helfgott brochure

Advancing the science of natural medicine

Wisdom begins in wonder –Socrates

www.ncnm.edu/research|3

Letter from the DirectorGreetingsfromtheHelfgottResearchInstituteattheNationalCollegeofNaturalMedicine!Helfgottcontinuestogrowandexpandeachyear,strivingtobecomethepremiernaturalmedicineresearchinstituteintheUnitedStates.InvestigatorsatHelfgottspendagreatdealoftimeinthepubliceye.Ourinvestigatorsspeakatnationalandinternationalconferences.Wehavebeeninterviewedformagazinesandbooks.Wehavepublishedoriginalresearchandwonawards.WeserveoncommitteesattheNationalInstitutesofHealth.Ourimpactinnaturalmedicinecontinuestogrow.

AsthehealthofAmericanscontinuestodecline,theneedforadditionalapproachestodiseaseisincreasinglyevident.OurresearchinChinesemedicine,naturopathicmedicine,nutrition,mind-bodymedicineandothernaturaltherapiesdemonstratesthattherearepowerfulalternativesforpeopletoachievewellness.Witheverystudy,weat

Helfgotthopetoprovideevidenceforhownaturaltherapiescandecreaseobesity,treatpain,preventcancer,andhelppeoplelivehealthierlives.Westayevertruetoourmissiontoadvancethescienceofnaturalmedicine.

ThisbrochurewillintroduceyoutosomeofthemanythingswearedoingatHelfgott.Wehopeyouwilltakesometimetofindoutmoreaboutusonourwebsiteatwww.ncnm.edu/research.Finally,weencourageyoutogetinvolved!Participateinastudy!Volunteerasaresearcher!Donatetoresearchinnaturalmedicine!Wevaluetheenergyofallthosewhoworkwithustomakenaturalmedicineresearchthrive.

Withgratitude,

HeatherZwickey,PhDDirector,HelfgottResearchInstituteDeanofResearch,NationalCollegeofNaturalMedicine

HelfgottResearchInstitute|4

Advancing the Science of Natural Medicine

TheHelfgottResearchInstituteisanonprofitresearchinstituteatNationalCollegeofNaturalMedicine.Helfgott’smissionistoconductrigorous,highquality,researchontheartandscienceofhealing,specificallyworkingtounderstandnaturalformsofmedicine.Together,scientistsandcliniciansfromthevariousfieldsofcomplementaryandalternativemedicineapplytheirexpertisetoadvancethescienceofnaturalmedicine.

EstablishedinJuneof2003attheNationalCollegeofNaturalMedicine(NCNM)withthehelpofadonationfromDonHelfgott,theHelfgottResearchInstitutehasastate-of-the-artbasicsciencelaboratory,aswellastheresourcestocarryoutclinicalresearch.

ResearchprojectsatHelfgottincludegrantsfundedbytheNationalInstitutesofHealth,company-sponsoredresearch,pilotstudiesandstudentresearchprojects.HelfgottoftencollaboratesonprojectswithotherinstitutionsinvolvedwithCAMresearch,includingOregonHealth&SciencesUniversity(OHSU),theOregonCollegeofOrientalMedicine,UniversityofWesternStates,theKaiserPermanenteCenterforHealthResearchandtheUniversityofArizona.

Astheuseofnaturalmedicinecontinuestogrow,researchonitssafetyandeffectivenessismoreimportantthanever.Withnaturalmedicine’sfocusonpreventionandtreatingtherootcauseofdisease,itoftenexcelsattreatingmanyoftoday’smostcommonanddifficultdiseases,suchastype2diabetes,heartdisease,arthritis,backpainanddepression.However,thereisalackofanextensiveevidencebasebehindmanynaturalmedicinetherapies.

Researchersfaceuniquechallengeswhendesigningrigorousscientificresearch

onnaturalmedicine.Whilemanyofthesetherapiesandmodalitiesareancient,applyingabiomedicalresearchperspectivetothefieldisarelativelynewundertaking.Thechallengeistoresearchthetherapiesofnaturalmedicineinawaythatremainstruetohowtheyareactuallypracticedwhilemaintainingscientificrigor.Naturalmedicinestudiesoftenrequireinnovativeresearchmethods.Wholesystemsapproachestodisease,combinationeffectsandtherapieswithunclearmechanismsdonoteasilyfitintothestandard,double-blind,placebo-controlledrandomizedtrial.Nevertheless,researchmustbedonetoensurethatpatientsarereceivingsafeandeffectivetreatments.

