Author: Linda Rider

  • How THC and CBD affect weight

    How THC and CBD affect weight

    November 14, 2022

    3 min examine

    Supply:

    Sicat, J. CBD for obesity? Our patients are inquiring! Offered at: Conquering Obesity 2022 Nov. 2-5 (hybrid meeting).

    Disclosures:
    Sicat reports being a section of the speaker’s bureau for Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk, Inc.


    We ended up not able to method your request. Remember to try once more afterwards. If you keep on to have this concern remember to get hold of [email protected].

    Marijuana has implications for excess weight and metabolic rate — but potentially not in the strategies just one may possibly assume, in accordance to a speaker at the 2022 Beating Weight problems convention.

    All through the presentation, Jeff Sicat, MD, Facial area, FOMA, a medical professional with the Virginia Body weight and Wellness who specializes in medical weight reduction, mentioned how marijuana and cannabidiol (CBD) have an affect on fat and rate of metabolism.

    How THC and CBD affect weight
    Modest, small-expression studies showed that cannabis was related with an initial improve in bodyweight, but lengthy-phrase scientific studies suggest bodyweight reduction with persistent use. Supply: Adobe Stock

    Despite the fact that there are some optimistic components of cannabis, like euphoria, a sense of rest, heightened sensory notion, enhanced appetite and much more, Sicat mentioned there are some damaging things, including “the munchies,” acute pounds achieve, nervousness, distrust, stress, paranoia and far more.

    In the Managed Compound Act of 1970, the U.S. govt classified marijuana as a program I substance, “meaning it was regarded as to have no satisfactory medicinal use and was among the class of medicine obtaining the highest possible for abuse.”

    Nowadays, health care marijuana is lawful in 38 states, four territories and Washington, D.C., and leisure cannabis is authorized in 19 states, two territories and Washington, D.C. Use prices are up, way too: NIH info from 2021 recorded historic highs in marijuana use between grownups aged 19 to 30 a long time — 43{fe463f59fb70c5c01486843be1d66c13e664ed3ae921464fa884afebcc0ffe6c} of people in this group claimed use in the previous calendar year.

    “This is going on,” Sicat reported. “It’s intriguing that this is not a thing that I routinely have questioned my patients in the earlier, but this seriously opens my eyes of how lots of people today are essentially employing hashish these days.”

    Cannabis becoming categorized as a schedule I drug, he discussed, “really precludes a ton of studies from taking place.” With the obtainable facts, however, Sicat claimed he recognized an interesting development, a person that he coined the “marijuana paradox for obesity”: little, short-time period scientific studies showed increases in system weight, but long-term scientific tests disclosed that serious cannabis use was really related with excess weight reduction.

    In truth, he claimed, “the bigger the dose of cannabis in excess of the many years is associated with a decreased overall body excess weight.”

    “When you look at future scientific studies where by they look at above 30,000 men and women across the place and observe them for the system of 3 a long time, you see that individuals who smoke the most hashish or use the most cannabis in fact have the most affordable entire body fat in a dose-dependent way,” he stated. “The far more recurrent that somebody is basically using cannabis, they will lessen their body mass index.”

    Also, he reported that information have demonstrated ladies making use of cannabis greatly ended up about 50{fe463f59fb70c5c01486843be1d66c13e664ed3ae921464fa884afebcc0ffe6c} fewer possible to be diagnosed with variety 2 diabetes than non-cannabis customers.

    A report from the Countrywide Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medication showed considerable or conclusive proof that cannabis is successful in older people for serious suffering as very well as chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting, and can make improvements to muscle mass spasticity syndromes in MS.

    Cannabis plants have at least 100 plant-derived phytocannabinoids, which includes tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), delta 8 THC, CBD and a lot more. CBD — the most prevalent phytocannabinoid — is, by volume, the largest component of the cannabis plant.

    “What’s wonderful about it is that it does not have any psychotropic outcomes it actually has a extremely wide variety of likely pharmacological effects through unique mechanisms,” Sicat explained.

