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Royal jelly (RJ), a secretion produced by honeybees, has garnered significant interest for its potential as a therapeutic intervention and functional food supplement. This systematic review aims to synthesize current research on the health benefits, bioactive components, and mechanisms of action of RJ. Comprehensive literature searches were conducted across multiple databases, including PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science, focusing on studies published from 2000 to 2024 (April). Findings indicate that RJ exhibits a wide range of pharmacological activities, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anti-aging effects. Beneficial biological properties of RJ might be due to the presence of flavonoids proteins, peptides, fatty acids. Both preclinical and clinical studies have reported that RJ improves the immune function such as wound healing, and also decreases the severity of chronic diseases including diabetes and cardiovascular disorders. The molecular mechanisms underlying these effects involve modulation of signalling pathways such as NF-κB, MAPK, and AMPK. Despite promising results, the review identifies several gaps in the current knowledge, including the need for standardized dosing regimens and long-term safety assessments. Furthermore, variations in RJ composition due to geographic and botanical factors necessitate more rigorous quality control measures. This review underscores the potential of RJ as a multifunctional therapeutic agent and highlights the necessity for further well designed studies to fully elucidate its health benefits and optimize its use as a functional food supplement.

Objective: To investigate the efficacy and safety of an oral complementary medicine combination formulation relative to placebo, on changes in pain intensity from baseline to week 12, in people with knee osteoarthritis (OA). Design: A placebo-controlled, double-blind, two-arm, superiority, phase II, Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT) (ACTRN12623000380695). We will recruit 82 participants (∼41 per arm), aged ≥40 years, with a clinical diagnosis of symptomatic knee OA and radiographic change on x-ray (Kellgren-Lawrence Grade ≥2). Participants will be randomly allocated to receive either a complementary medicine formulation containing a daily dose of Boswellia serrata extract (Boswellin® Super, 250 ​mg/day), pine bark extract (Fenoprolic™ 70 Organic 100 ​mg/day), curcumin (500 ​mg/day), piperine (5 ​mg/day), and methylsulfonylmethane (MSM, 1500 ​mg/day), or placebo, for 12-weeks. The primary endpoint will be change from baseline in average knee pain intensity at 12-weeks (visual analogue scale). Secondary endpoints will include change in knee pain from baseline to 12-weeks in the Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS), global assessment of disease activity, global rating of change, and health-related quality of life (AQoL-8D). Ethics and dissemination: This protocol has been approved by the University of Sydney Human Research Ethics Committee (#2021/877). Dissemination will occur through lay summaries, infographics, conference abstracts, oral presentations, theses, and scientific publications. Conclusion: This RCT will provide credible evidence about the efficacy and safety of this complementary medicine combination and inform updates to international clinical practice standards on the use of complementary medicines in the management of symptomatic knee OA.

Background and objective: The use of alternative medicine (AM) is rising globally. Hence this study aimed to assess the Use of and Satisfaction with Alternative Medicine in the management of headache and Related Factors in Individuals, living in Saudi Arabia. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from July to December 2023 using an online questionnaire in Riyadh Saudi Arabia. The data was collected using a series, of prevalidated questionnaires aimed to assess the utilization and satisfaction of AM for the headache. Convenience sampling was applied for data collection. Results: A response rate of 93.1 % (n = 550) was obtained. Among the respondents, 78.7 % reported having headaches, while 69.2 % had a history of using AMs for headaches. However, among the users of AMs, 65.9 % of them were satisfied with the results of AMs, of those who were satisfied, 33.7 % said that AMs helped to prevent headache attacks, and 53.8 % reported that AMs use reduced pain intensity. The regression results demonstrated that there was a significant relationship between the satisfaction of AM for the headache and age (p

Introduction: To explore the clinical efficacy and safety of Xuanfei Touxie Fang (XFTXF) as a complementary medicine in the treatment of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant. Methods: A retrospective study of 317 patients with ordinary symptoms admitted to our hospital from December 2022 to February 2023 were divided into the observation group (n = 224) and the control group (n = 93). The observation group was treated with Xuanfei Touxie Fang combined with conventional treatment and the control group treated with conventional treatment alone. Recovery time of symptoms, length of hospital stay, clinical cure rate and recovery rate of chest CT manifestations were compared between the two groups. Results: The time to recover from fever (median: 1 vs 3 days) and the length of hospital stay (median: 7 vs 9 days) of the observation group after treatment were significantly shorter than the control group. The difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). The clinical cure rate (68.3% vs 54.84 %) and the recovery rate of chest CT manifestations (87.95% vs 66.67 %) of the observation group after treatment were higher than the control group. The difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). There was no adverse reactions during the treatment for two groups. The difference was no statistically significant (P > 0.05). Discussion: Numerous studies have demonstrated that Xuanfei Touxie Fang, which is frequently used in respiratory diseases, has anti-coronavirus effects by inhibiting viral replication, release, penetration, and RNA synthesis. Therefore, we treated COVID-19 with it and evaluated its safety and effectiveness. Conclusions: Xuanfei Touxie Fang as a complementary medicine has a significant effect in the treatment of COVID-19, which can reduce the duration of fever and the length of hospital stay, improve the clinical cure rate and recovery rate of chest CT manifestations.

Background: Chronic fatigue is a predominant symptom of post COVID-19 condition, or long COVID. We aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Traditional, Complementary and Integrative Medicine (TCIM) for fatigue post COVID-19 infection. Methods: Ten English and Chinese language databases and grey literature were searched up to 12 April 2023 for randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Cochrane “Risk of bias” (RoB) tool was applied. Evidence certainty was assessed using Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE). Effect estimates were presented as risk ratio (RR) or mean difference (MD) with 95% confidence interval (CI). Results: Thirteen RCTs with 1632 participants were included. One RCT showed that Bufei Huoxue herbal capsules reduced fatigue (n=129, MD -14.90, 95%CI -24.53 to -5.27), one RCT reported that Ludangshen herbal liquid lowered fatigue (n=184, MD -1.90, 95%CI -2.38 to -1.42), and the other one RCT shown that fatigue disappearance rate was higher with Ludangshen herbal liquid (n=184, RR 4.19, 95%CI 2.06 to 8.53). Compared to traditional Chinese medicine rehabilitation (TCM-rahab) alone, one RCT showed that fatigue symptoms were lower following Qingjin Yiqi granules plus TCM-rehab (n=388, MD -0.48, 95%CI -0.50 to -0.46). Due to concerns with RoB and/or imprecision, the certainty in this evidence was low to very low. No serious adverse events was reported. Conclusions: Limited evidence suggests that various TCIM interventions might reduce post COVID-19 fatigue. Larger, high quality RCTs of longer duration are required to confirm these preliminary findings. Study Registration: The protocol of this review has been registered at PROSPERO: CRD42022384136.

