by Richard Sarnat

Received: 09 March 2018;  Published: 12 April 2018;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.1802003

While “miraculous healings” of various disease states have been scientifically reported previously, the exact mechanism, which allow for these seeming miracles or spontaneous remissions is poorly understood. [1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15] By contrast, the mechanism of action underlying the “miraculous healings” in the three case studies reported herein: Sarcoidosis, Chronic Lyme disease and Fibromyalgia seems to be understood with greater clarity, as these case reports are representative of the many hundreds [...]

by Clare Northover  , Jack Deacon  , John King  and Chris Irons

Received: 21 September 2021;  Published: 21 December 2021;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2104056

The aim of the study was to assess the efficacy and feasibility of a newly designed online self-compassion training programme for the general public. Two hundred and forty-nine participants were randomly assigned to have either immediate or delayed access to a four-week online self-compassion training programme. This programme was based on Compassionate Mind Training and was made up of psychoeducational sessions and in-between session practices and readings. Out of the 179 participants who completed the pre-interve [...]

by Divya Taneja  , Madhumita Sadhukhan  , Padmalaya Rath  , Manas R Sarangi  , Renu Mittal  , Akshaya Kumar Prusty  , Deepthi Gilla  , Ashish Shivadikar  , Birendra Rawat  , Ravi Kumar Sadarla  , Gurudev Choubey  , Nidhi Mahajan  , Renu Bala  , Neha Kalra  , Anupam Mukherjee  , Anil Khurana  and Raj K. Manchanda

Received: 12 August 2022;  Published: 21 September 2022;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2203044

Patients with psoriasis commonly opt for homeopathic treatment. However, no study has assessed the response to homeopathic treatment by using standardized disease-specific scales, and the findings are based on clinical assessments only. The objective of this study was to evaluate the response to the individualized homeopathic treatment of psoriasis with respect to changes in disease severity and quality of life based on Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) and Psoriasis Disability Index (PDI) scales, respective [...]

by Methee Phumthum  and Henrik Balslev

Received: 25 April 2018;  Published: 24 September 2018;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.1803020

Background: Diabetes is a metabolic disorder and a serious global health problem. Over 400 million people suffer from diabetes and it is estimated that the number will dramatically increase in the future. The cost of diabetes treatment for individual patients is very high. However, traditional knowledge could be used to support conventional diabetes treatments. Here, we identify medicinal plants that have been used as treatments for diabetes based on Thai ethnobotanical knowledge. Methods: We present a literature r [...]

by Thierry Provencher  , Jonathan Charest  and Celyne H. Bastien

Received: 09 October 2019;  Published: 02 January 2020;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2001001

Neuroimaging evidences point to the role of hyperarousal in the pathophysiology of insomnia. While actual treatments fail to directly target brain hyperarousal, emergent complementary therapies known as neuromodulation techniques aim to improve sleep in people with insomnia by targeting irregularities in their brain activity. In this paper, we narratively review the most relevant studies reporting the application of neuromodulation techniques to improve sleep in individuals with insomnia. Using a non-systematic app [...]

by Emily Smith Schafer

Received: 02 March 2023;  Published: 24 May 2024;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2402030

According to the National Survey of Children’s Health (NSCH), nearly 30 million children in the United States have experienced one or more types of significant childhood trauma. In the average public school, this statistic translates to as many as half of the students in a given teacher’s classroom. Children exposed to the toxic stress of trauma often experience negative consequences that affect their academic, psychological, socioemotional, and behavioral health. To aid educators in addressing this reality, trauma [...]

by Colin Armstrong

Received: 20 December 2020;  Published: 31 August 2021;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2103026

Progress in technologies, notably in vivo and in situ methods, has equipped scientists with the necessary skills to explore the living human body in increasingly minute detail. This has led to a better understanding of the dynamic interplay between the various elements that make up the living human body. To further understand the interplay, this research focuses on the insights and observations of the founders of osteopathy, who placed great importance on the role of fascia in the body. Modern anatomical investigat [...]

