OBM Integrative and Complementary Medicine is an international peer-reviewed Open Access journal published quarterly online by LIDSEN Publishing Inc. It covers all evidence-based scientific studies on integrative, alternative and complementary approaches to improving health and wellness.

Topics contain but are not limited to:

  • Acupuncture
  • Acupressure
  • Acupotomy
  • Bioelectromagnetics applications
  • Pharmacological and biological treatments including their efficacy and safety
  • Diet, nutrition and lifestyle changes
  • Herbal medicine
  • Homeopathy
  • Manual healing methods (e.g., massage, physical therapy)
  • Kinesiology
  • Mind/body interventions
  • Preventive medicine
  • Research in integrative medicine
  • Education in integrative medicine
  • Related policies

It publishes a variety of article types: Original Research, Review, Communication, Opinion, Comment, Conference Report, Technical Note, Book Review, etc.

There is no restriction on paper length, provided that the text is concise and comprehensive. Authors should present their results in as much detail as possible, as reviewers are encouraged to emphasize scientific rigor and reproducibility.

Indexing: DOAJ-Directory of Open Access Journals.

Publication Speed (median values for papers published in 2023): Submission to First Decision: 5.9 weeks; Submission to Acceptance: 14.7 weeks; Acceptance to Publication: 8 days (1-2 days of FREE language polishing included)

Special Issue

Complementary, Traditional, and Integrative Medicine for COVID-19

Submission Deadline: December 31, 2021 (Open) Submit Now

Guest Editors

Sok Cheon Pak, PhD

School of Biomedical Sciences, Charles Sturt University, Panorama Avenue, BATHURST NSW 2795, Australia

Website | E-Mail

Interests: Honeybee venom; Evidence-based practice; Signaling pathway; Integrative therapeutics

Soo Liang Ooi

School of Biomedical Sciences, Charles Sturt University, Panorama Avenue, BATHURST NSW 2795, Australia

Website | E-Mail

Interests: Complementary therapies; Nutrition; Naturopathy; Microbiome

About this topic

Dear Colleagues,

SARS-CoV-2 is spreading over the world with no country spared from its infections. COVID-19 is the disease caused by this novel coronavirus, and it has already claimed over 120,000 lives with close to 2 million confirmed cases as of 15 April 2020. Sadly, the numbers are still rising fast each day with no sign of slowing down. This pandemic is expected to last for months to come with much of the world living in lockdown.

There is currently no effective treatment for COVID-19, and the earliest possibility of having a vaccine is not until early 2021. The medical world is actively trying to repurpose existing drugs and therapies to treat this disease. Among them include anti-viral agents used to treat SARS (Lopinavir-ritonavir), an experimental drug for Ebola virus (Remdesivir), and old anti-malarial mediations (Chloroquine / Hydroxychloroquine). Many clinical trials are currently in progress to validate the effectiveness of different repurposed therapies. The hunt for a cure is on-going.

Complementary, traditional, and integrative medicine can play a vital role in supporting the treatment of COVID-19. For example, many herbs possess anti-viral, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties that can be extremely helpful in treating viral infections. Nutritional interventions also play a critical role in preventing and controlling the disease, especially among older patients with comorbidities. Probiotics have been suggested to be a potential adjunct treatment as some patients with COVID-19 showed gut dysbiosis with decreased Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium. Hence, it will be a significant loss if the repertoire of non-pharmacological therapies is overlooked in the search for remedies. Yet, the dominant medical journals rarely feature the use of complementary, traditional, and integrative medicine in their COVID-19 publications.

This special issue provides an open forum for researchers to share their research findings in the use of complementary, traditional, and integrative medicine for COVID-19. We welcome contributions in any form, including letter to the editor, original research, case report, and review. Results from human clinical trials are particularly welcome.

Dr. Sokcheon Pak
Mr. Soo Liang Ooi
Guest Editors

Keywords:

• COVID-19
• Novel coronavirus
• Herbs
• Nutrition
• Nutraceutical

Planned Paper:

Tentative Title: Herbs and Cytokine Storm Risk in COVID-19
Author: Karry Bone
Brief Description: Concerns have been raised that certain herbs acting on the immune system might deleteriously enhance the cytokine response during acute respiratory viral infections. These concerns are not supported by a detailed analysis of the published scientific and traditional literature.

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted through the LIDSEN Submission System. Detailed information on manuscript preparation and submission is available in the Instructions for Authors. All submitted articles will be thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process and will be processed following the Editorial Process and Quality Control policy. Upon acceptance, the article will be immediately published in a regular issue of the journal and will be listed together on the special issue website, with a label that the article belongs to the Special Issue. LIDSEN distributes articles under the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY 4.0) License in an open-access model. The authors own the copyright to the article, and the article can be free to access, distribute, and reuse provided that the original work is correctly cited.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). Research articles and review articles are highly invited. Authors are encouraged to send the tentative title and abstract of the planned paper to the Editorial Office (icm@lidsen.com) for record. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the Editorial Office.