The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of Nigella sativa oil (NSO) in pediatric Upper Respiratory Tract Infections (URTI). 230 pediatric URTI patients who were consecutively admitted to Family Medicine Outpatient Clinic between 05/12/2022 and 05/09/2023 whose parents agreed to participate were enrolled. Examinations were completed with 110 cases who were orally consuming standardized NSO exclusively, while 120 controls used no phytotherapeutics. Relationships of categorical variables were analysed by Chi-square. Group comparisons of continuous variables were performed with either t-test or Mann-Whitney U test, depending on the normality of distribution. Time-dependent differences in continuous variables between groups were analyzed by rANOVA. Generally accepted significance was p 0.05) in terms of age and gender. At first follow-up, severity scores (p

Background: Oxymel is a functional beverage with a rich historical background of use in multiple societies. Various simple and compound oxymels are prescribed in certain complementary and traditional medical systems, including traditional Persian Medicine. In recent years, numerous clinical and preclinical studies have been conducted in the pharmacy and food industry to investigate the efficacy of various oxymel formulations. This article aims to systematically review and summarize interventional studies on oxymel in both clinical research and animal models. Methods: Relevant articles were searched in Embase, MEDLINE, Web of Science Core Collection, Scopus, and Google Scholar from inception to July 2023 using the keyword “Oxymel” and its equivalents in other languages. Animal and human interventional studies were selected from the search results for review. Results: This review includes twenty studies, comprising twelve clinical trials, two case studies, and six animal studies. The most commonly reported actions of oxymel include positive effects on the cardiovascular system, as well as antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Furthermore, compound oxymel formulations have demonstrated additional benefits depending on the inclusion of specific medicinal herbs. Conclusion: Based on our findings, oxymel appears to be a valuable functional food for healthy individuals and a potentially effective and safe treatment option for managing certain diseases such as asthma, obesity, and type 2 diabetes. However, further clinical trials with larger sample sizes and longer durations are needed to fully elucidate the potential side effects and benefits of both simple and compound oxymels in various disease states.

Background: Adipokines have an important role in the pathophysiology of overweight and obesity and associated inflammatory diseases. Objective: The present review aims to evaluate the role of Yoga on adipokines among people with overweight and obesity. Methods: Authors performed a systematic search for relevant research studies as per the PRISMA guidelines in Google Scholar, Medline/Pubmed, Scopus, Web of Science, PsychInfo electronic databases.Two independent authors conducted the selection of articles, data extraction, assessment of the risk of bias for individual studies. Any disagreements were resolved by discussion with the third author. Results: Eight randomized trials and four uncontrolled trials involving a total of 1054 participants were included. Yoga with varying frequencies was administered for different durations. The studied adipokines among overweight and obese were leptin, adiponectin, interleukin-6 (IL-6), Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), chemerin, visfatin, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), and transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β). The methodological quality of the included studies was low to moderate on the Cochrane risk of bias tool and Newcastle-Ottawa Quality Assessment Scale. The higher the frequency and duration of Yoga practice, the more significant changes in the adipokine levels were seen. Conclusion: The present review indicates that Yoga practices positively impacts adipokines among people with overweight and obesity. However, the present study precludes the generalizability of results due to the methodological heterogeneity, the type of Yoga intervention, and settings.

Amidst the global rise in complementary medicine (CM) use for mental health, a substantial number of clients consulting a psychologist also utilise at least one form of CM. Yet, how psychologists should engage with CM in their clinical practice (e.g., how to respond to a client disclosing CM use or enquiries regarding CM products or services for mental health) remains contested and unclear. In response, a systematic integrative review was conducted to examine empirical literature reporting on one or more aspects of the relationship between psychology (incorporating clinical practice, professional associations and academia) and CM, and how that relationship may relate to or inform psychologists' engagement with CM in their clinical practice. Twenty-seven peer-reviewed articles met the specific inclusion criteria and quality appraisal was employed. Analysis shows a substantial number of psychologists are engaging with, or are interested in engaging with, CM in their clinical practice. Analysis identified a dissonance between psychologists’ engagement with CM in clinical practice and the limited engagement of the broader discipline of psychology with CM. Further research is required to understand these differing types of engagement with a view to helping inform relevant policy and practice guidelines, and ultimately assist psychologists in navigating CM in their clinical practice.

Objectives: To measure prevalence of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use in a diverse gynecologic oncology patient population and evaluate how attitudes and beliefs regarding CAM relate to demographic factors. Methods: A validated Attitudes and Beliefs about Complementary and Alternative Medicine (ABCAM) survey was distributed to patients with gynecologic malignancy. Results were evaluated using Pearson's Chi-squared and Fisher's exact tests for categorical variables and Wilcoxon ranks sum and Kruskal-Wallace tests for non-normally distributed variables. Results: One-hundred thirty patients completed the ABCAM survey. Self-reported race and ethnicity included Asian or Pacific Islander (n = 54; 42%), Hispanic/Latino (n = 23; 18%), White (n = 21; 16%), Black or African American (n = 20; 15%), American Indian/Alaska Native (n = 8; 6.2%) and Other (n = 4; 3.1%). Twenty-four respondents (18%) reported use of CAM. There was a significant difference in expected benefits to CAM between respondents of different races/ethnicities (p

Introduction: COVID-19 was declared a pandemic in 2020. It has had a devastating effect on human life and the global economy. To date, there is no proven therapy for COVID-19, even though rigorous research is ongoing to test multiple compounds across all systems of medicine. A need was felt to systematically explore the Indian system of medicine to assess its efficacy against COVID-19. The objective of the present study was to examine the effect of Kabasura Kudineer as a standalone therapy on the following: time required to achieve symptom relief & resolution, virological clearance, and levels of IL6, CRP and IgG, and compare it to the standard therapy available for treatment of COVID-19. Methodology: A double-blinded randomized controlled trial was conducted in 110 participants. 55 participants were enrolled in the Kabasura Kudineer arm and 55 in the control (standard therapy + Kabasura Kudineer placebo) arm. Study participants were randomly allocated into the two study arms. They were assessed for symptoms at baseline, and on Day 5 and Day 10. RT PCR, CRP, IL6 and IgG levels were measured at baseline, Day 5 and Day 10. On day 28, participants were interviewed telephonically for symptom assessment alone. Statistical analysis: A per-protocol approach was used. Significant difference between two groups was assessed at baseline, day 5 and day 10 using the Chi-square and Mann Whitney test. Result: A total of 110 patients participated in study. Four patients in the Kabasura Kudineer arm and 9 in the Standard therapy arm were lost to follow-up. Baseline characteristics for both the groups were matched at baseline. 83.9% and 93.9% patients were relieved of all symptoms by the 10th day in Kabasura and standard therapy groups respectively. Decrease in CRP level was more pronounced in the Kabasura group compared to standard therapy viz. 3 mg/l and 1.26 mg/l. No significant difference was found in IgG level and IL6 levels in both the study groups. However, it was noticed that among the unvaccinated group, the surge in IgG levels was much higher in Kabasura Kudineer group than the standard therapy group. Conclusion: Kabasura Kudineer as a standalone therapy was as effective and safe as the standard therapy among patients with asymptomatic to mild COVID-19.

