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Background: A large part of the population in Germany makes use of naturopathic, complementary and integrative medical treatments. There are now numerous scientific studies that provide evidence of efficacy for certain indications. At German medical faculties, selected procedures and their application are taught within the cross-sectoral unit called QB 12 and some elective courses, with a focus on specific aspects are offered. So far, however, there has been no structured curriculum that longitudinally anchors teaching across medical studies and enables all students to consider naturopathic and complementary medical options for patient care later on and to integrate them effectively into the diagnostic and treatment process. Objective: The aim of this position paper is to show the relevance of this topic for medical education, to clarify terminology and to present core competencies and possible implementation options for training. Method: The Integrative Medicine and Perspective Pluralism Committee of the German Association for Medical Education developed this position paper in a multi-stage consensual process, in cooperation with the Forum of University Work Groups on Naturopathic Treatment and Complementary Medicine. Results: First, different umbrella terms were discussed and an existing definition of integrative medicine and health was chosen for subsequent use. Building on this step, the status of education and its scientific foundation in Germany was considered in an international context. In the next step, a competency profile for medical training, consisting of seven areas of competency, was developed and described in detail with regard to naturopathic, complementary and integrative medicine. Implementation options were identified using possible starting points in the curriculum and using established examples of best practice. Conclusion: Despite different priorities at each faculty, it was possible to find an agreement on the development of competencies and anchoring them in medical education on the basis of a common definition of terms. Currently, the implementation in the mandatory and elective areas is very heterogeneous. As part of the current revision of the Medical Licensure Act, there are many possible starting points for the integration of naturopathic and complementary medical teaching content, especially in interprofessional and general practice courses. The implementation and accompanying research of targeted teaching settings should lay the foundations for a long-term and binding integration into medical education. Overall, it is clear that medical education in the field of naturopathy and complementary and integrative medicine has the potential to develop comprehensive core medical competencies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Non-conventional medical practices that make use of dietary supplements, herbal extracts, physical manipulations, and other practices typically associated with folk and Traditional Medicine are increasingly becoming popular in Western Countries. These practices are commonly referred to by the generic, all-inclusive term “Complementary and Alternative Medicine.” Scientists, practitioners, and medical institutions bear the responsibility of testing and proving the effectiveness of these non-conventional medical practices in the interest of patients. In this context, the number of peer-reviewed journals and published articles on this topic has greatly increased in the recent decades. In this editorial article, we illustrate the policy of the Journal of Traditional and Complementary Medicine for publishing solid and scientifically sound papers in the field of Traditional and Complementary Medicine.

Introduction: Plantar Fasciitis (PF) is an overuse syndrome as it develops over time. It is most frequently seen in both the non-athletic and athletic populations. PF is a multifactorial and self-limiting disorder that several factors are involved in its onset. Many well-established treatments are available for plantar heel pain. The purpose of this review is to determine the effectiveness of dry needling for the management of PF. Materials and Methods: This article is a review study, in which we present the studies that compare dry needling with other treatments for the management of plantar heel pain. We included all of the studies on patients with plantar heel pain and plantar fasciitis that investigated the effects of dry needling. Finally, seven articles were included in this review. The study designs were randomized controlled, quasi-experimental, and case-control. The Physiotherapy Evidence-based Database (PED) scale was used to measure the methodological quality of the studies. Results: The PEDro scoring of the articles ranged between 2.10-7.10. The results of this review show that dry needling may be useful in improving the pain of individuals with plantar heel pain and plantar fasciitis. Conclusion: Further high-quality research studies are needed to determine the effectiveness of dry needling in the management of plantar heel pain. Because a variety of protocol treatments of dry needling were used in the studies, we cannot recommend dry needling schedule prescriptions for the management of individuals with plantar heel pain and plantar fasciitis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A quantitative and qualitative assessment of global research output (2016) on the "Rhodiola rosea" plant based on select bibliometric indicators, using Scopus database covering period 1993-2018, is presented here. Analyzed data on a series of bibliometric measures, like average annual growth, citations per paper, international collaborative papers, relative citation index, activity index, top productive countries, organizations, authors, journals and highly cited papers. The global publications registered an annual average growth rate of 12.97% and its citation impact averaged to 17.59 citations per paper. China and USA together account for more than 36% share of global output on Rhodiola rosea, whereas other 8 top ranking countries accounted each for global share between 4.06% and 7.60% during 2003-18. 83.04% global publication share and 89.95% global citation share has been contributed by top 10 countries during 2003-18. Sweden (2.78), Canada (1.17) and USA (1.11) registered the highest relative citation index among top 10 countries during 2003-18. Swedish Herbal Institute, Askloster, Sweden (21 papers), Medical University of Warsaw, Poland (14 papers), Corvinus University of Budapest, Hungary were the three the most productive organizations and Z. Gyorgy and A. Panossian (18 papers each) and G. Wikman (14 papers) were the three top most productive authors. Phytomedicine (25 papers), Phytotherapy Research (21 papers) and Evidence-based Complementary and Alternate Medicine (15 papers) were the three leading journals contributing research in this area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This letter is to highlight errors made by Liu et al. in their 2020 paper in BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies, "Complementary and alternative medicine—practice, attitudes, and knowledge among healthcare professionals in New Zealand: an integrative review". Substantial errors in their citation of the recent research and methodology by McDowell, Kohut & Betts (2019) pertaining to the practice of acupuncture in New Zealand by physiotherapists are presented. The actual results of McDowell et al.'s work and the true state of acupuncture use by their sample group is reported. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. This article aims to analyze the research status of integrative complementary medicine (ICM) and features of highly cited papers in the field to provide reference of the future development of ICM. Methods. Publications in the field of ICM from 2009 to 2018 were retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection. The top 20 countries/territories, institutions, journals, keywords of highly cited and noncited papers, and characteristics of essential science indicator (ESI) papers, as well as open access (OA) and non-OA papers, were analyzed. Results. Mainland China had the largest number of ICM publications. The top 20 journals published a total of 31667 papers in 2009–2018, which represented 92.9% of all publications. Keywords of highly cited and noncited papers point to different research directions. 48 ESI highly cited/hot papers were identified, most of which are related to phytochemistry. Furthermore, the average citation rate (percentage of publications that have been cited one or more times) of OA papers was lower than that of total papers and non-OA papers. Conclusions. China leads in number of publications; however, publication quality in ICM field requires improvement. A few journals accounted for more than half of number of publications and citations, which are important for the development of ICM. Many of the keywords in ICM noncited publications pointed towards broad meaning that poorly reflect the exact research content. Most highly cited ICM studies focused on the identification and evaluation of plant active components. OA may not be an effective approach to increase paper citations in the field of ICM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Herbal medicine has been growing in popularity over the last few years. One of the most often used herbal remedy is Withania somnifera, more widely known as Ashwagandha Now known for its anti-stress, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-cancer, antianxiety properties it ranks as a cure-all. However, there is a rising amount of alarming reports regarding its safety. It has been observed that its effects are not always beneficial, and for some patients the risks of taking it may be greater than the promoted benefits. Aim of study: The aim of this paper is to evaluate possible risks connected to Withania Somnifera consumption based on available research articles and case reports. Materials and methods: This article is based on the literature found in the PubMed Database from the period of 2004-2024 with the use of keywords such as "Ashwagandha"; "Withania Somnifera", "herbal medicine";"complementary medicine";"liver injury"; "thyrotoxicosis"; "adrenal insufficiency";"autoimmune diseases". Results: The outcomes of all the reviewed studies in this paper indicate that Withania Somnifera might cause a wide range of side effects. They include herb induced liver injury, endocrine complications such as thyrotoxicosis and adrenal insufficiency, acute graft rejection in a kidney transplant recipient and possible contribution to the onset of new autoimmune disease in patient with the history of autoimmune disorders. Conclusion: Further long-term research is needed on the Ashwaghanda's benefits but particularly on its safety and potential side effects. The common education on the risks of taking herbal supplements should be carried out among health professionals and the rest of the society. Ashwagandha should not be used by patients with liver, endocrine and autoimmune disorders as well as transplant recipients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The research paper focused on the significant trends in the Wellness market, its demands and motivational factors, and the wellness tourism research agenda and policies that impact the Asian Wellness tourism industry in an Asian context. In a critical systematic literature review, the articles published on wellness topics in 143 Asian documents were selected from the Scopus and Web of Science databases published between 2003 and 2022. The performance analysis revealed that the theme's production reached an average annual growth rate of 17.67%. The recent trend of wellness tourism in Asian countries is based on wellness retreats that included holistic packages of services such as yoga, meditation, ayurvedic healing, spas, traditional experiences, forest parks, nature sceneries, characteristics food, ancient villages, hot springs, and mental healing. However, the research agenda was usually mixed with health and medical tourism. Health, satisfaction, experiences, and wellness tourism were used the most in the literature. This research paper presents deep insights to help policymakers develop policies which organizes and promotes their country's wellness tourism. It can be a reference document for further studies in wellness tourism in Asian countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction. Lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) is a prevailing condition widely affecting mobility. However, many non-invasive treatments have been proposed for LSS. Physiotherapy is reported as more commonly used with very little evidence reporting the efficacy of alternative medicine. For clinicians, there was a need to find a better mode of treatment. The purpose of this paper is to compare the effectiveness of physiotherapy interventions and alternative medicine for leg pain, back pain, and walking distance in patients with LSS. Methods. Data sources: PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus databases were searched for papers published in the previous 5 years (2016-2020). The systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted from September 2021 to December 2021 at the Musculoskeletal Research Lab of Maharishi Markandeshwaer Institute of Physiotherapy & Rehabilitation. Study selection and outcomes: randomised controlled trials (RCT), randomised clinical trials, randomised cross-over trials, quasi-RCTs, and non-RCTs were included if they evaluated the effects of physiotherapy or alternative medicine on pain and walking distance in patients with LSS. The Numeric Rating Scale (NRS), Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), Self-paced walk test (SPWT), and treadmill walking were used as outcome measures. All the authors independently screened and extracted data from the 8 studies retrieved through the search using a pilot-tested performa. The quality of studies was assessed using the PEDro scale and the Cochrane risk of bias criteria. Result. Meta-analysis was performed using a fixed-effects model that showed (1) Physiotherapy was more effective than the control in improving leg pain. The Standardised mean difference (SMD) (95% CI) in the NRS score for leg pain was found to be 1.12 (0.83, 1.40); (2) Physiotherapy was more effective than the control in improving back pain. The SMD (95% CI) in the NRS score for back pain was 0.29 (-0.18, 0.76); (3) Physiotherapy was more effective than the control in improving walking distance. The SMD (95% CI) for walking distance was found to be 144.59 m (133.16 m, 159.02 m). Conclusions. The results of the present study indicate that physiotherapy has higher significant results than alternative medicine in patients with lumbar spinal stenosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: A significant number of women experience labour without effective pain management and thus suffer from unbearable labour pain to the extent they term labour as the most agonizing event in their lives. Unresolved labour pain can lead to stress, fear, and confusion, which may compromise placental perfusion and lead to birth asphyxia. Although various pharmacological and non-pharmacological labour pain management methods exist, the use of non-pharmacological methods (NPMs) to manage labour pain has remained low in low-resource settings. This paper explored the barriers for using NPMs to manage labour pain by nurse-midwives in eastern Tanzania. Methods: We conducted an exploratory qualitative study with 18 nurse-midwives purposefully recruited from the labour