Welcome your submission!

Publication

Open Access Original Research

Efficacy and Safety of Andrographolide and Favipiravir Versus Favipiravir Monotherapy in Patients with Mild COVID-19 Infection: A Multicenter Randomized Controlled Trial

Received: 08 December 2023;  Published: 02 February 2024;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2401013

Abstract

Reports indicate that Andrographolide inhibits viral replication and reduces COVID-19 symptoms. This study aimed to determine Andrographolide's additional effect and safety in mild COVID-19 patients treated with favipiravir. A multicenter, open-labeled, randomized controlled trial was conducted from October 2021 to February 2022 [...]
Open Access Review

Kidney Transplantation during the COVID-19 Pandemic: From Past through Present Time of Emerging Vaccine

Received: 02 May 2021;  Published: 07 February 2022;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2201007

Abstract

The novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has significantly impacted kidney transplantation worldwide. The rate of kidney transplantation decreased during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, especially living donor kidney transplantation. Kidney transplant recipients are at high [...]
Open Access Original Research

Physical Activity Behaviors and COVID-19 Symptoms

Received: 02 August 2021;  Published: 02 September 2021;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2103027

Abstract

Statistical modeling indicated that COVID-19 would have afflicted more than 60% of the US population. Social distancing, self-quarantine, and widespread shutdowns were imposed. The push to stay at home and the decreased availability of exercise facilities have potentially reduced physical activity (PA) [...]
Open Access Original Research

The Effect of Chinese Medicine for Rehabilitation of Discharged COVID-19 Patients: A Protocol for Multi-Center Observational Study

Received: 24 May 2021;  Published: 13 July 2021;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2103022

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has lasted for more than 16 months, and there have been over 169 million confirmed cases worldwide. Besides, after treatment with Western medicine or undergoing home quarantine, COVID-19 patients are still severely or mildly functionally impaired. Though COVID-19 patients were discharged from the hospital [...]
Open Access Review

Traditional, Complementary and Integrative Medicine Approaches to COVID-19: A Narrative Review

Received: 11 April 2021;  Published: 12 July 2021;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2103021

Abstract

Traditional, complementary, and integrative medicine (TCIM) approaches to COVID-19 represent a paradigm shift from Western medicine, in that TCIM emphasizes prevention, encouraging wellness, and supporting health and recovery. A wide range of TCIM approaches exist: whole medical systems (such as traditional Chinese medicine), mind [...]
Open Access Concept Paper

Body-Mind Medicine Interventions in COVID-19 Place Confinement for Mental, Physical and Spiritual Wellbeing

Received: 23 February 2021;  Published: 27 April 2021;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2102016

Abstract

The SARS-COV-2 virus has changed people’s lives and caused significant public health issues. The lockdown implemented by several governments across the globe has raised serious concerns on mental and physical wellbeing. Doctors, nurses and other COVID-19 frontline workers being put under extreme pressure to attend to patients [...]
Open Access Original Research

Impact of SARS-CoV-2 Outbreak on Physical and Mental Health, Psychological Distress, and Suicidal Ideation, and the Mediating Role of Stressors

Received: 23 December 2020;  Published: 17 March 2021;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2101010

Abstract

This study investigated the physical and psychological impacts of elements related to coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and demographic data in Japan both directly and as mediated by stressors, immediately following the rescinding of the state of emergency declaration accompanying the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 outbreak. [...]
Open Access Original Research

Mental Health Effects of COVID-19 Pandemic on Healthcare Workers

Received: 20 December 2020;  Published: 07 February 2021;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2101004

Abstract

Healthcare workers (HCWs) have been adapting to the changing needs of people worldwide in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The purpose of this descriptive study was to evaluate how HCWs are managing dietary self-care needs during the increased stress-load of the COVID-19 pandemic and determine if nutritional changes are being made that could [...]
Open Access Opinion

A Potential Role of Coenzyme Q10 Deficiency in Severe SARS-CoV2 Infection

Received: 01 August 2020;  Published: 26 October 2020;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2004042

Abstract

There is a dramatic need for extensive research into the predictors of severe infection with SARS-CoV2 and therapeutic options for infected people. People who suffer from severe illness and higher mortality display a pattern of having specific co-morbidities (diabetes, obesity, hypertension) and are of higher age. Recent research has described [...]
Newsletter

TOP