Media release

From: NICM

The National Institute of Complementary Medicine, Australia’s leader in integrative and complementary medicine research, has several studies people can participate in, from simple surveys, to clinical trials testing treatments for painful conditions.

NICM clinical trials investigate the efficacy and safety of various complementary medicine interventions including herbal and natural medicines, nutraceuticals, acupuncture, yoga and Tai Chi and medicinal cannabis.

Director of Research, Associate Professor Mike Armour, said the studies were an opportunity for people to help shape the future of medicine and do their bit in potentially changing lives.

“Our research ultimately aims to ease the burden of chronic disease and illness with complementary and integrative medicine interventions, so people can take part knowing they are helping make a difference to healthcare,” he said.

“We rely on participants to be able to do these studies and without them, important research like this couldn’t happen. Even if you’re not personally experiencing one of the conditions we are researching, you likely know someone who is, so we also need people to champion our cause and help spread awareness of complementary and integrative medicine.”

Associate Professor Armour leads NICM’s women’s health research, with projects looking at how to better treat period pain, pelvic pain, endometriosis, menopause and more.

NICM is running several medicinal cannabis trials to treat women’s health conditions.

“NICM researchers have been working to advance the scientific evidence-base around medicinal cannabis for many years, conducing several clinical trials to investigate its safety, effective and dosage range,” Associate Professor Armour said.

Several NICM researchers including A/Prof Mike Armour and PhD candidates Justin Sinclair and Andrew Proudfoot are lauded for their work on medicinal cannabis, providing submissions to government, being invited to provide expert review and commentary, and speaking to both health professionals and the community about the potential effectiveness and safety of medicinal cannabis, especially in relation to the treatment of endometriosis and women’s health.

NICM’s research focuses on four key nodes:

• Supporting mental and cognitive health – dementia, mild cognitive impairment, depression and other mental health disorders
• Supporting cardiovascular and metabolic health– diabetes, metabolic syndrome, stroke, and cardiac rehabilitation
• Supporting women’s health across the lifespan – endometriosis, dysmenorrhea, polycystic ovarian syndrome, infertility, menopause
• Supporting integrative cancer care – side effects associated with chemo- and radiotherapies such as lymphedema, insomnia, nausea and vomiting, urinary incontinence, fatigue, and hot flashes

To find out more about each study, visit:

https://www.westernsydney.edu.au/nicm/research/participate-in-research