Monthly Archives: June 2020

On this page:BasicsComplementary TreatmentAlternative Treatment EffectivenessSide EffectsCancer Cure ScansDiet and Exercise

Youve seen the headlines about natural medicine trends, from yoga to supplements to diet and exercise fads. When it comes to cancer, you want to know what will help you safely regain your health during treatment and after. But there are loads of competing, sometimes-confusing info to sift through. What can you trust? Well, you can start with us here at HealthCentral: We went to the experts to learn all the science-based truth on complementary care for cancer.

First, lets clarify how cancer comes to be: Cancer occurs when abnormal cells anywhere in your body grow out of control, due to mutations in their DNA. Normal cells divide, age and die predictably, copying DNA as they go. Cancer cells, however, dont follow those rules. Rather than die off, they mutate, replicate, and form tumors.

Whats known as the primary site of your cancer is the spot where these cells start growing, and that organ or area determines the type of cancer you have. When cancerous cells journey through your blood or lymphatic system (the network of tissues and organs that flush out toxins, waste, and other undesirables), the areas they invade are metastatic sites.

Note that a cell can be abnormal without being cancerous (also known as malignant). It could be benign (not cancer), or precancerous or premalignant (likely to become cancer). Through screening and testing, docs can determine exactly what youre dealing with.

That depends on what kind of cancer you have, what stage its in, and other factors. Treatment can include:

Doctors often try more than one treatment, spaced out over weeks and months, as they gauge how your body responds. Your doc might even start you on multiple treatments at the same time.

Youve probably heard of complementary care. Or maybe you know it as alternative care. You know a bit of what these treatments might include (youre thinking meditation, herbs, and maybe yoga?). But did you know that while complementary and alternative care are often lumped together (as CAM, Complementary and Alternative Medicine), theyre not the same?

Complementary medicine is used in addition to conventional cancer care. It can include products, practices, and healthcare systems outside of mainstream medicine. These methods dont cure cancer, but work in conjunction with conventional cancer treatments to help in a variety of ways, including pain management and emotional support. Many complementary medicine practices can be considered evidence-based medicine (scientifically studied in randomized controlled trials, the highest level of evidence that guides cancer care).

When complementary medicine works harmoniously with conventional medicine, its an approach known as integrative medicine, or integrated care, where physicians treat you holisticallymeaning caring for you as a whole patient, taking into account all facets of your cancer experience. These can include:

When integrative medicine is administered to treat cancer, its known as integrative oncology, a patient-centered, evidence-informed field of cancer care. It may include:

Alternative medicine, in contrast, is used in place of conventional medicine. Rather than going hand-in-hand with, say surgery and chemo, alternative medicine is done instead of those evidence-based cancer treatments.

A quick note: before you try any new approach during (and after) your cancer treatment journey, make sure to discuss it with your doctor.

If youve used or are considering using complementary medicine as a cancer patient, youre not alonea national survey found that 65% of respondents whod been diagnosed with cancer had used some form of it.

Theres good reason to explore complementary care if you have cancer. It can be part of your supportive carehelping where you need it, like soothing and calming your mind and body as you go through this challenging time. Indeed, research suggests that complementary medicine can assist by:

There are easily hundreds of complementary treatments for cancer, so weve selected a small sample to discuss here. Possibilities include:

Acupuncture: Theres substantial evidence that this ancient Chinese practice of using sterile needles to stimulate different areas of the body can help manage cancer treatment-related nausea and vomiting. It may also help relieve cancer pain and other symptoms, but theres not enough evidence yet to support that.

Herbs: Ginger, for instance, has been shown to help control nausea from chemotherapy when used with conventional anti-nausea medications. Just keep in mind that any supplements you consume can change your body physiologicallynothing you ingest is without the potential for adverse effects. For instance, herbs can impact blood sugar levels and the bloods ability to clot.

Massage therapy: Sure, it feels sublime, and it turns out to have additional benefits too: research suggests that massage therapy can help relieve some cancer symptoms including:

Just be careful not to have deep tissue massage near surgery sites, tumors, or any medical devices. And always tell your therapist about your cancer diagnosis.

Meditation: Mindfulness-based meditation has been shown to improve quality of life during treatment. How? Studies of cancer patients have revealed the following happiness-boosting benefits:

Supplements: Herbal supplements for cancer could potentially help manage side effects like nausea and vomiting, pain, and fatigue, but more scientific evidence is required to make safe decisions about the use of these supplements.

Yoga: Preliminary data of this ancient mind/body practice from India suggests that those who do yoga could see improvements in these areas:

Another benefit: It might help lessen fatigue in breast cancer patients and survivors. More study into the myriad benefits of yoga is needed.

Other approaches: These include hypnosis, relaxation therapy, and biofeedback, all of which might help manage cancer symptoms and treatment side effects, based on study results.

One thing to note about all of these approaches: they might not be covered by your health insurance. According to the American Cancer Society, major insurers, including Blue Cross and Medicare, are starting to cover some complementary treatments. On the list above, acupuncture is most commonly covered. Contact your insurer to see what complementary treatments, if any, are paid for. They might be able to direct you to local providers who are covered under your plan.

When the treatments we discussed earlier (and the hundreds of others that are offered) are used in place of conventional medicine, its known as an alternative treatment. Nearly 40%, or 4 out of 10 Americans, believes that cancer can be cured by alternative treatments, a 2018 survey of cancer patients and people without cancer, found. However, while research shows that complementary medicine can play an important role in conventional cancer medicine, the same hasnt been readily found for alternative treatment.

Case in point: in 2009, the Society for Integrative Oncology (the leading international organization for healthcare professionals and researchers working in the field of complementary therapies in cancer care) published guidelines for healthcare professionals when using complementary medicine.

The org reminded healthcare professionals and patients that unproven cancer treatment methods shouldnt be used in place of conventional options because delaying cancer treatment thats evidence-based and shown to work reduces the chance of remission/cure for cancer patients.

Its important to talk with your healthcare professionals about the risks of using alternative therapies so you can make an informed decision about whats best for your health.

There are definite side effects with CAM. You might think that because something is natural, its safe. But this isnt always the case. Arsenic is natural, for instance, but you wouldnt want to start taking it in large doses.