Helfgottisalsodedicatedtoprovidingstudentsandpost-doctoralfellowstheopportunitytogainclinicalresearchtraininginanaturalmedicineinstitution.ManyNCNMstudentsparticipateinfaculty-drivenresearchprojectsorconductindependentresearchmentoredbyfacultysponsors.Thegoalistodevelopthenextgenerationofnaturalmedicineresearchers,whoaretrainedasbothnaturalmedicinepractitionersandscientists.

Intheshortterm,wehopethatourresearchwillinformclinicalpractice.Inthelongterm,wehopethesestudiesplayapartintransformingourhealthcaresystemtoemphasizeprevention,promotehealthinsteadofjusttreatingsymptoms,andprovidecost-effective,safenaturalmedicinetreatmentoptions.

The challenge is to research the therapies of natural medicine in a way that remains true to how they are actually practiced while maintaining scientific rigor.

Helfgott:

An Overview of Complementary & Alternative Medicine

Thedefinitionofcomplementary&alternativemedicine(CAM)isamovingtarget—itcanincludeanymedicalsystem,therapyorsubstancethatisnotconsideredtobepartof“conventional”medicineascurrentlypracticed.Thereisongoingdebateonhowtorefertothesepractices,andhowtocategorizethem.TheNationalCenterforComplementaryandAlternativeMedicine,adivisionoftheNationalInstitutesofHealth(NIH),fundsmajorresearchonCAMandusesthefollowingdefinitions:

Complementary MedicineComplementarymedicineisusedtogetherwithconventionalmedicine.Anexampleofacomplementarytherapyisusingaromatherapy(atherapyinwhichthescentofessentialoilsfromflowers,herbs,andtreesisinhaledtopromotehealthandwell-being)tohelplessenapatient’sdiscomfortfollowingsurgery.

Alternative MedicineAlternativemedicineisusedinplaceofconventionalmedicine.Anexampleofanalternativetherapyisusingaspecialdiettotreatcancerinsteadofundergoingsurgery,radiation,orchemotherapythathasbeenrecommendedbyaconventionaldoctor.

Integrative MedicineIntegrativemedicinecombinestreatmentsfromconventionalmedicineandCAMforwhichthereisevidenceofsafetyandeffectiveness.Itisalsocalledintegratedmedicine.AnapproachtomedicinethatcombinestreatmentsfromconventionalmedicineandCAMforwhichthereissomehigh-qualityscientificevidenceofsafetyandeffectiveness.


Wholemedicalsystemsarecompletesystemsoftheoryandpractice.Examplesincludenaturopathic,Chinese,Ayruvedicandhomeopathicmedicine.Thesesystemsareoftenthetraditionalmedicinethatdevelopedwithinaparticularculture.Forexample,naturopathicmedicinehasitsoriginsinthemedicaltraditionsofEuropeandAyurvedicmedicineisthetraditionalsystemofmedicineinIndia.Thesesystemstypicallyhaveabasicstructureorphilosophy,andanumberofvarioustreatmentsormodalities.Treatmentsmaybeusedforpreventionofdisease,tohealillnessesdirectly,ortostimulatethebody’sownhealingprocess.Somesystemsmayseemmorefamiliar,whileothershaveunfamiliarconceptssuchastheideaofQiinChinesemedicineorthepremiseof“liketreatslike”inhomeopathy.

Whole Medical Systems

Mind-bodymedicineincludestechniquesthataredesignedtoenhancethemind’sabilitytoaffectthebodyandimprovehealth.SometechniquesthatwereconsideredCAMinthepasthavebecomemainstreamtherapies,suchassupportgroupsandcognitive-behavioraltherapy.CAMmind-bodytechniquesincludemeditation,yoga,taiji,qigongandguidedimagery.

Mind-Body Medicine

Biologically-basedpracticesincludetheuseofherbalmedicines,vitamins,dietarysupplements,foodsandspecialdiets.Herbalmedicine(alsocalledbotanicalmedicine)usesoneormoreplantsorplantpartsfortheirhealingproperties,withoutisolatingthechemicalcomponentsoftheplant.“Dietarysupplement”isacatch-allphraseforsubstancesthatarenotanherb,food,drugorvitamin—suchasprobioticsorfishoil.Astheuseofthesevarioussubstancesandpracticescontinuestogrow,sodoestheimportanceofresearchtoensuretheirsafetyandeffectiveness.