The number of centenarians with cancer is increasing as the global population ages. The diagnosis and treatment for centenarians with tumor sometimes are specific, and there are currently less appropriate guidelines as references. We report a 104-year-old man with asymptomatic primary liver cancer (PLC) whose family decided to receive conservative and palliative care. The patient has been followed up for 27 months. He has been mainly received Chinese herbal medicine (CHM), nutritional support and thymalfasin injection intermittently, etc. During the 27-month follow-up, the patient has showed good compliance and tolerance without any complications of the tumor. Conclusion: Individualized palliative care and complementary medicine, based on multidisciplinary evaluation, traditional Chinese medicine, consultation with patients and their families about treatment options, etc., may help improve the life quality of centenarians with end-stage tumors.

Background: COVID-19 resulted in loss of human lives owing to respiratory failure caused by dysregulated immune system. Though many treatments are evaluated, the most appropriate is yet to be established. Objective: To determine the safety and efficacy of Siddha add-on therapy in COVID -19 in terms of accelerated recovery, reduced hospital stay & mortality and follow up assessment of post discharge status until 90 days as compared to the Standard Care management. Methods: In a randomized, controlled, single-center, open-label trial conducted on 200 hospitalized COVID-19 patients, they were allocated equally to be treated with add-on Siddha regimen with Standard care or only Standard care. Standard care was in accordance to the Government norms. Recovery was defined as amelioration of symptoms, viral clearance and attaining SpO2 > 94% in room air indicating the derived score of zero on WHO clinical progression scale. The primary and secondary end points were accelerated recovery (≤ 7 days) and mortality comparison between the groups respectively. Also, disease duration, length of hospital stays and laboratory parameters were assessed for safety and efficacy. Patients were followed through for 90 days after admission. Results: In this study the accelerated recovery was 59.0% and 27.0% in treatment and control groups (ITT analyses) (p < 0.001) respectively and Odds for it were four times higher in the treatment group (OR: 3.9; 95% CI: 1.9, 8.0). The estimated median time for recovery in the treatment group was 7 days (95% CI: 6.0, 8.0; p=0.003) and 10 days (95% CI: 8.7, 11.3) in control. Hazard ratio for death in control was 2.3 times that of treatment group. No adverse reactions or alarming laboratory values were observed in response to intervention. In Severe COVID treatment group (n=80), mortality was 15.0% and 39.5% in control (n=81). The COVID stage progression was 65% less in test group. Mortality during treatment and 90 days follow up in Severe COVID patients were 12 (15%) and 35 (43.2%) in treatment and control groups respectively. Conclusion: The selected Siddha regimen when co-administered with Standard of Care have demonstrated that they can synergistically act to improve oxygenation status of patients, enhance the recovery rate from COVID-19 and reduce the mortality better when compared to administration of only Standard of Care. Clinical Trial Registry of India: CTRI/2020/06/025768 Registered on: 09/06/2020.

Background: In primigravidas, childbirth, although physiological can be a frightening event. Two factors that accompany labor are anxiety and pain. This study aims to investigate the benefits of Iyengar yoga for anxiety and labor pain in primigravida women. Material and methods: The study involved 59 female primigravida subjects, which were divided into 29 controls (without the provision of yoga exercises) and 30 people who received Iyengar yoga exercise. Anxiety and the degree of labor pain will be measured using the Hamilton Scale Rating for Anxiety (HSRA) and visual analog scale (VAS), respectively. Results: Iyengar yoga significantly reduced VAS and HARS values compared to controls (p < 0.05). Conclusion: It was concluded that Iyengar yoga in primigravida women was beneficial in reducing labor pain and anxiety. Thus, the Iyengar yoga technique can be a method for supporting the success and safety of labor.

Background: Despite the push for complementary medicine (CM) practitioners to engage in evidence implementation, and arguments in support of evidence-based practice (EBP), uptake of EBP amongst most CM professions remains low. This review aimed to synthesise the evidence examining the barriers and enablers to evidence implementation in CM. Methods: Any primary study examining enablers and barriers to evidence implementation in CM were eligible for inclusion. Eight databases and search engines were searched for eligible studies. Reference lists of included studies were screened, and authors of included studies were contacted to identify current or unpublished studies that met the inclusion criteria. Results: Thirty-nine published and unpublished studies were included in this review. The seven published qualitative studies and 25 published quantitative studies were rated as moderate to high quality. Fifty-two distinct barriers and 62 discrete enablers were identified. Reported barriers were predominantly structural (e.g. limited availability of time and clinical evidence) and cognitive (e.g. skills deficits), with relatively fewer studies reporting cultural (e.g. lack of industry support) or attitudinal barriers (e.g. lack of interest in, or relevance to CM). Enablers of evidence implementation largely focussed on improving access to bibliographic databases and evidence reviews, supporting skills acquisition, and cultivating leadership and interprofessional/interagency collaboration. Conclusions: The findings of this review highlight the diverse barriers and enablers to evidence implementation in CM that span multiple dimensions. The interplay between these various factors highlights the complexity of evidence implementation, and the need for a targeted multistakeholder, multidimensional solution to optimise evidence-based practice in CM. Study registration: The protocol of this review was registered at PROSPERO (CRD42022308527).

Objective: Chinese-American patients use CIH at high rates but disclosure of CIH use to clinicians is low. Further, the content of CIH talk between patients and their clinicians is not well described. We aimed to characterize CIH talk between Chinese-American patients and their primary care clinicians. Methods: Discourse analysis of 70 audio-recordings of language concordant and discordant-interpreted visits. Results: Nearly half of all visits (48.6%) had some form of CIH communication. ‘Simple CIH talk’ focused on a single CIH topic resulting in a positive, neutral, or negative response by clinicians. ‘CIH-furthering talk’ was characterized by clinicians and patients addressing more than one CIH topic or including a combination of orientations to CIH by both clinicians and patients. CIH-furthering talk characterized by clinician humility could enhance rapport, cultural understanding, and open communication. CIH-furthering talk also led to miscommunication and retreat toward biomedicine. Conclusion: CIH communication occurred frequently during language concordant and discordant-interpreted visits with Chinese-American patients. Both patients and clinicians used CIH-furthering talk as a conversational resource for managing care. Innovation: This discourse analysis of visits between Chinese-American patients and their clinicians advances understanding of CIH communication beyond disclosure, illustrating the complexity of linguistic and cultural nuances that affect patient care.

