helfgott brochure
DESCRIPTION
Helfgott BrochureTRANSCRIPT
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Advancing the science of natural medicine
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Wisdom begins in wonder –Socrates
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www.ncnm.edu/research|3
Letter from the DirectorGreetingsfromtheHelfgottResearchInstituteattheNationalCollegeofNaturalMedicine!Helfgottcontinuestogrowandexpandeachyear,strivingtobecomethepremiernaturalmedicineresearchinstituteintheUnitedStates.InvestigatorsatHelfgottspendagreatdealoftimeinthepubliceye.Ourinvestigatorsspeakatnationalandinternationalconferences.Wehavebeeninterviewedformagazinesandbooks.Wehavepublishedoriginalresearchandwonawards.WeserveoncommitteesattheNationalInstitutesofHealth.Ourimpactinnaturalmedicinecontinuestogrow.
AsthehealthofAmericanscontinuestodecline,theneedforadditionalapproachestodiseaseisincreasinglyevident.OurresearchinChinesemedicine,naturopathicmedicine,nutrition,mind-bodymedicineandothernaturaltherapiesdemonstratesthattherearepowerfulalternativesforpeopletoachievewellness.Witheverystudy,weat
Helfgotthopetoprovideevidenceforhownaturaltherapiescandecreaseobesity,treatpain,preventcancer,andhelppeoplelivehealthierlives.Westayevertruetoourmissiontoadvancethescienceofnaturalmedicine.
ThisbrochurewillintroduceyoutosomeofthemanythingswearedoingatHelfgott.Wehopeyouwilltakesometimetofindoutmoreaboutusonourwebsiteatwww.ncnm.edu/research.Finally,weencourageyoutogetinvolved!Participateinastudy!Volunteerasaresearcher!Donatetoresearchinnaturalmedicine!Wevaluetheenergyofallthosewhoworkwithustomakenaturalmedicineresearchthrive.
Withgratitude,
HeatherZwickey,PhDDirector,HelfgottResearchInstituteDeanofResearch,NationalCollegeofNaturalMedicine
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HelfgottResearchInstitute|4
Advancing the Science of Natural Medicine
TheHelfgottResearchInstituteisanonprofitresearchinstituteatNationalCollegeofNaturalMedicine.Helfgott’smissionistoconductrigorous,highquality,researchontheartandscienceofhealing,specificallyworkingtounderstandnaturalformsofmedicine.Together,scientistsandcliniciansfromthevariousfieldsofcomplementaryandalternativemedicineapplytheirexpertisetoadvancethescienceofnaturalmedicine.
EstablishedinJuneof2003attheNationalCollegeofNaturalMedicine(NCNM)withthehelpofadonationfromDonHelfgott,theHelfgottResearchInstitutehasastate-of-the-artbasicsciencelaboratory,aswellastheresourcestocarryoutclinicalresearch.
ResearchprojectsatHelfgottincludegrantsfundedbytheNationalInstitutesofHealth,company-sponsoredresearch,pilotstudiesandstudentresearchprojects.HelfgottoftencollaboratesonprojectswithotherinstitutionsinvolvedwithCAMresearch,includingOregonHealth&SciencesUniversity(OHSU),theOregonCollegeofOrientalMedicine,UniversityofWesternStates,theKaiserPermanenteCenterforHealthResearchandtheUniversityofArizona.
Astheuseofnaturalmedicinecontinuestogrow,researchonitssafetyandeffectivenessismoreimportantthanever.Withnaturalmedicine’sfocusonpreventionandtreatingtherootcauseofdisease,itoftenexcelsattreatingmanyoftoday’smostcommonanddifficultdiseases,suchastype2diabetes,heartdisease,arthritis,backpainanddepression.However,thereisalackofanextensiveevidencebasebehindmanynaturalmedicinetherapies.
Researchersfaceuniquechallengeswhendesigningrigorousscientificresearch
onnaturalmedicine.Whilemanyofthesetherapiesandmodalitiesareancient,applyingabiomedicalresearchperspectivetothefieldisarelativelynewundertaking.Thechallengeistoresearchthetherapiesofnaturalmedicineinawaythatremainstruetohowtheyareactuallypracticedwhilemaintainingscientificrigor.Naturalmedicinestudiesoftenrequireinnovativeresearchmethods.Wholesystemsapproachestodisease,combinationeffectsandtherapieswithunclearmechanismsdonoteasilyfitintothestandard,double-blind,placebo-controlledrandomizedtrial.Nevertheless,researchmustbedonetoensurethatpatientsarereceivingsafeandeffectivetreatments.