by Samskruthi Menashi  , Lawrence B Cohen  and Manuela G. Neuman

Received: 10 February 2018;  Published: 28 March 2018;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.1801002

Ayurveda is an ancient Indian medicinal practice. The present review includes translational research characterizing obesity, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). We reviewed published research on improving function through Ayurvedic medicine by searching electronic databases (Medline, Embase) using terms such as: Ayurveda, obesity, NAFLD, NASH, the effect of exercise interventions in obesity, change in body composition. We aim to (1) determine the immuno-pathology of [...]

by Scarlett Puebla-Barragan  , Britney Lamb  , Serenah Jafelice  and Gregor Reid

Received: 16 June 2021;  Published: 01 November 2021;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2104040

Vaginal care products are widely used by women to relieve discomfort such as pain, itching and malodour, all of which are commonly caused by conditions resulting from microbiota dysbiosis. Previous studies showed that probiotic strains Lacticaseibacillus (formerly Lactobacillus) rhamnosus GR-1 (LGR-1) and Limosilactobacillus (formerly Lactobacillus) reuteri RC-14 (LRC-14), can aid in restoring homeostasis in the vaginal microbiome when taken orally. A topical product containing these strains could be of value for r [...]

by Katarina Mark  and Maria Arman

Received: 09 June 2018;  Published: 27 November 2018;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.1804031

Background: People suffering from multiple sclerosis (MS) commonly use complementary and alternative medicine due to the partial efficacy of conventional treatments, the chronic aspect of MS, the impact of pain and the side-effects of medication. An exploratory descriptive study of three cases was performed to document and analyse the experience patients treated for MS with applied kinesiology. Methods: Qualitative interviews were conducted with three patients who had been diagnosed with MS at the Neurology Departm [...]

by Fengxia Liang  and Gerhard Litscher

Received: 25 February 2020;  Published: 26 February 2020;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2001009

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has been used to prevent and alleviate epidemic diseases for hundreds of years. The combination of TCM and Western medicine can effectively reduce fever; alleviate cough, fatigue, diarrhoea and other symptoms of patients with mild COVID-19 (Coronavirus disease-19). For the treatment of moderate and severe syndromes, the integrative approach can reduce lung exudation and inhibit the further development of the disease. However the risk of infection is a limit for example in needle a [...]

by Alice Walton  , Mustafa Faruk Usta  , Melissa Wong  and Wayne Hellstrom

Received: 01 August 2021;  Published: 02 November 2021;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2104042

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is considered a risk factor for erectile dysfunction (ED), and ED is almost three times more prevalent in men with MetS. Vascular pathologies are a significant factor for the development of ED, and many experts suggest endothelial dysfunction (EnD) as a likely explanation for the association between ED and MetS. Studies also show that corporal vascular and trabecular smooth muscle dysfunction leads ultimately to corporal veno-occlusive dysfunction. Different functional system abnormalities [...]

by Olorunjuwon O. Bello  , Rosemary O. Akande  , Temitope K. Bello  , Muibat O. Fashola  , Mathew O. Oni  and Adeleke Osho

Received: 21 July 2024;  Published: 20 January 2025;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2501006

The incidence of antifungal-resistant pathogenic fungi has steadily increased around the globe and calls for an aggressive response. The study aimed to produce and evaluate virgin coconut oil's phytochemical properties and antifungal potentials (VCO). The production of VCO was achieved by hot extraction and natural fermentation methods. Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) was used to evaluate the active phytochemicals in the VCO. The antifungal activities of VCO against Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus nige [...]

by Heidrun Männle  , Birthe Osorio  and Karsten Münstedt

Received: 09 March 2020;  Published: 28 April 2020;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2002024

Palliative care is a steadily growing component of medicine that focuses on treating individuals with life-limiting diseases such as cancer. It aims at improving the quality of life and alleviating cancer-related symptoms, including anxiety, pain, dyspnea, cough, nausea/vomiting, and constipation, which could result in significant physical and mental impairment. Integrative palliative care (IPC), as a subspecialty of palliative care, includes complementary approaches to treat patients holistically in their biopsych [...]

