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The majority of cancer patients experience fatigue during the course of their illness. Fatigue should not be seen as an inevitable consequence of cancer and its treatment. Cancer-related fatigue (CRF) is a multidimensional symptom complex that is influenced by a variety of factors. Complementary medicine approaches offer potentially promising strategies to address this fatigue and can therefore be a valuable addition to conventional therapies.In this narrative review, complementary medicine treatment approaches for tumor-associated fatigue are presented according to the historical development and current scientific evidence. The focus is on methods with the highest current evidence based on the recommendations of national and international guidelines. Therapeutic approaches from mind-body medicine, such as mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR), mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT), yoga, tai chi, and qigong, as well as acupuncture, acupressure, moxibustion, and phytotherapeutic treatment approaches are presented.In Germany, the complementary therapies listed here are not generally covered by health insurances. However, a few clinics have developed comprehensive programs in mind-body medicine, for which cost coverage has already been obtained. As a result, complementary medical treatments for cancer-related fatigue that adhere to national and international guidelines are typically available only as private services or within the framework of study participation., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: Selenium, a trace element with antioxidant properties, has been widely studied for its benefits in cancer treatment. This systematic review aims to critically evaluate existing evidence on the effectiveness of selenium as a complementary treatment in cancer patients., Method: In May 2023, a systematic search was conducted searching five electronic databases (Embase, Cochrane, PsychInfo, CINAHL and Medline) to find studies concerning the use, effectiveness and potential harm of selenium substitution therapy on adult cancer patients undergoing cancer treatment. Including and excluding patient criteria were defined beforehand., Results: From 4511 search results, 12 studies in 14 publications with 2483 patients were included in this systematic review. Types of cancer covered in the reviewed studies are non-Hodgkin lymphoma, head and neck cancer, thyroid cancer, acute myeloid or acute lymphocytic leukaemia, stage I non-small lung cancer, breast cancer, cervical and endometrial cancer, prostate cancer and non-invasive urothelial carcinoma. Common outcomes were PSA change, radiotherapy associated toxicities, overall survival (OS), recurrence free interval (RFI) and quality of life (QoL). Most studies showed some concerns in the risk of bias evaluation. The results were heterogeneous: Regarding radiotherapy toxicities, patients with sufficient levels of Se at baseline do not profit of Se supplementation, while those with a deficiency of Se at baseline have significantly reduced toxicities on some scales. Regardless blood levels of Se, no benefit was found for OS, Recurrence Free Interval, Progression Free Interval, Quality of life and PSA compared to control/placebo group., Conclusion: Due to the very heterogeneous results and methodical limitations of the included studies, a clear statement regarding the effectiveness of Se supplementation is not possible, whereas cancer patients with a Se deficiency could profit from a Se supplementation during radio- or chemotherapy. Further studies should define Se deficiency as inclusion criterion and analyze levels of Se during time of intervention., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Mastitis, an intramammary inflammation resulting from microbial infectious agents, continues to pose a significant challenge within the dairy sector, adversely affecting animal well-being and leading to substantial economic losses. These losses are attributed to decreased milk production, heightened culling rates, and the expenses related to diagnostics, veterinary care, medication, and labor. Moreover, additional costs emerge due to reduced forthcoming milk yields, compromised reproductive health, and increased susceptibility to various illnesses. Identifying the responsible agents is crucial for disease management and the implementation of antimicrobial treatments. Despite the prevalent use of antibiotic treatment, the pressing need for new therapeutic alternatives to combat bovine mastitis arises from limitations, including low cure rates, rising resistance, and the presence of antibiotic residues in milk. This review explores the potential application of herbal extracts and essential oils known for their antimicrobial properties as alternative options for managing pathogens in mastitis treatment. It examines various treatment methods and management strategies, particularly emphasizing the progress of herbal remedies and natural therapeutics in addressing mastitis, a significant concern in bovine populations and dairy herds., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest This review investigates Mastitis, an inflammatory condition in mammary glands caused by infectious agents, posing a critical challenge in the dairy sector, impacting animal welfare and causing substantial economic losses. The exploration delves into the efficacy of botanical extracts and essential oils with antimicrobial properties as novel approaches for managing mastitis pathogens. It highlights the limitations of current antibiotic treatments and advocates for the development of novel therapeutic alternatives. By emphasizing the progression of herbal remedies and natural therapeutics, this review addresses the significant concern of mastitis in bovine populations and dairy herds, offering insights into effective management strategies. We anticipate that this review will captivate the readership of your journal due to its valuable insights and contributions to the field. We are optimistic that our research will enrich the expanding corpus of literature concerning alternative treatments, particularly focusing on natural therapeutics, as substitutes for antibiotics, alongside efficacious management tactics. There is no conflict of interests between the authors. There is no animal as well as human study used in the study., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Objective: This systematic review aims to examine effects of nonpharmacologic treatment options for pediatric tension-type headache patients as well as evaluate current results from these treatment options. Background: Headache is a worldwide problem among both adults and children, with tension-type headache among the most common. Methods: Eighteen relevant studies were found using PubMed and evaluated in this review. These include therapy programs, biofeedback, alternative medicine, strength exercise, physical therapy, mindfulness therapy, and psychotherapy. Results: Several nonpharmacologic treatment methods showed improvement in pediatric headache patients, with few reported adverse effects. This suggests that nonpharmacologic treatment is safe for use and might have an effect in most cases. Conclusion: No single intervention has been proven superior to another, and some studies would need replication with a control group to confirm the findings. This study illustrates the variety of nonpharmacologic treatment options and the importance of future research on this topic., Competing Interests: Declaration of Conflicting InterestsThe authors declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Purpose: This study explores the immune cells' role in anti-VEGF resistance in nAMD patients, and the potential of Zi-Yin-Jiang-Huo-Tang (ZYJHT), a Traditional Chinese Medicine formula, as complementary therapy., Methods: Aqueous humor proteomics data from 10 nAMD patients with anti-VEGF resistance and 10 nAMD patients without anti-VEGF resistance were analyzed, investigating immune cells's role in anti-VEGF resistance and its underlying mechanism. Network pharmacology methods are employed to analyze the active ingredients in ZYJHT that contribute to therapeutic effects and their mechanisms. Real-time PCR (polymerase chain reaction) was used to detect changes in the expression of SOD1 (superoxide dismutase 1) after treatment with compounds targeting SOD1 in ARPE-19 cells., Results: nAMD patients with anti-VEGF resistance showed enhancement of biological processes linked to the positive regulation of immune function, along with decreased cellular resistance to oxidative stress. Infiltration of B cells memory, plasma cells, CD8 + and γδ-T cells were higher in nAMD patients with anti-VEGF resistance. SOD1 was identified as a hub gene in the occurrence of anti-VEGF resistance and a core therapeutic target of ZYJHT, negatively correlated with B and T cell infiltration. Compounds diosgenin, naringenin, and liquiritin in ZYJHT can bind to SOD1 and upregulating SOD1 expression in ARPE-19 cells.