Helfgottisalsodedicatedtoprovidingstudentsandpost-doctoralfellowstheopportunitytogainclinicalresearchtraininginanaturalmedicineinstitution.ManyNCNMstudentsparticipateinfaculty-drivenresearchprojectsorconductindependentresearchmentoredbyfacultysponsors.Thegoalistodevelopthenextgenerationofnaturalmedicineresearchers,whoaretrainedasbothnaturalmedicinepractitionersandscientists.
Intheshortterm,wehopethatourresearchwillinformclinicalpractice.Inthelongterm,wehopethesestudiesplayapartintransformingourhealthcaresystemtoemphasizeprevention,promotehealthinsteadofjusttreatingsymptoms,andprovidecost-effective,safenaturalmedicinetreatmentoptions.
The challenge is to research the therapies of natural medicine in a way that remains true to how they are actually practiced while maintaining scientific rigor.
Helfgott:
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An Overview of Complementary & Alternative Medicine
Thedefinitionofcomplementary&alternativemedicine(CAM)isamovingtarget—itcanincludeanymedicalsystem,therapyorsubstancethatisnotconsideredtobepartof“conventional”medicineascurrentlypracticed.Thereisongoingdebateonhowtorefertothesepractices,andhowtocategorizethem.TheNationalCenterforComplementaryandAlternativeMedicine,adivisionoftheNationalInstitutesofHealth(NIH),fundsmajorresearchonCAMandusesthefollowingdefinitions:
Complementary MedicineComplementarymedicineisusedtogetherwithconventionalmedicine.Anexampleofacomplementarytherapyisusingaromatherapy(atherapyinwhichthescentofessentialoilsfromflowers,herbs,andtreesisinhaledtopromotehealthandwell-being)tohelplessenapatient’sdiscomfortfollowingsurgery.
Alternative MedicineAlternativemedicineisusedinplaceofconventionalmedicine.Anexampleofanalternativetherapyisusingaspecialdiettotreatcancerinsteadofundergoingsurgery,radiation,orchemotherapythathasbeenrecommendedbyaconventionaldoctor.
Integrative MedicineIntegrativemedicinecombinestreatmentsfromconventionalmedicineandCAMforwhichthereisevidenceofsafetyandeffectiveness.Itisalsocalledintegratedmedicine.AnapproachtomedicinethatcombinestreatmentsfromconventionalmedicineandCAMforwhichthereissomehigh-qualityscientificevidenceofsafetyandeffectiveness.
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Wholemedicalsystemsarecompletesystemsoftheoryandpractice.Examplesincludenaturopathic,Chinese,Ayruvedicandhomeopathicmedicine.Thesesystemsareoftenthetraditionalmedicinethatdevelopedwithinaparticularculture.Forexample,naturopathicmedicinehasitsoriginsinthemedicaltraditionsofEuropeandAyurvedicmedicineisthetraditionalsystemofmedicineinIndia.Thesesystemstypicallyhaveabasicstructureorphilosophy,andanumberofvarioustreatmentsormodalities.Treatmentsmaybeusedforpreventionofdisease,tohealillnessesdirectly,ortostimulatethebody’sownhealingprocess.Somesystemsmayseemmorefamiliar,whileothershaveunfamiliarconceptssuchastheideaofQiinChinesemedicineorthepremiseof“liketreatslike”inhomeopathy.
Whole Medical Systems
Mind-bodymedicineincludestechniquesthataredesignedtoenhancethemind’sabilitytoaffectthebodyandimprovehealth.SometechniquesthatwereconsideredCAMinthepasthavebecomemainstreamtherapies,suchassupportgroupsandcognitive-behavioraltherapy.CAMmind-bodytechniquesincludemeditation,yoga,taiji,qigongandguidedimagery.
Mind-Body Medicine
Biologically-basedpracticesincludetheuseofherbalmedicines,vitamins,dietarysupplements,foodsandspecialdiets.Herbalmedicine(alsocalledbotanicalmedicine)usesoneormoreplantsorplantpartsfortheirhealingproperties,withoutisolatingthechemicalcomponentsoftheplant.“Dietarysupplement”isacatch-allphraseforsubstancesthatarenotanherb,food,drugorvitamin—suchasprobioticsorfishoil.Astheuseofthesevarioussubstancesandpracticescontinuestogrow,sodoestheimportanceofresearchtoensuretheirsafetyandeffectiveness.