Biologically-Based Practices

Manipulativeandbody-basedpracticesareprimarilyknownfortreatingmusculoskeletalcomplaintssuchasbackpain,althoughtheycanbeusedforotherconditions.Thesetreatmentmethodsincludechiropracticmanipulation,massage,andotherphysicalmedicinetechniquesemployedinnaturopathicandosteopathicmedicine.

Manipulative and Body-Based Practices

Energymedicineinvolvestheuseofenergyfields.Thesefieldsmaybeoneoftwotypes—basedoneitherelectromagneticenergyorbiofields.Electromagnetic-basedtherapiestypicallyinvolvetheunconventionaluseofelectromagneticfieldsgeneratedbyspecializedequipment.Whilethesetherapiesmaybeunconventional,theenergyinvolvedisusuallymeasurable.Biofieldtherapiesaresaidtoaffecttheenergyfieldsaroundandwithinthehumanbody.Theexistenceofthesefieldshasnotbeenscientificallyprovenandthesefieldsareoftennotmeasurable,atleastnotwithcurrenttechnology.Theenergyfieldsusedinbiofieldtherapiesaregeneratedbyahumanbeingthroughthought,touchorothermethodsthatarenotyetunderstood.Examplesofbiofieldtherapiesincludeqigong,Reikiandtherapeutictouch.

Energy Medicine


Natural Therapies & the Immune SystemWithastate-of-the-artresearchlaboratory,Helfgottiswell-equippedtostudynaturaltherapiesandtheireffectontheimmunesystem.Todate,investigatorshavelookedattheimmunologicaleffectsofarangeofbotanicals,vitaminsandnaturopathictherapies.HighlightsofthisresearchincludestudiesonVitaminA,anAyurvedicherbcalledAshwagandha(Withania somnifera),acombinationofpurportedimmune-enhancingherbsincludingEchinacea purpurea,Astragalus membranaceus,andGlycyrrhiza glabra,andtheeffectsofhydrotherapy,theapplicationofalternatinghotandcoldtemperaturestotheskin.

Women’s HealthHelfgottinvestigatorsandstudentsarecommittedtoresearchingnaturalapproachestowomen’shealthissues.Projectsincludeaninvestigationintoanall-naturalspermicide,astudyontheherbVitex agnus castustotreatfemaleinfertility,andaprojectontheeffectsofastrontiumsupplementonbonehealth.Inaddition,Helfgottpost-doctoralfellowsCarolynIacullo,ND,andJillEdwards,ND,arelaunchingapractice-basedresearchnetworkfornaturopathicmidwives.WomenusenaturalmedicinetreatmentsmorefrequentlythanmenandHelfgottresearchersareworkingtoexpandtheevidencebaseonthesetreatmentstoensurethattheyaresafeandeffective.

Nutrition & DiabetesChronicdisease,includingdiabetesandcardiovasculardisease,isontheriseintheU.S.,buteffectivewaystoreversethistrendremainelusive.AtHelfgott,studyingnutritionalandmind-bodyapproachestochronicillnessisastrongfocusofourresearch.Helfgottstudieshavelookedatabouttheefficacyofweightlossmethodsandtheexpectancyeffectsassociatedwiththesemethods.Inaddition,Helfgottinvestigatorsstudyarangeofdietstodeterminepossibleeffectsonthecellularlevelandinclinicalapplications.Thesenutritionalstudiesincludeinvestigationsintoeffectsofdetoxificationdiets,cruciferousvegetablesupplementsandthenaturopathicanti-inflammatoryDiet’seffectsonimmuneparametersindiabeticsandpre-diabetics.

CancerCancerdevelopmentandprognosiscanbestronglyinfluencedbynutrition,lifestyleandtheenvironment.InvestigatorsatHelfgottseektodevelopinnovative,holisticandeffectivestrategiestoaddresscancerpreventionandtreatment.Inadditiontoinvestigatingimmune-enhancingbotanicalsandtherapies,Helfgottalsoresearchestheeffectsofnutritionalandmind-bodytherapiesinrelationtocancer.Studiesinthisareaincludetheeffectofcruciferousvegetablesonestrogenmetabolismandtheuseofrelaxationandvisualizationtherapyforbreastcancerpatients.