Another example: Chemotherapy has a multitude of side effects because it destroys both cancerous cells and healthy cells. Its been cited by many as harmful because its made from chemicals. But did you know, some forms of chemo come from nature? Three drugs (Vincristine, Vinblastine, and Vinorelbine) are derived from plant alkaloids and are made from the periwinkle plant (Catharanthus Rosea). Chemo drugs called taxanes (Paclitaxel and Docetaxel) come from the bark of the Pacific Yew tree (Taxus).

Know too that just because something is sold, doesnt mean its been vetted or approved for usefor safety or qualityby the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The FDA doesnt regulate vitamins and supplements, so the onus is on us to do our best to source safe, trustworthy products.

Its vital to tell your cancer healthcare team about every treatment and therapy youre using for your cancer, whether its receiving acupuncture for nausea, going to the chiropractor for pain, adding St. Johns Wort to your supplement regime to help manage depression, or getting a massage to feel better.

If youre reluctant to be open with your doc, youre not alone: 29% of cancer patients did not disclose their CAM practices to their providers, according to one study. Secret-keeping could be downright dangerous. Lets use these four seemingly innocuous examples to illustrate why:

Being open with your doc--both before you start a complementary treatment and while youre on it--is key to helping it complement, rather than detract, from the conventional care youre receiving.

When you have cancer, you of course want a cure (as quickly and painlessly as possible, please). But that desire can leave you vulnerable to fake claims, especially in the alternative medicine space. Both the FDA and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) regularly warn the public about fraudulent cancer treatments.

It can be hard to spot the signs of snake oil. Without a medical degree, how can you be wise to empty promises? Youll often see the same language used in cancer CAM scams, according to the FDA. These phrases should raise a red flag that a treatment is just too good to be true:

Heres how you can protect yourself while receiving evidence-based integrated care:

You might be wondering now: with all this talk of complementary and alternative medicine, what about food? And diet? And exercise? What role does it play in all this? Is there a cancer diet that could be a complementary treatment?

Turns out, theres a strong body of evidence that a healthy diet and regular physical activity are associated with a reduced risk of cancer. The scientific literature links nutrition to cancer prevention based on specific physiologic pathways, including reducing inflammation, regulating hormones, and preventing oxidative stress. Even after a cancer diagnosis, by making smart choices about what they put on their plate, patients can:

Food has power. To wield it, the American Institute for Cancer Research and American Cancer Society recommends you:

As for physical activity? While you should talk to your healthcare team about what kind and amount of exercise is safe during treatment, The American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) has issued guidelines for physical activity for cancer survivors, suggesting 150-300 minutes per week of moderate to vigorous physical activity. Exercise is a real magic pill, helping to:

As you can imagine, all of these benefits that come along with being active are particularly important when youre trying to put cancer behind you. Resistance training, in particular, has been proven to improve:

Exercise, like so many CAM options, can help you both feel stronger and respond to treatment better. Just as with other types of complementary treatments, youll want to talk to your doc about how to integrate it, so you can reap the maximum benefits both from your lifestyle changes and your conventional cancer treatment.

Researchers have found that a healthy diet is associated with a reduced risk of cancer. Even if you have cancer, it can help lessen the impact of side effects and improve your quality of life. Studies link nutrition to cancer prevention based on specific physiologic pathways, including reducing inflammation, regulating hormones, and preventing oxidative stress. All to say that food matters.

Heres the thing: there are therapies that can help you go into remission (the period when your signs and symptoms of cancer are reduced). And some healthcare professionals consider cancer cured if it hasnt returned after five years (also called complete remission). Treatments that achieve a complete remission/cure can include therapies that come from a natural source, like some forms of chemo, which are derived from plant alkaloids. But anyone promising a natural cure for cancer that doesnt have evidence to back up that claim is likely pedaling bunk.

As weve discussed, herbs can be excellent complementary treatment in oncology for things like nausea, but any claim of curing cancer should be tempered by evidence-based medicine results (meaning, proof to back up those claims).

The American Academy of Dermatology warns that black salve isnt as safe as you might think, stating that it has never been proven to work. An article on the AADs website cites reports of bad outcomes for people who tried to treat their cancer (including melanoma) using black salve. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warns against products that are touted as cures for cancer without evidence: The FDA urges consumers to steer clear of these potentially unsafe and unproven products and to always discuss cancer treatment options with their licensed health care provider.

Read more:

Alternative and Complementary Treatments for Cancer - HealthCentral.com

Los Angeles United States: QY Research always aims at offering its clients an in-depth analysis and the best research material of the various market. This new report on the global Complementary and Alternative Medicine market is committed to fulfilling the requirements of the clients by giving them thorough insights into the market. An exclusive data offered in this report is collected by research and industry experts.

Key Manufacturers operating in the Report Are: , Columbia Nutritional, Herb Pharm, Herbal Hills, Helio USA, Deepure Plus, Nordic Naturals, Pure encapsulations, Iyengar Yoga Institute, John Schumachers Unity Woods Yoga Center, Yoga Tree, The Healing Company, Quantum Touch Complementary and Alternative Medicine

The global Complementary and Alternative Medicine market report covers scope and product overview to define the key terms and offers detailed information about market dynamics to the readers. This is followed by the regional outlook and segmental analysis. The report also consists of the facts and key values of the global Complementary and Alternative Medicine market in terms of sales and volume, revenue, and growth rate.

One of the important factors in the global Complementary and Alternative Medicine market report is the competitive analysis. The report covers all the key parameters such as product innovation, market strategies of the key players, market share, revenue generation, latest research and development, and market expert views.

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global Complementary and Alternative Medicine market by Segment Type: , Botanicals, Acupuncture, Mind, Body, and Yoga, Magnetic Intervention Complementary and Alternative Medicine

global Complementary and Alternative Medicine Market by Application: , Direct Contact, E-training, Distance Correspondence

Some of the important factors such as marketing strategy, industrial chain, factor analysis, cost analysis, distributors and sourcing strategy are included in this report which makes it an exclusive one. The aim of QY Research is to offer a comprehensive report. The report on global Complementary and Alternative Medicine market report is compiled by industry experts and properly examined which will highlight the key information required by the clients.

Regional Analysis

A section of the report has given comprehensive information about regional analysis. It provides a market outlook and sets the forecast within the context of the overall global Complementary and Alternative Medicine market. QY Research has segmented the global Complementary and Alternative Medicine market into major geographical regions such as North America, South America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and the Middle East and Africa. Potential new entrants wishing to target only high growth areas are also included in this informative section of the global Complementary and Alternative Medicine market.

