Integrative Medicine Grand Rounds (Research) Event Date: June 4th, 2019

Mediterranean Diet
to Reduce Cardiovascular Disease and Other Chronic Diseases of Aging

The Mediterranean diet has been associated with lower risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) events but the precise mechanisms through which Mediterranean diet intake may reduce long-term risk of CVD are not well understood.

Using a prospective study of over 25,000 initially healthy women enrolled in the BWH/HMS Women’s Health Study, who were followed up to 12-years, Dr. Mora evaluated potential mediating effects of a panel of biomarkers that represent different CVD pathways and clinical factors.

Women consuming a Mediterranean-type diet had up to a quarter reduction in CVD events over long-term follow-up. Dr. Mora will present the research. Watch the livestream of the lecture.

As one of my teachers in Chinese medical school told me “women are complicated.” Women’s biology allows for the miracle of childbirth but also creates many women’s health issues that are unique to or simply more prevalent in women. In recent years research into integrative medicine approaches have found good evidence that many health issues unique to women respond well to alternative, low tech approaches. For instance studies have found that acupuncture reduced the frequency and severity of hot flashes without the risk associated with hormone replacement therapy. A 2012 research review of 13 clinical trials suggested that cranberry may help reduce the risk of UTIs in certain groups, including women with recurrent UTIs, children, and people who use cranberry-containing products more than twice daily. Tai Chi, Yoga, meditation and vitamin D, have been shown to be helpful in fibromyalgia and Acupuncture may help relieve osteoarthritis pain. Participating in tai chi may also improve pain, stiffness, and joint function in people with knee osteoarthritis. Qi gong may have similar benefits, but less research has been done on it.

About 18% of Americans report chronic knee pain. Recent research at NCCIH shows that several mind/body approaches in integrative medicine can be effective in the treatment of osteoarthritis in the knee. Acupuncture, T’ai Chi and massage therapy offer a safe, natural and effective way to alleviate knee pain and prevent further damage. Learn to relieve your own aches & pains without drugs.

Many times we don’t get enough sleep because we just don’t get to bed a decent hour. Some of us do get to bed on time and still cannot get a decent nights sleep. Fortunately there are complementary approaches to sleep disorders that are showing promising results in research. Meditation and relaxation techniques as simple as reading a good book can really help.

Insights from Neuroimaging Research

Since ancient times in Chinese medicine, the martial artists were the specialists in pain. Both in inflicting it and in making it go away. Tai chi masters and other martial artists developed effective pain control techniques that have a lot to contribute to the modern world. With over 70,000 deaths in 2017 from opioid drugs, many researchers are looking for alternatives in pain control. Recently Dr. Jian Kong an Associate Professor at the Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School gave a grand rounds lecture for the Osher Institute for Integrative Medicine on applying the power of the mind on pain control. Using examples from acupuncture, Tai-chi chuan and the Eight silken forms, Dr. Kong examines brain circuits associated with acute and chronic pain, the role of expectancy in alternative and conventional medicine and how to apply the mind to enhance the therapeutic effects of treatment, and how the mind and body can interact to reduce pain.