Background and Purpose: Complementary medicine has been undergoing a process of regulation and professionalization in many countries where the biomedical model is dominant. However, little is known about therapists' opinions regarding these changes. The aim of the study was thus to explore therapists' views on the regulation of their practice and on collaboration between CM and biomedicine., Materials and Methods: We conducted this qualitative descriptive study by means of focus groups consisting of non-physician acupuncturists, naturopaths, and osteopaths in two cantons of Switzerland. A qualitative content analysis was carried out on the verbatim transcripts of the focus groups., Results: Four main themes were identified: contributions to the healthcare system, collaboration with biomedicine, pathways to recognition, and integrative medicine. Therapists defined their role in the healthcare system in comparison to biomedicine, allowing them to highlight how they could complement it. They also noted an improved relationship with biomedicine, while highlighting the remaining barriers to optimal collaboration. Different ways were mentioned to achieve a higher level of recognition: better educating and informing physicians about CM, structured training of therapists that is federally recognized, state regulation, and development of scientific research on CM. Finally, although unfamiliar with the concept, therapists defined integrative medicine as horizontal collaboration between CM and biomedicine., Conclusion: Despite the differences between the three CM practiced by the therapists, they produced fairly similar discourse regarding aspirations and concerns in the face of integration. This discourse should be considered in order to facilitate the integration of CM in the Swiss healthcare system., Competing Interests: Competing interests The authors declare that they have no competing interests., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: There is a limited amount of research specifically focusing on the effects of Swedish massage on mood disorders and the quality of life (QOL) among individuals with MS, emphasizing the need for further investigation. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the effects of a 6-week Swedish massage on the quality of life, stress, anxiety, depression, pain, fatigue, spasticity, and sleep quality in MS patients., Methods: This randomized controlled trial involved 70 MS patients who were divided into two groups. The massage group underwent two 50-minute sessions of whole-body Swedish massage per week for six weeks, while the usual treatment group maintained their regular medical care routine. Outcomes were Short Form-36 (SF-36) and the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS), Visual Analog Scale (VAS), Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI-P), and Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS). These measurements were taken before and after the massage intervention., Results: The massage group demonstrated significant improvements in QOL and its components compared to the usual treatment group (Hedge's g = 0.53 for QOL, ranging from 0.31 to 0.58 for QOL components; p < 0.001). Participants in the massage group also reported significantly lower levels of stress (Hedge's g = 0. 80), anxiety (Hedge's g = 0.47), and depression (Hedge's g = 0.70) than those in the usual treatment group (p < 0.001). Additionally, the massage group had lower levels of pain, fatigue, and spasticity, and better sleep quality compared to the usual treatment group (p < 0.05)., Conclusion: Swedish massage can be considered a valuable complementary and alternative treatment alongside conventional medicine for individuals with MS., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: The aim of this study was to assess the frequency of allopathic and complementary medicine use for preventing the infection with SARS-CoV-2 in Mexico. A descriptive and cross-sectional study was conducted using an online questionnaire among general adult population (n = 16,724) of the 32 Mexican states from March to November 2020. Methods: The factors associated with the use, self-medication practice, and adverse reactions due the consumption of allopathic and complementary medicine to prevent infection with SARS-CoV-2 virus were assessed using a structured questionnaire. The suspected adverse reactions associated with the use of drugs or complementary medicine were reported. Results: The prevalence (42.9%) of allopathic and/or complementary medicine use for preventing SARS-CoV-2 infection was mainly associated with unemployment [OR:2.026 (1.722–2.283)]. Acetaminophen (n = 2272) and vitamin C (n = 3252) were the main allopathic and complementary medicine products used to prevent SARS-CoV-2 infection, respectively. The prevalence of self-medication and adverse reactions was 35.3% and 4.8%, respectively. Self-medication [OR:1.930 (1.633–2.282)] and adverse reactions [OR:2.603 (2.015–3.363)] were mainly associated with individuals of low socioeconomic status. Hydroxychloroquine (21.2%) and chloroquine (15.2%) showed the highest prevalence of adverse reactions, which were mainly related to gastrointestinal disorders. Conclusion: The use of medications and complementary medicine to prevent SARS-CoV-2 infection is prevalent (almost one-half of the respondents) among Mexican population, and it is mainly associated with unemployment. Self-medication and the adverse reactions derived from self-medication are also prevalent and seem to be influenced by low socioeconomic status.

Background: The Ayurveda therapy is often used as an adjunct to conventional allopathic treatments for management of chronic disorders including life threatening infections such as post COVID-19 Mucormycosis (PCM). Aims/objectives: The aim of the current study is to evaluate the role of adjunct Ayurveda therapy (AAT + CAT) over conventional Allopathic therapy (CAT) in the prevention of progression of oral/orbital/neural extension of PCM. Material and methods: A non-randomised parallel group interventional study was on a sample of 92 cases of PCM, sorted into two groups i.e. group A (n = 46; AAT + CAT) and group B (n = 46; CAT/controls). The group A received AAT (lab-tested standardised regimen) while simultaneously receiving conventional antifungal measures (or CAT). The outcomes assessed were clinical symptomatic grading score, Nasal endoscopic examination for patency of sinuses, Progression or extension of disease from sinuses to maxilla, orbit and brain, need of additional surgical interventions and antifungal medication after study period, adverse drug reactions and mortality. Results: The group A (AAT + CAT)) had shown extension free PCM in 86.96% (n = 40) as opposed to 41.3% (n = 19) in group B (CAT), No surgical interventions were needed in 89.13% (n = 41) in group A vs. 60.87% (n = 28) in group B. Around 69.5% (n = 32) in group A vs. 4.37% (n = 2) in group B did not need antifungal medication. The safety of both arms of the therapy has been determined by liver function and renal profile which are with in normal range in both groups. Conclusion: Adjunct Ayurveda therapy (given along with routine medical therapy) for PCM showed a better cure and reduced disease progression after a trial period of 45 days and in the extended observational period of three months. AAT + CAT regimen is not only therapeutically effective, but also safe and economical option to consider for PCM.

Sacha Inchi (Plukenetia Volubilis L.), SI, is the oleaginous plant of the Euphorbiaceous family originally cultivated in the Amazonian forest. It is traditionally appreciated and consumed as the healthful food. In vivo, in vitro and clinical studies have suggested the beneficial effects of SI for a variety of neuroprotection, dermatology, antidyslipidaemic, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory, antiproliferative and antitumor modulation activities. Many of these potential impacts are related to its bioactive compounds, particularly essential fatty acids, proteins and phytochemicals. However, there are some scientific evidences underlying the risk of toxicity associated with the high doses of SI seed oils. With the aforementioned, this review outlines a narrative review of SI, including its ethnobotanical components, phytochemistry profile, organoleptic and sensory evaluations. The essential development of its latest applications in the field of medicine, pharmacology, safety and toxicological issues, are laconically demonstrated. Moreover, the underlying challenges and upcoming prospective for the integration of SI use are detailed.

