish oil supplements had transitioned to a psychotic disorder, compared to 27.5 percent in the placebo group. The supplements also appeared to significantly reduce symptoms and improve functioning.
It’s possible that omega-3 fatty acids could have a positive effect on chemical signaling in the brain, according to the study’s authors. Although it’s too soon to recommend the use of fish oil supplements to reduce psychosis risk, the authors note that intervention with at-risk individuals has “the potential to prevent full-blown psychotic disorders.”
Fish Oil May Help Stave Off Psychosis originally appeared on About.com Alternative Medicine on Tuesday, February 23rd, 2010 at 06:00:32.
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Herb Users May Face Worse Asthma Symptoms
Asthma sufferers who take herbal remedies appear to use their inhalers less and experience worse symptoms than their non-herb-using counterparts, a new study shows.
For the study, researchers surveyed 326 adults with persistent asthma who received care at inner-city outpatient clients. The researchers asked survey respondents about their use of complementary and alternative medicine (such as teas and herbs) in treatment of their asthma over the past six months, finding that 25.4 percent of patient reported herbal remedy use.
In analyzing data on the study participants, the scientists found that use of herbal remedies was linked to decreased use of inhalers–as well as more severe asthma symptoms. Herbal remedy users were also more likely to worry about the side effects of standard asthma medication.
In order to ensure optimal management of asthma symptoms, the study’s authors encourage physicians to routinely ask asthma patients about their use of complementary and alternative medicine.
Past studies have shown that remedies such as omega-3 fatty acids and bromelain –as well as alternative therapies like acupuncture–may be of some benefit to people with asthma.
Herb Users May Face Worse Asthma Symptoms originally appeared on About.com Alternative Medicine on Monday, February 22nd, 2010 at 20:20:04.