by Brooks M. Hybertson  , Bifeng Gao  and Joe M. McCord

Received: 21 September 2021;  Published: 10 January 2022;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2201002

There has been a long history of human usage of the biologically-active phytochemicals in Salvia rosmarinus, Zingiber officinale, and Sophora japonica for health purposes, and we recently reported on a combination of those plant materials as the PB123 dietary supplement. In the present work we extended those studies to evaluate activation of the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) transcription factor and differential gene expression in cultured HepG2 (hepatocellular carcinoma) cells treated with PB1 [...]

by Em V. Adams  , Brandi M. Crowe  , Jasmine Vanadore  , Marieke Van Puymbroeck  and Arlene A. Schmid

Received: 06 February 2022;  Published: 22 April 2022;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2202020

The purpose of this descriptive survey was to explore how, and for what purpose, health care practitioners use yoga in clinical practice. A survey was administered to professionals who identified as healthcare practitioners who used yoga in their practice. There were 205 completed responses from a combination of healthcare practitioners including occupational therapists, physical therapists, yoga therapists, recreational therapists, speech-language pathologists, and mental health counselors. Practitioners worked in [...]

by Ronald J. Pekala  and Kevin Creegan

Received: 20 January 2020;  Published: 13 April 2020;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2002019

Noetic analysis is a methodology to quantify the mind during hypnosis, meditation, or other stimulus conditions/states of consciousness in a reliable and valid manner. The methodology uses retrospective phenomenological assessment (RPA) to comprehensively assess subjective experience. By having the participant complete a first person, self-report questionnaire, the Phenomenology of Consciousness Inventory (PCI), in reference to a short stimulus condition, the researcher can generate a “snapshot” of the mind, and it [...]

by Rosita Borlimi  , Greta Riboli  , Mattia Nese  , Matilde Buattini  , Marella Colombardo  and Gianni Brighetti

Received: 07 November 2021;  Published: 01 April 2022;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2202014

The length of the menstrual cycle (MC) varies among women, with an average regularity between 21 and 40 days. Six temporal frames can be observed within the monthly cycle, based on the fluctuations of the hormone levels. These fluctuations are accompanied by alterations in the central nervous system (CNS) and autonomic nervous system (ANS) and can be quantified using psychophysiological techniques. In this systematic review, we discussed the studies conducted with healthy females that examined aspects associated wi [...]

by Wangkuk Son  , Jason Lin  and Melissa Puppa

Received: 28 September 2020;  Published: 07 December 2020;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2004044

Cancer cachexia contributes to 30% of cancer-related deaths. There is currently no treatment or standard of care for cancer cachexia. Many nutritional interventions show promise for the treatment and or prevention of cachexia. Supplementation with omega-3 fatty acids, protein and vitamins either alone or in combination has shown some beneficial effects in the prevention and treatment of cancer cachexia. The mechanisms through which many nutritional interventions work to attenuate cachexia are just beginning to be u [...]

by Cathryn Duchette  , Danilo V Tolusso  , Whitley J Stone  , Maire M Blankenship  and Rachel A Tinius

Received: 23 June 2021;  Published: 25 November 2021;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2104051

Studies have demonstrated that new and expectant mothers experience increased levels of stress and anxiety during the COVID-19 pandemic. Though prenatal yoga is an effective mode of improving mental health during pregnancy, no research has evaluated its effect on mental health during times of extreme stress, such as a global pandemic. The purpose of this study was to determine the influence of a single session and a 10-week prenatal yoga intervention on the mental health of pregnant women during the COVID-19 pandem [...]

by Xiaolei Liu  , Yanjie Zhang  , Xiru Du  , Yongzhi Ma  , Ruike Jiang  , Shihui Chen  and Yongtai Wang

Received: 24 September 2022;  Published: 28 January 2023;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2301008