Background: Professional health organizations are not currently recommending Tai Ji Quan alongside aerobic exercise to treat hypertension. We aimed to examine the efficacy of Tai Ji Quan as antihypertensive lifestyle therapy. Methods: Tai Ji Quan interventions published in English and Chinese were included when they involved healthy adults, reported pre- and post-intervention blood pressure (BP), and had a non-exercise/non-diet control group. We systematically searched 11 electronic databases for studies published through July 31, 2018, yielding 31 qualifying controlled trials. We (1) evaluated the risk of bias and methodological study quality, (2) performed meta-regression analyses following random-effects assumptions, and (3) generated additive models representing the largest possible clinically relevant BP reductions. Results: Participants (n = 3223) were middle-aged (56.6 ± 15.1 years of age, mean ± SD) adults with prehypertension (systolic BP (SBP) = 136.9 ± 15.2 mmHg, diastolic BP (DBP) = 83.4 ± 8.7 mmHg). Tai Ji Quan was practiced 4.0 ± 1.4 sessions/week for 54.0 ± 10.6 min/session for 22.3 ± 20.2 weeks. Overall, Tai Ji Quan elicited significant reductions in SBP (–11.3 mmHg, 95%CI: –14.6 to –8.0; d+ = –0.75) and DBP (–4.8 mmHg, 95%CI: –6.4 to –3.1; d+ = –0.53) vs. control (p < 0.001). Controlling for publication bias among samples with hypertension, Tai Ji Quan trials published in English elicited SBP reductions of 10.4 mmHg and DBP reductions of 4.0 mmHg, which was half the magnitude of trials published in Chinese (SBP reductions of 18.6 mmHg and DBP reductions of 8.8 mmHg). Conclusion: Our results indicate that Tai Ji Quan is a viable antihypertensive lifestyle therapy that produces clinically meaningful BP reductions (i.e., 10.4 mmHg and 4.0 mmHg of SBP and DBP reductions, respectively) among individuals with hypertension. Such magnitude of BP reductions can lower the incidence of cardiovascular disease by up to 40%.

Objectives: As well as associated cardiovascular diseases (CVD) like heart attacks, stroke, or others, arterial hypertension shows rising incidence throughout the last decades. The risk of developing an elevated blood pressure is mostly based on environmental and behavioral factors. Therefore, guidelines usually base a first-line therapy on lifestyle modifications. Complementary medicine (CM) offers a wide range of therapies to support such and CM utilization is common among CVD. We sought to analyze CM utilization among participants particularly suffering from arterial hypertension and aimed to distinguish utilization rates of different therapy approaches and predicting factors on this part of health behavior. Design and setting: This cross-sectional analysis was based on data of the 2017 National Health Interview survey (NHIS, n = 26,742; response rate 80,7%), performed among the US population. Main outcome measures and results: Within the last 12 months, 22.7% of participants reported to suffer from arterial hypertension and they were less likely to have used CM (26.8% with versus 32.5% without hypertension). Consulting a homeopath or using mind-body-medicine was more common among participants without the diagnosis, while equal proportions had consulted a chiropractor, a naturopath, a practitioner of traditional medicine, or a practitioner of chelation therapy. Regarding mind-body medicine (MBM), individuals with hypertension most often used spiritual meditation (10.6%), yoga (5.7%), mindfulness meditation (3.2%), progressive relaxation (3.1%), mantra meditation (2.4%), guided imagery (1.9%), tai chi (1.5%), and qi gong (0.4%). CM use in individuals with hypertension was associated with female sex, higher education, and/or living in the Western or Midwest USA. Conclusion: Participants with arterial hypertension were less likely to utilize CM therapies than those without. Regarding prevention and therapy of the disease, especially MBM therapies show promising results but further research and better information for the general population is needed.

Cisplatin is a potent platinum-based anticancer drug approved by the Food Drug Administration (FDA) in 1978. Despite its advantages against solid tumors, cisplatin confers toxicity to various tissues that limit its clinical uses. In cisplatin-induced hepatotoxicity, few mechanisms have been identified, which started as excess generation of reactive oxygen species that leads to oxidative stress, inflammation, DNA damage and apoptosis in the liver. Various natural products, plant extracts and oil rich in flavonoids, terpenoids, polyphenols, and phenolic acids were able to minimize oxidative stress by restoring the level of antioxidant enzymes and acting as an anti-inflammatory agent. Likewise, treatment with honey and royal jelly was demonstrated to decrease serum transaminases and scavenge free radicals in the liver after cisplatin administration. Medicinal properties of these natural products have a promising potential as a complementary therapy to counteract cisplatin-induced hepatotoxicity. This review concentrated on the protective role of several natural products, which has been proven in the laboratory findings to combat cisplatin-induced hepatotoxicity.

Objectives: Little is known about the education of future CM practitioners. The objective is to explore the perceptions and experiences of students, faculty and professional leaders toward technologies in complementary medicine education and practice. Design and setting: Qualitative focus groups and one-on-one semi-structured interviews were conducted in CM educational organizations and institutions in North America (United States / Canada) and Australia involving seven focus groups (29 naturopathic students), and 30 one-on-one interviews (faculty, educational and professional leaders of the naturopathic profession). Results: Data analysis identified five issues reported. These related to perceptions of; the shortfalls of CM classroom technology, the value of technology within CM clinical practice, learning technologies in the classroom, addressing equity concerns as a consequence of learning technology use, and the need to develop technology literacy skills amongst students and faculty. Conclusion: This is the first study to examine the perceptions of students, faculty and professional leaders toward technologies in CM education and practice within an education setting. CM students exhibited complex attitudes and adoption patterns to technology. CM students were critical of faculty who have perceived low levels of digital literacy. The technology issue that students in our study found most challenging was PowerPoint use in the classroom. There is an urgent need to establish a strategic research agenda and modelling around this important area of health care education in order to ensure a well-educated, effective workforce able to deliver the best outcomes for the patients and communities they serve.