Background: Acne is a chronic inflammatory and immune-mediated disease of the pilosebaceous unit (the skin structure consisting of a hair follicle and its associated sebaceous gland). It is characterised by non-inflammatory lesions (open and closed comedones) and inflammatory lesions (papules, pustules, nodules, and cysts). Lesions may be present on the face, thorax, and back, with variable severity. Acne exhibits a global distribution and has a growing prevalence. Acne vulgaris is the most common form. Acne gives rise to complications such as scars and can seriously affect people's mental health, especially those with severe acne. Acne has a huge impact on the quality of life and self-esteem of those affected., Objectives: To synthesise the existing evidence on the efficacy and safety of non-systemic pharmacological interventions and non-pharmacological interventions (physical therapy and complementary therapies) in the treatment of acne vulgaris and related skin complications., Methods: We searched the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Epistemonikos, MEDLINE, and Embase to 2 December 2021, and checked the reference lists of included reviews. At least two authors were responsible for screening, data extraction, and critical appraisal. We excluded reviews with high risk of bias as assessed with the ROBIS tool. We evaluated the overall certainty of the evidence according to GRADE (as carried out by the authors of the included reviews or ourselves). We provide comprehensive evidence from the review data, including summary of findings tables, summary of results tables, and evidence maps., Main Results: We retrieved and assessed a total of 733 records; however, only six reviews (five Cochrane reviews and one non-Cochrane review) with low risk of bias met the overview inclusion criteria. The six reviews involved 40,910 people with acne from 275 trials and 1316 people with acne scars from 37 trials. The age of the participants ranged from 10 to 59 years, with an average age range from 9.8 to 30 years. Four reviews included original trials involving only female participants and three reviews included original trials with only male participants. Main results for clinically important comparisons: Benzoyl peroxide versus placebo or no treatment: In two trials involving 1012 participants over 12 weeks, benzoyl peroxide may reduce the total (mean difference (MD) -16.14, 95% confidence interval (CI) -26.51 to -5.78), inflammatory (MD -6.12, 95% CI -11.02 to -1.22), and non-inflammatory lesion counts (MD -9.69, 95% CI -15.08 to -4.29) when compared to placebo (long-term treatment), but the evidence is very uncertain (very low-certainty evidence). Two trials including 1073 participants (time point: 10 and 12 weeks) suggested benzoyl peroxide may have little to no effect in improving participants' global self-assessment compared to placebo (long-term treatment), but the evidence is very uncertain (risk ratio (RR) 1.44, 95% CI 0.94 to 2.22; very low-certainty evidence). Very low-certainty evidence suggested that benzoyl peroxide may improve investigators' global assessment (RR 1.77, 95% CI 1.37 to 2.28; 6 trials, 4110 participants, long-term treatment (12 weeks)) compared to placebo. Thirteen trials including 4287 participants over 10 to 12 weeks suggested benzoyl peroxide may increase the risk of a less serious adverse event compared to placebo (long-term treatment), but the evidence is very uncertain (RR 1.46, 95% CI 1.01 to 2.11; very low-certainty evidence). Benzoyl peroxide versus topical retinoids: Benzoyl peroxide may increase the percentage change in total lesion count compared to adapalene (long-term treatment), but the evidence is very uncertain (MD 10.8, 95% CI 3.38 to 18.22; 1 trial, 205 participants, 12 weeks; very low-certainty evidence). When compared to adapalene, benzoyl peroxide may have little to no effect on the following outcomes (long-term treatment): percentage change in inflammatory lesion counts (MD -7.7, 95% CI -16.46 to 1.06; 1 trial, 142 participants, 11 weeks; very low-certainty evidence), percentage change in non-inflammatory lesion counts (MD -3.9, 95% CI -13.31 to 5.51; 1 trial, 142 participants, 11 weeks; very low-certainty evidence), participant's global self-assessment (RR 0.96, 95% CI 0.86 to 1.06; 4 trials, 1123 participants, 11 to 12 weeks; low-certainty evidence), investigators' global assessment (RR 1.16, 95% CI 0.98 to 1.37; 3 trials, 1965 participants, 12 weeks; low-certainty evidence), and incidence of a less serious adverse event (RR 0.77, 95% CI 0.48 to 1.25, 1573 participants, 5 trials, 11 to 12 weeks; very low-certainty evidence). Benzoyl peroxide versus topical antibiotics: When compared to clindamycin, benzoyl peroxide may have little to no effect on the following outcomes (long-term treatment): total lesion counts (MD -3.50, 95% CI -7.54 to 0.54; 1 trial, 641 participants, 12 weeks; very low-certainty evidence), inflammatory lesion counts (MD -1.20, 95% CI -2.99 to 0.59; 1 trial, 641 participants, 12 weeks; very low-certainty evidence), non-inflammatory lesion counts (MD -2.4, 95% CI -5.3 to 0.5; 1 trial, 641 participants, 12 weeks; very low-certainty evidence), participant's global self-assessment (RR 0.95, 95% CI 0.68 to 1.34; 1 trial, 240 participants, 10 weeks; low-certainty evidence), investigator's global assessment (RR 1.10, 95% CI 0.83 to 1.45; 2 trials, 2277 participants, 12 weeks; very low-certainty evidence), and incidence of a less serious adverse event (RR 1.27, 95% CI 0.98 to 1.64; 5 trials, 2842 participants, 10 to 12 weeks; low-certainty evidence). For these clinically important comparisons, no review collected data for the following outcomes: frequency of participants experiencing at least one serious adverse event or quality of life. No review collected data for the following comparisons: topical antibiotics versus placebo or no treatment, topical retinoids versus placebo or no treatment, or topical retinoids versus topical antibiotics., Authors' Conclusions: This overview summarises the evidence for topical therapy, phototherapy, and complementary therapy for acne and acne scars. We found no high-certainty evidence for the effects of any therapy included. Randomised controlled trials and systematic reviews related to acne and acne scars had limitations (low methodological quality). We could not summarise the evidence for topical retinoids and topical antibiotics due to insufficient high-quality systematic reviews. Future research should consider pooled analysis of data on new emerging drugs for acne treatment (e.g. clascoterone) and focus more on acne complications., (Copyright © 2024 The Cochrane Collaboration. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.)

Background: Nonpharmacological interventions for veterans are needed to help them manage chronic pain and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms. Complementary and integrative health (CIH) interventions such as Mission Reconnect (MR) seek to provide veterans with the option of a partnered, self-directed intervention that teaches CIH skills remotely to support symptom management., Objective: The purpose of this study was to describe the physical, psychological, and social outcomes of a self-directed mobile- and web-based CIH intervention for veterans with comorbid chronic pain and PTSD and their partners and qualitatively examine their MR user experience., Methods: A sample of veteran-partner dyads (n=364) were recruited to participate in a mixed methods multisite waitlist control randomized controlled trial to measure physical, psychological, and social outcomes, with pain as the primary outcome and PTSD, depression, stress, sleep, quality of life, and relationships as secondary outcomes. Linear mixed models were constructed for primary and secondary patient-reported outcomes. The quantitative analysis was triangulated using qualitative interviews from a subsample of dyads (n=35) to examine participants' perceptions of their program experience., Results: Dyads were randomized to 2 groups: intervention (MR; 140/364, 38.5%) and waitlist control (136/364, 37.4%). No significant change was observed in overall pain, sleep, PTSD, quality of life, relationship satisfaction, overall self-compassion, or compassion for others. A significant reduction in pain interference in mood (P=.008) and sleep (P=.008) was observed among the veteran MR group that was not observed in the waitlist control group. We also observed a positive effect of the MR intervention on a reduction in negative affect associated with pain (P=.049), but this effect did not exceed the adjusted significance threshold (P=.01). Significant improvements were also observed for partners in the affection (P=.007) and conflict (P=.001) subdomains of the consensus and satisfaction domains. In contrast to quantitative results, qualitative data indicated that intervention impacts included improved sleep and reduced pain, anxiety, and stress and, in contrast to the survey data, overall improvement in PTSD symptoms and social relationships. Participants' overall impressions of MR highlight usability and navigation, perceptions on packaging and content, and barriers to and facilitators of MR use., Conclusions: Adjunctive CIH-based modalities can be delivered using web and mobile apps but should be developed and tailored using established best practices. MR may be beneficial for veterans with pain and PTSD and their partners. Further pragmatic trials and implementation efforts are warranted., Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03593772; https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT03593772., International Registered Report Identifier (irrid): RR2-10.2196/13666., (©Jolie N Haun, Christopher A Fowler, Hari H Venkatachalam, Amy C Alman, Lisa M Ballistrea, Tali Schneider, Rachel C Benzinger, Christine Melillo, Neil B Alexander, S Angel Klanchar, William A Lapcevic, Matthew J Bair, Stephanie L Taylor, Jennifer L Murphy, Dustin D French. Originally published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research (https://www.jmir.org), 18.10.2024.)

The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH), which is part of the US National Institutes of Health (NIH), has a broad interest in studying the biologic activities of natural products, especially those for which compelling evidence from preclinical research suggests biologic activities that may be beneficial to health or have a potential role in disease treatment, as well as products used extensively by the American public. As of 2023, use of cannabis for medical purposes is legal in 38 states and Washington, D.C. Such use continues to climb generally without sufficient knowledge regarding risks and benefits. In keeping with NCCIH's natural product research priorities and recognizing this gap in knowledge, NCCIH formally launched a research program in 2019 to expand research on the possible benefits for pain management of certain substances found in cannabis: minor cannabinoids and terpenes. This Viewpoint provides additional details and the rationale for this research priority at NCCIH. In addition, NCCIH's efforts and initiatives to facilitate and coordinate an NIH research agenda focused on cannabis and cannabinoid research are described. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: Use of cannabis for purported medical purposes continues to increase despite insufficient knowledge regarding risks and benefits. Research is needed to help health professionals and patients make knowledgeable decisions about using cannabis and cannabinoids for medical purposes. The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, along with other NIH Institutes, Centers, and Offices, is expanding study on the safety, efficacy, and harms of cannabis-a complex mixture of phytochemicals that needs to be studied alone and in combination., (U.S. Government work not protected by U.S. copyright.)