    For example, there is an Food and drug administration-authorized CBD item for pediatric intractable epileptic seizures.

    “It turns out that CBD in higher doses has essentially been shown to really lower seizures by nearly 50{fe463f59fb70c5c01486843be1d66c13e664ed3ae921464fa884afebcc0ffe6c} in this incredibly refractory inhabitants,” he claimed.

    Even with the fact that trials did not completely look into body weight decline, knowledge from these scientific tests indicated bigger bodyweight reduction from folks who took CBD in comparison with individuals who took placebo, even though he cautioned that only 20{fe463f59fb70c5c01486843be1d66c13e664ed3ae921464fa884afebcc0ffe6c} of participants had been grown ups.

    Although CBD has demonstrated to be “helpful for a ton of different things … from a diabetic issues point of view, we are uncertain.”

    Sicat referenced a 2016 research printed in Diabetic issues Care that assessed the effects of CBD and THC on persons with kind 2 diabetic issues.

    “When you seem at the details, what they found is that it actually experienced profit in conditions of a number of distinctive hormones. You can find really a hormone named resistin which is built in the system excess fat, and resistin brings about resistance to insulin. And when they gave CBD at these doses, it really lowered resistin,” he claimed.

    Sicat concluded that “further research are required to better evaluate the advantages of CBD and other phytocannabinoids on metabolic capabilities.”

    “In conclusion, I would just say, personally, I have discovered that putting this presentation jointly has type of opened my eyes due to the fact I really under no circumstances believed about the impression of how lots of of my people are really taking all these different phytocannabinoids, how numerous of them may possibly be using healthcare marijuana, distinct issues like this. [It] just has not been one thing that I’ve actually questioned about a lot, but it would make me actually believe about inquiring much extra usually about that.”

    References:

  • Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) may benefit children and young adults with cancer

    Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) may benefit children and young adults with cancer

    Impression: Option drugs this sort of as acupuncture, hypnosis and herbs and nutritional supplements have proved to be a relief versus aspect outcomes from conventional most cancers procedure, according to researcher Trine Stub.

    Mother and father knowledge unpredicted and traumatic gatherings when their little one is diagnosed with cancer. In addition to the very seriously unwell little one, they have other family and each day obligations, usually together with other kids to show up at to. The treatment is demanding, and several kids and young grownups will have to dwell with the effects for a extensive time.

    Childhood cancer in Norway

    Each individual year, approximately 350 kids and young older people (-19 years) are diagnosed with most cancers in Norway. This corresponds to 3500 persons in 10 several years. Cancer is between the major brings about of loss of life in small children and adolescents worldwide, particularly in substantial-income countries.

    As a end result of professional medical developments and efficient procedure, the survival fee for small children with cancer is nearly 80 for each cent. Even so, lots of survivors will have to deal with the burden of signs and symptoms throughout and soon after most cancers treatment. Parents explain some signs or symptoms derived from cancer treatment method as soreness, fatigue, decline of hunger, and psychological and cognitive difficulties.

    Understandably, mom and dad who deal with a demanding situation because of to their child’s cancer analysis want to do every thing feasible for the child. Consequently, the burden brought about by conventional cancer treatment has led mothers and fathers to find unique supportive treatment treatment options, together with complementary and choice drugs – CAM.

    What do we know about CAM and childhood most cancers?

    There is a absence of know-how pertaining to the use and effect of CAM among kids and youthful older people with cancer. In addition, there is inadequate information and facts about the remedies utilized and the reasons why.

    Some products and treatment options may perhaps interact negatively with standard cancer treatment. For that reason, we – researchers at the National Exploration Centre in Complementary and Option Medication (NAFKAM) – desired to survey this use. At the same time, we needed to examine the feasible results of these remedies by performing a systematic review and meta-analyses based on details from internationally released article content.

