Jane Murray, M.D., a specialist in women's healthcare and founder and medical director of the Saston Center of Integrative Health Care in Mission, Kansas, refuted the findings of a recent study which linked natural progesterone cream with diseases thought to be caused by synthetic hormone replacement therapy (HRT). Bassett Healthcare and Sr. Anne Hermann released study findings at the annual meeting of the American Society for Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics in Miami Beach.

Murray feels the study will cause unnecessary alarm among women, adding, "Natural progesterone cream has never been tested in major studies of synthetic HRT, like the highly respected Women's Health Initiative study (performed by the National Institute of Health). Dr. Herman's news release tries to connect natural progesterone cream with the findings in those major studies, which is completely wrong."

Health Business News - April 2004, page 14

Natural Oils May Help Staph Infections

Dallas - in a poster presentation at the annual meeting for the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (www.aaos.org) held Feb. 13 to 17, researchers reported that eucalyptus and tea tree oils may be more effective for clearing up staph infections than antibiotics. The infection investigated in the study"methicillin-resistant staphylococcal"is caused by parasitic bacterium, which causes boils and other infections and makes more than 90 percent of hospital-acquired infections.

The researchers, led by Eugene Sherry, M.D., from the University of Sydney in Australia, reported applying eucalyptus and tea tree oils topically to 25 patients as a wound sealant. In 22 cases, the infection cleared up; 19 were with the use of the oils and no antibiotics and 3 resolved with using both oils and antibiotics. In an interview with Reuters, Sherry reported that 10 of the patients who used the treatment were diabetic with wounds that are very difficult to heal. "These antibacterial agents are effective against (staph infections)," the study"s authors concluded. "These oils are relatively nontoxic (and) can be applied topically, ingested or inhaled."

Natural Products Industry Insider - March 11, 2002

Battling Bacteria

Study: tea tree oil deadly of staph
By Karen Horgan Sullivan
Universal Press

One of the most alarming problems in hospitals these days is the rise in antibiotic-resistant bacteria, including Staphylococcus aureus, a skin bacteria that can spread easily and sometimes causes deadly infections in patients.

The solution may very well be tea tree oil, according to a recent review in the Journal of Hospital Infections. The article"s authors found that a solution of 0.5 percent tea tree oil killed 60 different strains of the staph bacteria and suggest that the oil be used in antibacterial soaps.

ALTERNATIVES THERAPIES - Monday, March 15, 1999 - San Antonio News

The information in Alternative Therapies is general commentary and not medical advice. If you have concerns or questions about a medical condition, consult a health-care professional.