THIS WEEK'S TOP TOPICS
Complementary and alternative medicine 
Complementary and alternative medicine therapies are categorized in three types: natural products, mind and body practices, and other complementary health approaches. What's included in each category changes as treatments undergo testing and move into the mainstream. From herbal remedies and dietary supplements to meditation, relaxation and ancient healing systems, learn more about complementary and alternative medicine, and see what might be right for you.

Stroke: First aid
A stroke is a medical emergency, and prompt treatment is crucial. A stroke occurs when the blood supply to part of the brain is interrupted or severely reduced, depriving brain tissue of oxygen and nutrients. Within minutes, brain cells begin to die. It's important to recognize the warning signs of stroke because prompt treatment is crucial to minimize brain damage and potential complications. Use the acronym "FAST" to help remember the warning signs. Here's what you need to know.

EXPERT ANSWERS
Will an air purifier eliminate cigarette smoke?
If you're trying to avoid secondhand smoke by buying an air purifier to eliminate it, there's something you should know. Tobacco smoke is made up of gaseous pollutants and particulate matter. Most air purifiers, also called air cleaners, are not designed to remove gaseous pollutants. Learn more from Dr. J. Taylor Hays, a Mayo Clinic internal medicine and nicotine dependence specialist.

Do cortisol blockers aid weight loss?
The connection among stress hormones, cortisol and weight gain is largely based on anecdotal evidence. And the Federal Trade Commission charged the marketers of some cortisol blockers with making false and unsubstantiated claims about their products' effectiveness. As a result, the companies had to refund millions of dollars and stop making unproven claims about their products. Learn more from Katherine Zeratsky, a Mayo Clinic registered dietitian nutritionist.

PLUS ADDITIONAL HIGHLIGHTS
Hand-washing do's and don'ts
Ingrown hair
Hiatal hernia
Slideshow: Melanoma pictures to help identify skin cancer

HEALTHY RECIPES
Spinach berry salad
Carne asada
Avocado salsa
Nonalcoholic margarita

HEALTH TIP OF THE WEEK
Take headache relief into your own hands
Nearly everyone experiences occasional tension headaches. But frequent tension headaches can interfere with your daily life. Aside from medication, do you wonder what you can do to stop the pain? These self-care strategies may help:

1. Eat healthy foods.
2. Exercise regularly.
3. Get enough sleep.
4. Cut back on caffeine.
5. Reduce stress.
6. Massage tense muscles.
7. Take a break when you feel overwhelmed.

Need practical advice on diet and exercise? Want creative solutions for stress and other lifestyle issues? Discover more healthy lifestyle topics at mayoclinic.org. 

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The post Housecall: Understanding complementary and alternative medicine therapies appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

Treating mouth cancer 
Once your health care provider has diagnosed your mouth cancer and determined the stage, he or she will discuss treatment with you. Treatment for mouth cancer depends on the location and stage, as well as your overall health and personal preferences. Treatment may include surgery, radiation and chemotherapy — alone or in combination. Learn more about the treatment options for mouth cancer.

Integrative medicine: Alternative becomes mainstream
Complementary medicine has never been more popular. Nearly 30 percent of adults report using complementary and alternative medicine. Health care providers are embracing these therapies, too, often combining them with mainstream medical therapies. The combination is called "integrative medicine." From herbal remedies and dietary supplements to ancient healing systems and mind-body techniques, learn more about complementary and alternative medicine.

The post Living With Cancer: Do you need oral cancer screening? appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

Integrative medicine: Alternative becomes mainstream
Complementary medicine has never been more popular. Nearly 30 percent of adults report using complementary and alternative medicine. Doctors are embracing these therapies, too, often combining them with mainstream medical therapies. The combination is called "integrative medicine." From herbal remedies and dietary supplements to ancient healing systems and mind-body techniques, learn more about complementary and alternative medicine, and see what might be right for you.

EXPERT ANSWERS
What is raw water?
While the U.S. has one of the safest public drinking water supplies in the world, concerns over lead and other contaminants have led some to seek alternatives to tap water. As a result, drinking unprocessed water, also referred to as "raw" or "live" water, has become a trend. But is it safe? Learn more from Katherine Zeratsky, a Mayo Clinic registered dietitian nutritionist.

Will taking care of my teeth help prevent heart disease?
Poor oral health has been debated as a possible cause of heart disease for many years. While there appears to be some connection between oral health and heart disease, more research is needed to understand it. Learn more from Dr. Thomas Salinas, a Mayo Clinic prosthodontist.

PLUS ADDITIONAL HIGHLIGHTS
Eating disorders
Bullous pemphigoid
Peptic ulcer
Spinal injury: First aid

HEALTHY RECIPES
Butternut squash ravioli
Veggie pizza
Quinoa stuffed peppers
Whole-grain banana bread

HEALTH TIP OF THE WEEK
Are you getting enough calcium?
If dairy foods are off the menu, how can you be sure you're getting enough calcium? Try going green. Broccoli and dark green vegetables, such as spinach, kale, and turnip and collard greens, are good sources of calcium. Also look for calcium-fortified foods, such as soy milk and fruit juices.

Need practical advice on diet and exercise? Want creative solutions for stress and other lifestyle issues? Discover more healthy lifestyle topics at mayoclinic.org.

Receive a free e-subscription to Housecall and other health newsletters.