Psychophysiology LabThepsychophysiologylabatHelfgottwasestablishedtostudysubtlephysiologicchangesthatoccurinresponsetoavarietyofnaturalmedicinetreatments.Helfgottresearchersareabletomeasureheartratevariability,respirationrate,skintemperature,bloodpressure,brainwavesandothervitalfunctions.HelfgottSeniorInvestigatorAgathaColbert,MD,andherteamarelookingtoseeiftheseobjectiveoutcomemeasurescorrelatewithpeople’ssubjectivereportsofimprovementasindicatorsofresponsetomeditation,neurofeedback,acupuncture,massageandothertherapies.Currentandpastprojectsincludeevaluatingneurofeedbackforinsomnia,determiningtheeffectsofmeditationonheartratevariabilityanddevelopinganinstrumenttomeasureskinimpedanceatvariousacupunctureandnon-acupuncturepointsonthebody.

Social MedicineSeveralstudiesareunderwayatHelfgotttoexaminethecultural,societal,economicandenvironmentalfactorsthatplayaroleinhealth.HelfgottinvestigatorKimTippens,ND,MSAOM, specializesinthisarea.Sheisfocusedonresearchtounderstandbarrierstohealthcareaccessandtheestablishmentofaccessibleandeffectivepreventivecarefordiversecommunities.OneofDr.Tippens’projectslooksatcommunityacupunctureclinics—arecentinnovationdesignedtoprovidelow-cost,acupuncturetreatmentinagroupsetting.Anotherstudyaimstodeterminethebestintegrativemedicalpracticesfordiabetescarebyunderstandinghowdifferentmedicalpracticesapproachdiabetestreatment.

Areas of Research at Helfgott


Investigators at Helfgott seek to develop innovative, holistic and effective strategies to address cancer prevention and treatment.


The First Whole Systems Trial of Chinese and Naturopathic MedicineArecentstudybrokenewgroundasthefirststudyofwholesystemsofcomplementaryandalternativemedicinetobefundedbytheNationalInstitutesofHealth.ThestudyevaluatedtheuseofnaturopathicmedicineandTraditionalChineseMedicineforthechronicjawpainknownastemporomandibularjointdysfunction(TMD)—acommonconditionthataffectsuptoonethirdofadults.

Wholesystemsresearchisdistinctfrommostresearchinthatitexaminesanentiresystemofcare,ratherthanonespecifictreatment.NaturopathicmedicineandTraditionalChineseMedicinearebothexamplesofwholemedicalsystemsthatutilizemultiplemethodsandmodalitiesintheirapproachtotreatingpatients.Duetothevariationandcomplexityofwholesystemstreatmentapproaches,researchofthistypeisonlyjustbeginning.

Itischallengingtodesignresearchthatisbothfaithfultothepracticeofthemedicineintermsoftailoringtreatmenttotheindividual,whilestillbeingscientificallyrigorousandreproducible.Thisstudysoughttoovercomethesechallengesanddevelopmethodsforstudyingthesecomplexsystems.MultipleinstitutionswereinvolvedwiththedesignandexecutionincludingtheHelfgottResearchInstitute,OregonCollegeofOrientalMedicine,KaiserPermanenteNorthwestandtheUniversityofArizona.

Thestudyinvolved160womenwhohadbeenreferredforTMDtreatment.Participantswererandomlyassignedtoone

ofthreetreatmentgroups—TraditionalChineseMedicine,naturopathicmedicineorspecialtycare.ParticipantsintheChinesemedicinegroupreceivedacupuncture,herbs,tuina(Chinesebodywork)andlistenedtorelaxationtapes.Thenaturopathicmedicinegroupreceivednutritionalsupplements,physicalmedicine(bodywork),exerciserecommendationsandindividualizednutritionalandstressreductionrecommendations.ThespecialtycaregroupreceivedtreatmentfromtwodentistsspecializinginTMD,includingbitesplints,educationonthecauseandavailabletreatments,andindividualcounselingaboutself-careandpainmanagementstrategies.Referralsforphysicaltherapyandcounselingwerealsoavailable.

