National University of Natural Medicine (NUNM) examining Pau d’ Arco for primary dysmenorrhea
A clinical trial is being conducted at the National University of Natural Medicine (NUNM) exploring natural alternatives for period pain.
Naturopathic medicine student, Christine McClure, and Dr. Ryan Bradley, ND, MPH are conducting a clinical trial at the National University of Natural Medicine (NUNM) examining Pau d’ Arco for primary dysmenorrhea.
This trial needs funding!
Please visit www.fundpainfreeperiods.com to donate and share this campaign with your community!
Why Period Pain?
Over 90% of menstruating women are negatively impacted by primary dysmenorrhea and experience pelvic pain on a regular basis. This often results in significant absenteeism from work and school, with economic losses estimated at $2 billion annually. This is a significant and common problem, with a need for more treatment options.
Why Crowdsource Fundraising?
Women’s health research is understudied and underfunded, which makes it difficult to try to find more solutions. Since there is not a lot of funding for this area of research, a short timeline to find funding, and this problem affecting a significant portion of the population, it made sense to see if the population would like to fund this research.
Why Pau d’ Arco?
Christine chose this herb because she’s seen it work before. The underlying theory is that this herb may work similarly to drugs like ibuprofen, but without the potential side effects. But we need more research to find out.
Why Should I Donate to and Share this Campaign?
This campaign is a student research project based on the social aim of decreasing pain in women, such that they can maintain productivity and a high quality of life all month long. Additionally, this helps naturopathic medicine by increasing positive visibility of our profession and adding to our evidence base. So please donate and share this campaign!
Any Questions?
Reach out to Christine at Christine.McClure@student.nunm.edu or fundpainfreeperiods@gmail.com or Dr. Ryan Bradley at rbradley@nunm.edu.
Ryan Bradley, ND, MPH, received his Doctor of Naturopathy (ND) from Bastyr University in 2003 and his Master of Public Health (MPH) in Epidemiology from the University of Washington in 2009. His primary academic appointment is as the Director of Research and Associate Professor at the National University of Natural Medicine (NUNM) in Portland, OR. He is also faculty in the Division of Preventive Medicine at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD), an Affiliate Associate Professor in the School of Pharmacy at the University of Washington in Seattle, and a Visiting Professor at the University of Technology, Sydney in Sydney, Australia. He is licensed in WA, OR and CA and maintains a private practice in addition to his research and teaching in academia. Dr. Bradley has conducted a wide-variety of epidemiologic, translational and practice-based research focused on complementary and integrative medicine, and he has published in leading peer-reviewed medical journals. He is a highly-rated international speaker on naturopathic medicine, integrative medicine research, and clinical cardio-renal-metabolic disorders. When not working, Ryan enjoys playing in nature.
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Christine McClure is a fourth-year student at the National University of Natural Medicine, obtaining a Doctorate in Naturopathic Medicine and a Master of Science in Integrative Medicine Research. Her thesis for her master’s degree is a clinical trial titled, “The effects of Pau d’ Arco on primary dysmenorrhea.” Before transitioning to NUNM, she obtained a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a bachelor’s degree in women’s studies from Kansas State University. Her primary focus in medicine and research is women’s health. Combining clinical experience and a focus in research, Christine plans to pursue a residency and postdoctoral fellowship after graduation.