    Acupuncture appears to be a great and risk-free treatment method alternative for regular anti-nausea and vomiting treatment in small children and adolescents with cancer.

    What did we come across?

    We involved 20 trials in a analyze that investigated the use of acupuncture, music and artwork treatment, hypnosis, as very well as herbs and dietary supplements to take care of adverse effects of cancer therapy.

    Acupuncture

    Based on details from five trials, we discovered that acupuncture was significantly more effective in treating chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting in contrast to the control teams. The participants in the command groups obtained sham acupuncture and regular anti-nausea and vomiting medicines only. Soreness because of to needling and limited acupuncture bands were reported as adverse results.

    Tunes and art remedy

    We found that tunes treatment was useful for pain related with agonizing procedures such as lumbar puncture. This is a method where by a needle is inserted involving two vertebrae to extract spinal fluid. The little ones who been given tunes remedy expert the technique as less unpleasant and frightening as opposed to young children in the manage team.

    In addition, children who obtained artwork remedy had been a lot more bodily energetic, a lot more social, less pressured, and significantly less depressed than small children in the management group. Norwegian hospitals that handle little ones and adolescents with cancer present their sufferers music and artwork therapies.

    Hypnosis

    A person analyze described that people who received hypnosis employed a lot less supplemental anti-nausea and vomiting medicine for the duration of the very first and next courses of chemotherapy. An additional research examined the outcome of hypnosis and aid groups on reducing chemo-treatment-related worry. The period of nausea was considerably shorter for individuals in the hypnosis and help teams as opposed to these in the regulate group.

    Herbs and health supplements

    Herbs and health supplements have been utilized to reduce chemotherapy-induced adverse results these kinds of as oral mucositis, nausea, vomiting, fat decline, and hepatoxicity. Several treatment plans were being helpful for many of the grievances that lowered the children’s top quality of lifetime.

    Zinc was successful for fat loss and minimized the episodes of bacterial infections. The severity of swelling in the oral mucosa was lowered working with Vitamin E and Bovine Colostrum. Glutamine lowered the use of intravenous diet. Milk Thistle minimized the degree of AST enzyme in the liver. The use of probiotics reduced episodes of fever and intravenous antibiotics, while Ginger diminished episodes of nausea and vomiting.

    What does this imply?

    Acupuncture appears to be a great and secure procedure selection for regular anti-nausea and vomiting treatment in children and adolescents with most cancers. The procedure must be supplied by certified acupuncturists who are trained in pediatric acupuncture. This getting is in accordance with formal guidelines for nausea and vomiting in older people and youngsters.

    Tunes and art therapy, as effectively as hypnosis, have a helpful effect on the quite a few grievances youngsters confront in the course of and following most cancers treatment. On the other hand, additional study is desired in advance of we can conclude with certainty.

    It is critical to bear in mind that mothers and fathers must discuss with health care providers or the dealing with physician about the use of these supportive treatment options, as some of these solutions and treatments may interact negatively with traditional cancer cure.

    References:

    • Mora DC, Kristoffersen AE, Overvåg G, Jong MC, Mentink M, Liu JP, Stub T. Complementary and substitute medication (CAM) modalities utilized to deal with adverse effects of anti-most cancers cure between little ones: A systematic critique and meta-examination of randomized regulate trials. BMC Complementary Medication and Therapies. 202222(1):1-21.
    • Stub T, Quandt SA, Kristoffersen AE, Jong MC, Arcury TA. Conversation and information requires about complementary and different medication: a qualitative research of parents of youngsters with most cancers. BMC Complementary Medication and Therapies. 202121(1):85.
    • Stub T, Kristoffersen AE, Overvåg G, Jong MC. An integrative assessment of the information and conversation wants of moms and dads of little ones with cancer regarding the use of complementary and different medicine. BMC Complementary Drugs and Therapies. 202020(1):90.

    Additional Studying:

    The ScienceNorway Researchers’ zone is composed of viewpoints, weblogs and common science items prepared by scientists and researchers from or centered in Norway. Want to lead? Ship us an e mail!