Complementary and integrative medicine (CIM) is increasingly being integrated into preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative phases to enhance patient outcomes, manage symptoms, and improve overall well-being. CIM encompasses a broad range of therapies and practices that are not typically part of conventional medical care, such as herbal and non-herbal medicine, yoga, acupuncture, meditation, chiropractic care, and dietary supplements. This review explores the existing evidence on the application, benefits, and challenges of CIM therapies and practices in surgical settings, highlighting the importance of integrating these therapies and approaches with conventional medical practices to enhance patient outcomes., Competing Interests: The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose., (Copyright © 2024 the Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.)

Gouty arthritis, a prevalent inflammatory condition characterized by the deposition of monosodium urate crystals within joints, often results in debilitating pain and inflammation. Conventional therapeutic approaches, including nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, corticosteroids, and urate-lowering agents such as allopurinol and febuxostat, often have limitations such as adverse effects, drug interactions, and suboptimal patient compliance. This review presents a comprehensive overview of both established and emerging therapeutic strategies, developed between 2019 and 2024, for gouty arthritis; the review focuses on their mechanisms of action, efficacy, and safety profiles. Novel therapeutic approaches include pharmaceutical plant additives (e.g., Citrullus colocynthis , Atractylodes lancea ), anti-inflammatory agents such as canakinumab and ozone therapy, and complementary therapies such as warm ginger compresses, Qingpeng ointment, and various lifestyle modifications. These strategies offer promising alternatives to conventional treatments by targeting uric acid metabolism, inflammatory pathways, and crystal formation, potentially reducing reliance on standard medications and minimizing adverse effects. Although therapies such as canakinumab have demonstrated significant efficacy in reducing gout flares, others such as polyphenol-rich foods offer favorable safety profiles. Further research, including large-scale clinical trials, is warranted to validate these findings and integrate these strategies into clinical practice to improve patient outcomes and quality of life.

The Chechen authorities' focus upon population health is enacted both through the principles of Islamic medicine and approved biomedical practices. Any healing practices beyond these domains are met with deep suspicion. Practitioners of unofficial complementary and alternative medicine healers may abruptly find themselves regarded as enemies of the state. In light of this precarious circumstance, it becomes pertinent to inquire: How do these healers employ their daily tactics to negotiate the intricate power dynamics between the formidable state apparatus and the established biomedical order? Drawing from our meticulous fieldwork conducted in the year 2021, we investigated the intricate tactics employed by unofficial healers in the Chechen medical landscape during COVID-19. Our research centred on discerning the nuanced tactics aimed at mitigating potential risks. We conclude that healers, having embodied tactics to creatively manoeuvre within the confines of the authoritarian state, perceived the challenges posed by COVID-19 as merely another, often inconsequential, obstacle in their enduring struggle., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Purpose of Review: Integrative medicine techniques are increasingly accepted into the treatment paradigm for many chronic disorders including eye disease. Over 71% of patients, including 67% of those with eye disorders, use some form of Integrative therapy. Physicians should be well versed in evidence-based therapies to know how to refer patients for the best complimentary care. We highlight the most effective integrative therapeutics from different complementary treatment paradigms to offer a framework for approaching therapy in patients with ocular surface disorders (OSDs)., Recent Findings: Lifestyle and behavioral modifications help a proportion of people with OSDs like dry eye disease and allergic conjunctivitis, which are interrelated disorders. Nutrition and supplementation can also play a role in addressing underlying inflammation and improving OSD symptoms. Acupuncture and traditional herbal medicine may also benefit some patients. New technologies offer innovative treatment pathways in the treatment of OSD but require referral to Ocular Surface Treatment Centers., Summary: Integrative treatment approach for OSD incorporates allopathic medicine, traditional remedies and lifestyle behavioral interventions, Ayurveda and herbal medicine, Nutritional Supplements, Homeopathy, Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine. New cutting-edge technologies offer breakthroughs in difficult to treat ocular surface cases. Collaboration between allergy or otolaryngology offices, complementary practitioners, as well as optometrists and ophthalmologists in Ocular Surface Treatment Centers can offer patients new avenues of treatment., (Copyright © 2024 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Purpose of Review: To provide an updated review of novel and complementary treatment approaches for children and adolescents with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder., Recent Findings: The evidence for complementary attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder treatments is often promising, but limited to small, unblinded studies. Recent evidence from larger, more rigorous studies reveals that most of these treatments have modest efficacy. Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, saffron, broad spectrum micronutrients, and physical exercise have potential benefits that seem to outweigh known risks. However, neurofeedback, cognitive training, and trigeminal nerve stimulation need further research to determine whether specific sub-groups of children/adolescents with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder would benefit long-term with their associated tolerable risks., Summary: There is not sufficient evidence for complementary treatments to be recommended as substitutes for first-line pharmacological and psychosocial treatment options. Nonetheless, some adjuvant therapies to currently recommended attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder treatments can be safe. Physicians should be familiar with existing and emerging complementary treatments to help guide families., (Copyright © 2024 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: The incidence of stroke worldwide is increasing year by year. With the enhancement of public health awareness, people's demand for the quality of stroke rehabilitation is getting higher and higher, so better quality care measures are needed in the treatment of stroke. Based on this, this paper explores the impact of a new type of nursing care measure, the complementary health care model combined with condition tracking, on stroke patients., Methods: 238 stroke patients were randomly divided into a conventional group (n=119) and a combined group (n=119). 238 stroke patients were randomly divided into conventional group (n=119) and combined group (n=119). The conventional group received routine care, in which doctors and nursing carried out their own work without cooperation after the patients were admitted to the hospital; the combined group received a complementary health care model and condition tracking, in which doctors and nurses jointly checked the rooms, discussed cases, jointly formulated treatments and nursing care plans, and jointly formulated the patients' discharge and rehabilitation plans after the patients were admitted to the hospital. Before the intervention, at the time of discharge, and 6 months after discharge, the neurological function of the patients in both groups was assessed using the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) and the Fugl-Meyer (FMA) scale, the cognitive function of the patients in both groups was assessed using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) scale and the Measured Mental State Examination (MMSE), and the cognitive function of the patients in both groups was assessed using the General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSS) and the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MCA) scale. General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSES) to assess self-efficacy, Exercise Adherence Questionnaire (EAQ) to assess adherence to functional exercise and Specific Quality of Life Scale (SSQoL-12) to assess the quality of life of patients in both groups, and the self-developed satisfaction with nursing care to assess patients' satisfaction with the care model., Results: Before the intervention, there was no difference in the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS), the Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA), the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), the Mental State Examination (MMSE), the General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSES), the Exercise Adherence Questionnaire (EAQ) and the Stroke-Specific Quality of Life Scale-12 (SSQoL-12) scores between the two groups (P > .05). At discharge and six months later, NIHSS scores continued to decrease in both groups, with the joint group being lower than the conventional group (P < .05); scores for all other items continued to increase, with the joint being higher than the conventional group (P < .05). Satisfaction with care was higher in the combined group than in the conventional group (P < .05)., Conclusion: The complementary healthcare model combined with condition tracking can effectively promote the prognosis of rehabilitation of stroke patients, and has a positive effect in promoting the recovery of neurological and cognitive functions, strengthening self-efficacy, and improving the quality of life, which can be promoted in the clinic.

