National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health

A study by investigators from NCCIH and the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR at NIH), published in the journal Nature, provides new insights into how the nervous system detects heat and touch and how inflammation modifies these processes to trigger pain.   The findings of this study may be helpful in developing effective treatments for different types of pain. https://go.nih.gov/r9WWurP   #Neuroscience #PainManagement #Inflammation

Looking for reliable health resources online? Check out our Know the Science health literacy toolkit. We have a new set of tools to help identify websites, social media sites, and apps that are trustworthy and also help to distinguish news from advertising. https://go.nih.gov/P5ehY4y

The new Whole Person Health Index developed by NCCIH and the National Center for Health Statistics will enable researchers to gain insight into how an individual’s overall health is changing over time. Learn more here: https://go.nih.gov/0uqFy92

Aromatherapy is the use of essential oils from plants as a complementary health approach. It is sometimes incorporated into massage therapy for arthritis or other conditions. Learn more about aromatherapy here: https://go.nih.gov/Xdt1vUq

Different types of magnets may be used for pain management, including electromagnets and static or permanent magnets. Here’s what we know about these magnets and the different pain conditions they are used for:  https://go.nih.gov/vCO4WKW  

In health care and research, there’s often a gap in capturing the full picture of an individual’s overall health. This blog post by NCCIH Director Helene M. Langevin highlights an exciting new survey tool: the Whole Person Health Index (WPHI). This tool integrates individual-level biological and behavioral factors for use in research, public health, and patient care. Read the full blog post here: https://go.nih.gov/etUWU8t

Looking for reliable health resources online? Check out our Know the Science health literacy toolkit.     We have a new set of tools to help you find out whether websites, social media sites, and apps are trustworthy and to help you distinguish news from advertising. https://go.nih.gov/P5ehY4y     #KnowTheScience #HealthLiteracy #SocialMedia #Apps #Advertising 

In her new director’s message, NCCIH Director Helene M. Langevin discusses the ways in which The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is advancing research on whole person health to improve health outcomes and inform better care for everyone.     With the right methods, datasets, health models, and artificial intelligence tools, NIH is equipping researchers to chart new territory in understanding the causes of disease and the drivers of health. https://go.nih.gov/dsUboAs 

It’s Stress Awareness Month. We have resources for you on complementary health approaches and stress. See what the science says about approaches like relaxation techniques and yoga for stress relief!    #StressAwarenessMonth #StressManagement #Yoga  https://go.nih.gov/3O83QxD  

Many people use creatine supplements to try to enhance athletic performance. Creatine is an amino acid produced by the body and a popular dietary supplement. Learn more about the use and safety of creatine here:    https://go.nih.gov/Jnw5xwv