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Objective: The incidence and prevalence of postpartum depression is increasing due to multiple factors. Aromatherapy is a widely used complementary and alternative (CAM) therapy in the management of depression. This systematic review and meta-analysis was done to find the effect of aromatherapy on postpartum depression. Materials and methods: Electronic databases like PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane Library and Science Direct since inception till February 2021 were searched using related keywords to obtain eligible studies. Randomised controlled trial studies (RCTs) reporting the effects of aromatherapy therapy in women with postpartum depression were included. Aromatherapy studies conducted on population other than postpartum women were excluded. The primary outcome was depression scores obtained by using valid depression scales. Meta-analysis was performed using the random-effects model of Der Simonian and Laird to produce summary treatment effects in terms of Hedges' g effect sizes with 95% confidence interval (CI). Results: A total of 4 RCTs (n=303) were included. The results indicate that aromatherapy (Hedges' g =-0.94, 95 CI= -2.55, 0.61, I2=88%, p

Objective: Vaginal births are associated with a certain degree of trauma to the genital tract, with significant short-term and long-term morbidity. Awareness of morbidity following perineal trauma has led to application of different interventions during the late first stage and second stage of labour to prevent severe perineal trauma. This includes techniques such as perineal massage, warm and cold compresses, and perineal management techniques. Objective of this meta-analysis is to evaluate the effect of perineal massage during the late first stage and second stage of labour on the rate of episiotomy and risk of perineal trauma. Materials and methods: Electronic databases (PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane Library and Science Direct) were searched from inception until August 2021. We included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) which compares perineal massage during labor (i.e., intervention group) with a control group in women with singleton gestation and cephalic presentation at ≥36 weeks. The primary outcome was severe perineal trauma and the rate of episiotomy. Meta-analysis was performed using the random-effects model of DerSimonian and Laird to produce summary treatment effects in terms of relative risk (RR) with 95% confidence interval (CI). Results: Ten trials including 4,088 women were analyzed. Women with perineal massage during labor had a significantly lower incidence of severe perineal trauma (RR: 0.52, 95% CI 0.29- 0.94) compared to the control group. The incidence of episiotomy was lower in the perineal massage group (RR: 0.71, 95% CI 0.52-0.98 p < 0.01) but was statistically insignificant (P>0.05). Conclusion: The finding of meta-analysis showed that perineal massage during labor could be effective in reducing the risk of severe perineal trauma, such as third- and fourth-degree spontaneous lacerations during labor.

Idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) is a condition characterized by increased pressure around the brain, leading to symptoms including vision changes, headaches, and other neurological issues. The effect of yoga nidra on IIH is still unexplored. This case study investigates the effect of yoga nidra on a 16-year-old female with a known case of IIH with episodic seizures. The patient underwent yoga nidra for six months. The patient's sleep quality, stress, and pain levels were assessed at baseline and after the intervention. The results suggest that yoga nidra had a positive effect in improving sleep quality and reducing the stress level, pain, and reoccurrence of IIH. Hence, future studies with control groups are required to validate the current report findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Achieving diabetes remission (HbA1c<48mmol/mol without the use of anti-diabetic medication for 3 months) might not assure restoration of a normal glycemic profile [fasting blood sugar level <5.6 mmol/L and Post-Prandial (PP) blood glucose <7.8mmol/L]. The study investigates the factors associated with OGTT clearance in patients under type 2 diabetes remission. Four hundred participants who achieved remission during a one-year online structured lifestyle modification program, which included a plant-based diet, physical activity, psychological support, and medical management (between January 2021 and June 2022), and appeared for the OGTT were included in the study. OGTT clearance was defined by fasting blood glucose < 5.6 mmol/L and 2-hour post-prandial blood glucose <7.8 mmol/L post-consumption of 75g glucose solution. Of the 400 participants, 207 (52%) cleared OGTT and 175 (44%) had impaired glucose tolerance (IGT). A shorter diabetes duration (<5 years) was significantly associated with OGTT clearance (p<0.05). Pre-intervention use of glucose-lowering drugs showed no association with OGTT clearance (p<0.1). Post-intervention, the OGTT-cleared group showed significantly higher weight loss (p<0.05) and a decrease in HbA1c compared to the IGT group (p<0.05). Improvement in Insulin resistance and β-cell function was also higher in the OGTT-cleared group compared to the IGT group (p<0.05). In conclusion, clearing the OGTT is a possibility for those achieving remission through lifestyle interventions. Higher weight loss, a shorter duration of diabetes, and improvement in insulin resistance were significantly associated with OGTT clearance in participants in remission. Future randomized controlled trials with longer follow-ups may help substantiate our findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Yoga and naturopathy (Y&N) is a system of medicine primarily focusing on restoration of health and well-being. Objective of this study is to understand the knowledge, attitude, and perception about Y&N among the inpatients of a government Y&N institution in south