wards of two selected district hospitals in eastern Tanzania. Qualitative content analysis guided the data analysis. Results: Two categories illustrating barriers to using NPMs were generated: individual-level and institutional-level barriers. Individual-level barriers include (i) limited competencies of nurse-midwives on the use of NPMs for managing labour pain, (ii) inadequate exposure to labour pain management practices, (iii) misconceptions about labour pain relief, and (iv) a lack of opportunities for knowledge acquisition. The institutional barriers include (i) a critical staff shortage amidst many clients and (ii) an unfavourable healthcare facility environment. Conclusion: The implementation of NPMs for labour pain management by nurse-midwives in eastern Tanzania faces several institutional and individual barriers. We recommend addressing both supply- and demand-side barriers. Strengthening nurse midwives' competencies in NPMs adoption and use and improving the facility environment to ensure privacy during labour can be a starting point for addressing supply-side issues. We recommend dispelling myths and misconceptions through health promotion education to address demand-side barriers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Nausea is one of the most important symptoms of patients undergoing chemotherapy. This study aims to determine the effects of aromatherapy with sour lemon on nausea in patients undergoing chemotherapy. Methods: A total of 50 patients undergoing chemotherapy were randomly assigned to experimental and placebo (control) groups. The two groups completed the visual analogue scale for nausea before and the first to the fourth week after starting the intervention. The intervention was performed during chemotherapy. Using a dropper, a paper towel was saturated with 3 drops of sour lemon essential oil; however, for the control group, 3 mL of water as a placebo was spread on a paper towel. The intervention in the experimental and control groups was performed once a week for 4 weeks during weekly chemotherapy sessions. Results: At the beginning of the study, no significant difference was observed between the mean score of nausea in the two groups (P>0.05). The first to the fourth week after starting the intervention, significant differences were observed between the mean score of nausea in the two groups (P<0.05). The results of the repeated measures analysis of variance indicated that the mean score of nausea changed over time in the experimental group, indicating a gradual decrease in the mean score of nausea (P<0.05). Discussion: Our findings indicated that aromatherapy with sour lemon can be effective in reducing nausea in patients undergoing chemotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This is a protocol for a Cochrane Review. The objectives are as follows. This paper aims to describe a protocol for a systematic review that will synthesise the qualitative evidence regarding factors influencing the implementation of non‐pharmacological interventions (NPIs) for behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) management in residential aged care homes (RACHs). The planned systematic review aims to answer the research question: 'What are the factors influencing the implementation of NPIs in the management of BPSD at RACHs?'. Additionally, the planned systematic review also aims to generate recommendations to guide stakeholders (e.g., clinicians and aged care staff) and policymakers in the implementation of NPIs for managing BPSD at RACHs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: It has been suggested that cyberchondria leads to increased utilization of healthcare services. Unfortunately, not many studies have analyzed this effect comprehensively. The aim of this study was to analyze the relationship between cyberchondria severity and the utilization of healthcare services among adult Internet users after adjusting for sociodemographic characteristics and the health status of respondents. Methods: The analysis detailed in this paper examined data from a computer-based, web-based interviewing survey performed among a representative sample of 1613 Polish Internet users. Cyberchondria severity was assessed with the Cyberchondria Severity Scale (CSS). The variables reflecting the use of healthcare services were based on the frequency of visits to family physicians and specialists, diagnostic procedures, hospital admissions, and emergency services, and finally being vaccinated against COVID-19. The effect of cyberchondria severity on the utilization of healthcare services and alternative medicine was adjusted for key sociodemographic variables, the presence of chronic diseases, disability, and unspecific symptoms. For variables reflecting the use of services, ordinal logistic regression and multivariable logistic regression models were developed. Results: Cyberchondria severity was a significant predictor of the utilization of all but one of the analyzed healthcare services and alternative medicine. The odds of being in a higher category of the utilization of visits to family physicians and specialists, hospital admissions, emergency services and alternative medicine services increased by a factor of 1.01–1.02 for every unit increase of the cyberchondria score. The cyberchondria score was a negative predictor of COVID-19 vaccine uptake. The effect of cyberchondria on outcome variables was independent of the level of health anxiety, sociodemographic variables, and variables reflecting the health status of respondents. Conclusions: Cyberchondria leads to more intensive use of nearly all healthcare services, but in the case of vaccination against COVID-19, cyberchondria severity was a negative predictor. Cyberchondria's effect extends beyond health anxiety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The most common type of arthritis that alters a joint's mechanical and structural properties is osteoarthritis (OA). A new and promising non-pharmacological strategy for treating OA that has received recent attention is a combination of resistance training with blood flow restriction training (BFRT). This paper aims to identify the outcomes and outcome measures used for studying BFRT in knee OA, and to evaluate the cuff parameters and BFRT intervention used. The scoping review was based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis (PRISMA) statement. The review was based on material from the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, the Physiotherapy Evidence Database and PubMed. Eight studies were included. The range of outcomes used in the study were knee pain, function, strength, quadriceps cross-sectional area, quality of life, disease severity, growth hormone level, and range of motion. The included studies used interventions ranging from four to five sets of 10 to 15 repetitions at 20% to 30% of 1 repetition maximum load; progressive blood restriction ranged from 30%-80% of arterial occlusion pressure when the cuff was placed at the most proximal part of the thigh. When used with appropriate parameters, low-intensity exercise training combined with blood flow restriction (BFR) is a viable alternative to traditional strategies for improving pain, strength, muscle mass, hormone levels, functionality, range of motion, and overall quality of life among patients with knee OA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents the author's views regarding complementary medicine which indicates approaches which are independent from modern scientific medicine, but work with such medicine in a broader context of health care delivery. The author says that it is necessary to promote an atmosphere of permissive legislation for the control and licensing of a broad spectrum of practitioners, if a consumer based health plan which includes complementary medicine is to be implemented.

