Cannabis, black cohosh, and indirubin If you have trouble viewing this email, view it online. connect with us     An annual flowering herb indigenous to East Asia, Cannabis sativa is now grown around the world. Preparations derived from its flowers, leaves, and hashish made from its resinous extract are consumed orally, by smoking, or by vaporizing. Cannabis tinctures, teas, ointments, and oil‑based extracts that can be mixed into food products are also popular. Cannabinoids have been identified as the active constituents in cannabis: Delta‑9‑tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) being the chief psychoactive component, and cannabidiol (CBD), the non‑psychoactive compound that may modulate the effects of THC. Clinical data indicate that cannabis helps relieve pain due to neuropathy, fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, mixed chronic pain and cancer; reduces chemo‑induced nausea and vomiting; and decreases the number of seizures in patients with Lennox‑Gastaut syndrome or Dravet syndrome, both rare forms of epilepsy. Despite being legalized by several states in the U.S., for both medical and recreational purposes, cannabis remains controversial because its use is associated with high risk of addiction, dependence, side effects and withdrawal syndrome. It is also important to note that synthetic cannabinoid drugs cause more serious adverse effects compared to natural cannabis. Learn More     Personalize Your Updates Manage your preferences, and we will customize your updates based on your interests.   Go to my preferences   Essential Updates Black Cohosh: Data from a randomized study suggest effectiveness of black cohosh for treating menopausal syndrome, induced by luteinizing hormone‑releasing hormone analogue (LHRH‑a) therapy, in breast cancer patients. Learn more Indirubin: An oral Traditional Chinese Medicine formula containing Indigo naturalis was found effective against acute promyelocytic leukemia. The final analysis of the study has yet to be published. Learn more   Integrative Medicine Therapies This symposium will focus on the neuroscientific mechanisms of acupuncture for pain and symptom management and its application in cancer care. On the first day, we will connect neuroscience and basic research with clinical evidence for oncology acupuncture symptom management. Our international panelists will also present the progress and challenges of providing acupuncture services in the oncology setting. On the second day (half‑day), we will focus on implementation by opening with a multidisciplinary discussion on integration of acupuncture for symptom management, followed by breakout workshops in the areas of designing and conducting high quality acupuncture clinical trials in oncology, building clinical oncology acupuncture programs, training oncology acupuncturists, and implementing acupressure interventions for oncology patients. We will conclude by formulating an action plan for moving forward. “Oncology Acupuncture: From Neuroscience to Patient Wellbeing” is intended for health care providers (physicians, advanced practice providers, nurses, psychologists, social workers, and acupuncturists) who diagnose, manage, and treat side effects of cancer treatment and those who develop programs (administrators) to improve quality of life for people with cancer.   Register Here     Take Note Of: PC‑SPES PC‑SPES is a formulation containing eight herbs that was sold as a dietary supplement in the late 1990s to promote prostate health. However, it was withdrawn from the market in 2002 because some batches were found to be contaminated with FDA‑controlled prescription drugs. Products that claim to be substitutes continue to be sold, but they do not have the original composition. A few studies showed that PC‑SPES lowers prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and testosterone levels in humans, but it is not known whether these effects were due to adulterants, the herbs in the formula, or their combination. Patients should be aware that PC‑SPES is not a substitute for conventional treatment. Learn More   Share with a Friend Click the link below to share this email with others who might be interested. Invite friends Contact Us We welcome your feedback, and encourage you to send us a message at: aboutherbs@mskcc.org To Make An Appointment: Integrative Medicine Service: 646-888-0800 MSKCC Main Hospital: 800-525-2225 Find an MSK location   ©2020 Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center 1275 York Ave., New York, NY 10065 US February 2020   To ensure you continue to receive emails from About Herbs, add us to your address book or safe list. To unsubscribe, click here. This message was sent to newsletter@newslettercollector.com. To manage your preferences, click here. You are receiving this email because you subscribed to e-newsletters from About Herbs. To forward this email click here.