  • Fatima Sana Shaikh goes candid about her epilepsy diagnosis; 8 steps to help someone suffering from a seizure

    Fatima Sana Shaikh goes candid about her epilepsy diagnosis; 8 steps to help someone suffering from a seizure

    Fatima Sana Shaikh opens up on her battle with epilepsy Pic Credit Instagram

    Fatima Sana Shaikh opens up on her battle with epilepsy. Pic Credit: Instagram

    Recently, Dangal actress Fatima Sana Sheikh obtained candid about dwelling with epilepsy on her question-me-nearly anything Instagram session. The 30-yr-old actress was diagnosed with the nervous system problem even though training for her 2016 Aamir Khan starrer movie.
    For the duration of the session, she said remaining in denial for 5 decades right after she was first identified with epilepsy and how she came to phrases with it sooner or later. Celebrating the epilepsy month, she performed this session to raise recognition about the affliction and remove the stigma linked with it.

    If you are a person who is new to this expression and are curious to know all about it, here is some simple facts and details about epilepsy, its which means, will cause, indicators and how to mentally offer with the situation.

    What is epilepsy?

    According to Mayo Clinic, epilepsy is a ailment influencing the central anxious procedure due to which the mind tends to act in an irregular manner. This final results in seizures, unconventional behaviour and even loss of awareness.

    How does epilepsy come about?

    Epilepsy seizures take place differently for a variety of folks. For some it could be silent while others tend to twitch their arms and legs. For a individual to be considered epileptic, he/she need to have two seizures due to an unfamiliar bring about going on at least 24 hours apart.

    Leads to of epilepsy

    Certain aspects can result in a human being to have epilepsy, these include:

    Head trauma :

    An damage to the head although slipping, getting in a motor vehicle accident, or any other traumatic damage

    Autism :

    From time to time epilepsy can also stem out of developmental diseases these as autism

    Genetics :

    A man or woman with epilepsy enduring a certain kind of seizure can be passed down to their offspring as well

    Infections :

    Parasitic infections this kind of as neurocysticercosis and other ailments these types of as HIV and Meningitis can bring about epilepsy

    Indications of epilepsy

    Mayo Clinic describes a individual acquiring a seizure to practical experience the adhering to:

    – Sensation of dread and nervousness

    – Deja vu

    – Temporary confusion

    – Stiff muscle groups

    – Reduction of awareness

    – Twitching of arms and legs

    When addressing the fears and issues posed by her admirers, a single netizen in particular requested what to do if a particular person is dealing with the seizures by itself. Fatima, then described that one can do nothing at all if the epileptic client is by yourself, this is what 1 can do if they are all around an individual struggling from a seizure:

    – Will not retrain the particular person.

    – Will not place anything at all in their mouth.

    – Change the person to a person facet. So, if they toss up, they do not choke on it.

    – Be aware the period of the seizure.

    – Move sharp objects away.

    – Let it move.

    – Just take the human being to the clinic if the episode lasts for much more than 5-10 minutes.

    – Most importantly stay relaxed and you should not panic.

    Know these guidelines to enable another person going through an epileptic seizure.

  • 7 tips for choosing your health benefits for 2023

    7 tips for choosing your health benefits for 2023

    Amid greater inflation, you may possibly be hunting at strategies to regulate your way of living and expending behavior. But when it arrives to health and fitness care, it’s significant to keep your nicely-being and funds in brain.

    Annual or open up enrollment time is in this article – a time when much more than 2,095,000 people in New Mexico and hundreds of thousands of Americans across the country will have the prospect to decide on or switch their health insurance policies strategy for the coming calendar year.

    Open up enrollment is a very good chance to overview how normally you are employing health expert services and choose regardless of whether you are going to stick with the prepare you have obtained or change to an additional getting supplied. It’s also an possibility to assess your total treatment costs to make sure you are selecting a system that will do the job most effective for subsequent year’s funds.