The article discusses various aspects of music therapy. Importance of communication in maintaining physiological processes has been discussed. Curative chroniobiotics and rhythmic functioning of physiological systems are emphasized. The author believes that the basic elements of human communication are musical. Biological rhythm plays an important role in maintenance and restoration of physiological systems. Hypothesized and improvised music therapy could be a tool for promoting communication.

Background: Acupuncture is a spreading and promising intervention, which has proven to be very useful in the treatment and prevention of chronic pain, in particular chronic headaches, in adults; the literature about the treatment of pediatric chronic headaches is scarce. In addition, few guidelines advise its use in children. The aim of this review is to collect all relevant studies with available data about the use, effect, and tolerability of acupuncture as a treatment for pediatric primary headaches. Methods: This is a narrative review based on eight studies selected from 135 papers including pediatric cases treated with acupuncture for headache. Results: Despite the differences in tools, procedures, and application sites, acupuncture demonstrated a positive effect on both the frequency and intensity of headaches and was well tolerated. There are no studies considering the long-term efficacy of acupuncture. Conclusion: Further additional studies are needed on acupuncture in children and adolescents, with larger series and standardized procedures, in order to better assess efficacy, tolerability, and long-term prognosis and to define guidelines for the use of this promising and safe treatment. It is particularly relevant to identify safe and well-tolerated treatment options in pediatric patients affected by recurrent and debilitating headaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drawing on the theory of social action in organizational and institutional sociology, this paper examines the behavioral consequences of plural logics of action. It addresses the question based on the empirical case of plural medical systems that are composed of both biomedicine and alternative medicine. Applying mixed methods of a cross-national panel data analysis and a content analysis of medical journal articles, it finds that plural systems affect health outcomes negatively when tensions between biomedicine and alternative medicine are unaddressed. In contrast, plural systems produce tangible health benefits when biomedicine and alternative medicine are coordinated through government policies or by health care organizations/professionals. This paper proposes plurality coordination as an important mechanism that modifies the behavioral consequences of plural logics. This proposition contributes to providing theoretical answers to the sociological puzzle that plural logics of action produce inconsistent behavioral consequences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Since its academic inception in the 1960s, Germany's general practice has seen numerous dissertations, many of which are housed in the 'Archive of German language General Practice' (ADAM). Aim: This study aims to provide the first comprehensive overview of dissertation topics from the discipline of general- and family medicine in Germany, establishing a foundation for advancing research. Method: We employed a systematic review approach, examining 801 dissertations from both ADAM and online sources. Each topic was identified, categorized, and finalized through consensus by two independent reviewers. Results: Our analysis encompassed 486 dissertations from ADAM, 176 from the German national library, and 139 from university libraries. A total of 167 unique research topics were identified. The predominant themes included medical education (n = 49), medication orders (n = 39), frequent consultation issues (n = 33), complementary medicine (n = 32), and screening measures (n = 29). The use of qualitative methods was constantly rising, from no qualitative methods used from 1965–1974, up to 22% of dissertations in recent years. Conclusion: The diversity of 167 research topics underscores the vastness and complexity of general practice in Germany. This structured overview is pivotal for facilitating focused and interconnected research endeavors in the field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the use of acupuncture for the relief of chronic bronchial asthma. The flow of vital energy called ch'i along fixed paths called meridians is said to be the concern of traditional descriptions of acupuncture. It iS found that acupuncture appears to relieve muscle spasm and useful in subacute conditions.

Recently, with the development of the social economy, the incidence of infertility has increased year by year. With its complex etiology and diversified syndromes, infertility has become one of the most important diseases that plague the physical and mental health of women of childbearing age worldwide. Endometrial factors as an important part affecting female reproductive capacity, due to which induced repeated abortion and multiple uterine cavity operations occur, can destruct endometrium, failing to provide a normal implantation environment for zygote, thus resulting in infertility. Many patients failed to achieve expected results after receiving conventional treatments such as hormone therapy, assisted reproductive technology (ART), granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) therapy, and cell therapy, then turn to complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) therapies for help. Aiming at clarifying the effectiveness and mechanisms of CAM therapy in the treatment of infertility caused by endometrial factors, our paper systematically searched and studied present related literature on the PubMed, CNKI, and other databases, focusing on the aspects of clinical application and mechanism explorations and highlighting the therapeutic effects of Chinese herbal medicine (CHM), acupuncture, and moxibustion on such diseases. Moreover, this paper also introduces the CAM treatments of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) retention enema, neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES), photobiomodulation therapy, dietary intervention, and other measures for infertility caused by endometrial factors, in order to provide a reference for subsequent basic research and clinical work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: We investigated whether there had been an improvement in quality of reporting for randomised controlled trials of acupuncture since the publication of the STRICTA and CONSORT statements. We conducted a before-and-after study, comparing ratings for quality of reporting following the publication of both STRICTA and CONSORT recommendations. Methodology and Principal Findings: Ninety peer reviewed journal articles reporting the results of acupuncture trials were selected at random from a wider sample frame of 266 papers. Papers published in three distinct time periods (1994-1995, 1999-2000 and 2004-2005) were compared. Assessment criteria were developed directly from CONSORT and STRICTA checklists. Papers were independently assessed for quality of reporting by two assessors, one of whom was blind to information which could have introduced systematic bias (e.g. date of publication). We detected a statistically significant increase in the reporting of CONSORT items for papers published in each time period measured. We did not, however, find a difference between the number of STRICTA items reported in journal articles published before and 3 to 4 