Purpose of Review: This article aims to offer a comprehensive review of optimal integrative medicine practices for geriatric oncology patients. Given the aging population and the global rise in cancer incidence, it is crucial to identify evidence-based modalities and employ an integrated approach to enhance cancer outcomes and quality of life in older adults., Recent Findings: It has been predicted that 20.5% (6.9 million) of new cancer cases in 2050 will occur in adults over 80 years old. 1 The increasing focus on lifestyle factors in healthy aging has shed light on various overlooked areas of significance. Notably, anti-inflammatory diets and the promotion of a healthy gut microbiome have demonstrated significant impacts on overall health outcomes, bolstering the body's innate capacity to combat disease. This review delves into further evidence and extrapolation concerning integrative approaches and their influence on cancer outcomes and older adults quality of life. The complexity and unique nature of cancer in older adults requires a wide range of support from medical providers. Incorporating various integrative techniques as part of cancer treatment and side effect support can improve health outcomes and patient's quality of life. Familiarity with the lifestyle interventions and other topics explored in this review equips healthcare providers to offer tailored and holistic care to geriatric patients navigating cancer., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Chronic pain is a non-motor symptom affecting from 60 to 80% of patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). PD patients can suffer from different types of pain, either specific or not specific of the disease, and depending on various pathophysiological mechanisms (nociceptive, nociplastic or neuropathic), which can be present at any stage of the disease. Non-pharmacological interventions (NPIs) are essential to complement routine care interventions in PD pain management. Moreover, in the literature, it has been shown that 42% of PD patients are already using complementary therapies. Hence, our aim was to investigate the effectiveness and safety of NPIs for pain management in PD. A systematic review was conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement. Eighteen published randomized control trials (RCTs) were included between 2004 and 2021 leading to a total of 976 PD patients. From them, we reported fifteen different NPIs classified in seven categories: physical exercises, balneotherapy, manual therapy, acupuncture, botanical preparation, body-psychological practice and multiprotection care. Our results have shown that NPIs for PD pain management had a low-to-moderate level of evidence showing mainly favourable results, even if some NPIs presented inconclusive results. Moreover, our review highlighted the clinical relevance of some specific NPIs in PD pain management: NPIs consisting of active physical activities, opposed to passive activities. The safety of NPIs was also confirmed since only few minor transient adverse events were reported. Nevertheless, even if some interesting results were found, the methodology of future studies needs to be more robust and to include comprehensive descriptions in order to offer reliable and sound recommendations to clinicians., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

Objective: This systematic review of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of moxibustion as a complementary or alternative treatment for asthma., Methods: Seven databases were searched up to June 23, 2024, to identify RCTs assessing moxibustion for bronchial asthma. The outcomes of interest included response to treatment, asthma control, quality of life, lung function, immunological indicators, and incidence of adverse events (AEs). The treatment effects were measured by proportional odds ratios or mean differences with 95% confidence intervals., Results: Thirty-seven RCTs (n = 2,879) were included. Moderate- to very low-quality evidence showed that compared with anti-asthmatic drugs alone, moxibustion plus anti-asthmatic drugs led to a significantly better response and greater increases in lung function, asthma control, and IgE levels. However, the combination therapy had no effect on children's quality of life. In the active comparisons, moxibustion resulted in a superior response to treatment and a greater improvement in asthma control and had comparable effects on lung function, quality of life, and IgE levels compared with anti-asthmatic drugs. The effects of moxibustion on the proportions of CD4 + and CD8 + T cells and the eosinophil count were inconsistent between the add-on and active comparisons. All reported AEs related to moxibustion were mild., Conclusions: Moxibustion, as an adjunctive treatment or used alone, may improve the response to treatment, lung function, asthma control, and IgE levels in patients with asthma with good safety. Its effects on children's quality of life and immune cell levels remain uncertain., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: Breast cancer (BC) is a significant health challenge, ranking as the second leading cause of cancer-related death and the primary cause of mortality among women aged 45 to 55. Early detection is crucial for optimal prognosis. Among various treatment options available for cancer, chemotherapy remains the predominant approach. However, its patient-friendliness is hindered by cytotoxicity, adverse effects, multi-drug resistance, potential for recurrence, and high costs. This review explores extensively studied phytomolecules, elucidating their molecular mechanisms. It also emphasizes the importance of combination therapy, highlighting recent advancements in the exploration of diverse drug delivery systems and novel routes of administration. The regulatory considerations are crucial in translating these approaches into clinical practices., Results: Consequently, there is growing interest in exploring the relationship between diet, cancer, and complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in cancer chemotherapy. Phytochemicals like berberine, curcumin, quercetin, lycopene, sulforaphane, resveratrol, epigallocatechin gallate, apigenin, genistein, thymoquinone have emerged as promising candidates due to their pleiotropic actions on target cells through multiple mechanisms with minimal toxicity effects. This review focuses on extensively studied phytomolecules, elucidating their molecular mechanisms. It also emphasizes the importance of combination therapy, highlighting recent advancements in the exploration of diverse drug delivery systems and novel routes of administration. The regulatory considerations are crucial in translating these approaches into clinical practices., Conclusion: The present review provides a comprehensive understanding of the molecular mechanisms, coupled with well-designed clinical trials and adherence to regulatory guidelines, which pave the way for nutrition-based combination therapies to become a frontline approach in early-stage BC treatment., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Because acne vulgaris has a chronic course, can cause cosmetic problems, and negatively affects the psychosocial functionality and quality of life of patients, patients with acne vulgaris can frequently resort to complementary medicine practices. This study aimed to examine the frequency of complementary medicine use in patients diagnosed with acne vulgaris, the methods they used, the reasons for practicing these methods, and the factors affecting these practices. In this descriptive cross-sectional study, 400 (81.4%) of 491 patients aged ≥13 years who were diagnosed with acne vulgaris and treated at the dermatology outpatient clinic at Konya Numune Hospital between February and October 2020 were enrolled. A survey consisting of 37 questions was administered to patients in face-to-face interviews. Permission to conduct the study was obtained from the Faculty of Medicine Local Ethics Committee. The mean age of the patients was 20.0 ± 5.17, and 60% of the patients were women. It was stated by 87% of the patients that they used complementary medicine methods for the treatment of acne vulgaris. The first 3 methods used, in order of frequency, were topical herbal remedies at a rate of 61%, herbal medicines at 23.5%, and cupping/leeches at 2.5%. Complementary medicine use was significantly higher among the patients aged 19 to 25 and among the single patients. While practicing complementary medicine treatments, 33.5% also used the treatment given by their doctor simultaneously. It was determined that the physicians of 73.5% of the patients did not question their use of complementary medicine when prescribing treatment. In our study, it was determined that 87% of patients with acne vulgaris used complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) methods, and the majority of these patients were young. These treatment methods may affect the treatments that their physicians will recommend. Therefore, to prevent ill-advised practices, patients should be informed about the CAM methods they use when planning their treatment. Considering the possible side effects of CAM practices, physicians need to be aware that acne vulgaris patients frequently use CAM methods and improve themselves in raising the desired awareness on this issue., Competing Interests: The authors have no funding and conflicts of interest to disclose., (Copyright © 2024 the Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.)

Patients with diseases of the musculoskeletal system are confronted with a large quantity of treatment offers based on methods of complementary medicine. Despite a considerable number of publications on this topic, the scientific evidence is still poor. This article focuses on Ayurvedic medicine (AM), traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), mind-body medicine and homeopathy. These procedures have a longstanding tradition of practice and each claims to have its own theoretical concept; however, the application in the field of rheumatology can only be recommended either for specific entities or, in the case of homeopathy, not at all. In addition, this article summarizes the evidence for dietary recommendations, nutritional supplements and herbal medicine in rheumatology. The latter topics are frequently discussed in the popular press and are a much-debated issue between physicians and patients; however, clear-cut recommendations for the application on a scientific basis are the exception and mainly consist of the endorsement to adhere to the principles of a Mediterranean diet., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Medizin Verlag GmbH, ein Teil von Springer Nature.)

