NIH Research: recent findings on mindfulness & supplement use for common health problems in olde

Complementary and integrative health approaches are being widely used by older adults to treat common health problems. Mindfulness practices are producing research validated benefits. With the narcotics related deaths on the rise, it is essential to manage pain without such drugs. There will be a future blog that talks about brain science and how the brain can be trained to eliminate chronic pain without the use of drugs. Watch for that next month. Here are 4 examples mindfulness practices can be applied to common health problems in older adults.

1. Osteoarthritis. Traditional Chinese exercise—may be helpful for managing osteoarthritis of the knee. Guidelines issued by the American College of Rheumatology conditionally recommend tai chi, along with other non-drug approaches, for this condition.

2. Menopausal symptoms. Overall, there is scientific evidence suggesting that some mind and body approaches, such meditation may provide some relief from common menopausal symptoms.

3. Sleep problems. Using relaxation techniques, (e.g., progressive relaxation, guided imagery, biofeedback,and deep breathing exercises) before bedtime can be helpful components of a successful sleep regimen.

Shingles. Traditional Chinese exercise (balance & flexibility practices combined with meditation) may help older adults avoid getting shingles by in boosting the immune response to varicella vaccine in older people. While there have only been a few studies on the effects of tai chi on immunity to varicella, the results so far have been promising.These mind and body practices are generally considered safe for healthy people when they’re performed appropriately. If you have any health problems, talk with both your health care provider before starting to use a mind and body practice.

Natural products, often sold as dietary supplements, are frequently used by many older people despite safety concerns or a lack of evidence to support their use. Although many people believe that natural products are safe, these products can contain pharmacologically active compounds and may interact with prescription medicines or have side effects and risks. Check out what the science says about natural products for these common aging-related conditions, and talk to your health care provider if you are considering taking a natural product.

1. Osteoarthritis. Findings from studies of glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate—taken separately or together—suggest that they do not provide much, if any, meaningful improvement of pain or function for osteoarthritis (OA). Independent clinical practice guidelines published in 2012 by the American College of Rheumatology, and in 2010 by the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons recommend not using glucosamine or chondroitin for OA.

2. Cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s disease. Although natural products containing fish oils or ginkgo biloba have been widely marketed to improve memory and sharpen the mind, there is a lack of evidence to support the use of these products for the prevention of cognitive decline or dementia.

3. Sleep problems. Current research suggests that melatonin (a hormone known to shift circadian rhythms) may be useful in treating several sleep disorders, such as jet lag, delayed sleep phase disorder, and sleep problems related to shift work. Guidelines from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine recommend the use of melatonin supplements to promote daytime sleep among night shift workers. The guidelines also recommend melatonin to reduce symptoms of jet lag and improve sleep following travel across multiple time zones.

4. Menopausal symptoms. Many natural products, such as black cohosh, have been studied for their effects on menopausal symptoms, but there is little evidence that they are useful. While some herbs and botanicals are often found in over-the-counter formulas and combinations, many of these combination products have not been studied. It’s also important to know that because natural products used for menopausal symptoms can have side effects and can interact with other botanicals or supplements or with medications, research in this area is looking at safety as well as effectiveness.

5. Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Although several small studies have suggested modest benefit of saw palmetto for treating symptoms of BPH, a large study evaluating high doses of saw palmetto found that saw palmetto was not more effective than placebo for treatment of urinary symptoms related to BPH.

References

National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (2015). 5 Tips: Natural products used for common aging-related condition.National Institute of Health. Retrieved from:https://nccih.nih.gov/health/tips/age-natprod

National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (2015). 4 Tips: Mind-body practices for common age-related conditions. National Institute of Health. Retrieved from: https://nccih.nih.gov/health/tips/age-mindbody

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