years following the introduction of STRICTA recommendations. Conclusions and Significance: The results of this study suggest that general standards of reporting for acupuncture trials have significantly improved since the introduction of the CONSORT statement in 1996, but that quality in reporting details specific to acupuncture interventions has yet to change following the more recent introduction of STRICTA recommendations. Wider targeting and revision of the guidelines is recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper, taking the medical practice of Khorchin Mongolian bone-setting as an example, examines the conflict and connection between religious healing and modern (or Western) medicine as well as the transformation of shamanisms in the discourse of nation-state building in China, and argues that the relationship between shamanic healing and modern medicine is not a binary opposition. Khorchin Mongolian bone-setting is the product of the interaction between alternative medicine and syncretistic local knowledge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Citrus aurantium L., frequently known as the sour or bitter orange, is native to Asia and, nowadays, is widely cultivated in different regions such as the Mediterranean. Different parts of C. aurantium are consumed as an alternative medicine in some areas to treat some diseases, and various recent studies have proven the potential of this medicinal plant. This review examined the therapeutic effects of C. aurantium components. Methods: Tactful and progressive search strategies were developed to determine the studies. To this end, a large number of databases were evaluated, including Cochrane Library, PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, and Google Scholar (2010 to April 2019). Finally, 12 clinical trial studies were selected for evaluation and analysis, and the JADAD scale was used to evaluate the quality of the papers. Results: Of 546 papers found in the preliminary search, 12 clinical trials (1132 participants), which were written in English, were selected for structured reviews. The researches consisted of those which evaluated the therapeutic role of the plants in anxiety, depression, sleep quality, premenstrual syndrome, and menopausal symptoms. Conclusions: The review of clinical trials brings some evidence that different components of C. aurantium, especially its flower have therapeutic effects on particularly psychological states like anxiety, depression, and insomnia and aromatherapy by the essential oil is considered as the most used method of prescription. Therefore, C. aurantium can confidently be used in various disorders which have these psychological aspects among their symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Receiving a diagnosis of brain stem death poses significant challenges for families. While much research focuses on organ donation in the context of brain stem death, there is a notable dearth of studies examining the experiences of families themselves. The aim of this review is to explore the experiences of families facing brain stem death. Design: Systematic review. Method: A narrative synthesis was conducted, drawing on 11 studies that employed both qualitative and quantitative methodologies. The search encompassed four electronic databases: AHMED (Allied and Complementary Medicine), Emcare (1995-present), MEDLINE (Ovid), and APA PsycInfo (Ovid). Due to the limited research on this topic, no restrictions were placed on the publication dates. Results: The synthesis revealed five main themes: The Unexpected Prognosis, Coming to Terms with Brain Stem Death—Grieving Process, Observing Brain Stem Death Testing, The Impact of Staff on Families' Experience, and The Lasting Impact. Conclusion: The review underscores the pervasive lack of understanding among families regarding the diagnosis and process of brain stem death, as well as the short- and long-term distress it can engender. There is a clear imperative to establish national or international protocols for brain stem death, ensuring more effective and consistent support for affected families. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Complementary medicines (CMs) that are formulated to facilitate weight loss are a popular and widely available treatment option, particularly among women. There is limited research regarding their use in the South African context. The aim of this study was to gather information on the use and perceived effectiveness of CMs for weight loss among adult women. A quantitative, descriptive survey design was used. Johannesburg, South Africa. A purposive sample of women over the age of 18 years who had used CMs for weight loss within the past five years were recruited from health stores and a university campus healthcare centre. Data were obtained through a self-administered 29-item, paper-and-pen questionnaire. Responses were descriptively analysed using cross-tabulation, multiple response analysis and frequency tables. Data from 160 questionnaires were analysed and the results demonstrated that a wide variety of CM products are used for weight loss, with branded combination products, green tea, Garcinia cambogia and conjugated linoleic acid being the most popular. Most participants also adopted lifestyle interventions such as exercise and calorie restriction during their weight loss attempt. While minor side effects were experienced by over half of the participants, the majority were satisfied with their product choice as well as the amount of weight that they lost. Most participants perceived their CM weight loss product of choice to be effective. However, other concomitant weight-loss strategies that were employed may have been responsible for these results. Despite their popularity, there is only very limited research surrounding the safety and efficacy of these weight-loss products, with most studies being conducted on single constituents rather than whole formulations as sold on the market. Healthcare providers should encourage the disclosure of the use of CM weight-loss products to ensure safe and effective patient care and mitigate the potential risks associated with their inappropriate use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The Government has promoted self-care. Our aim was to review evidence about who uses self-tests and other self-care activities (over-the-counter medicine, private sector, complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), home blood pressure monitors). Methods: During April 2007, relevant bibliographic databases (Medline, Embase, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, Applied Social Sciences Index and Abstracts, PsycINFO, British Nursing Index, Allied and Complementary Medicine Database, Sociological Abstracts, International Bibliography of the Social Sciences, Arthritis and Complementary Medicine Database, Complementary and Alternative Medicine and Pain Database) were searched, and potentially relevant studies were reviewed against eligibility criteria. Studies were included if they were published during the last 15 years and identified factors, reasons or characteristics associated with a relevant activity among UK adults. Two independent reviewers used proformas to assess the quality of eligible studies. Results: 206 potentially relevant papers were identified, 157 were excluded, and 49 papers related to 46 studies were included: 37 studies were, or used data from questionnaire surveys, 36 had quality scores of five or more out of 10, and 27 were about CAM. Available evidence suggests that users of CAM and over-the-counter medicine are female, middle-aged, affluent and/or educated