ResultsfromthestudyshowedthatbothChineseandnaturopathicmedicineprovidedparticipantssignificantlymorerelieffromtheirworstpainthanspecialtycare.Chineseandnaturopathicmedicineweresimilarintheireffectivenessforseverepain.

ThiswasthefirstpublishedstudyofindividualizednaturopathicandChinesemedicinepracticedmuchastheywouldbeintherealworld.TheresultsofthisstudysuggestthatnaturopathicandChinesemedicinemaybemoreeffectivethanspecialtydentalcareforTMD.Thisstudyalsodemonstratesthatwholesystemsresearchisfeasibleandhasgreatpotentialforunderstandingcomplementaryandalternativemedicalsystemsandidentifyingeffectivetreatments.

Recent Studies


Examining Skin Resistance at Acupuncture Points

The Anti-Inflammatory DietSpecializeddietsanddietaryrecommendationsarecommonlyusedincomplementaryandalternativemedicalpractice.Althoughtherelationshipbetweendietandinflammationisofgreatinterest,thesciencebehinditisnotwellunderstood.Onefrequentrecommendationtopatientsistofollowananti-inflammatorydiet.Thistypicallyconsistsofeliminatingcertainfoodssuchaswheat,dairy,processedsugarandotherfoodsbelievedtoprovokeinflammation.Helfgottrecentlyconductedastudytoevaluatetheeffectsofananti-inflammatorydietindiabeticandpre-diabeticindividuals.

Thefoodsthatareexcludedoremphasizedinananti-inflammatorydietcanvary,dependingonthepractitionerandtheconditionbeingtreated.IntheHelfgottstudy,foodswereexcludedeitherbecausetheymaycauseanallergicresponseinsusceptibleindividuals,orbecausetheymightcontributetoinflammationthroughmetabolicpathways.Otherfoodswereemphasizedbecausetheyarebelievedtoreduceinflammation,suchasfoodshighinessentialfattyacidsoranti-oxidants.

Duringthesix-weekstudy,participantswereprovidedwithalltheirfoodandallowedtoconsumeonlyitemsprovidedbythestudy.Enrollingparticipantswaschallenging,astheschedulerequiredasignificanttimecommitmentandindividualshadtobewillingtoadheretothestudydietforthefullsixweeks.Itwasalsochallengingtoidentifyparticipantswhohadbloodsugarhighenoughtobe

enrolledinthestudy,yetwerenottakingmedication.Individualstakingmostmedicationswerenoteligibleforthestudybecausetheirmedicationsmightmasksomeofthelabresults.

Thirtyparticipantswereenrolledinthestudyand26completedthefullsixweeks—acompletionrateof87percent.Theintentionofthissmallpreliminarystudywasnottoachievestatisticallysignificantresults,butrathertoshowthatconductingthistypeofdietaryresearchispossible.Recruitingparticipantsforthestudywaschallenging,butthoseenrolledwereabletosticktothedietandenjoyedthefood.Theresultsshowthatthistypeofstudyisfeasibleandthatwithenoughsupport,individualscanadheretotherapeuticdiets.Clinicalandbiologicaloutcomesfromthestudywillbereportedinanupcomingjournalarticle.

Howdoesacupuncturework?Thebasicnatureofacupuncturemeridiansandpointsremainsamysterydespitenumerousstudiesandthepopularityofacupunctureasatreatmentmethod.Themeridiansandpointshavenotbeenassociatedwithanyknownanatomicorphysiologicsystems,butmanybelievethattheyareelectricallydifferentfromthesurroundingareas.Studiesonthisarelimitedinnumberandhaveconflictingresults.TheHelfgottResearchInstitute,incollaborationwithMiridiaTechnologyInc.,recentlydevelopedaprototypesystemtoinvestigatetheelectricnatureofthepoints.

Ithasbeentheorizedthatacupuncturepointshavelowerelectricalskinresistancethannon-acupuncturepoints.Electricalskinresistancereferstohoweasilyelectricityflowsthroughtheskinandunderlyingtissue.Someacupuncturists

usescreeningtoolsbasedonthisconceptforpointlocationanddiagnosis.Manybelievethattheskinresistanceatacupuncturepointswillvarydependingonthepatient’shealthandthatacupuncturetreatmentswillnormalizeresistanceatthepoints.

