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March 1997, Vol 133, No. 3 >
Article | March 1997

Alternative Therapies for Cutaneous Disorders

David Eisenberg, MD
[+] Author Affiliations

Center for Alternative Medicine Research Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center 330 Brookline Ave Boston, MA 02215


Arch Dermatol. 1997;133(3):379-380. doi:10.1001/archderm.1997.03890390119017
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References
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THE ARTICLE by Sollner et al1 explores the prevalence and patterns of alternative (also known as "complementary" and "unorthodox") medical therapy use by patients suffering from malignant melanoma. To no one's surprise, interest in alternative therapies runs high in this population (54%) and the use of alternative treatment is documented in 1 of every 7 cases. These findings are consistent with several larger studies that suggest a prevalence of alternative therapy use among all patients with cancer of 11% to 25%.2-4

Sollner et al contend that patients interested in alternative medical therapies were sufficiently informed about their disease and that "their compliance with the dermatologists' recommendations and prescriptions was as high as that of patients with melanoma who expressed no interest in alternative therapy.... "1 This is consistent with the observation from a US national survey that 96% of the persons who sought the services of alternative medical

REFERENCES

1 +
Söllner W, Zingg-Schir M, Rumpold G, Fritsch P.  Attitude toward alternative therapy, compliance with standard treatment, and need for emotional support in patients with melanoma . Arch Dermatol. 1997;;133:316-321.
2 +
Eisenberg DM, Kessler RC, Foster C, Norlock FE, Calkins DR, Delbanco TL.  Unconventional medicine in the United States: prevalence, costs, and patterns of use . N Engl J Med. 1993;;328:246-252.
3 +
Lerner IJ, Kennedy BJ.  The prevalence of questionable methods of cancer treatment in the United States . CA Cancer J Clin. 1992;;42:181-191.
4 +
Downer SM, Cody MM, McCluskey P, et al.  Pursuit and practice of complementary therapies by cancer patients receiving conventional treatment . BMJ. 1994;;309:86-89.
5 +
Fawzy FI, Fawzy NW, Hyun CS, et al.  Malignant melanoma: effects of an early structured psychiatric intervention, coping, and affective state on recurrence and survival 6 years later . Arch Gen Psychiatry. 1993;;50:681-689.
6 +
Spiegel D, Bloom JR, Kraemer HC, Gottheil E.  Effect of psychosocial treatment on survival of patients with metastatic breast cancer . Lancet . 1989;;2:888-891.
7 +
Ewin DM.  Hypnotherapy for warts (verruca vulgaris): 41 consecutive cases with 33 cures . Am J Clin Hypn. 1992;;35:1-10.
8 +
Sinclair-Gieben AHC.  Evaluation of treatment of warts by hypnosis . Lancet . 1959;;11:480-483.
9 +
Spanos NP, Stenstrom RJ, Johnston JC.  Hypnosis, placebo, and suggestion in the treatment of warts . Psychosom Med. 1988;;50:245-260.
10 +
Spanos NP, Williams V, Gwynn MI.  Effects of hypnotic, placebo, and salicylic acid treatments on wart regression . Psychosom Med. 1990;;52:109-114.
11 +
Gaston L, Crombez JC, Lassonde M, Bernier-Buzzanga J, Hodgins S.  Psychological stress and psoriasis: experimental and prospective correlational studies . Acta Derm Venereol Suppl (Stockh) . 1991;;156:37-43.
