Conferences

From Experience to Evidence: February 2, 2007: An IN-CAM Mini Symposium at McGill University 

by Pamela Hodgson, MSc, RMT

When Marc Ware volunteered to organize a mini symposium on CAM research for the Montreal area, he thought it would be easy. He would put out a call and a small group of people would show up to sit informally around a table and discuss their research projects in CAM. Instead he was bowled over by enthusiastic response from far and wide. His research assistant had to book a hall to accommodate over 60 registrations. In one very packed day, 20 oral presentations were given and 22 poster presentations were on display. Response was so positive that Heather Boon and Marja Verhoef, the two IN-CAM co-directors have decided to run another mini-symposium next year in addition to the regular IN-CAM meeting in November.

Keynote address

Dr. Charles Ramassamy gave the plenary session on the topic of Natural health products and neuroprotection: Is there any evidence?  He stressed the importance of standardizing natural health products to avoid variability in batches and across different providers. Using a wealth of research of gingkho biloba EGb761, standardized in Europe for over 30 years for use in vascular deficits, Dr. Ramassamy discussed how and why flavonoids could be neuroprotective (prevent cell death, prevent protofibril formation by oxidative stress) and the difficulty of regulating dosage in humans (flavonoid uptake varies between genotype)s. He is particularly interested in the use of EGb761 for patients in early stage Alzheimer’s Disease.

Jayadev Raju of the Division of Nutrition Research, Food Directorate, Health Canada followed next with research into the role of phytochemicals, specifically diosgenin, and its capacity to influence the process of colon carcinogenesis. Diosgenin is found in wild yam and fenugreek. Dr. Raju subscribes to the notion, we are what we eat, as he sees how what we eat can affect us genetically.

Clinical Studies in Massage Therapy

This was the really interesting part of the day for massage therapists. Three of the four clinical studies investigated massage therapy. RMT and researcher Trish Dryden led off with a cautionary tale about undertaking research in a hospital setting and the unexpected difficulties that can occur. As a result of a flood and a change in the hospital protocol, the planned massage therapy investigation changed from a randomized study to a qualitative case series following four high-risk pregnant women who received two massages a week until delivery. The women reported that reduction in stress, anxiety and improvement in sleep and the experience of connection, control and comfort that massage offered in a time of high anxiety and uncertainty were most valued. Massage protocols and outcomes should be tested in RCTs, possibly using some other intervention as a control to avoid creating more anxiety in women who are randomized to a non-massage group.

 Andréa Laisner  reported on a study designed to evaluate the current program of massage therapy support offered to Quebec families of a child diagnosed with cancer. Provided through Leucan, a non-profit association, the massage sessions take place in hospital and at home throughout the child’s illness, and after the death of a child. To evaluate this program with bereaved families, Leucan pilot tested a self-report questionnaire for use over the telephone with 10 bereaved families. Leucan hopes to recruit 50 families to respond to the questionnaire, and to conduct focus groups with massage therapists, and co-ordinators of the program around Quebec. A related poster presenting the results of earlier focus groups held with recipients of massage therapy found that massage provided relief from symptoms and/or isolation created by the cancer experience for both parents and children.

Réal Gaboriault of Kine-Concept    in Montreal reported on a randomized study of 15-minute chair massage provided to patients with cancer awaiting radiation therapy in hospital over 10 consecutive days.  Fifty-two patients received massage; 48 received no other intervention. The State Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) and Visual Analog Scale (VAS) were used to evaluate anxiety levels at the first fifth and last sessions. In the massage group, patients’ anxiety scores were reduced by 43% following massage compared to pre-massage scores.  Patients in both groups experienced a 20% decrease in anxiety scores over time, from first to last session. There was no difference in STAI scores between groups at the first and last session.

Other interesting reports

Among the other reports, the most fascinating to me were: therapeutic clowning use in pediatric hospitals, a music therapy support program for adult patients with cancer, investigation of the role of diet in attenuating pain, and a case series presentation on acupuncture arguing that we should investigate how an ‘alternative’ system works according to its own conceptual framework.

Daniel Hollenberg’s pertinent analysis of models of CAM use in integrative health care settings was one of the day’s highlights. Hollenberg questions whether the models of CAM integration reflect actual experience in health care settings and what can be done to promote equitable integration. He identified some of the tensions: marginalization of CAM practitioners, appropriation of CAM practice by biomedical professionals, and inability of patients to afford private CAM treatments. This is a valuable critical and theory based appraisal of the growing popularity and use of CAM among biomedical practitioners. Keep an eye open for publication of Hollenberg’s research.

Altogether it was a rich and full day with presentations in French and English from basic science to spiritual approaches, from clinical trials to education and policy. The posters reflected a similar wide range of interest. Marc Ware concluded the day by presenting some of the work being done to assemble the IN-CAM Outcomes Database. This will be available to IN-CAM members. Become a member of INCAM if you aren’t already (it’s free) and plan to attend the next meeting in Vancouver in November 2007.

Biography

Pamela Hodgson holds a Master of Science (Med) degree from Memorial University of Newfoundland and is a registered massage therapist. She is certified through the Dr. Vodder School in complex decongestive therapy, the manual treatment of lymphedema. Her practice and research interests have focussed on lymphedema treatment and education, supportive cancer care, and on the use of massage therapy in the treatment of pain, anxiety, headaches and other conditions.