ThesystemdevelopedbyHelfgottanditscollaboratorsisanautomated,eight-channelsystemnicknamedtheOctopus.Mostdevicesbuilttomeasureskinresistancetakejustonemeasurement,buttheOctopustakescontinuousmeasurementsovertime.

UsingtheOctopus,researchersatHelfgotthopetolearnmoreaboutthenatureofacupuncturepoints,theirelectricalpropertiesandhowtheydifferfromsurroundingnon-acupuncturepoints.


Student ResearchSomestudentsatNCNMseekacareerinalternativemedicineresearch,whereasotherswilldoresearchintheirclinicalpractice.Totrainthesestudentsandprovideresearchexperienceforthosewhodesireit,theHelfgottResearchInstituteatNCNMhasdevelopedarobuststudentresearchprogram.

Studentshaveseveraloptionsforparticipatinginresearch.Somestudentsdoresearchasawork-studypositionandotherstakeresearchforelectivecredit.ChoiceofstudydesignandcontentistailoredspecificallytothestudentandisincontextwithHelfgott’soverallmissiontounderstandtheartandsciencebehindnaturalmedicine.AfterparticipatingintheresearchfieldunderthecarefuldirectionofHelfgottinvestigatorsandstaff,studentsbecomebetterphysicians,capableofunderstandingnaturalmedicineinamodern-daysetting.

IndependentStudyIntheindependentstudyprogram,studentsworkindependently—designingandconductingtheirownproject

orworkinagrouponaneworalreadyestablishedstudy.Theyearnuptotwocreditspertermwhileworkingontheirownresearchprojects.ThisisagreatopportunityforstudentsinterestedindevelopingaresearchcareerorapplyingtoaMasterofPublicHealth(MPH)program.

Studentsintheindependentstudyprogramtypicallyspendtwotofivehoursperweekdoingresearchduringtheirfirsttwoyears,andfivetotenhoursperweektheirsecondtwoyears.Thisflexibleschedulefitseasilyintothestudent’seducationplan.Studentswhochoosetoworkinagroupsettingusuallyworkinteamsofsixorseven.

Work-StudyPositionsWork-studypositionsprovideaflexibleoptionforstudentswhowanttogainresearchexperience,orjustlearnmoreabouttheprocessofresearch.Work-studystudentsassistwiththeday-to-dayoperationsofongoing,fundedstudies.Work-studyspacesarelimitedanddependentuponeligibilityforfederalfunding.

Immune HerbsNeurofeedback for stress

Ashwagandha

Personality & Health

Hydrotherapy Blood-Type Diet

Fertility

CoQ10 for Statin-Induced Myopathy

Natural Spermicide

Detoxification Diets

Relaxation-Visualization Therapy for Fatigue & Skin Toxicity

Botanicals for H. Pylori

Meditation & Heart Rate Variability

Guava

Probiotics

Psoriasis

Group Acupuncture

Magnesium


SPARCSymposiumforPortlandAreaResearchonComplementaryandAlternativeMedicine

SPARCisPortland’sownsymposiumforcomplementaryandalternativemedicine(CAM)research—auniqueenvironmentwhereresearchers,cliniciansandstudentsfromvariousbackgroundsanddisciplinesgathertolearnaboutthelatestresearchtakingplaceinourcommunity.Portlandhasauniqueresearchclimatebecauseitishometoavarietyofmedicalschoolsincludingnaturopathic,Chinese,chiropracticandconventionalmedicine.Thisdiversityinapproachestomedicine,alongwithastrongcoreofdevotedresearchers,makePortlandtheidealplacetopursueandpresentCAMresearch.

Studyingcomplementaryandalternativemedicinepresentsnumerouschallenges—especiallywhenitcomestoresearchmethodology.Therandomized,double-blind,placebo-controlledtrialworksfortestingpharmaceuticals,butoftendoesnotworkfortestingCAMmodalities.Forexample,someonecannotbeblindedtoreceivingamassage;findinganappropriateplacebo(sham)foracupunctureiscomplicated.SPARCprovidesaforumforresearcherstoshareandaddressthemethodologicalissuestheyencounterwiththeircolleagues.Together,researchers,interestedcliniciansandstudentsfromacrossdisciplinesoffersupportandadvicefromtheirexperiencesandworktogethertomoveCAMresearchforward.