12 +
Gaston L, Lassonde M, Bernier-Buzzanga J, Hodgins S, Crombez JC.  Psoriasis and stress: a prospective study . J Am Acad Dermatol. 1987;;17:82-86.
13 +
Frankel FH, Misch RC.  Hypnosis in a case of long-standing psoriasis in a person with character problems . Int J Clin Exp Hypn. 1973;;21:121-130.
14 +
Goodman M.  An hypothesis explaining the successful treatment of psoriasis with thermal biofeedback: a case report . Biofeedback Self Regul. 1994;;19:347-352.
15 +
Winchell SA, Watts RA.  Relaxation therapies in the treatment of psoriasis and possible pathophysiologic mechanisms . J Am Acad Dermatol. 1988;;18:101-104.
16 +
Bernhard JD, Kristeller J, Kabat-Zinn J.  Effectiveness of relaxation and visualization techniques as an adjunct to phototherapy and photochemotherapy of psoriasis . J Am Acad Dermatol. 1988;;19:572-574.
17 +
Gaston L, Gombez JC, Dupuis G.  An imagery and meditation technique in the treatment of psoriasis: a case study using an A-B-A design . J Ment Imagery . 1989;;13:31-38.
18 +
Gaston L, Gombez JC, Joly J, Hodgins S, Dumont M.  Efficacy of imagery and meditation techniques in treating psoriasis . Imagination Cogn Pers. 1988;;81: 25-28.
19 +
Price ML, Mottahedin I, Mayo PR.  Can psychotherapy help patients with psoriasis? Clin Exp Dermatol. 1991;;16:114-117.
20 +
Boncz I, Beata F, Hunyadi J.  Experiences with group hypnotherapy of psoriatic patients . Aust J Clin Hypnother Hypn. 1990;;11:15-18.
21 +
Sheehan MP, Rustin MH, Atherton DJ, et al.  Efficacy of traditional Chinese herbal therapy in adult atopic dermatitis . Lancet . 1992;;340:13-17.
22 +
Sheehan MP, Atherton DJ.  A controlled trial of traditional Chinese medicinal plants in widespread non-exudative atopic eczema . Br J Dermatol. 1992;;126: 179-184.
23 +
Xue T.  Trusting in traditional cures . Nature. 1996;;379:110.
24 +
Liu HN, Jaw SK, Wong CK.  Chinese herbs and atopic dermatitis . Lancet. 1993;; 342:1175-1176.
25 +
Saw HM.  Safety of complementary medicines should be monitored . BMJ. 1996;; 312:122.
26 +
Strack M.  Problems with herbal treatments . N Z Med J. 1994;;107:515.
27 +
Perharic L, Shaw D, Leon C, De Smet PA, Murray VS.  Possible association of liver damage with the use of Chinese herbal medicine for skin disease . Vet Hum Toxicol. 1995;;37:562-566.
28 +
Garty BZ.  Garlic burns . Pediatrics. 1993;;91:658-659.
29 +
Lee TY, Lam TH.  Allergic contact dermatitis to yunnan paiyao . Contact Dermatitis. 1987;;17:59-60.
30 +
Catlin DH, Sekera M, Adelman DC.  Erythroderma associated with ingestion of an herbal product . West J Med. 1993;;159:491-493.
31 +
Barbaud A, Mougeolle JM, Tang JQ, Protois JC.  Contact allergy to colophony in Chinese musk and tiger-bone plaster . Contact Dermatitis . 1991;;25:324-326.
32 +
Lee TY, Lam TH.  Bone-setter's herbs dermatitis in Hong Kong . Contact Dermatitis . 1991;;24:304-306.
33 +
Lee TY, Lam TH.  Irritant contact dermatitis due to a Chinese herbal medicine lu-shen-wan . Contact Dermatitis . 1988;;18:213-218.
34 +
Rackett SC, Rothe MJ, Grant-Kels JM.  Diet and dermatology: the role of dietary manipulation in the prevention and treatment of cutaneous disorders . J Am Acad Dermatol. 1993;;29:447-461.