    Enrollment timing: For persons with coverage from their employer, open up enrollment generally takes place for two months sometime between September and December. Medicare users can enroll or make alterations to coverage from Oct. 15-Dec. 7. Most picks produced will consider outcome on Jan. 1, 2023.

    Listed here are seven strategies to support in deciding on a wellbeing system by way of get the job done, the Exchange Market or Medicare:

    1. Think about all your alternatives. Consider time to realize and evaluate the added benefits, solutions and costs of each strategy so you can determine out which will function ideal for you. A superior initial stage may well be to observe a speedy refresher online video on wellness insurance lingo, which includes premiums, deductibles, copays, coinsurance and out-of-pocket maximums.

    Medicare associates: As you weigh your selections, assure you’re familiar with the variance in between initial Medicare and Medicare Benefit. If you need to have a review, go to MedicareEducation.com – an on the web useful resource with responses to thoughts about eligibility, program possibilities, charge basics, prescription protection and additional.

    2. Test your prescription added benefits. Being aware of how to get the most out of your prescription positive aspects may perhaps assist you handle expenses. For instance, check out into discount rates and reduced-cost possibilities, including generics, which may possibly be accessible. You may perhaps also be capable to fill your prescriptions at a collaborating community pharmacy or with property delivery by mail – two extra cash-saving alternatives.

    Medicare associates: You may perhaps be amazed to understand unique Medicare doesn’t commonly go over prescription medicines. Consider including Component D or a Medicare Benefit strategy with prescription drug protection to enable continue to keep your treatment expenditures in look at.

    3. Check out for mental health and fitness coverage. In addition to in-particular person mental wellness care, you may perhaps have access to a significant digital community of therapists and psychiatrists. Some health and fitness insurers also supply advocacy solutions to help you come across the suitable style of behavioral wellbeing treatment.

    Medicare users: Some designs provide digital mental wellbeing treatment with a $ copay, which include UnitedHealthcare Medicare Benefit.

    4. Really don’t forget about about specialty gains. Added positive aspects, such as dental, eyesight, hearing or critical illness insurance coverage are typically out there and may possibly lead to all round well-staying.

    Medicare users: You might be shocked first Medicare does not protect most dental, eyesight and hearing products and services, but quite a few Medicare Edge strategies do.

    5. Search into wellness plans. Quite a few well being plans offer incentives that reward you for getting healthier actions, such as completing a wellness study, exercising or steering clear of nicotine.

    Medicare users: Quite a few Medicare Advantage designs also offer fitness center memberships and wellness plans for associates at no further expense.

    6. Anticipate upcoming year’s wellness expenditures. If you are anticipating a important overall health party in the following year, this kind of as surgery or the beginning of a little one, evaluate the discrepancies in approach styles for that precise circumstance, which include any out-of-pocket prices.

    7. Consider a prepare with virtual care expert services. If you’re active or just desire connecting with a doctor from the comfort of your property, consider choosing a program that involves 24/7 virtual care. You might have entry to digital wellness visits, urgent treatment and continual situation administration.

    Medicare members: Most Medicare Benefit plans deliver accessibility to digital treatment, which can be an simpler, a lot more reasonably priced way to talk with medical practitioners about frequent overall health issues on a smartphone, tablet or computer system.

    For additional practical content and films about open enrollment, check out uhcopenenrollment.com.

  • Brazilian Federal Council of Medicine Bans CBD Prescriptions for Adult Patients

    Brazilian Federal Council of Medicine Bans CBD Prescriptions for Adult Patients

    The Brazilian Federal Council of Medication (CFM in the Portuguese acronym) is after all over again stepping above the profession’s ethics code and ignoring the newest advancements in healthcare science to impose an ideological ban to limit the prescription of CBD for grownup clients. The new conclusion, regretably, will come as no surprise as the CFM experienced by now stained its status throughout the coronavirus disaster by currently being sued for collective damages by the Brazilian Public Defender’s Office for letting physicians to prescribe hydroxychloroquine for “early treatment” of COVID-19, an unfounded procedure that was publicly supported by Bolsonaro and his then-presidential mate Donald Trump.