with some measure of poor health, and that people who use the private sector are affluent and/or educated. Conclusion: People who engage in these activities are likely to be affluent. Targeted promotion may, therefore, be needed to ensure that use is equitable. People who use some activities also appear to have poorer measures of health than non-users or people attending conventional services. It is, therefore, also important to ensure that self-care is not used as a second choice for people who have not had their needs met by conventional services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Women are to pass through the menstrual phase in their life. Quality of life of women is likely to be affected by this phase. As major life deciding activities like studies, job etc. will also come along with this. As per the statistics, In India 34% of females experience dysmenorrhea more frequently. Because of this pain, many girls are absent themselves for their regular activities. Though medications are used for reducing pain, they will have side effects. And thus, the aim of this paper is to study whether yoga can be alternative therapy for dysmenorrhea, by analysing the symptom and cuauses, the bio-mechanics of the yoga postures and their effects in pain reduction. Four asanas (i) Janu Sirsasana (ii) Pasasana (iii) Ustrasana: Camel Pose (iv) Supta Padangusthasana were considered for the study. Based on the data collected and analysis it shows that practicing yoga asana will reduce the indenstiy of pain and also the duration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cancer survivors are a diverse group with varying needs that are patient-, disease-, and/or treatment-specific. Cancer survivors have reported supplementing conventional anti-cancer treatment with Traditional and Complementary Medicine (T&CM). Although female cancer survivors are reported to have more severe anticancer adverse effects, little is known about the association between anticancer treatment and T&CM use among Norwegian cancer survivors. The aims of this study are therefore to investigate (1) associations between cancer diagnosis characteristics and T&CM utilization and (2) associations between anticancer treatment and T&CM utilization among cancer survivors in the seventh survey of the Tromsø study. Methods: Data was collected from the seventh survey of the Tromsø Study conducted in 2015-16 among all inhabitants of Tromsø municipality aged 40 and above (response rate 65%), where inhabitants received online and paper form questionnaires. Data from the data linkage to the Cancer Registry of Norway for cancer diagnosis characteristics was also used. The final study sample was made up of 1307 participants with a cancer diagnosis. Categorical variables were compared using Pearson's Chi-square test or Fisher's exact test while independent sample t-test was used to compare continuous variables. Results: The use of T&CM the preceding 12 months was reported by 31.2% of the participants with natural remedies as the most reported modality of T&CM (18.2%, n = 238), followed by self-help practices of meditation, yoga, qigong, or tai chi, which was reported by 8.7% (n = 114). Users of T&CM were significantly younger (p =.001) and more likely to be female (p <.001) than the non-users, with higher use of T&CM among female survivors with poor self-reported health and being 1–5 years post-diagnosis. Lower use of T&CM was found among female survivors who received a combination of surgery with hormone therapy and those who received a combination of surgery with hormone therapy and radiotherapy. Similar usage was seen in male survivors, but not at a significant level. For both male and female survivors, T&CM was most frequently used by those with only one cancer diagnosis (p =.046). Conclusion: Our results indicate that the profile of the Norwegian cancer survivor who uses T&M is slightly changing compared to previous findings. Additionally, compared to male survivors, more clinical factors are associated with use of T&CM among female cancer survivors. These results should serve as a reminder to conventional health care providers to discuss the use of T&CM with patients across the entire cancer survivorship continuum to promote safe use, especially among female survivors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: There is a large gap in knowledge amongst the oncology community of moderate hyperthermia use in cancer management. This review provides an overview of clinical data on the use of loco-regional and superficial hyperthermia in the adjunct management of cancers. It is updated using higher-level evidence from prospective, comparative studies and meta-analyses. The methodology and results are summarised and tabulated according to tumour type for easy reference. Regional hyperthermia therapy (RHT) is a treatment that applies moderate heat to tumours in an attempt to potentiate the effects of oncological treatments and improve responses. Although it has been used for many years, the mechanisms of action are not fully understood. Heterogenous practices, poor quality assurance, conflicting clinical evidence and lack of familiarity have hindered its use. Despite this, several centres recognise its potential and have adopted it in their standard treatment protocols. In recent times, significant technical improvements have been made and there is an increasing pool of evidence that could revolutionise its use. Our narrative review aims to summarise the recently published prospective trial evidence and present the clinical effects of RHT when added to standard cancer treatments. In total, 31 studies with higher-quality evidence across various subsites are discussed herein. Although not all of these studies are level 1 evidence, benefits of moderate RHT in improving local tumour control, survival outcomes and quality of life scores were observed across the different cancer subsites with minimal increase in toxicities. This paper may serve as a reference when considering this technique for specific indications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dental transmigration is a rare condition that mainly affects the mandibular canines. Since the tooth involved is usually impacted and its crown has crossed the midline towards the opposite side, the treatment options frequently are surgical removal or radiographic follow-up, and, in some cases, orthodontic traction is possible. In 2002, Mupparapu presented a classification for lower canines in transmigration according to their position within the mandible. This paper is aimed at describing the orthodontic treatment of a female patient with two impacted mandibular canines, one of them in a Mupparapu type 2 transmigration position (horizontal impaction position near the lower mandibular border and below the incisors' root apices). Additionally, the paper discusses the biomechanical orthodontic design and the alternative treatment options for these complex cases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Diabetes Mellitus is a metabolic disorder with high blood sugar level. Type 2 is the common form. The herbal remedies for diabetes treatment is an area of research with a huge potential for the progress in the growth of inexpensive alternative medicine with low or no side effects. In this paper, reviews mainly focused on traditionally used medicinal herb, Gymnema sylvestre and its bioactive components and their mode of actions. Method: Relevant information was collected from scientific journals, research papers, books and various medicinal reviews. Result: This review provides a comprehensive report on Gymnema sylvestre having