Qigong, a traditional Chinese exercise routine, has been used as a treatment for Parkinson’s disease (PD) in many studies, and the results have confirmed its effectiveness in reducing the symptoms of PD. However, no study has yet investigated the long-term effects and benefits of Qigong practices in improving the symptoms of PD. The purpose of this follow-up evaluation was to investigate the long-term effects of Qigong practices in improving the symptoms of PD. In this randomized controlled trial (RCT), patie [...]

by Kelly Armstrong  , Raman Gokal  and Todd Todorsky

Received: 25 March 2019;  Published: 25 September 2019;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.1903056

Background: Direct Current (DC) micro-current point stimulation (MPS) is increasingly recognized as a therapy for chronic pain and stress management. However, there remains limited evidence as to the therapeutic value of MPS in chronic post surgical pain (CPSP) management related to C-Section scars. Objectives: We aimed to determine the effect and magnitude that MPS has when applied to C-section scars and its effects on a wide variety of non-specific chronic post surgical pain syndromes. Study Design: This was a co [...]

by Darcy L. Harris

Received: 26 August 2023;  Published: 16 November 2023;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2304052

In the past several decades, new understandings about grief have emerged. In the same time frame, a substantial body of literature has explored the components of compassion and their potential application to various clinical contexts. Compassion evolved from caring motivation associated with the evolutionary challenges of reproduction that involved the necessary care for offspring. Grief also has an evolutionary background that is rooted in core aspects of attachment and the assumptive world construct. Compassion F [...]

by Elisabetta Barbara Cortesi  , Sonia Baccetti  , Maria Valeria Monechi  , Mariella Di Stefano  , Barbara Cucca  , Tommaso Conti  , Antonella Traversi  , Filippa Terranova  , Roberto Montelatici  , Sylvie Yvonne Barberousse  , Federica Sabatini  , Catia Vuono  , Christian Bini  and Marco Picchi

Received: 26 September 2018;  Published: 28 April 2019;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.1902028

Introduction: Pain in musculoskeletal disorders is a common problem that involves high social and individual costs. Systematic reviews and randomized controlled trials show that a number of treatments usually applied in this field are not effective. On the other hand, there is clinical evidence of the effectiveness of physical exercise, acupuncture, and auriculotherapy. Side effects of current medication limit their use. Aim: To evaluate the effectiveness of auriculotherapy on the pain of patients suffering from ch [...]

by Harry G. Hong

Received: 10 December 2018;  Published: 25 March 2019;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.1901019

Background: Electrodermal measurement of acupuncture points has been correlated to physiologic and pathologic conditions with clinical and laboratory studies. Emerging evidence indicates that in addition to therapeutic effect, acupuncture points may also have diagnostic properties. However, physiologic basis of this phenomenon is still unknown. Objective: To determine how electrodermal activity of acupuncture points on hands and feet responds to exercise-induced sympathetic stress and how electrodermal measurement [...]

by Simonetta Bernardini  , Francesca Bechini  , Giulia Braccesi  , Franco Cracolici  , Rosaria Ferreri  , Roberto Pulcri  and Andrea Serafini

Received: 30 September 2018;  Published: 17 April 2019;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.1902024

Since 2011, the Tuscany Regional Authority has been funding the use of Integrated Medicine (IM) in a clinical setting in Pitigliano Hospital, with the aim of testing the true efficacy of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in a hospital setting. The clinical setting also comprises the Manciano rehabilitation facility whose services include post-stroke rehabilitation. This study aims to establish if IM helps to improve the rehabilitation performance of stroke patients. The study compared 212 patients divide [...]

by Hideya Mizuno  , Ayako Taketomi  and Toshikatsu Nakabayashi

Received: 27 June 2018;  Published: 27 September 2018;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.1803021