Research Question: Is conducting a randomized control trial (RCT) to assess the effectiveness of whole-system naturopathy in improving pregnancy rates among women with diminished ovarian reserve (DOR) feasible?, Design: A two-arm, parallel group, assessor-blinded feasibility RCT was conducted. Women with DOR, trying to conceive naturally or by ART, were randomly assigned to naturopathy plus usual care, or usual care alone for 16 weeks. Primary outcomes were feasibility (recruitment, adherence, retention rates), acceptability and safety. Secondary outcomes included ongoing pregnancy rates, live birth rates and health-related outcomes (mental health, quality of life, diet, exercise, sleep and weight). Statistical significance of the differences between the two groups (P-values) were exploratory., Results: One hundred and fifteen women completed the screening survey between March and November 2022. Of these, 66 women were assessed for eligibility and 41 (62%) consented. Recruitment resulted in seven enrolments each month. All 41 participants (100%) adhered to the intervention, 38 (93%) completed end-point questionnaires, 32 (78%) found study participation to be acceptable and 18 out of 21 (86%) from the intervention group would recommend a naturopathic intervention to other women with DOR. The naturopathic treatment was associated with only mild and temporary adverse events. No between-group differences were observed for pregnancy and live birth rates., Conclusion: The evaluation of whole-system naturopathy through a RCT was feasible and the treatment was acceptable and well tolerated according to women with DOR. Outcomes from this study will help inform sample size calculations powered for fertility outcomes for future RCTs on this topic., (Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Background: Chronic fatigue is a predominant symptom of post COVID-19 condition, or long COVID. We aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Traditional, Complementary and Integrative Medicine (TCIM) for fatigue post COVID-19 infection., Methods: Ten English and Chinese language databases and grey literature were searched up to 12 April 2023 for randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Cochrane "Risk of bias" (RoB) tool was applied. Evidence certainty was assessed using Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE). Effect estimates were presented as risk ratio (RR) or mean difference (MD) with 95% confidence interval (CI)., Results: Thirteen RCTs with 1632 participants were included. One RCT showed that Bufei Huoxue herbal capsules reduced fatigue (n=129, MD -14.90, 95%CI -24.53 to -5.27), one RCT reported that Ludangshen herbal liquid lowered fatigue (n=184, MD -1.90, 95%CI -2.38 to -1.42), and the other one RCT shown that fatigue disappearance rate was higher with Ludangshen herbal liquid (n=184, RR 4.19, 95%CI 2.06 to 8.53). Compared to traditional Chinese medicine rehabilitation (TCM-rahab) alone, one RCT showed that fatigue symptoms were lower following Qingjin Yiqi granules plus TCM-rehab (n=388, MD -0.48, 95%CI -0.50 to -0.46). Due to concerns with RoB and/or imprecision, the certainty in this evidence was low to very low. No serious adverse events was reported., Conclusions: Limited evidence suggests that various TCIM interventions might reduce post COVID-19 fatigue. Larger, high quality RCTs of longer duration are required to confirm these preliminary findings., Study Registration: The protocol of this review has been registered at PROSPERO: CRD42022384136., Competing Interests: This work was supported by National Key Research and Development Project: Adding Chinese herbal medicine to antibiotic treatment for acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (Grant No. 2018YFE0102300) and Innovation Team and Talents Cultivation Program of National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine (No:ZYYCXTD-C-202006)., (© 2024 Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Background: The acupotomy is an acupuncture device recently used to stimulate lumbar vertebrae such as transverse processes (TPs) and facet joints (FJs). However, there are many organs, nerves, and blood vessels, which can lead to side effects if the needle misses the treatment target. Therefore, information regarding appropriate insertion depths, which is currently lacking, could facilitate its safe use. We retrospectively investigated the depth from the skin to the TP and FJ of the lumbar vertebrae, using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Methods: This retrospective chart review was conducted at a single medical centre in Korea. From 55,129 patient records, 158 subjects were selected. Perpendicular depth from the skin to the left and right TPs and FJs was measured using T1-weighted sagittal plane MRI. Depth differences between the left and right sides were evaluated using the paired t-test and analysis of covariance (body mass index [BMI] as a covariate). The influence of BMI on depth at each location was evaluated by simple linear regression analysis. Results: The mean age was 43.2 years and mean BMI was 23.6 kg/m2. The depth from skin to the TPs or FJs was unaffected by age, sex, or side. Mean depths (cm) were as follows: (TPs) L1 = 4.5, L2 = 4.9, L3 = 5.3, L4 = 5.7, L5 = 5.9; (FJs) L12 = 3.8, L23 = 4.0, L34 = 4.4, L45 = 4.6, L5S1 = 4.6. Depth was highly correlated with BMI at each location. Conclusion: The depth of TPs and FJs adjusted for BMI can safely and effectively be used for treatment via various invasive interventions, including acupotomy treatment, in the lumbar region.

Background: Pain is a disagreeable and distressing feeling that affects human beings in multi-dimensional ways. A number of non-pharmacological interventions have had varying degrees of success in treating cancer-related pain, such as breathing and relaxation techniques, and music therapy, which have been identified as beneficial therapies for alleviating pain and anxiety. Objective: Identify the therapeutic effects of music interventions in psychological and physiological terms and on the quality of life of children undergoing cancer treatment. Method: Systematic review of effectiveness based on the methodology of the Joanna Briggs Institute. Results: Eleven articles were included with a total of 429 children, whose ages ranged from 0 to 18 years. The mean duration of the music intervention was 30.6 (±SD 9.8) min. In a combined estimate of five studies for pain and anxiety outcomes, there were benefits to using music when compared with the control group (SMD −1.05; CI 95 % −1.70 – 0.40 N = 453 I2 = 90 %). A combined analysis of five studies to assess quality of life showed that the use of music was favorable when compared with the control (SMD -0.80; CI 95 % −1.17−0.43 N = 457= I2 = 71 %). Conclusion: After completing this review, it was determined that there is evidence to support the use of music to reduce pain and anxiety and improve the quality of life of children undergoing cancer treatment.

Objective: We aim to characterize the patient population that exhibits reluctance to undergo complementary medicine (CM) treatments in a hospital setting. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional prospective study among patients prior to hospitalization using structured questionnaires in a single center in Israel. Participants were asked to rate their degree of consent to receiving CM treatments during hospitalization. Results: The CM-reluctant group was 7.1 % of the study cohort. The CM modalities most commonly refused were spiritual guidance, acupuncture, and energy and healing therapies. The CM-reluctant population showed a weaker relation to spiritual content and tended to value complementary medicine's effectiveness less in comparison to the CM-consenting group. The main reason for reluctance was skepticism of the perceived effectiveness of CM. Conclusions: With skepticism playing a major role in decision making, we should question whether the Stakeholders in the field of CM and public health services are succeeding in explaining the benefits and risks of CM treatments.

Background: This study assessed the utilization of biomedicine and Korean Medicine (KM) among hypertension patients. Methods: The study was a cross-sectional analysis conducted using the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES), which is a nationwide survey conducted every year for a representative Korean population. The use of outpatient healthcare services for hypertension patients was analyzed, and the usage determinants adjusted by the demographic and health status variables were identified. A chi-square test and logistic regression analysis were used for statistical analysis using R (version 3.6.0). Results: Among 3320 hypertension patients, 208 patients (6.27%, Weighted%: 5.99%) used the biomedicine and KM concurrently. Multivariable regression analyses revealed hypertension patients who were obese (OR: 1.417, CI: 1.007–1.995) and had an experience of sickness (OR: 2.323, CI: 1.561–3.457) to be more likely to use biomedicine and KM concurrently. Conclusion: The utilization rate and determinants of the concurrent use of biomedicine and KM were identified in patients with hypertension. Although the overall usage rate was not high, the health care patterns of healthcare consumers need to be understood. Therefore, further studies on its effectiveness and safety are recommended.

Background: This rapid review systematically evaluated the effects of honeybee products compared to controls for the prevention, duration, severity, and recovery of acute viral respiratory tract infections (RTIs), including SARS-CoV-2, in adults and children. Methods: Cochrane rapid review methods were applied. Four English databases plus preprint servers and trial registries were searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs). The evidence was appraised and synthesized using RoB 2.0 and GRADE. Results: 27 results were derived from 9 RCTs that included 674 adults and 781 children. In hospitalized adults with SARS-CoV-2, propolis plus usual-care compared to usual-care alone reduced the risk of shock, respiratory failure and kidney injury and duration of hospital admission. Honey was less effective than Guaifenesin for reducing cough severity at 60-minutes in adults with non-specific acute viral RTIs. Compared to coffee, honey plus coffee, and honey alone reduced the severity of post-infectious cough in adults. Honey reduced the duration of cough in children compared to placebo and salbutamol; and the global impact of nocturnal cough after one night compared to usual-care alone and pharmaceutical cough medicines. Conclusion: More studies are needed to robustly assess honeybee's role in SARS-CoV-2 and non-specific viral respiratory infections. Protocol registration: PROSPERO: CRD42020193847.