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Major Points from Table of Content:

Chapter One: Global Complementary and Alternative Medicine Market Overview

Chapter Two: Global Complementary and Alternative Medicine market Competition by application, by Players/Suppliers, and by Type

Chapter Three: North America Complementary and Alternative Medicine market (sales price, volume, and value)

Chapter Four: Europe Complementary and Alternative Medicine market (sales price, volume, and value)

Chapter Five: Japan Complementary and Alternative Medicine market (sales price, volume, and value)

Chapter Six: China Complementary and Alternative Medicine market (sales price, volume, and value)

Chapter Seven: India Complementary and Alternative Medicine market (sales price, volume, and value)

Chapter Eight: Southeast Asia Complementary and Alternative Medicine market (sales price, volume, and value)

Chapter Nine: Global Complementary and Alternative Medicine market industrial cost analysis

Chapter Ten: Downstream buyers, industrial chain and sourcing strategy

Chapter Eleven: Global Complementary and Alternative Medicine market Sales data and suppliers profiles/players

Chapter Twelve: Market effect factor analysis

Chapter Thirteen: Traders/Distributors, marketing strategy analysis

Chapter Fourteen: Global Complementary and Alternative Medicine market forecast (2020-2026) analysis

Chapter Fifteen: Conclusion and research findings

Chapter Sixteen: Annexure/Appendix

About Us

QY Research is a leading global market research and consulting company. Established in 2007 in Beijing, China, QY Research focuses on management consulting, database and seminar services, IPO consulting, industry chain research and custom research to help our clients in providing non-linear revenue model and make them successful. We are globally recognized for our expansive portfolio of services.

Excerpt from:

Current and Future Trend of Global Complementary and Alternative Medicine Market by 2026 - Cole of Duty

Kathmandu

Two weeks ago Sobha Rais husband bought a few packets of medicine as medicine for COVID-19. It turned out to be the homeopathic medicine Arsenicum Album 30C. And Rai has been consuming it as per the instructions on the label.

This medicine boosts your immunity and helps in the prevention of COVID-19 infection, shares Rai. The 54-year-old treated her cough with the homeopathic medicine the cough that didnt go away even after visiting many hospitals was cured after opting for homeopathy. That is why I believe it (Arsenicum Album 30C) will also work to boost my immunity to help prevent COVID-19.

On May 11, the Department of Ayurveda & Alternative Medicine (DOAA) had issued a guideline Ayurveda and Alternative Medicine Guidelines of Preventive Measures and Management Protocol for COVID 19 in Nepal recommending Arsenicum Album 30C as one of homeopathys preventive measures for COVID-19 problems. The guideline also recommends preventive health measures, curative management and boosting immunity to fight COVID-19 the recommendations are based on Ayurvedic literature and scientific publications special reference to respiratory health in Ayurveda among others.

The initial distribution of Arsenicum by DOAA was followed by a rumour that it is the medicine for COVID-19, though no cure for COVID-19 has been discovered yet.

The DOAA had to issue a notice to not label this medicine as remedy for COVID-19 pointing out it is to be used as a measure to boost immunity to fight the disease and to prevent its symptoms, and as recommended by a homeopathic doctor or by the DOAA guideline.

A preventive measure

A cure for COVID-19 has not been found yet, and the only measure we have for now is prevention.

There are several ongoing clinical trialsf of both western and traditional medicines as per the World Health Organisation (WHO). It says it is coordinating efforts to develop vaccines and medicines to prevent and treat COVID-19.

In such a situation, can alternative medicine or complementary medicine help in this fight?

Dr Vasudev Upadhyay, Director General of DOAA, stresses we have the medicine with us. That is our immunity.

So, his department felt the need to highlight preventive and curative measures against COVID-19 and manage its complications.

A point from the DOAA guideline states, In our context, we have Ayurveda, Homeopathy, Acupuncture, Unani, Yoga & Naturopathy, and Sow-Rigpa, which is collectively known as Ayurveda and Alternative Medicines (AAM); ancient and traditional medicinal practices and compendia of huge medical knowledge including respiratory tract diseases can be tested to treat flu-like symptoms of the patients during this pandemic.

It also includes suggestions for using medicines and remedies that have herbs like tulsi, turmeric, garlic, ashwagandha to name a few, to follow a healthy lifestyle, and to practise yoga based on Ayurveda and some other alternative medicines.

These medicines have properties that can work as immunity booster. We can use them as preventive measures, adds Dr Upadhyay and shares that Ayruvedas first priority is to prevent a disease.

Dr Ambika Prasad Gyawali, VicePresident, All Nepal Homeopathic Association says the root of homeopathy is that it doesnt just treat the disease, it treats the patients. That means, it (homeopathic medicine) strengthens the immune system to fight off the disease in a human body it helps to treat the disease during the process of strengthening of the bodys immunity.

And Arsenicum Album, which according to him has been in use for more than 200 years, does the same it is used to treat many diseases including asthma, cough, pain, swelling (inflammation), among others. The DOAA guideline has listed it as one of the homeopathic prevention medicines that can be given according to the symptoms prevalent.

These medicines boost the immune system and could work against corona problems, the guideline adds.

Holistic approach

Alternative medicine is a more holistic way of looking at human health. It concentrates on lifestyle and other non-medical factors in addition to medical therapies. What kind of food you eat, how well do you sleep, exercise, how well is your state of mind, and your total environment matters a lot, explains Torakichi Akita, a Kai-therapist.

Eating more vegetarian food and also working on boosting your immune system, and ensuring good blood circulation with requisite oxygenation, how well have you been detoxifying your body, and how well you are at maintaining your stress and anxiety levels these are connected to the stability and vigour of your immune system. Then there is the pollution. If the environment is very bad, like in Kathmandu, then it can undermine the effects of an otherwise healthy lifestyle, Akita says.

Dr Upadhyay too believes in the benefits of incorporating time-tested herbs of Ayurveda or yoga practice like Pranayam into our lifestyle.

Swine flu was new earlier. COVID-19 is new now. Another one will come in five years. Such viruses will keep on developing in our environment. What we have to do is strengthen our immunity we can do that by adding herbal decoctions into our lifestyle, he shares.

