by James D Adams

Received: 01 August 2022;  Published: 04 August 2022;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2203032

Oral pain medicines are routinely used to treat pain and chronic pain. Recent evidence shows that many of these medicines actually increase chronic pain when used over several weeks. Patients should be encouraged to find alternative pain treatments and avoid oral medicines for pain.

by Toku Takahashi

Received: 28 August 2023;  Published: 27 February 2024;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2401016

In modern society, depression is one of the most common mental disorders. It is generally thought that depression is due to the disorders of neuronal circuits and chemical balance in the brain. Patients with depression often receive treatment with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). However, recent studies suggest that the magnitude of benefit of pharmacological treatment is quite limited for these patients. Although recent studies propose acupuncture as a non-pharmacological approach to managing depre [...]

by Candice Fischer  and Carolina Eugenia Cáceres Videla

Received: 21 March 2024;  Published: 12 August 2024;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2403046

A growing body of evidence has highlighted the limitations of relying solely on positivist research when summarizing SP/SR results since it might hinder pluralistic perspectives from unique backgrounds and life experiences. In the present reflective report, I aim to conduct quantitative and qualitative research on myself to explore the impact of concentrating on genuineness when delivering psychotherapy as a trainee. This article provides concrete examples of how therapists’ authenticity could benefit the therapeut [...]

by Michael A. Franklin

Received: 27 March 2023;  Published: 25 October 2023;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2304045

Art therapy, imaginal mindfulness, yoga, and meditation were personal and collegial necessities for surviving the emotional fallout of isolation during the Covid-19 pandemic. Combining these practices offered us credible resources for enhancing our social, cultural, and spiritual wellness when faced with the loneliness of lockdown living. This article applies an autoethnographic lens highlighting the value of these contemplative tools for managing pandemic related distress within myself and my professional peer gro [...]

by Anna Scheyett  , Virginia Brown  and Christopher Weatherly

Received: 24 September 2024;  Published: 16 January 2025;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2501005

In this conceptual paper we apply the construct of time poverty to a novel population, farmers struggling with stress and mental health challenges. Farmers have rates of suicide that can be over three times that of the general population, with depression and anxiety at double general population rates. These are linked to the multiple stressors farmers experience due to the unpredictable nature of their work, such as weather, input costs, commodity prices, and government regulations. In addition, there are multiple [...]

by Josie M Rudolphi  , Courtney Cuthbertson  , Kimberly Keller  and Rebecca Mott

Received: 26 April 2024;  Published: 28 June 2024;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2402037

Agricultural producers (i.e., farmers, ranchers) and agricultural workers (i.e., hired labor, farmworkers) have worse mental health than the general population and often lack access to mental healthcare. In response, the United States Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture funded four regional Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Networks in 2019. In the north central region, the North Central Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Center (NCFRSAC) was created in 2020 to develop, deliver [...]

by Colin Armstrong

Received: 14 October 2021;  Published: 15 October 2021;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2104035

CorrectionCorrection: Armstrong C. Unity, Continuity, Structure, and Function. The Ongoing Search for a Deeper Understanding of the Many Roles Attributed to Fascia in the Living Human Body - An Osteopathic Perspective. OBM Integrative and Complementary Medicine 2021; 6: 16Colin Armstrong *Osteopathic Centre, 1732 Voie Aurelienne, 13450 Grans, France; E-Mail: arm.colin@gmail.com*Correspondence: Colin Armstrong; E-Mail: arm.colin@gmail.comAcademic Editor: Nancy Nies Byl Special Issue: The Importance of the Fascia for [...]

by OBM Integrative and Complementary Medicine Editoria Office

Received: 05 January 2022;  Published: 06 January 2022;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2201001

The editors of OBM Integrative and Complementary Medicine would like to express their sincere gratitude to the following reviewers for assessing manuscripts in 2021. We greatly appreciate the contribution of expert reviewers, which is crucial to the journal's editorial process. We aim to recognize reviewer contributions through several mechanisms, of which the annual publication of reviewer names is one. Reviewers receive a voucher entitling them to a discount on their next LIDSEN publication and can download a cer [...]

by Daphna Markman Zinemanas

Received: 09 November 2023;  Published: 29 November 2023;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2304057

The experience of painting during the COVID-19 period initiated this art-based autoethnographic account. The pandemic affected various fields of life; the discussion is thus pursued from a few interrelated points of view: of an individual coping with the COVID-19 crisis on a personal level, of a painter, of an art therapist, of an art therapy lecturer and supervisor, and an artist involved in community interventions. Artmaking and viewing artworks can enhance communication with the beholder and encourage others to [...]

by Jacqueline B. Sperling  , Abigail M. Stark  and Julianne G. Wilner

Received: 27 January 2025;  Published: 26 June 2025;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2502028

