by David Feinstein

Received: 01 February 2021;  Published: 19 April 2021;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2102014

The impact of psychological factors on illness is, in recent years, being biochemically mapped. The subspecialties of psychosomatic medicine, health psychology, psychoneuroimmunology, and integrative medicine work with mind and body in concert to promote health and healing. A specialized set of mind-body approaches, collectively called “energy psychology,” is being utilized within these and related clinical frameworks to facilitate beneficial changes in the neurological underpinnings of (1) mental states that imped [...]

by Mohammed Alsabri  , Kusum Viswanathan  , Fiorella Castillo  , Paridhi Ghai  and Maryam Hemmat Hamrah

Received: 26 December 2020;  Published: 15 April 2021;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2102013

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is one of the most common hematologic disorders in the world. In the United States, it is the single most common genetic hematologic disorder. The burden of SCD and its complications on pediatric patients is tremendous, especially acute vaso-occlusive pain crises. Although allopathic medicine has provided numerous pain medications to treat this, they do not come without side effects and are not always effective. This review explores complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) methods of p [...]

by Eugene Stephane Mananga  and Lamisa Rusmeha

Received: 23 December 2020;  Published: 13 April 2021;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2102012

Towards the end of 2019, an unanticipated outbreak, coronavirus also referred to as COVID-19’s first cases occurred in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China. In early 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the pandemic as a Public Health emergency of international concern. COVID-19 is a transmissible disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The COVID-19 puts a spotlight on numerous issues varying from educational, social, political, and economic that were already prese [...]

by Sara B Taylor  , Kristy Arbon  and Faith Reynolds

Received: 27 October 2020;  Published: 31 March 2021;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2101011

Somatic Self-Compassion® training is a newly developed trauma-informed self-compassion training that was designed to combine interoception and sensory modulation in order to teach individuals to more effectively cope with current and past stress. Thirty-two non-clinical adults across five cohorts participated in this pre-post design feasibility study. Participation in Somatic Self-Compassion® Online resulted in significant reductions in perceived stress, internalized shame, and bodily shame and significant improvem [...]

by Keita Kiuchi  , Katsumasa Kishi  and Kanto Araki

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

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. An online survey was administered to 1,500 Japanese registered with an online outsourcing service. Data were analyzed with structural equation modeling using Mplus. Relatively lar [...]

by Gerhard Litscher  , Tong Li  and Fengxia Liang

Received: 14 March 2021;  Published: 15 March 2021;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2101009

In a pioneer transcontinental pilot study conducted with 50 volunteers, it was revealed that women could have apparently overcome the world's toughest lockdown in terms of changes in the general state of health measured using the heart rate variability parameter better than men. The results of the present study obtained in Wuhan provide information on the initial trend in this regard.

by Kanto Araki  , Keita Kiuchi  and Katsumasa Kishi

Received: 28 December 2020;  Published: 12 March 2021;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2101008

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) outbreak is expected to have harmed the mental health of numerous people worldwide. Therefore, the present study was aimed to explore the effects of the SARS-CoV-2 outbreak on the overall health of the general Japanese population, with a particular focus on identifying the factors associated with a requirement for mental health treatment. Japanese residents aged 18 years and above were surveyed online, and among the 1,500 obtained responses included for a [...]

by Lucille Marchand  , Donna Lewin  and Leila Kozak

Received: 02 October 2020;  Published: 22 February 2021;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2101007

Both palliative care (PC) and integrative medicine (IM) focus on the whole person to optimize wellbeing. Integrative palliative care combines the best of both approaches in relieving the distressing symptoms of serious illness and its treatment by combining evidence informed, pharmacological and nonpharmacological modalities that are aligned with the person’s goals, values and preferences. Healing is valued, as well as symptom relief, shared decisionmaking, person empowerment, compassionate care, and nurturing of h [...]

by Mitsuro Chiba  , Masafumi Komatsu  , Satomi Watanabe  and Yoko Daimon

Received: 13 January 2021;  Published: 20 February 2021;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2101006

The high prevalence of obesity is a global concern. However, obesity and inflammatory bowel disease have similarities in epidemiology, diet, and gut microbial dysbiosis. An omnivorous (westernized) diet replacement with a plant-based diet in inflammatory bowel disease achieved better outcomes in both the induction and quiescent phases. Educational hospitalization providing a plant-based diet was found effective in suppressing flare-up in ulcerative colitis. This case report was designed to assess whether a plant-ba [...]

by Allison Ast  , Margaret Meyer  , R. Elyse Heidelberg  , Jennifer M. Allen  , Amy Ly  and Holly Spraker-Perlman

Received: 02 December 2020;  Published: 08 February 2021;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2101005

Children with cancer can experience intense suffering. Currently, despite our best efforts, symptoms associated with both cancer and its treatment result in physical, psychological, and emotional discomfort that can be difficult to manage with traditional Western medicine alone. Developing integrative services within a pediatric hematology-oncology program may help improve cancer-related symptoms by combining different modalities targeting overall health with traditional oncology care. This study details the initia [...]