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Country-Specific Mortality and Growth Failure in Infancy and Yound Children and Association With Material Stature

Use interactive graphics and maps to view and sort country-specific infant and early dhildhood mortality and growth failure data and their association with maternal

1 +
Söllner W, Zingg-Schir M, Rumpold G, Fritsch P.  Attitude toward alternative therapy, compliance with standard treatment, and need for emotional support in patients with melanoma . Arch Dermatol. 1997;;133:316-321.
2 +
Eisenberg DM, Kessler RC, Foster C, Norlock FE, Calkins DR, Delbanco TL.  Unconventional medicine in the United States: prevalence, costs, and patterns of use . N Engl J Med. 1993;;328:246-252.
3 +
Lerner IJ, Kennedy BJ.  The prevalence of questionable methods of cancer treatment in the United States . CA Cancer J Clin. 1992;;42:181-191.
4 +
Downer SM, Cody MM, McCluskey P, et al.  Pursuit and practice of complementary therapies by cancer patients receiving conventional treatment . BMJ. 1994;;309:86-89.
5 +
Fawzy FI, Fawzy NW, Hyun CS, et al.  Malignant melanoma: effects of an early structured psychiatric intervention, coping, and affective state on recurrence and survival 6 years later . Arch Gen Psychiatry. 1993;;50:681-689.
6 +
Spiegel D, Bloom JR, Kraemer HC, Gottheil E.  Effect of psychosocial treatment on survival of patients with metastatic breast cancer . Lancet . 1989;;2:888-891.
7 +
Ewin DM.  Hypnotherapy for warts (verruca vulgaris): 41 consecutive cases with 33 cures . Am J Clin Hypn. 1992;;35:1-10.
8 +
Sinclair-Gieben AHC.  Evaluation of treatment of warts by hypnosis . Lancet . 1959;;11:480-483.
9 +
Spanos NP, Stenstrom RJ, Johnston JC.  Hypnosis, placebo, and suggestion in the treatment of warts . Psychosom Med. 1988;;50:245-260.
10 +
Spanos NP, Williams V, Gwynn MI.  Effects of hypnotic, placebo, and salicylic acid treatments on wart regression . Psychosom Med. 1990;;52:109-114.
11 +
Gaston L, Crombez JC, Lassonde M, Bernier-Buzzanga J, Hodgins S.  Psychological stress and psoriasis: experimental and prospective correlational studies . Acta Derm Venereol Suppl (Stockh) . 1991;;156:37-43.
12 +
Gaston L, Lassonde M, Bernier-Buzzanga J, Hodgins S, Crombez JC.  Psoriasis and stress: a prospective study . J Am Acad Dermatol. 1987;;17:82-86.
13 +
Frankel FH, Misch RC.  Hypnosis in a case of long-standing psoriasis in a person with character problems . Int J Clin Exp Hypn. 1973;;21:121-130.
14 +
Goodman M.  An hypothesis explaining the successful treatment of psoriasis with thermal biofeedback: a case report . Biofeedback Self Regul. 1994;;19:347-352.
15 +
Winchell SA, Watts RA.  Relaxation therapies in the treatment of psoriasis and possible pathophysiologic mechanisms . J Am Acad Dermatol. 1988;;18:101-104.
16 +
Bernhard JD, Kristeller J, Kabat-Zinn J.  Effectiveness of relaxation and visualization techniques as an adjunct to phototherapy and photochemotherapy of psoriasis . J Am Acad Dermatol. 1988;;19:572-574.
17 +
Gaston L, Gombez JC, Dupuis G.  An imagery and meditation technique in the treatment of psoriasis: a case study using an A-B-A design . J Ment Imagery . 1989;;13:31-38.
18 +
Gaston L, Gombez JC, Joly J, Hodgins S, Dumont M.  Efficacy of imagery and meditation techniques in treating psoriasis . Imagination Cogn Pers. 1988;;81: 25-28.
19 +
Price ML, Mottahedin I, Mayo PR.  Can psychotherapy help patients with psoriasis? Clin Exp Dermatol. 1991;;16:114-117.
20 +
Boncz I, Beata F, Hunyadi J.  Experiences with group hypnotherapy of psoriatic patients . Aust J Clin Hypnother Hypn. 1990;;11:15-18.
21 +
Sheehan MP, Rustin MH, Atherton DJ, et al.  Efficacy of traditional Chinese herbal therapy in adult atopic dermatitis . Lancet . 1992;;340:13-17.
22 +
Sheehan MP, Atherton DJ.  A controlled trial of traditional Chinese medicinal plants in widespread non-exudative atopic eczema . Br J Dermatol. 1992;;126: 179-184.
23 +
Xue T.  Trusting in traditional cures . Nature. 1996;;379:110.
24 +
Liu HN, Jaw SK, Wong CK.  Chinese herbs and atopic dermatitis . Lancet. 1993;; 342:1175-1176.
25 +
Saw HM.  Safety of complementary medicines should be monitored . BMJ. 1996;; 312:122.
26 +
Strack M.  Problems with herbal treatments . N Z Med J. 1994;;107:515.
27 +
Perharic L, Shaw D, Leon C, De Smet PA, Murray VS.  Possible association of liver damage with the use of Chinese herbal medicine for skin disease . Vet Hum Toxicol. 1995;;37:562-566.
28 +
Garty BZ.  Garlic burns . Pediatrics. 1993;;91:658-659.
29 +
Lee TY, Lam TH.  Allergic contact dermatitis to yunnan paiyao . Contact Dermatitis. 1987;;17:59-60.
30 +
Catlin DH, Sekera M, Adelman DC.  Erythroderma associated with ingestion of an herbal product . West J Med. 1993;;159:491-493.
31 +
Barbaud A, Mougeolle JM, Tang JQ, Protois JC.  Contact allergy to colophony in Chinese musk and tiger-bone plaster . Contact Dermatitis . 1991;;25:324-326.
32 +
Lee TY, Lam TH.  Bone-setter's herbs dermatitis in Hong Kong . Contact Dermatitis . 1991;;24:304-306.
33 +
Lee TY, Lam TH.  Irritant contact dermatitis due to a Chinese herbal medicine lu-shen-wan . Contact Dermatitis . 1988;;18:213-218.
34 +
Rackett SC, Rothe MJ, Grant-Kels JM.  Diet and dermatology: the role of dietary manipulation in the prevention and treatment of cutaneous disorders . J Am Acad Dermatol. 1993;;29:447-461.

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