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Current ResearchOutcomes Measures Research The majority of research conducted at the Alternative Medicine Clinic is outcomes measures research. Alternative Medicine Clinic patients complete forms when they come to the clinic, and at other intervals. These forms allow the practitioners to determine how their patients are doing over a number of months. This research provides feedback on alternative medicine treatment. An example of outcomes measures research is a study published in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. MMRF Investigators found that nearly half of the patients visiting the Alternative Medicine Clinic sought relief for musculoskeletal (MS) complaints. The findings of their study suggest that acupuncture treatment provides significant improvement of symptoms within a short time period. Although discerning the long-term treatment effects was not the intent of this study, these findings contribute toward a consensus opinion that Complementary and Alternative Medicine therapies can help alleviate the pain and discomfort of MS disorders. Herbal Compound for Treatment of Hepatitis C MMRF researchers at the Alternative Medicine Clinic, in collaboration with the Center for Addiction and Alternative Medicine Research, is conducting the first systematic study in the United States to determine whether an herbal compound will have any effect on patients infected with the hepatitis C virus (HCV) which has infected an estimated 3.9 million Americans. 3AR: Botanical Compound for Treatment of Hepatitis C Symptoms. Hepatitis C (HCV) has emerged as a major public health issue in the United States, with recent studies suggesting that HCV will be the major cause of cirrhosis and liver cancer in the next century. Although its incidence is not limited to persons with a history of intravenous drug use, they comprise the largest known risk group. Between 90 and 100 percent of long term IV drug users will eventually test positive for the virus, and even short term experimentation with IV drug use presents a substantial risk of infection. Currently approved therapy for HCV includes recombinant interferons and ribavirin, but some patients can experience unpleasant side effects, not all patients are good candidates for the treatments, and only a minority of patients receiving them experience sustained remission of the disease. Led by Jeffrey Albrecht, M.D., CAAMR researchers are conducting a randomized, placebo-controlled preliminary human trial of a botanical compound called 3AR for the treatment of HCV symptoms. Researchers will monitor participants' quality of life, HCV symptomology, and their blood chemistry for changes in liver function and viral load. Classified as an Investigational New Drug by the Food and Drug Administration, 3AR is formulated with bupleurum and 9 other traditional Chinese medicinal herb extracts chosen for their widespread use in treatment of hepatitis and liver disorders and their reported mutual amplification, immune system fortification, lack of toxicity, and circulation-improving properties. In Asia, herbal remedies have been the mainstay of treatment for liver-related illnesses for centuries, with formulations appearing as far back as 205 AD. The experience of Uli Beyendorff, Dipl. Ac., C.H., at the Hennepin Faculty Associates Alternative Medicine Clinic suggests 3AR may relieve HCV symptoms and bring about some improvements in laboratory measures of liver function. No serious side effects for any of the herbs in 3AR have been noted based on research or clinical observations.
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