    The cannabis conclusion was published in the Brazilian Federal Sign up on October 11, to be carried out quickly and only to be revised in three several years. It policies that the “prescription of cannabidiol (CBD) is authorised as healthcare therapy” only “for the procedure of epilepsy in childhood and adolescence refractory to regular therapies in Dravet and Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome and Tuberous Sclerosis Complex”. Its prescription for any other conditions has consequently been banned. Medical professionals are further prohibited from offering lectures and classes on the use of cannabidiol and/or solutions derived from Hashish exterior of a scientific atmosphere.

    CFM’s decision arrives in the context of at the same time growing need for CBD products and solutions, and ideal-wing propaganda versus the legitimate professional medical rewards of cannabis. In between 2017 and 2021, the quantity of personal requests to import health-related hashish jumped from 2,101 to 32,416, a 1,442{fe463f59fb70c5c01486843be1d66c13e664ed3ae921464fa884afebcc0ffe6c} raise. The growth in the demand for healthcare hashish has even triggered some of Bolsonaro’s cupboard ministers to issue publications denying that hashish is variety of medication. 

     

    CBD oil is not cost-effective to the vast majority of Brazilian patients. The value of a 20mg/ml bottle in a popular chemist fees one-fourth of the minimal wage. A 200/mg bottle costs additional than two minimal wages. A lot of clients and their households count on medical hashish associations to get their medicine for a much more reasonably priced selling price. Supply: Drogaria Sao Paulo  

     

    While the professional medical hashish invoice is stalled in the Brazilian Congress with no currently being forwarded to the Senate for ultimate approval, and with Brazilian significant Pharma controlling what handful of goods are authorized on the restricted Brazilian professional medical cannabis marketplace, the CFM is offering a message to culture: thoughts and ideology are what guideline wellness policy, and science can be discredited with the stroke of a pen.

    If the intention of the greatest authority dependable for supervising and regulating health-related exercise in Brazil is to divert patients to the illegal market place, then their mission will surely be prosperous. We know what occurs when substances become prohibited and inaccessible via authorized strategies: persons vacation resort to the illegal market. There are some individuals who are committed to supplying people with cannabis oil in Brazil, irrespective of its authorized standing, participating in civil disobedience to assure that persons can stil access their drugs. The issue, even though, is that these perfectly-intentioned citizens expose themselves to criminal punishment, and are also only in a position to offer entire-spectrum oil, which may well not satisfy the requirements of numerous patients. What we are witnessing below is, again, the criminalisation of lifetime-restoring and everyday living-preserving drugs, a drugs that has the ability to restore the life not only of individuals who use it but also of household customers who care for them. 

    The CBD ban is even further worrying news for the long term of Brazilian drug coverage, in particular supplied the the latest pattern of common cannabis campaigners picking out to abandon their political stances on drug rules to cater to conservative constituents. With the election of the most significantly-ideal Congress considering the fact that the re-democratisation of Brazil at the stop of its navy dictatorship in 1985, attempts for building and employing a more humane drug coverage will be an uphill fight, even if Lula wins in opposition to Bolsonaro in the 2nd round which will get put on the 30th of Oct. Meanwhile, civil society is organising alone, demanding prolonged overdue improvements, with constituents correctly voting in at minimum a few professional-cannabis lawmakers into office environment at the state and federal stage

    On Monday the 17th of October, a short while ago re-elected congressman Paulo Teixeira (of Lula’s Personnel Celebration), who chaired the exclusive commission that voted on the professional medical cannabis monthly bill, submitted a legislative decree to revoke CFM’s new choice. It is now very important that the even now-tiny hashish caucus stress Bolsonaro’s ally and President of the Chamber of Deputies, Arthur Lira, to unblock the health care hashish bill frozen in Congress. It is time for Brazilian institutions to work for the persons all over again, rather of serving the ideological agenda of the present president and his goons.