antidiabetic and antioxidant activity due to its bioactive compounds like oleanines (Gymnemic acid, Gymnema saponins), dammarenes (Gymnemasides), anthraquinones, flavones, hentriacontane, pentatriacontane, phytin, resin, tartaric acid, formic acid, butyric acid, lupeol, β-amyrene related glycosides and anthraquinones, alkaloid like gymnamine, flavonoids, cinnamic acid, folic acid, ascorbic acid etc. Conclusion: Considering the presence of bioactive compounds present in Gymnema sylvestre, this review is aimed to summarize the information of the chemical constituents and their antidiabetic activities and specially to detect the relation between antioxidants and antidiabetic compounds regarding blood sugar reduction in diabetes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The authors of the manuscript 'Complementary and alternative medicine - practice, attitudes, and knowledge among healthcare professionals in New Zealand: an integrative review' [1] disagree with the assertion by McDowell et al. that our manuscript has extrapolation errors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Veterinary Drug / Medicamentul Veterinar is the property of Romanian National Association of the Veterinary Products Manufacturers and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Introduction: Pain related to cancer, despite the numerous treatment options available, is still a challenge in contemporary pain medicine. The unsatisfactory treatment of cancer pain is one of the main reasons why patients seek complementary and alternative methods (CAM) and a more integrative/holistic approach to pain management. The popularity of CAM forces healthcare professionals to provide patients with current and evidence-based information on the effectiveness and safety of CAM. The aim of the paper is to present current evidence and limitations regarding CAM commonly used in the pain management of cancer patients. Material and methods: The paper comprehensively reviews the current and most relevant literature considering the integrative approach to management of pain due to cancer disease and/or cancer treatment. Results: The available data from clinical trials, meta-analyses, and systematic reviews supports the effectiveness of acupuncture, massage, physical exercises, music therapy, and mindbody therapies as adjunct therapies for alleviating pain in cancer patients, although the supporting evidence is weak or moderate. Conclusions: Based on the available knowledge, physicians should be capable of advising the cancer patient as to which CAM methods can be used safely, which are contraindicated, and what therapeutic effects they may expect, especially when standard pain treatment fails or induces serious side effects. An integrative approach to cancer pain management may improve the quality of pain treatment, patients' quality of life, and satisfaction with pain relief. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pain is the predominant symptom of many clinical diseases and is frequently associated with neurological and musculoskeletal problems. Chronic pain is frequent in the elderly, causing suffering, disability, social isolation, and increased healthcare expenses. Chronic pain medication is often ineffective and has many side effects. Nonsteroidal over-the-counter and prescription drugs are frequently recommended as first-line therapies for pain control; however, long-term safety issues must not be neglected. Herbs and nutritional supplements may be a safer and more effective alternative to nonsteroidal pharmaceuticals for pain management, especially when used long-term. Recently, topical analgesic therapies have gained attention as an innovative approach due to their sufficient efficacy and comparatively fewer systemic side effects and drug–drug interactions. In this paper, we overview the main natural herbal pain relievers, their efficacy and safety, and their potential use as topical agents for pain control. Although herbal-derived medications are not appropriate for providing quick relief for acute pain problems, they could be used as potent alternative remedies in managing chronic persistent pain with minimal side effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) therapies include a wide range of procedures and products that are often used by cancer patients to directly combat cancer and to protect normal cells from the toxic effects of conventional therapies. Most often, their use is self-prescribed based on a collection of scattered information from websites and advice from relatives or friends. In this paper, we examined the potential known benefits and harms associated with the most commonly used alternative treatments to provide a practical guide for caregivers and patients. CAM is used by about 40% of cancer patients in Western Countries, with peaks of 80% for breast cancer patients. Cancer patients use CAM to boost immune function, to control cancer symptoms and treatment-related side effects, and to improve health-related quality of life (HR-QoL) and survival. Unfortunately, self-prescription of natural remedies in cancer patients can lead to unexpected toxicities and can reduce the effectiveness of cancer therapy. Although CAM usually refers to all the "natural or organic" products/methods that are generally considered less toxic, there are concerns about drug interactions, especially in patients participating in clinical trials with experimental agents. Despite the claims of the promising and potential benefits made by prescribers, many CAMs lack clear scientific evidence of their safety and efficacy. Given the widespread use of CAM—both clearly declared and overt—in this review, we focused on the most important known data on the risk of interactions between biologics and oncology drugs with the goal of opening up CAM in accordance with the meaning of integrative medicine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Complementary medicine (CM) is frequently used by patients, but little is known about the usage of CM in surgical patients. The study aimed to elucidate the relevance of CM in surgery. Methods: This cross-sectional, multi-center survey utilized a paper-based questionnaire consisting of 21 questions to capture CM usage and interest as well as CM communication in visceral and thoracic surgical patients being hospitalized at the corresponding departments of surgery at the University Medical Centers in Freiburg, Heidelberg und Ulm, Germany. Results: Overall, 151 patients consented to the survey. On average, current CM usage was stated by 44% of patients. Most frequently used CM approaches were physical exercise (63%), nutritional supplements (59%) and herbal medicine (56%). Strong interest in CM counselling was stated by 51% of patients. Almost 80% of patients wanted to be treated in a holistic manner and desired for reliable information about CM as well as CM informed physicians. Only 12% of patients communicated CM usage and interest with their attending physician. Review of literature revealed similar results showing an overall CM usage of 43%, preferring nutritional supplements and herbal medicine. Conclusion: The results of our cross-sectional study indicate a high percentage of CM users and a strong interest in CM among surgical patients. Indeed, the current communication about CM between patients and surgeons is poor. With respect to safety and quality reasons, but also to pay attention to patients' demands, physicians should be aware of patients' CM usage in surgery. Trial registration: German Clinical Trial register (DRKS00015445). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a lifelong reproductive endocrine disease, which is the most common cause of anovular infertility. Modern medicine mainly treats infertile patients with PCOS by improving living habits, ovulation induction therapy, and assisted reproductive technology (ART), but the effect is not satisfied. Complementary alternative medicine (CAM) has conspicuous advantages in the treatment of PCOS infertility due to its good clinical efficacy, wide mechanism of action, and no obvious adverse reactions, but its safety and effectiveness in the treatment of PCOS infertility have not been proved. Based on the existing clinical and experimental studies, this paper looks for the therapeutic effect and the mechanism behind it, and explores the safety and effectiveness of its treatment in PCOS infertility, in order to provide reference for future clinical treatment and experimental research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Uncaria gambir Roxb. is a plant from Southeast Asia and is widely used as an alternative medicine with various applications. This plant has been widely used in traditional medicine. This paper aims to provide information on U. gambir, a summary of data on phytochemicals and on medical and nonmedical activities. Phytochemical studies reveal biologically active constituents such as flavonoids, phenolics, and alkaloids. Various studies have shown that extracts and compounds obtained from U. gambir have medical uses for their antioxidant, antibacterial, anti-helminthic, anticancer, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, anti-hyperglycemic, anti-hyperuricemic, anti-lipid peroxidation, antihyperlipidemic and other properties. In addition, this extract has other uses, such as adsorbent for dyes and metal ions, as well as corrosion inhibition. Thus, U. gambir, which is commonly used in traditional medicine, is a potential plant for many therapeutic applications and prospects for drug development as well as other applications such as adsorbent and corrosion inhibition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The prevalence of complementary medicine use in pregnancy and lactation has been increasingly noted internationally. This systematic review aimed to determine the complementary medicine products (CMPs) used in pregnancy and/or lactation for the benefit of the mother, the pregnancy, child and/or the breastfeeding process. Additionally, it aimed to explore the resources women used, and to examine the role of maternal health literacy in this process. Methods: Seven databases were comprehensively searched to identify studies published in peer-reviewed journals (1995–2017). Relevant data were extracted and thematic analysis undertaken to identify key themes related to the review objectives. Results: A total of 4574 articles were identified; 28 qualitative studies met the inclusion criteria. Quantitative studies were removed for a separate, concurrent review. Herbal medicines were the main CMPs identified ( n = 21 papers) in the qualitative studies, with a smaller number examining vitamin and mineral supplements together with herbal medicines ( n = 3), and micronutrient supplements ( n = 3). Shared cultural knowledge and traditions, followed by women elders and health care professionals were the information sources most accessed by women when choosing to use CMPs. Women used CMPs for perceived physical, mental-emotional, spiritual and cultural benefits for their pregnancies, their own health, the health of their unborn or breastfeeding babies, and/or the breastfeeding process. Two over-arching motives were identified: 1) to protect themselves or their babies from adverse events; 2) to facilitate the normal physiological processes of pregnancy, birth and lactation. Decisions to use CMPs were made within the context of their own cultures, reflected in the locus of control regarding decision-making in pregnancy and lactation, and in the health literacy environment. Medical pluralism was very common and women navigated through and between different health care services and systems throughout their pregnancies and breastfeeding journeys. Conclusions: Pregnant and breastfeeding women use herbal medicines and micronutrient supplements for a variety of perceived benefits to their babies' and their own holistic health. Women access a range of CMP-related information sources with shared cultural knowledge and women elders the most frequently accessed sources, followed by HCPs. Culture influences maternal health literacy and thus women's health care choices including CMP use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Many publications report outcomes of surgical treatment for neurothoracic outlet syndrome (NTOS); however, high-quality meta-analyses regarding objective evaluation system accessing the long-term outcome of NTOS are lacking. This meta-analysis summarizes and compares the outcomes of Derkosh's classification and vas visual analog scale of the supraclavicular neuroplastic of brachial plexus (SNBP) and trams auxiliary first rib resection (TFRR). Methods: The Cochrane Library, PubMed, EMBASE, Allied and Complementary Medicine (AMED) were searched for papers published between January 1980 and February 2021, using the keywords "thoracic outlet syndrome," "treatment, surgical." Articles were eligible for inclusion if the following criteria were met studies describing outcomes of surgery for NTOS, published in English, human studies, and available in full text. The exclusion criteria were case reports (n < 10), reviews, abstracts, and studies lacking a control group or without evaluation for two types of surgery. Results: We included 10 studies with 1,255 cases, out of which 622 were in the SNBP group; and 633 were in the TFRR group. After surgery (12 months), Derkash's classification was improved in 425 cases with SNBP and 364 cases with TFRR. OR = 1.34 (95% CI: 0.94, 1.92), P = 0.03; vas visual analog scale was improved in 282 cases in the SNBP group and 214 cases in the TFRR group. OR = 1.08 (95% CI: 0.63, 1.85), P = 0.78. Conclusion: This meta-analysis shows that both SNBP and TFRR are effective for NTOS, but that SNBP is better than TFRR in improving Derkash's classification in the long term. Although patients treated with SNBP are more satisfactory, there is no significant difference in vas visual analog scale from TFRR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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In this paper, the author compares phenomena of political populism and alternative medicine on the ground of – similar in structure and content – narrations (and identities created on their basis) of propagators and followers of these ideas/ social praxis. The main thesis of the paper is the assumption that the narrative and identity mechanisms of alternative medicine are analogous to those of political populism. The author tries to prove it in the context of their relation to their counterparts in the mainstream of power/knowledge, with the assumption that these are dialectical relations understood in a specific manner. The oppositions of populism–liberal democracy and alternative medicine–conventional medicine are real, but in the broader sense, they complement and need each other to preserve the cores of the system, which implicates ineffectiveness of those alternative discourses. This article presents examples of anti-elitism and conspiratorial thinking both in political populism and in alternative medicine. It turns out that populism and unconventional medicine are so closely connected that alternative medicine, in its attitudes, refers not only to medical statements, but also to political ones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]