India. Methods: Focus group discussion was conducted in eight adult patients aged between 30 and 60 years who took Y&N treatments for a period of 10 days or more. Purposive sampling method was adopted. Oral informed consent was obtained. Results: Knowledge about the Y&N system of medicine was primarily through referral or "word of mouth." Perceived benefits were both physical and psychological. Uniqueness of the hospital as mentioned by participants includes individual attention, tailor-made treatment protocols, and one-to-one care to the needy patients. Conclusion: An integrated approach is very much essential that might bring about better treatment outcomes in patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydrotherapy is a commonly used treatment modality to manage various conditions including diabetes in the Naturopathy system of medicine. The objective of the current scoping review is to find the effectiveness of hydrotherapy on plasma blood glucose levels in type 2 diabetes. Arksey and O'Malley's five-stage framework was adopted for this scoping review. The studies which used hydrotherapy intervention for the management of diabetes or the effect of hydrotherapy on plasma glucose levels were considered eligible. PubMed/MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane library, and Google scholar were searched for English- language published articles till December 20, 2022. The following Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) and keyword search terms were used ("diabetes" OR "type 2 diabetes" OR "diabetes mellitus" OR "plasma glucose level") AND ("hydrotherapy" OR "water therapy" OR "balneotherapy"). Two investigators independently assessed the studies for inclusion. Review articles, abstracts, and articles including the aquatic exercises as interventions were excluded. In total, six studies met the inclusion criteria. Out of six, two studies used hot therapies, two studies cold therapy, and the remaining two used both hot and cold as interventions. The study results showed that hydrotherapy can be used as an effective intervention tool for blood glucose levels in patients with type 2 diabetes. Integrating hydrotherapy treatments alongside conventional management can reduce blood glucose levels and thus reduce diabetes-related complications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a major burden on global health and economy. Various Yogic techniques are found to be beneficial in the management of T2DM. Mind Sound Resonance Technique (MSRT) is one of the yoga-based meditation techniques observed to be effective in clinical settings. Thirty-two patients with T2DM were randomized to either MSRT or supine rest (SR) sessions on two separate days separated by a washout period of one day. Fasting blood glucose levels were measured before and immediately after the sessions. State anxiety and subjective feeling of relaxation were assessed using Spielberg's state anxiety inventory (STAI) and Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) respectively. There were significant differences between MSRT and SR groups in fasting blood glucose (p=0.019), STAI scores (p<0.001) and subjective relaxation (p<0.001). Within group analyses revealed significant reductions (p<0.001) in fasting blood glucose and STAI scores, along with an increase in subjective relaxation following the practice of MSRT, whereas, non-significant changes were found following the SR session. A single session of MSRT was found to reduce blood glucose levels and state anxiety along with enhanced relaxation when compared to SR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Complementary and Alternate medicine (CAM) remains as the major source of healthcare for majority of the Indian population. This widespread resource needs to be strengthened, adequately trained and effectively utilized in the national health care delivery system for delivering an integrated and effective health care system. A cross sectional study was conducted involving 200 adults in two different settings-a community setting (n=100), and a hospital setting (n=100). A semi-structured questionnaire was used. Both in the community and in the hospital, siddha (80%) was the most well-known system of medicine, followed by Yoga (72%) and Naturopathy in the study population. However, the knowledge about the various available CAM therapies still seemed to be limited. Opinion on the integrated approach along with conventional medicine was welcoming. Still more awareness about these systems is required to facilitate integrative medicine in healthcare settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Obesity is defined as abnormal or excessive fat accumulation in the body and is a major risk factor for various non-communicable diseases (NCDs), such as diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular diseases, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia. According to the World Health Organization, more than 1 billion people worldwide are obese—650 million adults, 340 million adolescents, and 39 million children. The often ignored component of obesity is the psychological burden associated with the condition impacting multiple aspects such as low self-esteem, depression, and anxiety. This case report shows the effect of an integrated yoga and naturopathy-based lifestyle in a patient with morbid obesity, with special reference to his psychological status. A 19-year-old male college student diagnosed with obesity underwent integrated yoga and naturopathy management for a period of 20 days. Outcome measures such as anthropometric measurements, positive and negative affects scale (PANAS), depression, anxiety, and stress scale (DASS), and day-to-day activity scale were taken before and after the 20-day intervention period. Results showed improvements in negative affect, depression, and anxiety levels, along with a reduction in body weight. Further studies with adequate sample sizes and experimental study designs are required to validate our findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]