Introduction: Treating older patients with acute appendicitis with multiple underlying diseases is a challenging situation in the clinical setting. Throughout the history of East Asian medicine, many texts have noted the use of herbal decoctions to successfully treat symptoms associated with appendicitis, thereby providing an alternative management strategy for treating frail patients with acute appendicitis., Case Presentation: This report presents the case of a 93-year-old male diagnosed with acute appendicitis with appendicolith who was unsuitable for surgical intervention due to poor lung condition and prolonged prothrombin time caused by Apixaban. By receiving complementary therapy consisting of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and antibiotics, he recovered successfully., Discussion: In the early stage of acute appendicitis, infection control and gastrointestinal mobility are the most important factors to consider. Scientific research has demonstrated that many herbs used in TCM formulas possess anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative and immune attenuation effects. For many patients who are unsuitable for surgical intervention due to unfavorable conditions, such as the prolonged prothrombin time presented in this case, complementary treatment with TCM offers adjuvant therapeutical effects associated with infection control, and improvement of the gastrointestinal environment and function of elderly patients., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Purpose: Integrative medicine (IM) has received the American Society of Clinical Oncology's endorsement for managing cancer treatment-related side effects. Little is known about racial differences in familiarity, interest, and use of IM among patients with breast cancer., Methods: Patients with breast cancer enrolled in the Chicago Multiethnic Epidemiologic Breast Cancer Cohort were surveyed regarding familiarity, interest, and use of acupuncture, massage, meditation, music therapy, and yoga. Familiarity and interest, measured by a 5-point Likert scale, was modeled using proportional odds. Use was self-reported, and modeled using binary logistic regression., Results: Of 1,300 respondents (71.4% White and 21.9% Black), Black patients were less likely than White patients to be familiar with acupuncture (aOR 0.60, 95% CI 0.41-0.87); there were no racial differences in familiarity with massage, meditation, music therapy, and yoga. While there were no differences in interest in acupuncture between Black and White patients (aOR 1.12, 95% CI 0.76-1.65), Black patients were more interested in massage (aOR 1.86, 95% CI 1.25-2.77), meditation (aOR 2.03, 95% CI 1.37-3.00), music therapy (aOR 2.68, 95% CI 1.80-3.99), and yoga (aOR 2.10, 95% CI 1.41-3.12). Black patients were less likely than White patients to have used acupuncture (aOR 0.49, 95% CI 0.29-0.84); but there were no racial differences in use of massage, meditation, music therapy, and yoga., Conclusion: Black patients expressed more interest in IM than their White counterparts; there were no racial differences in IM use, except lower acupuncture use among Black patients. A breast program focused on equity should provide access to these services for patients with breast cancer., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Having a healthy lifestyle is one of the main personal goals, and multiple behaviors can be used to achieve this goal. However, people do not always develop appropriate health behaviors. One of the consumption alternatives is the use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), which has been increasing significantly in recent years, although not always adequately. This study aimed to determine whether CAM use is associated with a healthy lifestyle in Spanish adults. To achieve these objectives, 2486 adults were interviewed as part of the 2018 Barometer of the Centro de Investigaciones Sociológicas about their lifestyle and CAM use. The findings show a relationship between healthy lifestyle and CAM use; our study shows that there are significant differences between people with healthier lifestyles and those with less healthy lifestyles in some of CAM use, such as herbal medicine, meditation, yoga, nutritional therapies, and acupuncture., Competing Interests: The authors declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article., (Copyright © 2024 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) commonly affects older men, leading to lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) that affect sleep and quality of life. This study evaluates the effect of Pranic Healing (PH) as a complementary therapy for bothersome LUTS by normalising biofield energy centres called Chakras., Methodology: A single blind trial involving 76 men with LUTS was conducted, randomised into Medication-only (MED) and Medication-plus-Pranic Healing (MEDPH) groups. The MEDPH received PH sessions twice weekly for 5 weeks., Results: The study compared MED (n = 30) and MEDPH (n = 36) participants, finding significant improvements in IPSS scores (p ≤ .001) in both groups. The MEDPH group showed a greater reduction in incomplete bladder emptying and intermittency. The post void residual volume increased significantly in the MED group (Wilcoxon Z = -2.335, p = .02), while the MEDPH group reduced non-significantly. Sleep quality index improved significantly (McNemar=.013) in the MEDPH group, while the MED group showed no significant change. Subjective sleep quality, duration, and latency improved significantly in the MEDPH group. Healers reported improved energy balance in chakras of MEDPH group. Perceived energy by healers in lower chakra relates to urinary parameters., Conclusion: PH could alleviate LUTS, enhancing quality of life due to urination, and improved sleep, among moderate BPH patients., Trial Registration: This study has been registered under the Clinical Trial Registry of India. (CTRI No: CTRI/2023/01/049004)., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests:Srikanth N Jois reports financial support and article publishing charges were provided by World Pranic Healing Foundation India. Srikanth N Jois, Vinu V, Nagendra Prasad K, Roopa reports a relationship with World Pranic Healing Foundation India that includes: employment. Srikanth N Jois has patent Nil pending to Nil. Nil If there are other authors, they declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Background: Complementary, alternative, and integrative medicine (CAIM) has become an increasingly popular supportive therapy option for patients with cancer. The objective of this study was to investigate how researchers and clinicians in the oncology field perceive CAIM., Methods: We conducted an online, anonymous, cross-sectional survey for researchers and clinicians who have published their work in oncology journals that are indexed in MEDLINE. The link to the survey was sent to 47, 991 researchers and clinicians whose contact information was extracted from their publications. The survey included various multiple-choice questions, and one open-ended question at the end to allow for any additional comments., Results: 751 respondents completed the survey, and they mostly identified themselves as researchers (n = 329, 45.13%), or as both researchers and clinicians (n = 332, 45.45%) in the field of oncology. Over half of the respondents perceive mind-body therapies (n = 354, 54.97%) to be the most promising CAIM category with regards to the prevention, treatment, and/or management of diseases related to oncology, and many respondents agreed that most CAIM therapies are safe (n = 218, 37.39%), and that clinicians should receive training on CAIM therapies via formal (n = 225, 38.59%) and supplemental education (n = 290, 49.83%). However, many respondents were unsure when asked if most CAIM therapies are effective (n = 202, 34.77%)., Conclusions: The findings from this study demonstrated great current interest in the use of CAIM in oncology. This information can serve as a foundation for conducting additional research and creating customized educational materials for researchers and clinicians in oncology., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

The incidence of diabetes, including type 2 diabetes (T2DM), is increasing sharply worldwide. To reverse this, more effective approaches in prevention and treatment are needed. In our review, we sought to summarize normal insulin action and the pathways that primarily influence the development of T2DM. Normal insulin action involves mitogenic and metabolic pathways, as both are important in normal metabolic processes, regeneration, etc. However, through excess energy, both can be hyperactive or attenuated/inactive leading to disturbances in the cellular and systemic regulation with the consequence of cellular stress and systemic inflammation. In this review, we detailed the beneficial molecular changes caused by some important components of nutrition and by exercise, which act in the same molecular targets as the developed drugs, and can revert the damaged pathways. Moreover, these induce entire networks of regulatory mechanisms and proteins to restore unbalanced homeostasis, proving their effectiveness as preventive and complementary therapies. These are the main steps for success in prevention and treatment of developed diseases to rid the body of excess energy, both from stored fats and from overnutrition, while facilitating fat burning with adequate, regular exercise in healthy people, and together with necessary drug treatment as required in patients with insulin resistance and T2DM.