Biologically-Based Practices
Manipulativeandbody-basedpracticesareprimarilyknownfortreatingmusculoskeletalcomplaintssuchasbackpain,althoughtheycanbeusedforotherconditions.Thesetreatmentmethodsincludechiropracticmanipulation,massage,andotherphysicalmedicinetechniquesemployedinnaturopathicandosteopathicmedicine.
Manipulative and Body-Based Practices
Energymedicineinvolvestheuseofenergyfields.Thesefieldsmaybeoneoftwotypes—basedoneitherelectromagneticenergyorbiofields.Electromagnetic-basedtherapiestypicallyinvolvetheunconventionaluseofelectromagneticfieldsgeneratedbyspecializedequipment.Whilethesetherapiesmaybeunconventional,theenergyinvolvedisusuallymeasurable.Biofieldtherapiesaresaidtoaffecttheenergyfieldsaroundandwithinthehumanbody.Theexistenceofthesefieldshasnotbeenscientificallyprovenandthesefieldsareoftennotmeasurable,atleastnotwithcurrenttechnology.Theenergyfieldsusedinbiofieldtherapiesaregeneratedbyahumanbeingthroughthought,touchorothermethodsthatarenotyetunderstood.Examplesofbiofieldtherapiesincludeqigong,Reikiandtherapeutictouch.
Energy Medicine
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HelfgottResearchInstitute|8
Natural Therapies & the Immune SystemWithastate-of-the-artresearchlaboratory,Helfgottiswell-equippedtostudynaturaltherapiesandtheireffectontheimmunesystem.Todate,investigatorshavelookedattheimmunologicaleffectsofarangeofbotanicals,vitaminsandnaturopathictherapies.HighlightsofthisresearchincludestudiesonVitaminA,anAyurvedicherbcalledAshwagandha(Withania somnifera),acombinationofpurportedimmune-enhancingherbsincludingEchinacea purpurea,Astragalus membranaceus,andGlycyrrhiza glabra,andtheeffectsofhydrotherapy,theapplicationofalternatinghotandcoldtemperaturestotheskin.
Women’s HealthHelfgottinvestigatorsandstudentsarecommittedtoresearchingnaturalapproachestowomen’shealthissues.Projectsincludeaninvestigationintoanall-naturalspermicide,astudyontheherbVitex agnus castustotreatfemaleinfertility,andaprojectontheeffectsofastrontiumsupplementonbonehealth.Inaddition,Helfgottpost-doctoralfellowsCarolynIacullo,ND,andJillEdwards,ND,arelaunchingapractice-basedresearchnetworkfornaturopathicmidwives.WomenusenaturalmedicinetreatmentsmorefrequentlythanmenandHelfgottresearchersareworkingtoexpandtheevidencebaseonthesetreatmentstoensurethattheyaresafeandeffective.
Nutrition & DiabetesChronicdisease,includingdiabetesandcardiovasculardisease,isontheriseintheU.S.,buteffectivewaystoreversethistrendremainelusive.AtHelfgott,studyingnutritionalandmind-bodyapproachestochronicillnessisastrongfocusofourresearch.Helfgottstudieshavelookedatabouttheefficacyofweightlossmethodsandtheexpectancyeffectsassociatedwiththesemethods.Inaddition,Helfgottinvestigatorsstudyarangeofdietstodeterminepossibleeffectsonthecellularlevelandinclinicalapplications.Thesenutritionalstudiesincludeinvestigationsintoeffectsofdetoxificationdiets,cruciferousvegetablesupplementsandthenaturopathicanti-inflammatoryDiet’seffectsonimmuneparametersindiabeticsandpre-diabetics.
CancerCancerdevelopmentandprognosiscanbestronglyinfluencedbynutrition,lifestyleandtheenvironment.InvestigatorsatHelfgottseektodevelopinnovative,holisticandeffectivestrategiestoaddresscancerpreventionandtreatment.Inadditiontoinvestigatingimmune-enhancingbotanicalsandtherapies,Helfgottalsoresearchestheeffectsofnutritionalandmind-bodytherapiesinrelationtocancer.Studiesinthisareaincludetheeffectofcruciferousvegetablesonestrogenmetabolismandtheuseofrelaxationandvisualizationtherapyforbreastcancerpatients.
