In 2007, the National Health Interview Survey reported that 83 million adults spent $33.9 billion out-of-pocket on complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) therapies in the United States. Surprisingly, little is known about how CAM therapies promote health.
Dr. Lisa Hodge’s lab studies the effects of CAM on the lymphatic and immune systems. The lymphatic system preserves tissue health, aids in the digestion of food, and stimulates immunity by moving tissue fluid into circulation. Failure of the lymphatic system has been implicated in diseases such as inflammation, autoimmunity, cardiovascular disease, obesity, and edema. Her research examines the effect of CAM therapies on diseases such as pneumonia, inflammatory bowel disease, edema, and cancer. By stimulating the lymphatic system, CAM therapies (such as osteopathic manipulation) may boost the immune system and drain inflammatory substances, dead cells, microbes, and toxins from diseased tissue. Studies such as these are essential to identify the mechanism(s) of action of CAM therapies and provide an evidence-base for their clinical use.