Researchabstractsfromlocalinvestigatorsandstudentsarepeer-reviewedandacceptedforposterororalpresentation.Acceptedpostersarepartofatravelingpostersessionandaredisplayedateachparticipatinginstitutionsinthedaysleadinguptothesymposium.Thisallowsawideaudienceoffaculty,studentsandstafftolearnaboutlocalCAMresearchstudies,andpresentsanopportunityforeachinstitutiontohosttheirownresearchfestivities.

SPARCculminatesinasymposiumwhererigorous,high-quality,scientificresearchispresentedonCAMmodalities.Topicshaveincludedacupuncture,herbalmedicine,chiropractic,Ayurveda,Reiki,shamanismandclinicalinformatics.ThestudiespresentedreflectthediversityoftheresearchbeingconductedinPortland.

Visitwww.ncnm.edu/researchforconferenceupdates.

KeynotespeakersatSPARCarerenownedresearchersfromaroundtheworld.Pastkeynotespeakersinclude:

• Iris Bell, PhD, MDDirector of Research at the University of Arizona Program in Integrative Medicine

• Josephine Briggs, MDDirector of the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine at the National Institutes of Health

• Daniel Cherkin, PhD & Karen Sherman, PhD, MPHSenior Investigators at the Group Health Research Institute

• Vinjar Fønnebø MD, PhDDirector of the National Research Center in Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NAFKAM) and professor of preventive medicine at the University of Tromsø, Norway

• Leanna Standish, ND, PhDResearch professor, Bastyr University, clinical professor at the University of Washington School of Public Health and Affiliate Research Professor at the University of Washington School of Medicine

Participating institutions:• KaiserPermanenteCenterforHealthResearch

• NationalCollegeofNaturalMedicine

• OregonCollegeofOrientalMedicine

• OregonHealth&ScienceUniversity

• PortlandStateUniversity

• UniversityofPortland

• WesternStatesChiropracticCollege


Global Medicine & International Collaborations

Helfgott’smissiontoadvancethescienceofnaturalmedicinedoesn’tstopatcountryborders.Helfgottteammembersarecollaboratingwithanumberoforganizationsinallcornersoftheworldinordertodeterminetheefficacyandsafetyofvarioustraditionalmedicinesandbuildresearchcapabilitiesinunderservedareas.

HelfgottispartneringwithNaturalDoctorsInternational(NDI),anorganizationdedicatedtotreatingunderservedpopulationsthroughnaturalmedicine.NDIhascreatedanintegrativeclinicontheislandofOmetepe,Nicaraguathatservesresidents24hoursaday.Inaddition,NDIprovidesopportunitiesforinternationalmedicalrotationsfornaturopathicdoctorsandmedicalstudents,aswellasothercomplementaryandalternativemedicalhealthprofessionals.

Currently,HelfgottinvestigatorsandstudentsareassistingNDIindevelopingapilotstudyoftheuseofguavainthetreatmentofinfectiousdiarrhealdisease.HelfgottwillcontinuetoworkwithNDItoconductobservationalandoutcomesresearchthatcaninformNDI’sclinicalpractice,aswellasitscommunityoutreachactivities.

Inaddition,HelfgotthasdevelopedapartnershipinTanzaniawiththeTangaAIDSWorkingGroup,andtheInstituteforTraditionalMedicineatMuhimbiliUniversity.Helfgotthopestodevelopanumberofprogramswiththeseinstitutionsinthenextfewyears,includingastudentexchangetolearnabouttraditionalhealingmethodsandanefforttohelpfurtherdeveloplaboratorycapabilitiesattheorganizations.

Inthefuture,Helfgottwillestablishafull-fledgedCenterforGlobalHealththatwillserveasahubofknowledgefornaturalmedicineapplicationstoacuteandchronicdiseaseinunderservedpopulationsbothdomesticallyandinternationally.

“When it comes to global health, there is no ‘them’... only ‘us’.”

–Global Health Council


Your donation to the Helfgott Research Institute helps to fund innovative clinical research that can advance health care in the U.S. and throughout the world.

Join us and help to advance the science of natural medicine.

Learn more at www.ncnm.edu/research

Science is away of thinking much more than it isa

body of knowledge –CarlSagan

049SWPorterStreetPortland,OR97201www.helfgott.org

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