Background: Post-dural puncture headache (PDPH) is a common complication after spinal anesthesia, affecting patient recovery. This study evaluated the prophylactic effect of topical chamomile ointment on PDPH in women undergoing elective cesarean section., Methods: In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial 148 pregnant women were randomized into two parallel groups and received 3cc of the chamomile or the placebo ointment on the forehead of the participants 20 minutes before the start of spinal anesthesia, and then 2 and 4 hours after that. The primary outcomes were the incidence rate of headache, and its severity assessed by a numeric rating scale (NRS), while secondary outcomes included analgesic consumption, frequency of nausea/vomiting, and adverse events., Results: Chamomile ointment exhibited significant preventive effects on PDPH incidence compared to placebo. The chamomile group demonstrated lower rates of PDPH at 6 hours (3.5% vs. 7.18%, p = 0.021) and 12 hours (7.6% vs. 20%, p = 0.028) after spinal anesthesia. Analgesic consumption, frequency of nausea/vomiting, and adverse events were comparable between the groups., Conclusion: Topical chamomile ointment demonstrated significant preventive effects on PDPH incidence compared to placebo. Chamomile ointment could be a promising adjunctive approach to prevent PDPH, enhancing patient comfort and potentially reducing the need for analgesics. Further investigation is needed to explore its mechanisms and broader applications., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest Authors AM, CE, SA and MA are academic researchers at NICM Health Research Institute. As a medical research institute, NICM Health Research Institute receives research grants and donations from foundations, universities, government agencies, and industry. Sponsors and donors provide untied and tied funding for work to advance the vision and mission of the Institute. AM declares that she is a naturopathic practitioner at a clinic in Sydney, Australia. She is the recipient of a scholarship from the Jacka Foundation of Natural Therapies for her PhD. The funding body had no role in the design of the study, in the collection, analyses, or interpretation of data, in the writing of the manuscript, or in the decision to publish the results. CE declares that she is the Jacka Foundation Senior Research Fellow, Chair of the RACGP Integrative Medicine Specific Interest Network (voluntary role), Program Lead of an academic integrative healthcare centre (no financial interest), past General Practitioner Advisory Board member for Blackmores Research Institute, has received industry funding from nutraceutical device companies to conduct clinical trials, and has received honoraria and had travel expenses covered for presenting at complementary medicine events. SA declares that she is a naturopathic practitioner at an obstetrics and gynaecology clinic in Sydney, Australia. She has received payment for providing expert editing of naturopathic and herbal medicine educational programs, and for investigation of naturopathy, herbal medicines and nutraceuticals in clinical trials and spoken at workshops, seminars and conferences for which registration, travel and/or accommodation has been paid by the organisers. MA declares that he is the chair of the Research Studies committee and the chair of the Clinical Advisory Committee, both for Endometriosis Australia. He works in private clinical practice as a TEAM practitioner at Sydney Endometriosis. He has received funding from Metagenics, Oz Medicann Group, the Medical Research Futures Fund, Canopy Growth and the Victorian Government, all outside the submitted work. MC has no competing interests.

Introduction: Dry eye disease (DED) is an inflammatory disorder that shares several features with autoimmune diseases. Research suggests that electroacupuncture (EA) is a promising alternative treatment option for this disorder; however, evidence of its immediate efficacy is limited., Case Presentation: Three patients were diagnosed with DED, and used artificial tears or anti-inflammatory drugs for long-term relief of eye symptoms. However, the cure rates were low, and the side effects were high. To improve ocular symptoms, quality of life, and physical and mental health, the patients sought alternative complementary therapies and received electroacupuncture therapy. All patients showed significant improvements in fatigue and dryness of the ocular surface after 3-4 days of treatment, and follow-up after 4 weeks showed no tendency for recurrence. No adverse reactions or unexpected events were observed during treatment., Conclusion: We propose an innovative electroacupuncture treatment aimed at fewer acupuncture points, shorter periods, and faster healing that improves the symptoms of patients with DED in the short term. Continuous current stimulation by anatomically positioned needles on both sides of the lacrimal gland and the creation of an electric field may improve the endogenous mechanisms of DED., (Copyright © 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Plantar warts, or verruca plantaris, are common cutaneous lesions of the plantar surface caused by the human papilloma virus (HPV) infection. Current treatments include salicylic acid, cryotherapy, bleomycin, and immunotherapy; however, they have limitations of low-cure rates or side effects. Plantar warts treated with bee venom (BV) have not been reported. Here we present a case of a patient who showed complete remission of multiple plantar warts after BV treatment., Case Presentation: A 13-year-old boy experienced total of 16 plantar warts and visited department of dermatology of Korean Medicine. BV was injected into wart sites. Warts were completely removed at the end of the 8-week treatment with no adverse event recorded. There was improvement during the follow-up after 4 weeks., Conclusion: This is the first case of plantar warts that improved with BV injection. This study suggests that BV may be a therapeutic option for individuals who cannot receive cryotherapy due to pain during and after treatment or who have refractory or relapsed warts., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no competing interests., (Copyright © 2023. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Strategies aimed at delaying the onset of bone tissue degeneration and the resulting skeletal fragility are key to decrease the risk of bone fracture correlated to ageing. The therapeutic properties of sulfurous thermal waters (STWs), rich in hydrogen sulfide (H2S), have been claimed for centuries. However, the direct regulation of bone cells by STWs has not been investigated yet. Here we aimed at analyzing the effect of STWs on cultured human mesenchymal stromal cells (hMSCs) derived from bone tissue. Two concentrations of STWs from 2 health spa centers in Italy (here named STW-1 and STW-2) containing, respectively, high and moderate quantities of H2S, were added to the culture media. Cytotoxicity and osteogenic differentiation were evaluated. We provided first evidence that treatment of hMSCs with STWs results in a sharp increase in intracellular H2S content, coherent with the different concentrations of H2S, thereby reveling that STWs-released H2S is internalized by cells. STWs treatment significantly induced osteogenic differentiation of hMSCs. In particular, mineral apposition was increased with a similar pattern by the two STWs, while mRNA expression of osteogenic markers (BSP, OC, RUNX-2, OPN) was differently affected. Only STW-2 induced a significant, dose-dependent increase in these gene expression. These findings support the rationale for the use of STWs as a complementary treatment of bone wasting diseases.