Immunity is affected by physical, sensorial, mental or emotional issues, adds Director of Ayurveda Health Home Nepal Dr Rishi Ram

Alternative approaches to dealing with coronavirus Docs say our immunity is the best medicine to fight the virus, so boost it to the max Koirala. So, there is a need for deeper counselling and lifestyle coaching, and this is possible.

By raising your body temperature, avoiding junk food, deep breathing, Pranayama and Sudarshankriya, sleeping 8-10 hours, reducing stress, being around positive people, being in nature, all help in boosting your immune system, according to who Akita.

In this sense, there is no special cure for virus in alternative medicine. The danger of the virus is largely to elderly people whose immune systems are weak or people whose immune systems have been compromised by other diseases and by drugs used to treat these diseases as many drugs weaken the body and leave it vulnerable to various pathogens, reveals Akita.

He also points out that viruses and other microbes have helped shape the bodys immune system by enabling it to recognise pathogens and developing resistance. There are no effective preventive or curative remedies for many viruses in mainstream medicine. Historically it has been the body that has fought the virus through its immune system, which learns to recognise, identify and destroy the virus. So, it is very important to keep your immune system active at its highest level.

Dr Gyawali suggests an integrated approach. As per him, we can take allopathy and complementary or alternative medicine together using the specialities be it for COVID-19 or any other disease. Even the guidelines for curative management doesnt claim confirmatory curative management of COVID-19, while its preventive measures include directives like regular cleaning of hands with soap and water, or alcohol-based sanitiser, maintaining safe distance from others and the likes.

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Alternative approaches to dealing with coronavirus - Himalayan Times

KENILWORTH, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Merck (NYSE: MRK), known as MSD outside the United States and Canada, announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a supplemental New Drug Application (sNDA) for RECARBRIO (imipenem, cilastatin, and relebactam) for the treatment of patients 18 years of age and older with hospital-acquired bacterial pneumonia and ventilator-associated bacterial pneumonia (HABP/VABP), caused by the following susceptible Gram-negative microorganisms: Acinetobacter calcoaceticus-baumannii complex, Enterobacter cloacae, Escherichia coli, Haemophilus influenzae, Klebsiella aerogenes, Klebsiella oxytoca, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Serratia marcescens. To reduce the development of drug-resistant bacteria and maintain the effectiveness of RECARBRIO and other antibacterial drugs, RECARBRIO should be used only to treat or prevent infections that are proven or strongly suspected to be caused by susceptible bacteria. RECARBRIO is contraindicated in patients with a history of known severe hypersensitivity to any component of RECARBRIO. See Selected Safety Information below.

Hospital-acquired infections continue to be a significant cause of illness and death despite advances in our understanding of the contributing factors and prevention of these diseases, said Dr. Keith Kaye, professor of medicine and director of research for the division of infectious diseases, University of Michigan Health System, and a principal investigator in the clinical program. Because these infections are often caused by difficult to treat Gram-negative organisms, new therapeutic options such as RECARBRIO are urgently needed for patients.

RECARBRIO is a combination of imipenem, a carbapenem antibacterial, cilastatin, a renal dehydropeptidase inhibitor, and relebactam, a beta-lactamase inhibitor. Relebactam protects imipenem from degradation by certain serine beta-lactamases such as SHV (Sulfhydryl Variable), TEM (Temoneira), CTX-M (Cefotaximase-Munich), P99 (Enterobacter cloacae P99), PDC (Pseudomonas-derived cephalosporinase), and KPC (Klebsiella-pneumoniae carbapenemase).

The additional indication in HABP/VABP is based on results of the pivotal Phase 3 RESTORE-IMI 2 trial that compared RECARBRIO 1.25 grams (imipenem 500 mg/cilastatin 500 mg/relebactam 250 mg) to piperacillin/tazobactam 4.5 grams (PIP/TAZ, piperacillin 4000 mg/tazobactam 500 mg), each administered intravenously every six hours for seven to 14 days, for the treatment of adult patients with HABP/VABP. RECARBRIO met the primary and key secondary endpoints, demonstrating non-inferiority to PIP/TAZ in 28-day all-cause mortality and clinical response at early follow-up, respectively. The RESTORE-IMI 2 study abstract was published by the 30th European Congress of Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases (ECCMID).

At a time of great public health concern about the need for new treatments to meet the evolving challenges posed by Gram-negative bacteria, we are proud to continue bringing new therapeutic options to health care practitioners in an effort to help them overcome the challenges in patient care, said Dr. Nicholas Kartsonis, senior vice president, clinical research, infectious diseases and vaccines, Merck Research Laboratories. Todays approval is further affirmation of Mercks steadfast commitment to meeting the needs of the health care community.

RECARBRIO is also indicated in adults who have limited or no alternative treatment options for complicated urinary tract infections (cUTI), including pyelonephritis, and complicated intra-abdominal infections (cIAI) caused by susceptible Gram-negative bacteria, as described below. RECARBRIO is administered via intravenous injection.

Clinical Data Supporting Use of RECARBRIO (imipenem, cilastatin, and relebactam) in HABP/VABP

The FDA approval of the use of RECARBRIO in HABP/VABP was based on the RESTORE-IMI 2 trial (NCT02493764), a Phase 3, multinational, randomized, double-blind, non-inferiority study evaluating the efficacy and safety of RECARBRIO (imipenem 500 mg/cilastatin 500 mg/relebactam 250 mg) compared with PIP/TAZ (piperacillin 4000 mg/tazobactam 500 mg) in adults with HABP/VABP. In the study, 535 hospitalized adults with HABP/VABP in 113 trial sites were randomized 1:1 to receive a dose of RECARBRIO or PIP/TAZ, each given intravenously every six hours for seven to 14 days. The primary efficacy endpoint was incidence of all-cause mortality through Day 28 in the modified intent-to-treat (MITT) population, which is defined as all randomized participants who received at least one dose of trial treatment and did not have only Gram-positive cocci on Gram stain of a baseline lower respiratory tract (LRT) specimen. The key secondary endpoint was clinical response at early follow-up (seven to 14 days after completing therapy) in the MITT population.

The mean age of patients in the study was 60 years, 43% of patients were 65 years of age and older, 31% were female, and 22% had polymicrobial infection. The mean Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II score was 15, and 48% of patients had an APACHE II score greater than or equal to 15 at baseline. Overall, 260 (49%) patients were ventilated at enrollment, including 194 (36%) patients with VABP and 66 (12%) patients with ventilated HABP. Concurrent bacteremia was present at baseline in 5.8% of patients.