Despite recent advancements in psoriasis treatment, challenges in management persist. Recently, there has been a rising interest amongst patients in complementary and alternative medicines (CAM), driven by the desire for more natural, holistic approaches and dissatisfaction with conventional treatments. Up to 41% of patients with psoriasis reported using alternative therapies and 39.5% use complementary therapies (Murphy EC, Nussbaum D, Prussick R, Friedman AJ (2019) Use of complementary and alternative medicine by patients with psoriasis. J Am Acad Dermatol 81:280-283). Despite their rapidly growing prevalence, literature on CAM therapies for psoriasis is lacking, making their recommendation difficult. Since the last systematic review on this topic published in 2018, evidence for new alternative therapies has emerged, promoting a further investigation of their efficacy (Gamret AC, Price A, Fertig RM, Lev-Tov H, Nichols AJ (2018) Complementary and Alternative Medicine Therapies for Psoriasis: A Systematic Review. JAMA Dermatol 154:1330-1337). This systematic review aims to compile recent literature on the most studied alternative therapies for psoriasis and further discuss their effectiveness in order to counsel clinicians in guiding patients on the use of these non-standard approaches. A literature search was conducted in the PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and Clinicaltrials.gov databases for randomized controlled trials (RCT) on complementary and alternative therapies in psoriasis from March 2018 through April 2024, resulting in 12 studies being included in this review. The preliminary results for many treatments such as curcumin, dietary modification and additions, indigo naturalis, meditation, acupuncture, and balneotherapy showed positive clinical effects. However, additional well-designed randomized trials are needed to confirm the potential beneficial effects and to establish safety of use., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Background: As acceptance of artificial intelligence [AI] platforms increases, more patients will consider these tools as sources of information. The ChatGPT architecture utilizes a neural network to process natural language, thus generating responses based on the context of input text. The accuracy and completeness of ChatGPT3.5 in the context of inflammatory bowel disease [IBD] remains unclear., Methods: In this prospective study, 38 questions worded by IBD patients were inputted into ChatGPT3.5. The following topics were covered: [1] Crohn's disease [CD], ulcerative colitis [UC], and malignancy; [2] maternal medicine; [3] infection and vaccination; and [4] complementary medicine. Responses given by ChatGPT were assessed for accuracy [1-completely incorrect to 5-completely correct] and completeness [3-point Likert scale; range 1-incomplete to 3-complete] by 14 expert gastroenterologists, in comparison with relevant ECCO guidelines., Results: In terms of accuracy, most replies [84.2%] had a median score of ≥4 (interquartile range [IQR]: 2) and a mean score of 3.87 [SD: ±0.6]. For completeness, 34.2% of the replies had a median score of 3 and 55.3% had a median score of between 2 and <3. Overall, the mean rating was 2.24 [SD: ±0.4, median: 2, IQR: 1]. Though groups 3 and 4 had a higher mean for both accuracy and completeness, there was no significant scoring variation between the four question groups [Kruskal-Wallis test p > 0.05]. However, statistical analysis for the different individual questions revealed a significant difference for both accuracy [p < 0.001] and completeness [p < 0.001]. The questions which rated the highest for both accuracy and completeness were related to smoking, while the lowest rating was related to screening for malignancy and vaccinations especially in the context of immunosuppression and family planning., Conclusion: This is the first study to demonstrate the capability of an AI-based system to provide accurate and comprehensive answers to real-world patient queries in IBD. AI systems may serve as a useful adjunct for patients, in addition to standard of care in clinics and validated patient information resources. However, responses in specialist areas may deviate from evidence-based guidance and the replies need to give more firm advice., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of European Crohn’s and Colitis Organisation. All rights reserved. For commercial re-use, please contact reprints@oup.com for reprints and translation rights for reprints. All other permissions can be obtained through our RightsLink service via the Permissions link on the article page on our site—for further information please contact journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Rationale: Traumatic brain injury frequently leads to prolonged coma, posing significant medical management challenges. Complementary therapies, including traditional Chinese herbal medicine, have been investigated as potential interventions in comatose patients. Chinese aromatic herbs, such as Borneolum (Bingpian), Moschus (Shexiang), and Acori tatarinowii rhizoma (Shichangpu), have long been believed to be "resuscitation with aromatics" based on traditional Chinese medicines theory., Patient Concerns: A 16-year-old male was admitted to the intensive rehabilitation unit for further treatment due to prolonged coma and frequent seizures following traumatic brain injury., Diagnoses: Western medicine diagnosed the patient as coma, diffuse axonal injury, and epilepsy. According to traditional Chinese medicine theory, the syndrome differentiation indicates a Yin-closed disease., Interventions: According to the patient's condition, we use the Chinese aromatic herbs as a complementary therapy., Outcomes: Following a month-long administration, the patient's consciousness and electroencephalogram (EEG) background progressively improved. A 6-month follow-up demonstrated full arousal, though with ambulatory EEG revealing mild to moderate abnormality in the background., Lessons: The addition of Chinese aromatic herbs appears to have a beneficial effect on the patient's consciousness and EEG background. This could be attributed to the herbs' inherent pharmacological properties, as well as their potential to enhance the permeability of the blood-brain barrier to other drugs. This makes them a promising option for complementary therapy., Competing Interests: The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose., (Copyright © 2024 the Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.)

There is a substantial use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) among both the general population and psychiatric patients, with only a minority of these users disclosing this information to their healthcare providers, including physicians and psychiatrists. This widespread use of CAM can impact positively or negatively on the clinical outcomes of psychiatric patients, and it is often done along with conventional medicines. Among CAM, phytotherapy has a major clinical relevance due to the introduction of potential adverse effects and drug interactions. Thus, the psychiatrist must learn about phytotherapy and stay up-to-date with solid scientific knowledge about phytotherapeutics/herbal medicines to ensure optimal outcomes for their patients. Furthermore, questions about herbal medicines should be routinely asked to psychiatric patients. Finally, scientifically sound research must be conducted on this subject.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) presents patients with chronic pain and functional limitations due to its autoimmune nature. Despite symptomatic and pharmaceutical interventions, many patients experience inadequate relief, prompting exploration into non-pharmacological approaches such as yoga. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of yoga as an adjunctive therapy for RA by examining clinical data from patients experiencing chronic pain and limitations. This study analyzed several clinical cases at the Shymkent City Regional Clinical Hospital. Ten RA patients, irrespective of various demographic factors, were enrolled. Parameters including pain intensity, inflammation activity, systolic blood pressure, joint function, and morning stiffness were assessed to gauge the impact of yoga. The findings demonstrated notable positive changes following a three-month yoga program. These changes encompassed enhanced joint health, reduced pain severity, and decreased disease activity. Particularly noteworthy was the reduction in morning stiffness by an average of 31 min, alongside a decrease in the average pain index from 80 mm to 41.5 mm. The mean RA activity level decreased from 5.8 to 4.7. Furthermore, mean systolic blood pressure decreased by 15.5 mmHg, and mean cholesterol levels decreased from 5.3 mmol/L to 4.8 mmol/L. These results underscore the potential significance of yoga as a supplementary intervention for RA. Yoga practice may enhance patients' quality of life and alleviate disease symptoms. Nevertheless, the study's limited sample size necessitates caution, and further research is warranted to validate these findings., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a complex condition associated with a range of persistent symptoms including headaches, cognitive dysfunction, mental fatigue, insomnia, and mood disorders. Conventional treatments for TBI-related symptoms can be insufficient, leading to interest in complementary and integrative medicine (CIM) approaches. This comprehensive article examines the existing literature on CIM modalities, including mind-body interventions, acupuncture/acupressure, herbal remedies, nutritional supplements, biofeedback, yoga, and tai chi in the context of managing secondary complications following TBI. The article highlights potential benefits and limitations of CIM modalities, while acknowledging the need for further research to better establish efficacy and safety in this specific population., Competing Interests: Disclosure There are no commercial or financial conflicts of interest from any of the authors., (Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Purpose of Review: Endometriosis is a chronic, often debilitating, disease which is typically managed with surgery and hormonal medications. However, many patients feel they lack agency when managing endometriosis symptoms. The purpose of this review is to discuss the mental and physical management strategies, the long-term health consequences, and the role of a multidisciplinary team in the treatment of endometriosis., Recent Findings: Evidence is becoming more robust regarding the role of complementary care and physical activity in the management of endometriosis. Health risks such as infertility are well known and newer evidence is evolving regarding perinatal and cardiovascular health risks. There are also trends towards multiple specialist involvement in the care of endometriosis and the benefit of interdisciplinary collaboration., Summary: Endometriosis is a frequently recurrent condition requiring not only meticulous medical and surgical care, but also coordinated longitudinal disease management and impact mitigation. Gynecologists should be aware of the short-term and long-term implications of the disease to empower patients on the management of their overall health., (Copyright © 2024 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Purpose of Review: Communicating effectively with patients having a traditional, alternative or complementary medicine-related health-belief model is challenging in today's cross-cultural society. This narrative review explores the integrative medicine setting of care, focusing on insights from the integrative oncology daily practice, while addressing the relevance to the mental health setting. The way in which healthcare providers can enhance cultural-sensitive communication with patients and informal caregivers; recognize and respect health-beliefs to bridge cultural gaps; and generate an open, non-judgmental and mindful dialogue are discussed., Recent Findings: Identifying cross-cultural barriers to healthcare provider-patient communication is important in order to address the potential for conflict between conventional and "alternative" health beliefs; difficulties in creating a shared-decision making process; disagreement on therapeutic goals and treatment plan; and finally, the potential for non-compliance or non-adherence to the conventional oncology treatment. Acquiring intercultural competencies is needed at all stages of medical education, and should be implemented in medical and nursing curricula, as well as during specialization and sub-specialization. As with patient-centered paradigms of care, integrative medicine entails a dual patient-centered and sensitive-cultural approach, based on a comprehensive bio-psycho-social-spiritual model of care., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Purpose: Currently, available evidence suggests a positive impact of yoga on physical and psychological well-being in patients across different types of cancer, especially breast cancer survivors. However, there are no available systematic reviews on the effects of yoga on male prostate cancer survivors. The objective of the current systematic review is to specifically examine the quality of life, feasibility, and other effects of yoga on prostate cancer survivors., Methods: Bibliographic databases such as PubMed/Medline, CINAHL, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar were searched for studies that were conducted till December 2022 to assess the effect of yoga on prostate cancer survivors. Studies that met predefined eligibility criteria were included. The quality of the included studies was assessed by the Cochrane risk of bias tool, and for single-arm studies, the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale was used., Results: A comprehensive literature search yielded a total of 137 studies. After careful consideration, this review included five studies involving 129 prostate cancer survivors. The included studies were published between 2012 and 2022. This systematic review observed that yoga has the potential to enhance erectile function, reduce fatigue and urinary symptoms, alleviate psychological stress, boost immune function, and improve the overall quality of life in prostate cancer survivors. Furthermore, it demonstrates the feasibility of incorporating yoga into their regular routine., Conclusions: Yoga could be an effective complementary therapy in the management of physical and psychological symptoms experienced by prostate cancer survivors. However, until more comprehensive evidence becomes available, it would be premature to draw definitive conclusions about the effectiveness of yoga in the context of prostate cancer (PCa)., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Fatigue is a common symptom of rheumatic diseases and frequently persists even when patients are in a near-remission state. In seeking options to manage troublesome symptoms such as fatigue, complementary and alternative medicines (CAM) are often used by patients despite a lack of evidence base behind such treatment strategies. CAM use is further promoted by social media and 'influencer' marketing without rigorous process to ensure scientific accuracy. One mechanism of recent interest in the CAM market is enhancing cellular pathways of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+), purported to restore mitochondrial function. However, clinical trials of NAD+ pathway supplements lack rigorous trial design, many declare conflicts of interest, and safety data is limited. Ultimately, CAM use by our patients is unavoidable. To adequately inform patients about CAM, we need to keep updated on both the latest scientific literature and social media trends. In so doing, we can then propose to patients how standard-of-care therapies, evidence-based lifestyle modifications and CAM might safely and effectively integrate to form a treatment plan., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2024. Re-use permitted under CC BY. Published by BMJ.)