The post Housecall: What’s keeping you from exercising? appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

Watch: The Mayo Clinic Minute

Journalists: Broadcast-quality video pkg (1:00) is in the downloads. Read the script.

Do alternative therapies help with pain management?

Dr. Bauer says, “Acupuncture can help with pain. Massage can help with pain. Teaching people mind-body strategies like yoga, tai chi, meditation – they have all been shown to help.”

The National Institutes of Health reports more than 25 million Americans suffer pain every day. Dr. Bauer says, because of the risk of opioid addiction, there’s a push to use nonpharmacologic options for chronic pain, when appropriate.

“You still have symptoms. Let’s look at acupuncture. Let’s look at massage. Let’s look at mind-body treatments that can help the body relax and help the muscles that are being impacted ─ not as a cure but as a complement to that overall care.”

Dr. Bauer says the integrative therapies used at Mayo Clinic are evidence-based and found to work. They are not magic bullets or cures, but they can be effective tools to help manage pain and bring balance to the mind and body.

The post Mayo Clinic Minute: Integrative medicine and pain appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

Karl, a beekeeper, was the third of eight children raised on a hobby farm in Winona County, Minnesota.  Karl developed an interest in sustainable farming as a young child and had worked with several local farmers to expand his knowledge and expertise.

He spent the winter after his high school graduation managing an organic dairy herd in Missouri. By the following July, he was back home working a construction job, making a movie with some friends, and playing in a bluegrass band with his brothers.

Karl was initially diagnosed with atypical hepatitis A, possibly acquired a few months earlier during an outbreak at a restaurant. When his liver started to fail, Karl was put on the liver transplant list and, miraculously, received a new liver before a month had passed. 

Only a week after the transplant, however, Karl received an even more difficult diagnosis. He learned that he had histiocytic sarcoma, a rare form of cancer – so rare, in fact that there are no diagnostic tests or established treatment protocols available. His care team reached out to doctors all over the country to determine how best to respond, and he began chemotherapy within a few days.

Respect for the mind-body connection, exemplified in the Integrative Medicine and Health program, his family says, was crucial to Karl’s ability to cope with his illness.

For this quiet and reserved young man, the hospital was a difficult place, his family says. The progression of his illness and the interruptions of his around-the-clock care left Karl unnerved and yearning for some way to regroup.

When Karl heard about Mayo Clinic’s Complementary and Integrative Medicine department, he inquired about the massage therapy program. He learned that acupressure is a therapy that supports the body’s natural ability to heal and manage stress.

In search of some relief, he asked massage therapist Liza Dion to begin working with him. Over the next few months as she performed acupressure, they formed a close bond. During treatment sessions, she focused on creating a safe space where Karl could be himself and have support to deal with being sick and living in the hospital.

They usually played some type of soothing music – chant and cello music were among Karl's favorites – during his therapy. He almost always emerged with an improved outlook and a renewed fortitude for facing the next challenge, his family says.

Karl overcame numerous obstacles during his almost 90-day hospitalization. Throughout, he and his family were grateful for the outpouring of care and support he received from Mayo Clinic staff. But having access to Dion's services gave him an unexpected reprieve from the demanding medical routines that occupied most of his days.

Respect for the mind-body connection, exemplified in the Integrative Medicine and Health program, his family says, was crucial to Karl’s ability to cope with his illness.

“Karl was in good hands with Liza,” says his mom, Marilyn. “She helped him maintain a sense of peace and dignity.”

Karl passed away quietly on Oct. 7, 2014, as a result of complications from his cancer. “Karl accepted everything so bravely,” his mom recalls, “but he fought to carry on with everything that he had. Acupressure was one of the best resources available to him throughout his illness.”

That was clear to his care team, too.

“Karl was an amazing person. He was really a lovely soul,” says Dion. “When I did acupressure with him, we really connected. I remember one time, he opened his eyes and said, ‘If I get through this, I am going into integrative medicine.’ I loved that the work brought renewed energy and forward thinking to him. It was wonderful to help him find such peace and relief.”

HELPFUL LINKS

• Learn more about Complementary and Integrative Medicine at Mayo Clinic.
• Learn more about acupressure and massage therapy.
• Explore complementary and alternative medicine
• Request an appointment.

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Here's the podcast: MayoClinicRadio 08-08-15 PODCAST

The post Integrative Medicine/Statin Update/Shoulder Replacement: Mayo Clinic Radio appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

Once viewed with skepticism, complementary and integrative medicine is now playing an increasingly important role in modern health care. On the next program, Dr. Brent Bauer, director of the Complementary and Integrative Medicine Program at Mayo Clinic, outlines the contributions integrative medicine is making in treating the whole person. Also on the program, a recent study found that widely-used cholesterol-lowering drugs called statins may be of benefit to an even larger number of people who are at risk of heart disease. Cardiologist Dr. Stephen Kopecky discusses the results. And, orthopedic surgeon Dr. John Sperling explains how getting an artificial shoulder may restore movement you thought was lost forever.

Mayo Clinic Radio is available on iHeartRadio.

Click here to listen to the program at 9:05 a.m. CT, Saturday, August 8, and follow #MayoClinicRadio.

To find and listen to archived shows, click here.

Mayo Clinic Radio is a weekly one-hour radio program highlighting health and medical information from Mayo Clinic.

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