Efficacy of Alternative and Other Treatments According to GRADE* Ranking:
Strychnos Nux-Vomica (Maqianzi, Poison Nut) [1, 26, 27, 28]:
WARNING! This substance is HIGHLY POISONOUS. The seeds contain Strychnine, which may cause convulsions, breathing difficulties and death, even if as little as 5 milligrams is ingested
Recommendation: Strongly against (There is no evidence in the form of clinical trials which reports the effectiveness of Strychnos Nux-Vomica, because it is highly poisonous to humans, and is not recommended.)
Grade of Evidence: very low quality of evidence
Mugwort (Artemisa Vulgaris) [1, 23, 24, 25]:
Please note, this management does NOT treat the condition itself. It has been proposed only as a weak supportive symptomatic support, and even then, has been discounted due life-threatening side effects
Recommendation: No recommendation (There is insufficient evidence to support claims that mugwart helps to treat vomiting. More research is needed.)
Grade of Evidence: very low quality of evidence
Cannabis (Marijuana, weed, hemp) [1, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22]:
Please note, this management does NOT treat the condition itself. It may mildly help with some of the symptoms, and even then has insufficient evidence to back up this claim at present.
Recommendation: Weakly in favor (Evidence shows that smoking or ingesting cannabis may help in relieving symptoms of vomiting, although some studies have yielded mixed results)
Grade of Evidence: low quality of evidence
Green Tea [1, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13]:
Please note, this management does NOT treat the condition itself. It may mildly help with some of the symptoms, and even then has insufficient evidence to back up this claim at present.
Recommendation: Weakly in favor (There is insufficient evidence to support claims that Green Tea helps to treat vomiting in any way. Although reports are positive, more studies are needed.)
Grade of Evidence: low quality of evidence
Ginger [1, 6, 7, 8]:
Please note, this management does NOT treat the condition itself. It may mildly help with some of the symptoms, and even then has insufficient evidence to back up this claim at present.
Recommendation: no recommendation (Research regarding claims that ginger helps treat vomiting has yielded mixed results)
Grade of Evidence: low quality of evidence
Cloves (Caryophyllum Aromaticum, Eugenia Caryophyllata) [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]:
Please note, this management does NOT treat the condition itself. It may mildly help with some of the symptoms, and even then has insufficient evidence to back up this claim at present.
Recommendation: no recommendation (There is insufficient evidence to support claims that Cloves help to treat vomiting in any way)
Grade of Evidence: very low quality of evidence
Reiki:
Please note, this management does NOT treat the condition itself. It may mildly help with some of the symptoms, and even then has insufficient evidence to back up this claim at present.
Recommendation: no recommendation (Research shows that at least some patients have reduced nausea after treatment with Reiki, although results were ambiguous)
Grade of Evidence: very low quality of evidence
Acupuncture:
Recommendation: weakly in favor(recent early evidence shows that Acupuncture may at least mildy help reduce symptoms of nausea)
Grade of Evidence: low quality of evidence
Hypnosis:
Recommendation: strongly in favor (Research has shown that hypnosis helps reduce anticipatory nausea)
Grade of Evidence: low quality of evidence
Image Therapy:
Recommendation: strongly in favor (Research has shown that image therapy helps reduce anticipatory nausea)
Grade of Evidence: low quality of evidence
Music Therapy:
Recommendation: strongly in favor (Research has shown that music therapy does indeed help reduce symptoms of nausea)
Grade of Evidence: moderate quality of evidence
* www.gradeworkinggroup.org
Summary References
Treatments:
1. Ades T, Alteri R, Gansler T, Yeargin P, "Complete Guide to Complimentary & Alternative Cancer Therapies", American Cancer Society, Atlanta USA, 2009
2. Balch, Phyllis and Balch, James. Prescription for Nutritional Healing, 3rd ed., Avery Publishing, ©2000, pg. 94.
3. Chinese Herbal Medicine: Materia Medica, Third Edition by Dan Bensky, Steven Clavey, Erich Stoger, and Andrew Gamble 2004
4. http://www.cancer.org/Treatment/TreatmentsandSideEffects/ComplementaryandAlternativeMedicine/HerbsVitaminsandMinerals/cloves
5. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/natural/patient-clove.html
6. http://www.cancer.org/Treatment/TreatmentsandSideEffects/ComplementaryandAlternativeMedicine/HerbsVitaminsandMinerals/ginger
7. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/natural/patient-ginger.html
8. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10793599
9. http://www.cancer.org/Treatment/TreatmentsandSideEffects/ComplementaryandAlternativeMedicine/HerbsVitaminsandMinerals/green-tea
10. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16968850
11. http://www.denverpost.com/nationworld/ci_4326770
12. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/natural/patient-green_tea.html
13. http://nccam.nih.gov/health/greentea/index.htm
14. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/marijuana.html
15. http://nccam.nih.gov/research/extramural/awards/2004/
16. http://www.cancer.org/Treatment/TreatmentsandSideEffects/ComplementaryandAlternativeMedicine/HerbsVitaminsandMinerals/marijuana
17. http://www.nationalmssociety.org/about-multiple-sclerosis/what-we-know-about-ms/treatments/complementary--alternative-medicine/marijuana/index.aspx
18. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16957511
19. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12965981
20. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17589370
21. http://mct.aacrjournals.org/content/6/11/2921.long
22. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2562334/?tool=pmcentrez
23. Anliker MD, Borelli S, Wüthrich B. Occupational protein contact dermatitis from spices in a butcher: a new presentation of the mugwort-spice syndrome. Contact Dermatitis. 2002;46:72-74.
24. http://www.cancer.org/Treatment/TreatmentsandSideEffects/ComplementaryandAlternativeMedicine/HerbsVitaminsandMinerals/mugwort
25. Fetrow CW, Avila JR. Professional's Handbook of Complementary & Alternative Medicines. Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2004.
26. David Michael Wood et al. Case report: Survival after deliberate strychnine self-poisoning, with toxicokinetic data. Critical Care October 2002 Vol 6 No 5
27. Arnold, M.D., Harry L. (1968). Poisonous Plants of Hawaii. Tokyo, Japan: Charles E. Tuttle Co.. p. 20. ISBN 0804804745.
28. http://www.cancer.org/Treatment/TreatmentsandSideEffects/ComplementaryandAlternativeMedicine/HerbsVitaminsandMinerals/strychnos-nux-vomica