Background: Ankyloglossia (AG) diagnoses are increasingly common, and management is not standardized. Nonsurgical alternative therapies are frequently recommended in conjunction with or instead of frenotomy, with uncertain evidence. Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of nonsurgical alternative therapies (chiropractic care, myofunctional therapy, and osteopathy) in improving breastfeeding for infants diagnosed with AG. Methods: PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, Scopus, Web of Science, Clinicaltrials.gov, and Google Scholar were searched (September-October 2023). Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines were followed. A librarian-designed search included the terms "Ankyloglossia," "Non-surgical," "myofunctional therapy," "chiropractic," "osteopathy," and related therapies, with no date restrictions. English language studies of infants <24 months with AG and alternative therapy were included. Risk-of-bias evaluation used Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS). Results: Of 1,304 identified articles, four studies (2016-2022) met inclusion criteria (two cross-sectional, one case report, and one case series). All studies reported frenotomy in combination with alternative therapy yielded favorable outcomes for maternal pain, weight gain, feeding duration, and maintenance of latch. The risk of bias was moderate for two studies, low for the case series, and not calculated for the case report, which has an inherent high risk of bias. All studies lacked control or comparator groups preventing definitive conclusions about the role of alternative therapies in AG. Conclusion: Although some studies suggest the potential benefits of combining alternative therapies with surgery for AG-related breastfeeding issues, the lack of control groups renders the evidence inconclusive. Nonsurgical approaches alone currently lack sufficient evidence. As these alternative therapies gain popularity, rigorous research is crucial to determine their cost-effectiveness and role in managing AG.

Purpose of Review: To summarize key integrative approaches to managing common gastrointestinal conditions., Recent Findings: Lifestyle interventions like diet, exercise, and stress reduction impact the gut microbiome and gastrointestinal symptoms. Evidence supports mind-body therapies, herbs, certain supplements, and other modalities as complimentary approaches, when appropriate, for common conditions like irritable bowel syndrome or gastroesophageal reflux disease. An integrative approach optimizes both conventional treatments and incorporates lifestyle modifications, complimentary modalities, and the doctor-patient relationship., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Purpose of Review: Nearly half of cancer patients use complementary therapies alongside the conventional cancer treatment. This clinical reality is a challenge for the medical team mainly to guarantee patient's safety. The evolution from Supportive Care to Integrative oncology is taking shape., Recent Findings: Integrative oncology, a new field in cancer care, combines conventional supportive care and validated complementary approaches. The first part of this review is to highlight the process of validation of one of the most popular complementary medicines among European cancer patients: homeopathy. It seems to be a well tolerated and useful complementary approach in integrative cancer care. The second part shows through the example of stage IV lung cancer the transition from conventional supportive care to integrative oncology with a benefit for their quality of life and survival., Summary: The future of supportive cancer care seems to lead towards a move from coexistence of conventional care and complementary approaches to a combination of both in integrative oncology. This would require new skills among caregivers, specific academic training and adapted studies. Further research is needed to highlight the benefits in the specific field of integrative cancer care., (Copyright © 2024 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.)