RECARBRIO met the primary and key secondary endpoints, demonstrating non-inferiority to PIP/TAZ. For patients treated with RECARBRIO, 28-day all-cause mortality was 15.9% (42/264) and 21.3% (57/267) in those treated with PIP/TAZ, for a treatment difference of -5.3% (95% confidence interval [CI]: -11.9, 1.2). Clinical response at early follow-up was 61% (161/264) for RECARBRIO and 55.8% (149/267) for PIP/TAZ group, for a treatment difference of 5% (95% CI: -3.2, 13.2).

In the subgroup of patients with ventilated HABP/VABP at enrollment, a favorable response in 28-day all-cause mortality was observed at 19.7% (24/122) for RECARBRIO and 30.9% (42/136) for PIP/TAZ, for a treatment difference of -11.2% (95% CI: -21.6, -0.5). In the subgroup of patients with non-ventilated HABP at enrollment, 28-day all-cause mortality was 12.7% (18/142) for RECARBRIO and 11.5% (15/131) for PIP/TAZ, for a treatment difference of 1.2% (95% CI: -6.8, 9.1).

Serious adverse reactions occurred in 27% (71/266) of patients receiving RECARBRIO and 32% (86/269) of patients receiving PIP/TAZ. Deaths were reported in 15% (40/266) of patients receiving RECARBRIO and 21% (57/269) of patients receiving PIP/TAZ. Adverse reactions leading to discontinuation occurred in 5.6% (15/266) of patients receiving RECARBRIO and 8.2% (22/269) of patients receiving PIP/TAZ. The most frequently reported adverse reactions occurring in 4% or greater of patients treated with RECARBRIO were increased aspartate aminotransferase (11.7%), anemia (10.5%), increased alanine aminotransferase (9.8%), diarrhea (7.9%), hypokalemia (7.9%), hyponatremia (6.4%), constipation (4.1%), pyrexia (4.1%) and rash (4.1%).

RECARBRIO was also studied in patients with cIAI, cUTI, and HABP/VABP caused by imipenem-nonsusceptible pathogens, in a non-inferential trial which used colistin (loading dose to achieve 300 mg colistin base activity, followed by maintenance doses up to 150 mg colistin base activity, every 12 hours) plus imipenem (500 mg every 6 hours) as the active comparator (RESTORE-IMI 1; NCT02452047). This trial, which included 47 patients, provided only limited efficacy and safety information.

Selected Safety Information about RECARBRIO (imipenem, cilastatin, and relebactam)

Hypersensitivity Reactions: RECARBRIO is contraindicated in patients with a history of known severe hypersensitivity (severe systemic allergic reaction such as anaphylaxis) to any component of RECARBRIO. Serious and occasionally fatal hypersensitivity (anaphylactic) reactions have been reported in patients receiving therapy with beta-lactams. Before initiating therapy with RECARBRIO, careful inquiry should be made concerning previous hypersensitivity reactions to carbapenems, penicillins, cephalosporins, other beta-lactams, and other allergens. If a hypersensitivity reaction to RECARBRIO occurs, discontinue the therapy immediately.

Seizures and Other Central Nervous System (CNS) Adverse Reactions: CNS adverse reactions, such as seizures, confusional states, and myoclonic activity, have been reported during treatment with imipenem/cilastatin, a component of RECARBRIO, especially when recommended dosages of imipenem were exceeded. These have been reported most commonly in patients with CNS disorders (e.g., brain lesions or history of seizures) and/or compromised renal function. Anticonvulsant therapy should be continued in patients with known seizure disorders. If CNS adverse reactions including seizures occur, patients should undergo a neurological evaluation to determine whether RECARBRIO should be discontinued.

Increased Seizure Potential Due to Interaction with Valproic Acid: Concomitant use of RECARBRIO, with valproic acid or divalproex sodium may increase the risk of breakthrough seizures. Avoid concomitant use of RECARBRIO with valproic acid or divalproex sodium or consider alternative antibacterial drugs other than carbapenems.

Clostridioides difficile-Associated Diarrhea (CDAD): Clostridioides difficile-associated diarrhea (CDAD) has been reported with use of nearly all antibacterial agents, including RECARBRIO, and may range in severity from mild diarrhea to fatal colitis. Careful medical history is necessary since CDAD has been reported to occur over two months after the administration of antibacterial agents. If CDAD is suspected or confirmed, ongoing antibacterial drug use not directed against C. difficile may need to be discontinued.

Development of Drug-Resistant Bacteria: Prescribing RECARBRIO in the absence of a proven or strongly suspected bacterial infection or prophylactic indication is unlikely to provide benefit to the patient and increases the risk of the development of drug-resistant bacteria.

Adverse Reactions: In the cUTI and cIAI trials, the most frequently reported adverse reactions occurring in 2% of patients treated with RECARBRIO were diarrhea (6%), nausea (6%), headache (4%), vomiting (3%), alanine aminotransferase increased (3%), aspartate aminotransferase increased (3%), phlebitis/infusion site reactions (2%), pyrexia (2%) and hypertension (2%). In the HABP/VABP study, the most frequently reported adverse reactions occurring in 4% of patients treated with RECARBRIO were increased aspartate aminotransferase (11.7%), anemia (10.5%), increased alanine aminotransferase (9.8%), diarrhea (7.9%), hypokalemia (7.9%), hyponatremia (6.4%), constipation (4.1%), pyrexia (4.1%) and rash (4.1%).

About RECARBRIO (imipenem, cilastatin, and relebactam)

RECARBRIO is indicated for the treatment of patients 18 years of age and older with hospital-acquired bacterial pneumonia and ventilator-associated bacterial pneumonia, caused by the following susceptible Gram-negative microorganisms: Acinetobacter calcoaceticus-baumannii complex, Enterobacter cloacae, Escherichia coli, Haemophilus influenzae, Klebsiella aerogenes, Klebsiella oxytoca, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Serratia marcescens.