School avoidance is associated with a range of negative outcomes and has been increasing in youth in the past several decades. This study examined the efficacy of an intensive outpatient CBT program, for youth (N = 137, ages 8-19) with anxiety disorders or obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and compared both baseline symptoms and outcomes for youth with school avoidance compared to those without. At admission, results indicated that parents of children with school avoidance reported higher levels of family accommo [...]

by Tracie D. Parkinson  and Stephen D. Smith

Received: 11 March 2025;  Published: 23 September 2025;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2503039

Hatha yoga is a common style of yoga used for physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual benefits, enhancing quality of life and well-being. The current study used a randomized control trial (RCT) to investigate whether completing an eight-week posture-based Hatha yoga program would lead to greater psychological benefits than taking part in an eight-week lecture series about the history and philosophy of yoga. Fifty-five participants (42 female, age range 18-32) completed five self-report measures both before and a [...]

by Munafò Jessica

Received: 16 October 2023;  Published: 20 March 2024;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2401020

Compassion focused therapy concepts and techniques are explored in the context of weight management efforts within community, specialist and surgical settings. Living at higher weights within a culture that over-values life at low weights can induce feelings of shame, self-loathing and hypercriticism. This article examines points at which individuals engaging in weight management may experience heightened distress and describes some of the ways that the model has been applied with this population. An outline of the [...]

by Justin Chin  , Alexandra Over  , Ana Christina Reyes  , Connie Chen  , Elise Hsu  , Christine Lomiguen  and Tipsuda Junsanto-Bahri

Received: 19 September 2022;  Published: 12 December 2022;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2204053

Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is an important feature of patient medical history. This study sought to investigate the perceptions of medical students at Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine in Harlem, New York (TouroCOM-NY) regarding Asian-origin CAM practices. An anonymous survey was distributed to first and second year TouroCOM-NY medical students, asking about their familiarity with, and general attitude towards, five categories of Asian-origin CAM (acupuncture, reiki, tai chi, Ayurveda, and use [...]

by Dorcas N. Magai  and Hans M. Koot

Received: 29 May 2024;  Published: 29 November 2024;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2404068

This cross-sectional study addressed the association between parental and family characteristics as risk factors for emotional and behavioral problems (EBP) and quality of life (QoL) and the potential moderation of these associations by adolescents' characteristics. A total of 533 households from Central Kenya with adolescents between 12 to 18 years (median age 15 years) and their mothers (or female caregivers) were included in this study. Adolescents and their mothers completed questionnaires on parent and family [...]

by Alastair C. Gray  , Parker Pracjek  , Christine D. Luketic  and Denise Straiges

Received: 03 September 2024;  Published: 09 December 2024;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2404069

Research into the uptake profile and usage of Homeopathy has hitherto tended to be buried amongst complementary medicine research. Despite high levels of uptake of homeopathy, and robust numbers of over-the-counter sales of homeopathic products the current evidence evaluating the uptake of homeopathy remains limited on several fronts. The aim of this study is to explore the basic demographic features and characteristics of users of homeopathy services. The setting is a student teaching tele-health facility based in [...]

by Joseph S. D'Arrigo

Received: 26 June 2022;  Published: 19 December 2022;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2204054

The cardiovascular risk factors for dementia trigger widespread inflammation and oxidative stress. These two interacting processes lead to neurodegeneration, gradual cognitive/memory decline, and eventually (late-onset) dementia. In addition, there is supporting evidence pointing to elevated pulse pressure as a clear risk factor for cognitive decline. Accordingly, an effective therapeutic strategy to delay dementia could be based upon nanotargeting bioactive molecules, using lipid nanocarriers, toward cell-surface [...]

by Yasuhiro Kotera  , Noelia L. Martínez-Rives  , Muhammad Aledeh  , Habib Adam  , Julie Beaumont  , Rory Colman  , Jessica Eve Jackson  , Christian Veasey  , Lucie-May King  , Tracey Harrington  , Elaina Taylor  , Ann-Marie Edwards  , Gabby A. A. Rothwell-Blake  , Adewale Allen Sokan-Adeaga  , Gillian H.T. Liu  , Kenneth Curley  , Matthew Cotterill  , Malik Dimbei Halidu  , Juliet Wilkes  , Aiesha Carew Tofani  , Samantha Greaves  , Rob Hughes  , Annabel Rushforth  , Ann Kirkman  , Michelle Brooks-Ucheaga  and Kristian Barnes

Received: 14 February 2024;  Published: 22 August 2024;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2403048

This short report presents an international research group, Research Ensemble for Advancement in Cross-cultural Healthcare (REACH). REACH is an independent research group, and no one is paid to do research for REACH. All members participate because they are intrinsically motivated to pursue cross-cultural healthcare. REACH consists of 28 healthcare workers and educators from 13 countries, researching about cross-cultural issues in healthcare (18 publications on average per year as of February 2024). REACH is multi- [...]

