COMPLEMENTARY MEDICINE

Two out of five Americans have tried some sort of complementary medicine, from herbs to acupuncture. In this program, we look at how some of these remedies are being used for the mind and the brain, and whether science supports the claims. Guests include Dr. James Balch, co-author of "Prescription for Nutritional Healing;" Dr. Jerry Cott of the National Institute of Mental Health; and Norman Rosenthal, author of "St. John's Wort: The Herbal Way to Feeling Good;" with commentary by John Hockenberry on Atlanta Braves pitcher John Rocker.

The program begins with two women who have turned to complementary medicine for their ailments. The first had migraines that were not helped by the medicine her doctor prescribed to her. She has found relief with acupuncture. The other helped her mood with St. John's Wort.

Host Dr. Fred Goodwin then talks to two scientists, Dr. Jerry Cott, a psychopharmacologist at the National Institute of Mental Health who has written papers and organized a conference on this topic, and Dr. James Balch, co-author of the popular book "Prescription for Nutritional Healing." Click here to order book from Barnesandnoble.com.

Dr. Cott talks about ginko biloba, and notes that it has shown promise in helping memory. He points out that Office of Complementary and Alternative Medicine at the National Institutes of Health is conducting a trial on ginko. Dr. Goodwin asks about downsides of ginko, and Dr. Cott replies that some people feel that the affect on platelet aggregation is a downside. By that he means that ginko is a blood thinner and prevents clotting. Cott sees this as a benefit, and remarks that perhaps this is what helps prevent the mini-strokes that occur with Alzheimer's. Drs. Cott and Balch then talk about the use of kava for anxiety, and point out that there it is widely used, and seems to work to reduce anxiety. The guests also discuss whether or not people should self-administer over-the-counter drugs, and how complementary medicine should be regulated. They all agree that physicians should be informed of any substances being taken.

Then Amy Sirot reports on the Music Therapy program of the Institute for Music and Neurologic Function at Beth Abraham Health Services in the Bronx. She interviews the Director of Music Therapy there, Connie Tomaino, about music and the brain, and sits in on a session with a patient named Earl who is recovering from a stroke. Earl has difficulty speaking, but is more readily able to sing. Tomaino explains that the area of the brain where speech is based is different from the one where musical and singing are based. For more information on music therapy at Beth Abraham, call (718) 519-4236.

Next up is Norman Rosenthal, the author of "St. John's Wort: The Herbal Way to Feeling Good" and a clinical professor of psychiatry at Georgetown University. Dr. Rosenthal discusses the scientific evidence supporting the use of St. John's Wort for mild depression. He points out that studies have found that it really does make people feel better, and that the National Institute of Mental Health is funding a study on the herb. Both Dr. Rosenthal and Dr. Goodwin point out that you should see a doctor if you have a serious psychiatric problem. (Please note that adverse interactions have been reported between St John's wort (hypericum), an herbal product used to treat depression, and two drugs: indinavir, a protease inhibitor used to treat HIV and cyclosporine, a drug used to reduce the risk of organ transplant rejection. Potentially dangerous changes in drug effects can occur when medications such as cyclosporine (Neoral, Sandimmune), digoxin (Lanoxin, Lanoxicaps) and warfarin (Coumadin) are taken with hypericum extracts. Hypericum extracts can decrease the blood levels of antiretroviral medications that are used in the treatment of HIV infection, thus making these drugs less effective. Recent data show that the plasma levels of the protease inhibitor indinavir (Crixivan) were reduced by more than 50% by hypericum (St. John’s wort) products. NIMH and the NCCAM conducted a clinical trial of the safety and efficacy of St. John’s wort.)

Reporter Nevill Eschen then reports from Oregon on a consortium funded by the National Institutes of Health to look at complementary medicine and neurological disorders. She talks about studies looking at the use of ginko biloba and vitamin E for Alzheimer's Disease and Multiple Sclerosis.

Finally, John Hockenberry contributes his perspective, not on complementary medicine, but on the psychological testing of Atlanta Braves pitcher John Rocker.

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