RECARBRIO is also indicated in patients 18 years of age and older who have limited or no alternative treatment options, for the treatment of complicated urinary tract infections (cUTI), including pyelonephritis, caused by the following susceptible Gram-negative microorganisms: Enterobacter cloacae, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella aerogenes, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

RECARBRIO is also indicated in patients 18 years of age and older who have limited or no alternative treatment options, for the treatment of complicated intra-abdominal infections (cIAI) caused by the following susceptible gram-negative microorganisms: Bacteroides caccae, Bacteroides fragilis, Bacteroides ovatus, Bacteroides stercoris, Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron, Bacteroides uniformis, Bacteroides vulgatus, Citrobacter freundii, Enterobacter cloacae, Escherichia coli, Fusobacterium nucleatum, Klebsiella aerogenes, Klebsiella oxytoca, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Parabacteroides distasonis and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Approval of the cUTI and cIAI indications are based on limited clinical safety and efficacy data for RECARBRIO.

To reduce the development of drug-resistant bacteria and maintain the effectiveness of RECARBRIO and other antibacterial drugs, RECARBRIO should be used only to treat or prevent infections that are proven or strongly suspected to be caused by susceptible bacteria. When culture and susceptibility information is available, they should be considered in selecting or modifying antibacterial therapy. In the absence of such data, local epidemiology and susceptibility patterns may contribute to the empiric selection of therapy.

About Merck

For more than 125 years, Merck, known as MSD outside of the United States and Canada, has been inventing for life, bringing forward medicines and vaccines for many of the worlds most challenging diseases in pursuit of our mission to save and improve lives. We demonstrate our commitment to patients and population health by increasing access to health care through far-reaching policies, programs and partnerships. Today, Merck continues to be at the forefront of research to prevent and treat diseases that threaten people and animals including cancer, infectious diseases such as HIV and Ebola, and emerging animal diseases as we aspire to be the premier research-intensive biopharmaceutical company in the world. For more information, visit http://www.merck.com and connect with us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and LinkedIn.

Forward-Looking Statement of Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, N.J., USA

This news release of Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, N.J., USA (the company) includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of the companys management and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. There can be no guarantees with respect to pipeline products that the products will receive the necessary regulatory approvals or that they will prove to be commercially successful. If underlying assumptions prove inaccurate or risks or uncertainties materialize, actual results may differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements.

Risks and uncertainties include but are not limited to, general industry conditions and competition; general economic factors, including interest rate and currency exchange rate fluctuations; the impact of the recent global outbreak of novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19); the impact of pharmaceutical industry regulation and health care legislation in the United States and internationally; global trends toward health care cost containment; technological advances, new products and patents attained by competitors; challenges inherent in new product development, including obtaining regulatory approval; the companys ability to accurately predict future market conditions; manufacturing difficulties or delays; financial instability of international economies and sovereign risk; dependence on the effectiveness of the companys patents and other protections for innovative products; and the exposure to litigation, including patent litigation, and/or regulatory actions.

The company undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Additional factors that could cause results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements can be found in the companys 2019 Annual Report on Form 10-K and the companys other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) available at the SECs Internet site (www.sec.gov).

Please see Prescribing Information for RECARBRIO (imipenem, cilastatin, and relebactam) at https://www.merck.com/product/usa/pi_circulars/r/recarbrio/recarbrio_pi.pdf

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FDA Approves Merck's RECARBRIO (imipenem, cilastatin, and relebactam) for the Treatment of Adults with Hospital-Acquired and Ventilator-Associated...

For years, alternative medicine has proven to be a controversial topic, to say the least. For so long, the western world especially has taken the view that alternative medicines are decidedly dangerous for use. The result has been that many of these alternative medicines - including CBD (or, cannabidiol) - have been categorised in the same group as illicit substances like cocaine, ecstasy, ice, and heroin. It is not fair, however that is the fact of the matter. While Chinese medicine has long embraced the advantages, benefits, and powers of alternative medicine, the western world has always lagged behind.

Until now, that is. A growing pool of research and studies over the years - and especially in recent years - has led to the readjustment of the legal status of alternative medicines like CBD. This is still very much a work in progress, however it is a work in progress that is making greater and more positive strides all the time. This is just the start and the best is yet to come. That is a point that is worth celebrating and encouraging forward. Even so, it is important to understand the journey up until this point so as to better understand the journey forward and beyond.

The shift in attitude towards alternative medicines

Recently - and especially over the last twelve months or so - we have seen a tremendous amount of growth and overall acceptance for the fact that alternative medicines are not as bad for us (if they are bad at all, which, spoiler alert, most of them truly are not) as we have been led to believe for quite some time. The growing pool of research and studies caters to the fact that we are finally experiencing and seeing a shift in attitude towards alternative medicines that is opening the gateway for a healthier and more positive future for medicine altogether.

Alternative medicine businesses getting more funding

We are finally seeing alternative medicine businesses get the funding that they have always deserved. CBD oil is just one example of the tremendous power of research and studies. In recent years especially, there has been a growing pool of research and studies that have all proven to be a testament to the fact that CBD is a positively powerful natural treatment for many aches and pains that the body and even the mind can go through. In fact, the CBD market is expected to reach a global value of $20 billion by the year 2024. That is a massive prospective growth and it speaks volumes of the power and promise in alternative medicine.

What this means for the future and beyond

Heading into the future and beyond, we are going to keep seeing alternative medicine businesses continue to take their place on centre stage, getting the funding and recognition that they have always deserved. This is just the start, however it is a start that is gaining more and more momentum all the time. The era of alternative medicine is just now getting started. The best is yet to come and that is a point to celebrate and encourage onward and upward.

This article does not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors or management of EconoTimes

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Funding for alternative medicine businesses on the rise around the globe - EconoTimes

Written by Tabassum Barnagarwala | Mumbai | Updated: June 5, 2020 10:25:00 am Arsenicum Album is prescribed for various common illnesses. (Express photo by Pradip Das)

A homoeopathic drug, Arsenicum album 30, has become a subject of debate after several states recommended it for prophylactic (preventive) use against Covid-19. This was after the Ministry of AYUSH listed the drug among preventive and prophylactic simple remedies against Covid-19.

The debate stems from the fact that there is no scientific evidence that the drug works against Covid-19, a fact stressed not only by medical scientists but also by some homoeopathic practitioners themselves.

