Ayurveda and 9-11

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http://www.denverpost.com/coloradocorporatestatements/ci_8053811

 

BOULDER, Colo., Jan. 23 /PRNewswire/ -- All 50 participants in a study

on the effectiveness of Ayurvedic herbal supplements for 9/11 toxicity

reported high incidence of alleviation of previously intractable

symptoms, according to a report in the Jan/Feb 2008 issue of

Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine (ATHM), a peer-reviewed

medical journal published by InnoVision Health Media.

 

James Dahl, Ph.D., a senior research associate at the Phoenix House

Foundation, and Katherine Dahl, M.D., an assistant clinical professor

of psychiatry at the Mt. Sinai School of Medicine, both in New York,

conducted an in-treatment, web-based survey with 50 World Trade Center

rescue-and-recovery workers, volunteers, and area residents and

workers who had used Ayurvedic herbs for post-9/11 symptoms, including

respiratory distress, fatigue, and depression.

 

Survey respondents rated a wide range of symptoms on a Likert scale of

0-5, with 0 and 1 being minimal and 5 being extremely serious. Memory

and concentration problems, cough, fatigue, exhaustion, " not feeling

well, " and depression were among those reported as " extremely

serious. "

 

" Not feeling well, " was the leading symptom reported for which

respondents found the Ayurvedic treatment extremely helpful, ranking

it 4.3. Difficulty breathing was rated second, at 4.19. Subjects

reported relief from cough, wheezing, concentration problems, and

sleeping difficulties at very helpful levels (3.57-4.03).

Almost 65% of the patients received conventional medical treatment for

their symptoms, nearly 44% of which was conventional medication.

Twenty-six percent received psychotherapy or counseling, and 13% took

psychiatric medication.

The level of helpfulness of conventional medical treatments was rated

significantly lower for each symptom: " not feeling well, " 2.40;

difficulty breathing, 2.95; cough, wheezing, concentration problems,

and difficulty sleeping, 2.47-2.95.

 

The mean reported level of helpfulness with preexisting symptoms from

the herbal treatment was 3.8 vs. 2.6 for conventional medical

treatments participants had tried. Additionally, herbal treatment was

helpful for those symptoms rated most serious by those surveyed.

 

full paper: http://www.alternative-therapies.com/at/web_pdfs/dahl.pdf