St. John’s wort (SJW), or Hypericum perforatum, is a perennial herb that is used to treat depression in several countries. Based on the available evidence, it can be hypothesized that SJW would also have beneficial prophylactic and therapeutic effects in patients with metabolic syndrome. In this review, we summarize and discuss the best designed studies that have investigated the effects of SJW extract on adipocyte differentiation, the inflammatory process, and glucose metabolism, all of which are relevant to [...]

by Sharon Freeman Clevenger

Received: 25 November 2018;  Published: 31 January 2019;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.1901007

The cornerstone of health care practice is the provision of competent, compassionate care. Compassion is generally considered an important component in the provision of health care; however, self-compassion may be of equal importance for health care practitioners (HCP) to observe and develop. Self-compassion promotes well-being and overall mental health and may reduce fatigue and “burn-out” for HCPs [1]. Estimates of burn out in physicians and nurses range from 35-50% and is associated with emotional exhaustion, hi [...]

by Pei-Chen Lo  , Bo-Ting Lyu  and Wu Jue Miao Tian

Received: 30 July 2018;  Published: 01 April 2019;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.1902021

Background: This research aims to develop new methods to investigate the cardiorespiratory interaction of Zen-meditation practitioners (Zen-meditation group) and healthy ordinary young people (control group) by quantitatively evaluating respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) behavior. Methods: Twenty-five voluntary controls and seven Zen-meditation practitioners were recruited. The experimental protocol involved five sessions of different mental-stress levels (control group) and five sessions of Zen-meditation practice [...]

by Giuseppe De Benedittis

Received: 18 February 2020;  Published: 24 April 2020;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2002023

There is increasing evidence demonstrating that hypnosis could be effective in the down-modulation of pain sensation in both acute and chronic pain states. In the neurophysiological context, recent evidence has deciphered, to a certain extent, the mystery of pain relief upon hypnosis. It is probable that hypnotic suggestions of analgesia are able to modulate pain processing at multiple levels and sites within the central nervous system (CNS). At the peripheral level, hypnosis may modulate the nociceptive input thro [...]

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 Gunnel Berry

Received: 13 April 2018;  Published: 25 February 2019;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.1901012

Chronic pain is notoriously multifactorial, multifaceted and difficult to manage. Twenty per cent of reported whiplash-injured persons go on to develop a Whiplash Associated Disorder (WAD) where persistent pain becomes chronic with no prospect of change [1]. Paucity of effective therapies to address the effect of WAD enforces new approaches. This case report, with a patient’s perspective, illustrates a novel therapy, Adapted Reflextherapy (AdRx), which is akin to reflexology and has been used, developed and revised [...]

by Jana Wurz  , Nicolette Nadene Houreld  and Janice Pellow

Received: 12 April 2021;  Published: 19 August 2021;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2103024

Photobiomodulation (PBM), as well as plant extracts of Calendula officinalis (Calen), Hypericum perforatum (Hyper), and Echinacea purpurea (Echi-p), have been used to accelerate wound healing. However, the use of homeopathic preparations of these medicinal plants, in combination with PBM, is unknown. The objective of this study was to investigate the combined wound healing potential of these therapies in vitro. Various cell models were created in vitro in commercially available human skin fibroblasts (WS1). PBM was [...]

by Deborah R. Simkin  and L. Eugene Arnold

Received: 06 April 2020;  Published: 19 October 2020;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2004040

Teen depression and suicide rates have risen despite conventional treatments. This article reviews adjunctive interventions that may improve outcomes. A search of the National Library of Medicine database used tailored searches with combinations of specific terms. Modern lifestyle is associated with increased inflammation and pro-inflammatory cytokines leading to, for instance, hyperactivation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, which promotes depression. Inflammation also increases oxidative stress, leadin [...]

by Andrew Hanna  and Aileen M. Pidgeon

Received: 04 April 2018;  Published: 15 May 2018;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.1802007

Objective: Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) have shown promise in cultivating resilience and are widely accepted as efficacious in the treatment of a range of psychological disorders. This paper explores the feasibility of a Mindful-Awareness and Resilience Skills Training (MARST) program to enhance mindfulness and resilience, as a means of increasing psychological well-being and alleviating burnout and compassion fatigue in human service professionals. Method: In this randomised control trial, 46 human servi [...]