Read this story in Bangla

Arsenicum album 30 has been recommended by the state governments in Rajasthan, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Kerala. While the Maharashtra government is yet to take a formal decision, Mumbai civic authorities have been distributing the drug to high-risk populations in at least two wards. The Haryana prisons department and Mumbai police too are also distributing the drug to prisoners and officers respectively.

Even in states that have no protocol for using the drug against Covid-19, there have been reports about people flocking to homeopathic clinics to buy Arsenicum album, sometimes at triple the cost. Even local chemists have started stocking this medicine.

The drug

Arsenicum album is made by heating arsenic with distilled water, a process repeated several times over three days. The health hazards of arsenic contamination in water are well known: long-term exposure to the metal can cause skin cancer, pulmonary and cardiovascular diseases. The homoeopathic drug has less than 1% arsenic, said Dr Amrish Vijayakar of Predictive Homoeopathy Clinic in Mumbai.

Arsenicum album is considered to correct inflammation in body. It takes care of diarrhoea, cough and cold, he said. A small bottle with one course costs Rs 20-30.

Professor G Vithoulkas writes in an article published by the International Academy of Classical Homeopathy that Arsenicum album is used commonly by homeopaths to treat anxiety, restlessness, cold, ulcerations, burning pains. It is taken in powder form or as a tablet.

Dont miss from Explained | Can alternative medicine work against the coronavirus?

The Covid-19 context

On January 28, at its 64th meeting, the Scientific Advisory Board of the Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy (CCRH) opined that Arsenicum album 30 could be taken as prophylactic medicine against Coronavirus infections. The CCRH released a fact sheet stating this medicine is only a possible prevention against flu. The following day, the Ayush Ministry recommended taking the medicine for three days on an empty stomach and repeating the dose after a month if an outbreak continues locally.

On March 6, by when India had recorded five Covid-19 cases, Rajesh Kotecha, Secretary in the Ayush Ministry, wrote to all chief secretaries listing out preventive and prophylactic measures. His letter recommended a three-day dose of Arsenicum album 30 as a prophylactic. The following day, the Ministry released another notification with preventive and prophylactic simple remedies against Covid-19-like illness and listed Arsenicum album 30 as a homeopathic solution.

Arsenicum album 30, daily once in empty stomach for three days. The dose should be repeated after one month by following the same schedule till Corona virus infections prevalent in the community, the letter said.

For symptom management, the letter listed Arsenicum album among various homeopathic treatments, including Bryonia alba, Rhus toxico dendron, Belladona and Gelmesium. Homeopathy has reportedly been used for prevention during the epidemic of cholera, Spanish influenza, yellow fever, scarlet fever, diphtheria, typhoid, etc, it said.

Read| Ayurveda medicine approved for clinical trials on COVID-19 patients

The letter said during the 2014 Ebola outbreak, an expert committee in the World Health Organization (WHO) recommended it is ethical to offer unproven interventions with as yet unknown efficacy and adverse effects, as potential treatment on prevention keeping in view no vaccine or anti-virals were available.

Following the Ministrys recommendations, various state governments and district authorities have started distributing the medicine, in some cases free.

The Central Drug Standard Control Organisation last month issued a notification allowing private practitioners to try alternative remedies like Ayurveda and homoeopathy to treat Covid-19.

Wheres the science?

Dr Balram Bhargava, director of the Indian Council of Medical Research told The Indian Express, We have issued no guidelines regarding the medicine.

The WHO has no guidelines on using Arsenicum album as a Covid-19 treatment either. No evidence that it works, WHO chief scientist Dr Soumya Swaminathan told The Indian Express.

The Maharashtra government has set up a task-force to evaluate the homoeopathic drug and decide whether it should be used against Covid-19. Its members said they remain undecided. Dr Archana Patil, joint director in the Public Health Department, said Maharashtra is allowing the drugs use as an immunity booster, like vitamin C tablets, but not encouraging it as a prophylactic. There is no scientific evidence that it works as prophylactic. So, we are not encouraging it universally for everyone, she said.

Mumbai corporator Alpa Jadhav remembered seeing locals roaming around her area one day, although the lockdown was in effect. They said they had taken Arsenicum album. It was scary; they believe this medicine can save them from coronavirus.

Concerns within the field

With no clinical trial or large-scale study having been undertaken anywhere to scientifically validate the use of Arsenicum album 30 as a preventive medication, the massive demand has worried some homeopaths, too. Dr Vijayakar said their organisation has written to the Ayush Ministry asking why no trial has been conducted to assess its efficacy before recommending it.

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The Ayush Ministry has based its recommendation on existing use of the medicine for respiratory illness and influenza. Several homeopaths have pointed out that each individual reacts differently to homeopathic medicines and one medicine cannot be universally held as a prophylactic for all. It can only be a part of the treatment, if at all, said Dr Bahubali Shah, a homeopathy practitioner.

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Stefanie Miller* is worried. Ive read that when they gave the Sars / CoV vaccine, it actually caused lesions on the lungs in mice, she wrote in a Facebook group where parents share alternative health advice for themselves and their children. Who knows what damage this one will cause? Soon the post has dozens of replies, with other people most of them young mothers sharing their own fears about a potential vaccine for Covid-19, the disease that has now killed over 376,000 people since it first appeared in Wuhan at the end of 2019.

For most people, the relentless focus on vaccines weve seen over the past four months is a departure from the norm. While for decades vaccines were simply another part of growing up, the race to create a vaccine is now front page news, with progress updates making a regular feature in the UK governments daily press briefings. Conversations about the long-term impacts of coronavirus inevitably veer into the unknowns around a vaccine. How long will it take? Where will it be developed? Who will be the first to benefit if we do get one?

But for a vocal minority, vaccines have always been something to fret about. The Covid-19 pandemic and the subsequent hunt for a vaccine comes at a time when confidence in vaccines is at worryingly low levels in many countries. In a 2018 study for the European Commission, the Vaccine Confidence Project found that in France just 70 per cent of people thought that vaccines were generally safe. In August 2019, after several years of declining MMR coverage, the UK lost its status as a country that has eliminated measles. In late 2018, Brooklyn, New York City saw the largest outbreak of the disease in nearly 30 years.

For many who either delay or refuse to be vaccinated something that the World Health Organisation classes as vaccine hesitancy a rapidly-developed vaccine for a novel disease is precisely the kind of situation they had been discussing in Facebook groups and on YouTube videos for years. In an era of doubt, and amid a soup of online misinformation, confidence in vaccines is under threat like never before.