Psychophysiology LabThepsychophysiologylabatHelfgottwasestablishedtostudysubtlephysiologicchangesthatoccurinresponsetoavarietyofnaturalmedicinetreatments.Helfgottresearchersareabletomeasureheartratevariability,respirationrate,skintemperature,bloodpressure,brainwavesandothervitalfunctions.HelfgottSeniorInvestigatorAgathaColbert,MD,andherteamarelookingtoseeiftheseobjectiveoutcomemeasurescorrelatewithpeople’ssubjectivereportsofimprovementasindicatorsofresponsetomeditation,neurofeedback,acupuncture,massageandothertherapies.Currentandpastprojectsincludeevaluatingneurofeedbackforinsomnia,determiningtheeffectsofmeditationonheartratevariabilityanddevelopinganinstrumenttomeasureskinimpedanceatvariousacupunctureandnon-acupuncturepointsonthebody.
Social MedicineSeveralstudiesareunderwayatHelfgotttoexaminethecultural,societal,economicandenvironmentalfactorsthatplayaroleinhealth.HelfgottinvestigatorKimTippens,ND,MSAOM, specializesinthisarea.Sheisfocusedonresearchtounderstandbarrierstohealthcareaccessandtheestablishmentofaccessibleandeffectivepreventivecarefordiversecommunities.OneofDr.Tippens’projectslooksatcommunityacupunctureclinics—arecentinnovationdesignedtoprovidelow-cost,acupuncturetreatmentinagroupsetting.Anotherstudyaimstodeterminethebestintegrativemedicalpracticesfordiabetescarebyunderstandinghowdifferentmedicalpracticesapproachdiabetestreatment.
Areas of Research at Helfgott
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Investigators at Helfgott seek to develop innovative, holistic and effective strategies to address cancer prevention and treatment.
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The First Whole Systems Trial of Chinese and Naturopathic MedicineArecentstudybrokenewgroundasthefirststudyofwholesystemsofcomplementaryandalternativemedicinetobefundedbytheNationalInstitutesofHealth.ThestudyevaluatedtheuseofnaturopathicmedicineandTraditionalChineseMedicineforthechronicjawpainknownastemporomandibularjointdysfunction(TMD)—acommonconditionthataffectsuptoonethirdofadults.
Wholesystemsresearchisdistinctfrommostresearchinthatitexaminesanentiresystemofcare,ratherthanonespecifictreatment.NaturopathicmedicineandTraditionalChineseMedicinearebothexamplesofwholemedicalsystemsthatutilizemultiplemethodsandmodalitiesintheirapproachtotreatingpatients.Duetothevariationandcomplexityofwholesystemstreatmentapproaches,researchofthistypeisonlyjustbeginning.
Itischallengingtodesignresearchthatisbothfaithfultothepracticeofthemedicineintermsoftailoringtreatmenttotheindividual,whilestillbeingscientificallyrigorousandreproducible.Thisstudysoughttoovercomethesechallengesanddevelopmethodsforstudyingthesecomplexsystems.MultipleinstitutionswereinvolvedwiththedesignandexecutionincludingtheHelfgottResearchInstitute,OregonCollegeofOrientalMedicine,KaiserPermanenteNorthwestandtheUniversityofArizona.
Thestudyinvolved160womenwhohadbeenreferredforTMDtreatment.Participantswererandomlyassignedtoone
ofthreetreatmentgroups—TraditionalChineseMedicine,naturopathicmedicineorspecialtycare.ParticipantsintheChinesemedicinegroupreceivedacupuncture,herbs,tuina(Chinesebodywork)andlistenedtorelaxationtapes.Thenaturopathicmedicinegroupreceivednutritionalsupplements,physicalmedicine(bodywork),exerciserecommendationsandindividualizednutritionalandstressreductionrecommendations.ThespecialtycaregroupreceivedtreatmentfromtwodentistsspecializinginTMD,includingbitesplints,educationonthecauseandavailabletreatments,andindividualcounselingaboutself-careandpainmanagementstrategies.Referralsforphysicaltherapyandcounselingwerealsoavailable.
ResultsfromthestudyshowedthatbothChineseandnaturopathicmedicineprovidedparticipantssignificantlymorerelieffromtheirworstpainthanspecialtycare.Chineseandnaturopathicmedicineweresimilarintheireffectivenessforseverepain.