Curcumin, an aromatic phytoextract from the turmeric (Curcuma longa) rhizome, has been used for centuries for a variety of purposes, not the least of which is medicinal. A growing body of evidence suggests that curcumin has a broad range of potentially therapeutic pharmacological properties, including anti-inflammatory, anti-fibrotic, and anti-neoplastic effects, among others. Clinical applications of curcumin have been hampered by quality control concerns and limited oral bioavailability, although novel formulations appear to have largely overcome these issues. Recent in vitro and in vivo studies have found that curcumin's cytoprotective and other biological activities may play a role in an array of benign and malignant hepatobiliary conditions, including but not limited to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, cholestatic liver disease (e.g. primary sclerosing cholangitis), and cholangiocarcinoma. Here we provide an overview of fundamental principles, recent discoveries, and potential clinical hepatobiliary applications of this pleiotropic phytocompound.

Urinary tract infection (UTI) has become a more grievous problem today, due to multidrug resistance of infecting Gram-positive (GP) and Gram-negative (GN) bacteria, sometimes even with multiple infections. This study examines effectivity of 9 tropical flowering plants (Anogeissus acuminata, Azadirachta indica, Bauhinia variegata, Boerhaavia diffusa, Punica granatum, Soymida febrifuga, Terminalia chebula, Tinospora cordifolia and Tribulus terrestris) for possible use as source of antimicrobials for multidrug resistant (MDR) bacteria, along with main-stream antibiotics. Pathogenic bacteria were isolated from urine samples of patients attending and admitted in the hospital. Antibiograms of 11 isolated bacteria (GPs, Enterococcus faecalis and Staphylococcus aureus; and GNs, Acinetobacter baumannii, Citrobacter freundii, Enterobacter aerogenes, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella oxytoca, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Proteus mirabilis, Proteus vulgaris and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) were ascertained by the disc-diffusion method, and antibacterial effectivity of plant extracts was monitored by the agar-well diffusion method. Isolated bacteria were floridly MDR to most antibiotics of the day. Methanol extracts of 9 plants were used, and extracts of 3 plants, A. acuminata, P. granatum and S. febrifuga at least caused 25–29 mm as the maximum size of zone of inhibition on bacterial lawns. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) values of methanol extracts of 9 plants were recorded. The methanol extract of A. acuminata had 0.29 mg/ml as the lowest MIC value and 0.67 mg/ml as the lowest MBC value, against MDR S. aureus, signifying effectivity; but, it had the highest MIC value of 3.41 mg/ml. and the highest MBC value of 4.27 mg/ml for most other MDR bacteria including E. coli. Qualitative phytochemical analysis was done for these 9 plants and information on leading phytochemicals was presented retrieved from PubChem database. Thus, three effective-most plants in controlling MDR-UTI bacteria in vitro were A. acuminata, P. granatum and S. febrifuga, which can be promoted as complementary medicine.

Background: This study presents a unique case of a patient diagnosed with systemic lupus erythematosus and a relatively rare type of traditional Chinese medicine known as Qi deficiency and cold-dampness syndrome. The patient's condition was successfully treated using a combination of complementary therapies, specifically the modified Buzhong Yiqi decoction and the Erchen decoction., Case Presentation: A 34-year-old female patient experienced intermittent arthralgia and skin rash over three years. She also developed recurrent arthralgia and skin rashes in the last month, followed by low-grade fever, vaginal bleeding, alopecia, and fatigue. The patient was diagnosed with systemic lupus erythematosus and was prescribed prednisone, tacrolimus, anti-allergic medications (ebastine and loratadine), and norethindrone. While the arthralgia improved, the low-grade fever and rash persisted and, in some instances, worsened. Based on the evaluation of tongue coating and pulses, the patient's symptoms were attributed to Qi deficiency and cold-dampness syndrome. Consequently, the modified Buzhong Yiqi decoction and the Erchen decoction were added to her treatment regimen. The former was used to tonify Qi, while the latter was employed to resolve the phlegm dampness. As a result, the patient's fever subsided after three days, and all symptoms resolved within five days., Conclusion: The modified Buzhong Yiqi decoction and the Erchen decoction could be considered complementary therapy in systemic lupus erythematosus patients with Qi deficiency and cold-dampness syndrome., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The objective of this study was to assess the effectiveness of a specific composition of a traditional herbal preparation (DurrDerma) in adult patients with moderate to severe skin psoriasis. The preparation is a newly developed topical combination containing plant-based extracts traditionally used in skin disease as black cumin, olive oil, tea tree oil, cocoa butter completed by vitamin A and vitamin B12. We documented the effectiveness of the preparation in a first case series. A total of 12 patients (8 males and 4 females, 21–86 y) with manifest and treatment-resistant psoriasis were included and treated for 12 weeks. All patients were assigned to twice-daily treatment with the DurrDerma preparation. Treatment success as determined by the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) score, the body surface area, and the dermatology life index was achieved (PASI reduction of >75%) in 10 of the 12 treated patients (83%). The remaining two patients showed a PASI reduction of ≤50%. In 5 of the patients PASI reduction was achieved

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.

The integration of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) and conventional cancer care in Canada is in its nascent stages. While most patients use CAM during their cancer experience, the majority does not receive adequate support from their oncology health care professionals (HCPs) to integrate CAM safely and effectively into their treatment and care. A variety of factors influence this lack of integration in Canada, such as health care professional(HCP) education and attitudes about CAM; variable licensure, credentialing of CAM practitioners, and reimbursement issues across the country; an emerging CAM evidence base; and models of cancer care that privilege diseased-focused care at the expense of whole person care. Oncology nurses are optimally aligned to be leaders in the integration of CAM into cancer care in Canada. Beyond the respect afforded to oncology nurses by patients and family members that support them in broaching the topic of CAM, policies, and position statements exist that allow oncology nurses to include CAM as part of their scope. Oncology nurses have also taken on leadership roles in clinical innovation, research, education, and advocacy that are integral to the safe and informed integration of evidence-based CAM therapies into cancer care settings in Canada.

Background: Adipokines have an important role in the pathophysiology of overweight and obesity and associated inflammatory diseases., Objective: The present review aims to evaluate the role of Yoga on adipokines among people with overweight and obesity., Methods: Authors performed a systematic search for relevant research studies as per the PRISMA guidelines in Google Scholar, Medline/Pubmed, Scopus, Web of Science, PsychInfo electronic databases. Two independent authors conducted the selection of articles, data extraction, assessment of the risk of bias for individual studies. Any disagreements were resolved by discussion with the third author., Results: Eight randomized trials and four uncontrolled trials involving a total of 1054 participants were included. Yoga with varying frequencies was administered for different durations. The studied adipokines among overweight and obese were leptin, adiponectin, interleukin-6 (IL-6), Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), chemerin, visfatin, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), and transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β). The methodological quality of the included studies was low to moderate on the Cochrane risk of bias tool and Newcastle-Ottawa Quality Assessment Scale. The higher the frequency and duration of Yoga practice, the more significant changes in the adipokine levels were seen., Conclusion: The present review indicates that Yoga practices positively impacts adipokines among people with overweight and obesity. However, the present study precludes the generalizability of results due to the methodological heterogeneity, the type of Yoga intervention, and settings., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest None, (Copyright © 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)