by Jennifer Vasquez  , Michele Quill  and Chase Bossart

Received: 17 January 2025;  Published: 14 March 2025;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2501014

In this qualitative study, the impact of therapeutic Viniyoga on health and healing was explored from the perspective of 14 Viniyoga therapists who were interviewed on their perceptions of how yoga therapy contributes to the health and healing of their clients. A philosophical definition of Therapeutic Viniyoga was developed. Three themes related to health and healing from the perspective of Viniyoga therapists were identified using NVivo and Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis procedures: The definition of he [...]

by James David Adams

Received: 22 August 2023;  Published: 11 January 2024;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2401009

Many websites are dedicated to educating the public about chronic pain and its management. The majority of these websites say there is no cure for chronic pain, but encourage patients to try exercise, diet, stress reduction and other techniques to decrease the severity of chronic pain. Patients are also taught to use oral or injected drugs to treat their chronic pain. This can be dangerous and leads to adverse events and death in some patients. The majority of these websites teach patients that chronic pain comes f [...]

by Adam Resnick  , Alicia Bergman  , Rebecca Oberman  , Stephanie L. Taylor  , Emmeline Chuang  , Kelsey Cummings  and Evelyn T. Chang

Received: 20 December 2023;  Published: 31 January 2024;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2401012

The Veterans Health Administration (VA) offers complementary and integrative health (CIH) therapies to Veterans with chronic pain and opioid use disorder (OUD). While CIH therapies have known benefits for chronic pain, less research exists on its use for patients with OUD. In this qualitative study, we aimed to assess provider and patient perceptions of CIH therapies for Veterans with OUD. We interviewed 45 providers involved in OUD care and 17 Veterans with OUD from five VA medical centers as part of a larger mixe [...]

by Jennifer Vasquez  , Michele Quintin Quill  and Chase Bossart

Received: 30 May 2024;  Published: 23 September 2024;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2403054

While many studies have discussed the effectiveness of interventions using different yoga techniques and teachings with various populations, there has been less research on the effectiveness of yoga therapy. Viniyoga therapists utilize the principles of Viniyoga, a type of yoga developed by Krishnamacharya, to provide therapeutic yogic interventions to individual clients in order to improve functioning and relieve suffering. This qualitative study conducted interviews with fourteen Viniyoga trained yoga therapists [...]

by Katie Lahue  , Eliana Rivera  and Sara Schmidt

Received: 03 June 2023;  Published: 24 October 2023;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2304044

The COVID-19 pandemic presented a host of issues for hospitalized patients including increased anxiety, fear, isolation, and depression [1]. Expressive Therapies have been used in the pediatric medical setting for decades to support patients and families with coping, expression, processing, and rehabilitation [2,3,4,5]. Additionally, some studies suggest that Expressive Therapies were effective in helping ease the increase in mental health symptoms that occurred during the pandemic. During the pandemic the expressi [...]

by Gerhard Litscher

Received: 26 April 2025;  Published: 29 April 2025;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2502020

This contribution honours the life and legacy of Dr. Richard C. Niemtzow (1942–2025), the founder of Battlefield Acupuncture (BFA) – a method that combines military medicine and traditional Eastern healing principles. Developed in the early 2000s for rapid, drug-free pain relief, BFA has since gained international recognition for its effectiveness and simplicity. The author reflects on the scientific collaboration with Dr. Niemtzow, which included advanced neurophysiological studies demonstrating BFA’s impact on pa [...]

by Ryan S. Wexler  , Natasha Parman  , Devon J. Fox  , Danielle ZuZero  , Anand Parikshak  , Sophia Kwin  , Austin R. Thompson  , Hans L. Carlson  , Thomas Kern  , Scott D. Mist  , Ryan Bradley  , Heather Zwickey  and Courtney K. Pickworth

Received: 06 January 2025;  Published: 07 August 2025;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2503035

Lumbosacral radicular pain (LRP) is a common sequelae of low back pain, the world’s leading cause of years lived with disability. LRP typically causes numbness, weakness, and tingling into the lower extremity and is associated with high rates of pain and impaired function. Despite its prevalence, there is significant heterogeneity among clinical practice guidelines for the treatment of LRP, which may contribute to poor patient outcomes. The aim of the present study was to identify treatments that participants [...]

by Beren Crim Sabuncu  , Ankica Kosic  and Amy L. Ai

Received: 20 January 2024;  Published: 15 October 2024;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2404059

The Covid-19 pandemic has brought forth global challenges in socioeconomic, political, and public health dimensions. For many, spirituality was a powerful source of support during this pandemic experience. The current review provides an apt overview of spirituality as a coping method to mitigate the mental and emotional impact of global turmoil of Covid-19 within the context of Europe. Using select studies from Czechia, Italy, and Turkey which have low, middle, and high religiosity indexes respectively, the potenti [...]