Acupuncture is a form of complementary alternative medicine (CAM) in which a practitioner (acupuncturist) stimulates the skin of his/her client transcutaneously [with needles] or transdermally [with electrical pulses or lasers]. According to proponents of traditional Chinese medicine, the precise stimulation of sites across the skin (referred to as “acupuncture points”) modulates the flow of energy …
Data from the CDC (Centers for Disease Control) indicates that approximately 78.6 million adults (34.9%) are clinically obese. Healthcare costs of obesity-related medical conditions such as: cardiovascular disease, cancers, diabetes, and stroke (to name a few) – are thought to exceed $190 billion per year, accounting for over one-fifth of all annual medical expenses in …
According to National Health and Nutrition Examination surveys, over 2 out of 3 adults in the United States are overweight and/or obese. Excessive body weight and/or fat is understood to increase risk for numerous morbidities including: cancer, diabetes, heart disease, hypertension, sleep apnea, and stroke – and that’s just naming a few. Perhaps troubling is …
Naltrexone is a chemical initially synthesized in 1963 and patented thereafter by the pharmaceutical company Endo Laboratories in 1967. It is considered a substituted derivative of oxymorphone in that the tertiary amine methyl-constituent is replaced with an allyl group (specifically an N-cyclopropylmethyl group) – or a longer chain of carbon atoms. It was initially approved …
Naltrexone is a pure opioid receptor antagonist utilized principally for the treatment of alcohol and opioid dependence. As an opioid receptor antagonist, naltrexone competitively binds to mu-opioid receptor (MOR) and kappa-opioid receptor (KOR) sites with higher affinity than opioid agonists, thereby attenuating receptor activation. Should an individual administer an opioid agonist (e.g. morphine) while taking …
Migraines are characterized as intermittently-occurring, painful, throbbing headaches resulting from transient vasodilation of intracranial blood vessels. Estimates suggest that for every 1 million persons in the general population, a total of 3000 migraine attacks will be experienced on a daily basis. Although migraine is among the most common neurological disorders in both men and women, …
Zomig (Zolmitriptan) is a medication marketed by AstraZeneca and is FDA-approved as an abortive therapy for migraines and cluster headaches. Chemically, it’s classified as a triptan implying that it’s a tryptamine-derivative, and is manufactured in multiple formats including: tablet and nasal spray. Similar to other triptans, Zomig is considered efficacious when administered during a migraine …