ThiswasthefirstpublishedstudyofindividualizednaturopathicandChinesemedicinepracticedmuchastheywouldbeintherealworld.TheresultsofthisstudysuggestthatnaturopathicandChinesemedicinemaybemoreeffectivethanspecialtydentalcareforTMD.Thisstudyalsodemonstratesthatwholesystemsresearchisfeasibleandhasgreatpotentialforunderstandingcomplementaryandalternativemedicalsystemsandidentifyingeffectivetreatments.
Recent Studies
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Examining Skin Resistance at Acupuncture Points
The Anti-Inflammatory DietSpecializeddietsanddietaryrecommendationsarecommonlyusedincomplementaryandalternativemedicalpractice.Althoughtherelationshipbetweendietandinflammationisofgreatinterest,thesciencebehinditisnotwellunderstood.Onefrequentrecommendationtopatientsistofollowananti-inflammatorydiet.Thistypicallyconsistsofeliminatingcertainfoodssuchaswheat,dairy,processedsugarandotherfoodsbelievedtoprovokeinflammation.Helfgottrecentlyconductedastudytoevaluatetheeffectsofananti-inflammatorydietindiabeticandpre-diabeticindividuals.
Thefoodsthatareexcludedoremphasizedinananti-inflammatorydietcanvary,dependingonthepractitionerandtheconditionbeingtreated.IntheHelfgottstudy,foodswereexcludedeitherbecausetheymaycauseanallergicresponseinsusceptibleindividuals,orbecausetheymightcontributetoinflammationthroughmetabolicpathways.Otherfoodswereemphasizedbecausetheyarebelievedtoreduceinflammation,suchasfoodshighinessentialfattyacidsoranti-oxidants.
Duringthesix-weekstudy,participantswereprovidedwithalltheirfoodandallowedtoconsumeonlyitemsprovidedbythestudy.Enrollingparticipantswaschallenging,astheschedulerequiredasignificanttimecommitmentandindividualshadtobewillingtoadheretothestudydietforthefullsixweeks.Itwasalsochallengingtoidentifyparticipantswhohadbloodsugarhighenoughtobe
enrolledinthestudy,yetwerenottakingmedication.Individualstakingmostmedicationswerenoteligibleforthestudybecausetheirmedicationsmightmasksomeofthelabresults.
Thirtyparticipantswereenrolledinthestudyand26completedthefullsixweeks—acompletionrateof87percent.Theintentionofthissmallpreliminarystudywasnottoachievestatisticallysignificantresults,butrathertoshowthatconductingthistypeofdietaryresearchispossible.Recruitingparticipantsforthestudywaschallenging,butthoseenrolledwereabletosticktothedietandenjoyedthefood.Theresultsshowthatthistypeofstudyisfeasibleandthatwithenoughsupport,individualscanadheretotherapeuticdiets.Clinicalandbiologicaloutcomesfromthestudywillbereportedinanupcomingjournalarticle.
Howdoesacupuncturework?Thebasicnatureofacupuncturemeridiansandpointsremainsamysterydespitenumerousstudiesandthepopularityofacupunctureasatreatmentmethod.Themeridiansandpointshavenotbeenassociatedwithanyknownanatomicorphysiologicsystems,butmanybelievethattheyareelectricallydifferentfromthesurroundingareas.Studiesonthisarelimitedinnumberandhaveconflictingresults.TheHelfgottResearchInstitute,incollaborationwithMiridiaTechnologyInc.,recentlydevelopedaprototypesystemtoinvestigatetheelectricnatureofthepoints.
Ithasbeentheorizedthatacupuncturepointshavelowerelectricalskinresistancethannon-acupuncturepoints.Electricalskinresistancereferstohoweasilyelectricityflowsthroughtheskinandunderlyingtissue.Someacupuncturists
usescreeningtoolsbasedonthisconceptforpointlocationanddiagnosis.Manybelievethattheskinresistanceatacupuncturepointswillvarydependingonthepatient’shealthandthatacupuncturetreatmentswillnormalizeresistanceatthepoints.
ThesystemdevelopedbyHelfgottanditscollaboratorsisanautomated,eight-channelsystemnicknamedtheOctopus.Mostdevicesbuilttomeasureskinresistancetakejustonemeasurement,buttheOctopustakescontinuousmeasurementsovertime.