We need to recognise that there is a general public who have very valid questions and concerns, and we need to engage them because were losing, says Heidi Larson, a professor at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and the director of the Vaccine Confidence Project (VCP), which tracks public confidence in vaccines. The VCP has already started measuring public sentiment around Covid-19 and Larson has been sending regular briefings to Public Health England about attitudes in the UK.

The battle over vaccine confidence is most visibly waged online. An analysis of Facebook data from scientists at the George Washington University in Washington, D.C. found that anti-vaccine groups were more effective at spreading their message to neutral Facebook pages than those groups that were explicitly pro-vaccine. As an analysis by WIRED found, anti-vaccine disinformation is often catapulted from more ideologically-driven Facebook pages onto local community pages. There, conspiracy theories jostle for attention alongside posts about church gatherings, local restaurants and road closures.

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Larson says that public health authorities will need to shift their thinking in order to engage with people who are hesitant towards vaccines. For decades public health has largely seen under-vaccination as a problem of access, a matter of making sure that everyone who needed a vaccine has access to one. Indeed, it is a cruel side effect of the Covid-19 pandemic that almost 40 million children in Pakistan missed their polio vaccination after nationwide programmes were halted.

But the nature of vaccine hesitancy is very different. As well as people who are ideologically opposed to vaccination, Facebook groups promoting alternative treatments are full of people who teeter on the edge of vaccine hesitancy and find a responsive audience of committed vaccine doubters armed with reasons why they should shun vaccinations for their children. We're afraid to get out of our traditional box and go into that messy, emotional space. But that's where they all live, says Larson. We need a whole bucket of new tech savvy, smart people who know the current dynamic.

What people see and hear on the news matters as well. In the UK press, and at the government daily briefings, a lot of focus has been put on the speed with which vaccines are being developed. While the government is trying to strike a tone of optimistic reassurance, for some vaccine hesitant people this has the opposite effect. So they are fast-tracking a coronavirus vaccine, one woman wrote in a Facebook post to a group about alternative medicine. No studies of safety or guarantees if indeed it will in fact work.

Several people we spoke to expressed their own versions of these fears. One woman worried about the speed with which vaccines were being developed, and the motivations of companies developing them. Another wondered whether a vaccine would be effective or not, and why some countries had been less affected by the coronavirus than others. One consistent point of worry is whether a coronavirus vaccine will be mandatory or not. On May 4, health secretary Matt Hancock said it was unlikely that any vaccine would be compulsory.

Larson says that the government needs to take more care to keep the public engaged in what is happening with a potential vaccine and to be realistic about the odds of the development efforts succeeding. We don't even know what will happen, she says. There could be all this expectation and nothing. Remember HIV? The vaccine we were definitely going to have in five years, 30 years ago?

There is also an opportunity here to demonstrate the value of vaccines beyond the obvious health benefits. We wouldn't be in lockdown if we had a vaccine. We wouldn't have this total economic disaster if we have a vaccine, Larson says. There could be a generation of people for whom vaccines are not just a momentary childhood inconvenience, but the road that returned us back to normality after an unprecedented level of disruption all over the globe.

Its too early to tell whether Covid-19 will be the moment that arrested the rising tide of vaccine hesitancy, but if that is to be the case, public health authorities will have to find a way to engage those who are already preparing for a fight over a Covid-19 vaccine. So heres the plan, one person wrote on the alternative health Facebook page. Once this coronavirus vaccine comes out us anti-vaxxers need to lie low. [...] it looks like anyone who doesnt comply will be treated as an untouchable.

*Name has been changed

Matt Reynolds is WIRED's science editor. He tweets from @mattsreynolds1

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Coronavirus is the day of reckoning for the anti-vaccine movement - Wired.co.uk

By: Lifestyle Desk | New Delhi | Updated: June 2, 2020 2:22:35 pm A lot of people have taken to talking about immunity-boosting measures, along with Actor Anushka Sharma. (Source: Getty/Thinkstock Images)

Ever since the coronavirus has impacted the world, immunity boosters have become the buzzword. A lot of people have taken to talking about immunity-boosting measures, along with actor Anushka Sharma who has been sharing tidbits from her lockdown days along with husband and cricketer Virat Kohli.

Alkaline water has a ph level 8 to 10 against the pH level of 6.5 to 7.5 for drinking water. This gives a measure of how acidic or basic a substance is on a scale of 0-14. Generally, regular drinking water has a ph of 7 making it neither acidic nor alkaline. Alkaline water has antioxidant properties and helps to fight free radicals.

There are quite a few studies which highlight the benefits of drinking alkaline water. According to one published in Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, alkaline water provides higher longevity in terms of deceleration in ageing as it increases survival functions. In another study published in the Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, a significant difference was observed in the whole blood viscosity of participants after consuming alkaline water as opposed to drinking regular water after a vigorous workout.

A study published in Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine indicated that drinking alkaline water may prevent osteoporosis and protect pancreatic beta cells with its antioxidant effects.

How does alkaline water boost ones immunity?

An excess amount of toxic compounds in the body means it will have to work extra hard to maintain its biological functions. This may lead to weakness. On the other hand, alkaline water neutralises these toxic compounds present in the body. Moreover, alkaline water is more easily absorbed by the body. This allows your body to use the water you drink effectively, and toxins and harmful substances are flushed out of your system more easily.

Drinking alkaline water regularly can improve the performance of your circulatory system, says Dr Suresh Sisodia, Sr. Vice President, Havells India Ltd. It alters the quality of blood in such a way that more oxygen is carried to vital organs. All benefits of alkaline water work in tandem to make the immune system stronger in order to fight foreign pathogens and infections.

Due to its basic nature, alkaline water neutralises the acidic content in the bloodstream, lowers the Oxidation Reduction Potential (ORP) resulting in the antioxidant nature of water while introducing a variety of natural minerals to regular drinking water. Drinking alkaline water has umpteen number of health benefits such as supporting digestion and assimilation, strengthening of bones, weight reduction, better hydration for skin and body alongside other benefits such as anti-ageing and detoxifying properties, etc, added Dr Sisodia.

Further, it also relieves acid reflux, which affects people who eat cuisines that tend to be spicy. Additionally, alkaline water has antioxidant properties that help to prevent the growth of cell-damaging free radicals, which can accelerate the ageing process.

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