  • Efficacy of N. sativa-honey vs. clotrimazole for VVC

    Efficacy of N. sativa-honey vs. clotrimazole for VVC

    On the other hand, the authors mentioned that that inappropriate use of around-the-counter (OTC) medications like clotrimazole brings about drug resistance, major to better prevalence of the an infection.

    The review comprised 84 married, nonpregnant women of all ages, concerning the ages of 18 and 49, who have been referred for VVC to the Baharloo Medical center of Tehran College of Healthcare Sciences, in Iran, from August 2019 to February 2020.

    People with good yeast cultures had been randomly divided into two major groups: N. sativa-honey vaginal product (the intervention team n = 42) and 1{fe463f59fb70c5c01486843be1d66c13e664ed3ae921464fa884afebcc0ffe6c} clotrimazole vaginal cream (the control group n = 42).

    A ratio of hydroalcoholic extract of 3{fe463f59fb70c5c01486843be1d66c13e664ed3ae921464fa884afebcc0ffe6c} N. sativa and 30{fe463f59fb70c5c01486843be1d66c13e664ed3ae921464fa884afebcc0ffe6c} honey ended up made use of to formulate the previous vaginal cream.

    Scientific symptoms and symptoms and lab tests had been recorded at baseline and 6 by 10 days soon after remedy. Clients utilized an applicator (5 grams) of the selected product ahead of heading to the mattress for seven consecutive nights.

    At the start out of the review, 100{fe463f59fb70c5c01486843be1d66c13e664ed3ae921464fa884afebcc0ffe6c} of the contributors in both equally groups described discharge, redness and itching.

    Following finishing treatment, secretion, redness, itching and fungal society substantially improved in the two teams (P < 0.001).

    But itching and discharge were statistically better in the N. sativa-honey group than in the clotrimazole group.

    Conversely, pruritus and secretion significantly improved in the clotrimazole group compared to the N. sativa-honey group.

    Vaginal cultures of Candida became negative in 67.5{fe463f59fb70c5c01486843be1d66c13e664ed3ae921464fa884afebcc0ffe6c} of patients in the intervention group and in 74.4{fe463f59fb70c5c01486843be1d66c13e664ed3ae921464fa884afebcc0ffe6c} of patients in the control group.

    The difference in outcomes between the two therapies may be due to the additional benefit of combining N. sativa and honey, according to the authors, who noted that “N. sativa seems to have a synergistic effect.”

    Honey inhibits the growth of Candida, which might be attributed in part to honey’s low pH, the osmotic pressure of honey and honey’s production of hydrogen peroxide.

    “Most of the biological and medicinal effects of N. sativa on the prevention of fungal growth and the effective antiinflammatory and analgesic may be due to the presence of thymoquinone,” wrote the authors.

    There was no statistically significant difference between the two therapies for fungal culture results, satisfaction with the method of drug prescribed and satisfaction with the drug itself.

    No study patient showed drug-specific side effects either.

    “The results of this study show that the N. sativa-honey significantly improves the symptoms of VVC thus, the application of N. sativa-honey can be considered as a complementary therapy in the treatment of VVC,” wrote the authors. “The complementary medicine appears to be safe, effective, and tolerable.”

    However, due to the high cost, the investigators did not employ chromium agar medium to identify the type of Candida species. Additional studies are also needed to demonstrate the safety and the mechanism of action for N. sativa-honey vaginal cream.

    Reference

    Korabi MNA, Mirmolaei ST, Tabarrai M, et al. Comparison between the efficacy of nigella sativa-honey and clotrimazole on vulvovaginal candidiasis: a randomized clinical trial. Evid-based Complement Altern Med. Published online October 14, 2022. doi:10.1155/2022/1739729