UsingtheOctopus,researchersatHelfgotthopetolearnmoreaboutthenatureofacupuncturepoints,theirelectricalpropertiesandhowtheydifferfromsurroundingnon-acupuncturepoints.
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HelfgottResearchInstitute|12
Student ResearchSomestudentsatNCNMseekacareerinalternativemedicineresearch,whereasotherswilldoresearchintheirclinicalpractice.Totrainthesestudentsandprovideresearchexperienceforthosewhodesireit,theHelfgottResearchInstituteatNCNMhasdevelopedarobuststudentresearchprogram.
Studentshaveseveraloptionsforparticipatinginresearch.Somestudentsdoresearchasawork-studypositionandotherstakeresearchforelectivecredit.ChoiceofstudydesignandcontentistailoredspecificallytothestudentandisincontextwithHelfgott’soverallmissiontounderstandtheartandsciencebehindnaturalmedicine.AfterparticipatingintheresearchfieldunderthecarefuldirectionofHelfgottinvestigatorsandstaff,studentsbecomebetterphysicians,capableofunderstandingnaturalmedicineinamodern-daysetting.
IndependentStudyIntheindependentstudyprogram,studentsworkindependently—designingandconductingtheirownproject
orworkinagrouponaneworalreadyestablishedstudy.Theyearnuptotwocreditspertermwhileworkingontheirownresearchprojects.ThisisagreatopportunityforstudentsinterestedindevelopingaresearchcareerorapplyingtoaMasterofPublicHealth(MPH)program.
Studentsintheindependentstudyprogramtypicallyspendtwotofivehoursperweekdoingresearchduringtheirfirsttwoyears,andfivetotenhoursperweektheirsecondtwoyears.Thisflexibleschedulefitseasilyintothestudent’seducationplan.Studentswhochoosetoworkinagroupsettingusuallyworkinteamsofsixorseven.
Work-StudyPositionsWork-studypositionsprovideaflexibleoptionforstudentswhowanttogainresearchexperience,orjustlearnmoreabouttheprocessofresearch.Work-studystudentsassistwiththeday-to-dayoperationsofongoing,fundedstudies.Work-studyspacesarelimitedanddependentuponeligibilityforfederalfunding.
Immune HerbsNeurofeedback for stress
Ashwagandha
Personality & Health
Hydrotherapy Blood-Type Diet
Fertility
CoQ10 for Statin-Induced Myopathy
Natural Spermicide
Detoxification Diets
Relaxation-Visualization Therapy for Fatigue & Skin Toxicity
Botanicals for H. Pylori
Meditation & Heart Rate Variability
Guava
Probiotics
Psoriasis
Group Acupuncture
Magnesium
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SPARCSymposiumforPortlandAreaResearchonComplementaryandAlternativeMedicine
SPARCisPortland’sownsymposiumforcomplementaryandalternativemedicine(CAM)research—auniqueenvironmentwhereresearchers,cliniciansandstudentsfromvariousbackgroundsanddisciplinesgathertolearnaboutthelatestresearchtakingplaceinourcommunity.Portlandhasauniqueresearchclimatebecauseitishometoavarietyofmedicalschoolsincludingnaturopathic,Chinese,chiropracticandconventionalmedicine.Thisdiversityinapproachestomedicine,alongwithastrongcoreofdevotedresearchers,makePortlandtheidealplacetopursueandpresentCAMresearch.
Studyingcomplementaryandalternativemedicinepresentsnumerouschallenges—especiallywhenitcomestoresearchmethodology.Therandomized,double-blind,placebo-controlledtrialworksfortestingpharmaceuticals,butoftendoesnotworkfortestingCAMmodalities.Forexample,someonecannotbeblindedtoreceivingamassage;findinganappropriateplacebo(sham)foracupunctureiscomplicated.SPARCprovidesaforumforresearcherstoshareandaddressthemethodologicalissuestheyencounterwiththeircolleagues.Together,researchers,interestedcliniciansandstudentsfromacrossdisciplinesoffersupportandadvicefromtheirexperiencesandworktogethertomoveCAMresearchforward.
Researchabstractsfromlocalinvestigatorsandstudentsarepeer-reviewedandacceptedforposterororalpresentation.Acceptedpostersarepartofatravelingpostersessionandaredisplayedateachparticipatinginstitutionsinthedaysleadinguptothesymposium.Thisallowsawideaudienceoffaculty,studentsandstafftolearnaboutlocalCAMresearchstudies,andpresentsanopportunityforeachinstitutiontohosttheirownresearchfestivities.