The present study was conducted in a cross-sectional and descriptive design to examine the attitudes of hypertension patients toward using complementary treatments. The study was conducted with 173 patients who had the diagnosis of hypertension who applied to the Cardiology Clinics of a University Health Practice and Research Hospital between 15.12.2021 and 10.03.2022. Before starting the study, permission was obtained from the ethics committee, institution, and patients. The data of the study were collected through face-to-face interviews, a questionnaire, and the Attitude Scale Toward Using Complementary Treatments (ASUCT). The score to be obtained from the scale varies between 0 and 39 and a high score indicates a positive attitude toward complementary treatments. One-Sample Kolmogorov-Smirnov test was used to evaluate the homogeneity of the data. The Student t, Mann-Whitney U test, correlation, and ANOVA tests were also used to evaluate the data, and P < .05 was considered statistically significant. It was found that 55.0% of the patients were women, 31.2% were between the ages of 44 to 56, 63.0% had other chronic diseases, and 68.2% preferred herbal applications in the management of hypertension. It was also found that the mean ASUCT score of hypertensive individuals was 21.13 ± 2.99, and there was a statistically significant relationship between the mean ASUCT score of the patients and their gender, education level, and reasons for applying to herbal therapy (P < .05). Patients frequently preferred the consumption of pomegranate syrup (43.4%), garlic (36.4%), and quince leaf tea (30.8%) as non-drug applications in the management of hypertension. It was found that the attitudes of the hypertension patients toward using complementary treatments were at a "moderate" level and there was a relationship between their level of attitude toward using complementary treatments and gender, education, and the reasons for applying herbal therapy. In this respect, it is recommended to evaluate the attitudes of hypertension patients toward using complementary treatments, to learn the practices they prefer for disease management through patient-health care professional interaction, and to support patients for hypertension management., (Copyright © 2024 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: Patients with intracranial gliomas frequently seek for complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), in addition to guideline-directed therapy. In this study, we therefore assessed patients' information needs regarding treatment and support, and evaluated their attitudes toward experimental trials and alternative therapies., Methods: A prospective, cross-sectional, descriptive survey was conducted in our center. We developed an interview focusing on how patients obtain further information about therapy and the use of alternative/complementary therapies., Results: A total of 102 patients participated in the survey. 50% (n = 51) of patients reported that they had not attempted any additional therapies. When patients attempted self-therapy, it was most commonly in the areas of nutrition (25%, n = 26) and dietary supplements (17%, n = 17). Alternative or complementary therapies were used by 14% (n = 14) of the patients. Younger age (Odds ratio (OR) 0.96 (95% Confidence interval (CI) 0.92-0.99, p = 0.012) and tumor entity (OR 5.01 (95% CI 1.66-15.11, p = 0.004) for grade 4 vs. 3 tumors and OR 7.22 (95% CI 1.99-26.28) for grade 4 vs. other tumors p = 0.003) were significantly associated with a greater interest in CAM., Conclusions: Interest in complementary and alternative medicine, as well as nutrition and dietary supplements is high (51%) among glioma patients, and significantly higher among younger patients and those with a worse diagnosis (WHO grade 4). A comprehensive approach to information, including paramedical topics, is needed to provide optimal patient counseling and care for glioma patients., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Purpose: Many cancer patients wish for complementary and integrative medicine (CIM) consultations led by their oncology physician. Within the KOKON-KTO study, oncology physicians in the intervention group were trained in a blended learning to provide CIM consultations to their cancer patients in addition to distributing a leaflet about CIM websites. Control oncology physicians only distributed the leaflet. The training showed positive effects on the patient-level. As of now, no consistent evidence exists on the long-term effects of such one-time-only CIM consultation during cancer treatment., Methods: In the KOKON-KTO follow-up study, cancer patients previously participating in the KOKON-KTO study (intervention group:IG and control group: CG) received, at least 24 months later, a follow-up questionnaire by post, evaluating long-term effects of the KOKON-KTO consultation using the measures provided in the original study (patient-physician communication (EORTC-QLQ-COMU2), satisfaction with cancer treatment (PS-CaTE), CIM disclosure with healthcare provider (HCP), and need for CIM consultation during cancer therapy)., Results: In total, 102 cancer patients participated in the follow-up study (IG n = 62; CG n = 40). The overall reponse rate was around 36% (IG: 48.4%; CG: 23.7%). In the follow-up study, differences between groups had increased and were still shown (EORTC-QLQ-COMU26, 0-100 point scale, ≥10-point-group difference) in some subscales: patient's active behavior (in means; IG:73.6 (95% CI, 63.8-83.5); CG:61.1 (95% CI, 52.4-69.8)); clinician-patient relationship (IG:80.9 (95% CI, 71.8-90.0); CG:68.7 (95% CI, 59.3-78.0)). For some outcomes, differences decreased over time (e.g., EORTC-QLQ-COMU26 subscales "takes into account patient's preference" and "corrects misunderstandings"). More patients in the CG used CIM without oncology physicians' knowledge (IG: 13.7%, CG: 24.0%)., Conclusion: This study presents first findings that one-time-only CIM consultations may enhance patient-physican relationship and CIM disclosure long-term. To further support cancer patients' in their wish for CIM consultations, training programs should provide oncology physicians with CIM competencies for different cancer stages including cancer survivors., (© 2024 The Author(s). Cancer Medicine published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Objective: The Non-Opioid Pain Alleviation Information Network (NOPAINMN) project was designed to identify, consolidate, and map evidence-based non-opioid and non-pharmacological pain management complementary and integrative health (CIH) modalities for chronic pain management across Minnesota into a searchable and informational website (www.nopainmn.org ). Methods: The Academic Consortium for Integrative Medicine & Health's Pain Task Force White Paper identifying evidence-based research of non-pharmacological pain practice (NPPC) was reviewed and referenced. National and state certifying boards and accrediting organizations for NPPC modalities were accessed to identify Minnesota-based NPPC providers' name, business/health-system affiliation, address, contact information, and credentials. The NOPAINMN website displays these data in a consumer-facing website with searchable fields such as NPPC modality type, and location with varying distances. The website was β-tested by practitioners and stakeholders for optimization. Eight main NPPC modalities and their respective subcategories were identified and mapped: Acupuncture; Integrative Medical Care (Functional medicine consultation and Integrative medicine consultation); Massage Therapy; Mind-Body Therapies (Biofeedback, Clinical Hypnosis, Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction, and Music Therapy); Movement Therapies (Tai Chi, qigong , and Yoga Therapy); Psychology (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy); Rehabilitative Therapies (Physical and Occupational Therapy); and Spinal Manipulation. Results: All information compiled resulted in 17,155 providers/practitioners. Physical Therapy had the greatest number of reported providers ( n  = 5224), followed by Occupational Therapy ( n  = 3792), Psychology ( n  = 3324), Chiropractic ( n  = 3033), Acupuncture ( n  = 591), and Massage Therapy ( n  = 544). The Resource Map included 56 major health systems, 686 facilities, 2651 solo or private group practices, and 14 academic training schools. With web-based cross-referencing, providers and facilities were affiliated and linked with health systems to produce an interconnected mapping system. β-Testing with patients found that the website was reported as relatively easy to use and informative. Conclusion: The website was created to assist individuals, health care providers, insurance carriers, and health care facilities in finding evidence-based information and resources on NPPC to guide, support, and proactively manage and engage chronic pain patients across Minnesota.

Objective: The goal of this scoping review is to synthesize clinically relevant scientific literature on current complementary and alternative medications that address human papillomavirus (HPV) infections and cervical dysplasia., Materials and Methods: A systematic search of published studies was performed December 2021 for the following concepts: human papilloma virus, cervical dysplasia, and complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). Relevant publications were identified by searching Ovid MEDLINE ALL, Embase, Cochrane Library, AMED, and MEDLINE databases, in addition to clinical trial databases. Data were extracted based on specific study selection criteria and analyzed by 3 authors independently using Covidence software., Results: A total of 2324 studies were identified of which 56 met inclusion criteria. Treatment outcomes measured regression of HPV, improvement of cervical cytology, and/or regression of histopathology with varied definitions of success across all studies. The CAM therapies found to have the most clinical benefit and best supporting data via randomized control trials were topical mushroom ( Coriolus versicolor) gel, oral and topical selenium therapies, and oral indol-3-carbinol. Adverse events were reported in only 28/56 (50%) of included studies., Conclusions: The evidence for treating HPV and cervical dysplasia with CAM is of low quality because of lack of standardized, clinically relevant treatment outcomes, lack of standardization of products, and minimal reporting on adverse and long-term effects. Future large, randomized control trials are needed to further assess efficacy and safety of CAM therapies to address HPV and cervical dysplasia., Competing Interests: The authors have declared they have no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2024, ASCCP.)

Primary headaches can be prevented by medication, exercise, behavioral therapy, or lifestyle changes. It is important to note that if medication is used for prophylaxis, non-drug approaches should also be recommended as a complement. Patients often wish to address their headaches without medication. Except for cognitive behavioral therapy and biofeedback, the evidence for nonmedication approaches to headache management has not been definitively established. This article reviews the current literature on the evidence for endurance exercise, relaxation exercises, physical therapy, lifestyle factors, and complementary procedures. For tension-type headache, there is an increasing number of studies reporting positive results from physical therapy; long-term follow-up, however, are still pending. Aerobic endurance exercise has the best evidence as a measure for prevention of migraine. However, other methods can also be used., Competing Interests: Der Autor hat ein Vortragshonorar von der Firma Teva erhalten., (Thieme. All rights reserved.)

Background: Depression and anxiety are two of the top five mental illnesses veterans report. Treatment for depression and anxiety includes medications and psychiatric treatment in inpatient, outpatient, and residential treatment programs; the use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) can have beneficial results by decreasing symptoms, recognize patients' preference for CAM, and be cost-effective., Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of Tai Chi on depression and anxiety symptoms on inpatient psychosocial or substance use disorder (SUD) rehabilitation treatment program residents since little evidence exists regarding the effectiveness of Tai Chi on participants in residential mental health treatment programs. METHOD: A mixed-method, cohort design with 88 participants (41 usual treatment without Tai Chi, 47 intervention) used a demographic survey, Hamilton Anxiety Scale, Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology, self-report, and the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 at Weeks 1 and 4 of the treatment program. After Week 4, the intervention group responded to six open-ended questions about Tai Chi's effects on their overall depression and anxiety., Results: The anxiety level of the intervention group was significantly decreased, as evidenced by the Hamilton Anxiety Scale scores ( p = .02). However, the measures of depression did not differ between the groups. Two themes, mindfulness and satisfaction, were identified from the written responses regarding the Tai Chi intervention., Conclusion: Tai Chi effectively reduced symptoms of anxiety that varied by age and ethnicity. This study increased the insight regarding the benefit of including Tai Chi as a complementary therapy for those participating in residential treatment programs., Competing Interests: Declaration of Conflicting InterestsThe authors declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.