SPARCculminatesinasymposiumwhererigorous,high-quality,scientificresearchispresentedonCAMmodalities.Topicshaveincludedacupuncture,herbalmedicine,chiropractic,Ayurveda,Reiki,shamanismandclinicalinformatics.ThestudiespresentedreflectthediversityoftheresearchbeingconductedinPortland.
Visitwww.ncnm.edu/researchforconferenceupdates.
KeynotespeakersatSPARCarerenownedresearchersfromaroundtheworld.Pastkeynotespeakersinclude:
• Iris Bell, PhD, MDDirector of Research at the University of Arizona Program in Integrative Medicine
• Josephine Briggs, MDDirector of the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine at the National Institutes of Health
• Daniel Cherkin, PhD & Karen Sherman, PhD, MPHSenior Investigators at the Group Health Research Institute
• Vinjar Fønnebø MD, PhDDirector of the National Research Center in Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NAFKAM) and professor of preventive medicine at the University of Tromsø, Norway
• Leanna Standish, ND, PhDResearch professor, Bastyr University, clinical professor at the University of Washington School of Public Health and Affiliate Research Professor at the University of Washington School of Medicine
Participating institutions:• KaiserPermanenteCenterforHealthResearch
• NationalCollegeofNaturalMedicine
• OregonCollegeofOrientalMedicine
• OregonHealth&ScienceUniversity
• PortlandStateUniversity
• UniversityofPortland
• WesternStatesChiropracticCollege
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Global Medicine & International Collaborations
Helfgott’smissiontoadvancethescienceofnaturalmedicinedoesn’tstopatcountryborders.Helfgottteammembersarecollaboratingwithanumberoforganizationsinallcornersoftheworldinordertodeterminetheefficacyandsafetyofvarioustraditionalmedicinesandbuildresearchcapabilitiesinunderservedareas.
HelfgottispartneringwithNaturalDoctorsInternational(NDI),anorganizationdedicatedtotreatingunderservedpopulationsthroughnaturalmedicine.NDIhascreatedanintegrativeclinicontheislandofOmetepe,Nicaraguathatservesresidents24hoursaday.Inaddition,NDIprovidesopportunitiesforinternationalmedicalrotationsfornaturopathicdoctorsandmedicalstudents,aswellasothercomplementaryandalternativemedicalhealthprofessionals.
Currently,HelfgottinvestigatorsandstudentsareassistingNDIindevelopingapilotstudyoftheuseofguavainthetreatmentofinfectiousdiarrhealdisease.HelfgottwillcontinuetoworkwithNDItoconductobservationalandoutcomesresearchthatcaninformNDI’sclinicalpractice,aswellasitscommunityoutreachactivities.
Inaddition,HelfgotthasdevelopedapartnershipinTanzaniawiththeTangaAIDSWorkingGroup,andtheInstituteforTraditionalMedicineatMuhimbiliUniversity.Helfgotthopestodevelopanumberofprogramswiththeseinstitutionsinthenextfewyears,includingastudentexchangetolearnabouttraditionalhealingmethodsandanefforttohelpfurtherdeveloplaboratorycapabilitiesattheorganizations.
Inthefuture,Helfgottwillestablishafull-fledgedCenterforGlobalHealththatwillserveasahubofknowledgefornaturalmedicineapplicationstoacuteandchronicdiseaseinunderservedpopulationsbothdomesticallyandinternationally.
“When it comes to global health, there is no ‘them’... only ‘us’.”
–Global Health Council
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HelfgottResearchInstitute|18
Your donation to the Helfgott Research Institute helps to fund innovative clinical research that can advance health care in the U.S. and throughout the world.
Join us and help to advance the science of natural medicine.
Learn more at www.ncnm.edu/research
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Science is away of thinking much more than it isa
body of knowledge –CarlSagan
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NCNM,incompliancewithstateandfederallawsandregulations,doesnotdiscriminateonthebasisofrace,color,nationalorigin,religion,sex,sexualorientation,maritalstatus,age,disability,orveteran’sstatusinanyofitspolicies,procedures,orpractices.Thisnondiscriminationpolicycoversadmissionandaccessto,andtreatmentandemploymentin,collegeprogramsandactivities,includingbutnotlimitedtoacademicadmissions,financialaid,educationalservices,andemployment.