by Francesco Sivelli  , Elio Rossi  , Sonia Baccetti  , Mariella Di Stefano  , Eugenia Gallo  and Fabio Firenzuoli

Received: 27 September 2018;  Published: 18 October 2019;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.1904060

Phytotherapy, which is defined as the use of titrated herbal extracts in clinical practice, has been receiving increasing interest in the scientific community recently. In the present report, information regarding the most important mechanisms underlying the drug-drug interactions (DDI) and herb-drug interactions (HDI) has been discussed briefly. Furthermore, the best known and relevant interactions of Ginkgo biloba, Citrus paradisi (Grapefruit Juice), Silybum marianum (Milk Thistle), Hypericum perforatum (St. John [...]

by Athalie Redwood-Mills  , Taea Scott  , Mhairi Morris  and Jennifer Wilson

Received: 01 June 2024;  Published: 08 November 2024;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2404066

Chronic diseases, responsible for 74% of global mortality, impose a substantial health burden. This study investigates the perceived effects of CrossFit, a form of functional training, on medication use in the UK population. The research aims to provide insights into how CrossFit might relate to medical interventions for individuals with long-term health conditions. The study, encompassing 1,211 UK residents (over 18yrs.) recruited via CrossFit Affiliates, involved a 14-question online survey covering information p [...]

by Allison B. Ventura  , Barbara I. Kissam  , Kandise Chrestensen  , Ian Tfirn  , Jennifer Brailsford  and Lourdes P. Dale

Received: 27 November 2022;  Published: 24 May 2023;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2302022

Mindful education (ME) in schools can address student well-being and stressors, as well as improve the overall school environment. Implementing a whole-school mindfulness curriculum can be challenging, especially when serving students in both general education and emotional behavioral disorder (EBD) settings. We investigated the feasibility, implementation, and benefits of a whole-school mindfulness curriculum (MindUP) in an urban elementary school. This study is unique in that it investigated how to implement mind [...]

by Jozélio Freire de Carvalho  and Aaron Lerner

Received: 20 June 2024;  Published: 12 October 2024;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2404058

To systematically review the literature for cases using homeopathy in which complete healing was observed. Scielo, Pubmed, CINAHL, and Embase databases were systematically screened for case reports and series of patients successfully cured by homeopathy between 1966 and August 2022. Language limitation was not used. Forty-nine articles, comprising 191 patients, were depicted. Most of them had dermatological conditions (12 papers, 71 patients), followed by infectious (7 papers, 31 patients), neuropsychiatric (10 pub [...]

by Riccardo Misto

Received: 19 November 2020;  Published: 24 May 2021;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2102019

Using musical scales in a therapeutic key is one of the fundamental music therapy techniques of the Yoga of Sound (Nāda Yoga). The practice consists of singing particular sound formulas (scales), which are devised on a logical mathematical basis formed by specific musical intervals. These scales can bring to the surface, in a clear (objective), recognizable, and predictable way, psycho-emotional states and transform the blocked emotional energies. These blocked emotional energies are caused by repeated emotional st [...]

by Paulo Henrique Fernandes de Oliveira  and Reginaldo de Carvalho Silva Filho

Received: 29 December 2019;  Published: 15 April 2020;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2002021

Rosacea is a chronic inflammatory disease of the skin characterized by facial papules, pustules, erythema, and telangiectasia. Emotional factors such as stress and anxiety may induce and aggravate the symptoms of rosacea. It is hypothesized that tongue acupuncture, a technique that has been used successfully in the treatment of various neurological and psychiatric diseases, could be beneficial in relieving rosacea symptoms. This study evaluated the immediate effect of tongue acupuncture at specific anatomical point [...]

by Marcel Allbritton  and Carrie Heeter

Received: 30 July 2018;  Published: 09 October 2018;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.1804025

We propose a framework for understanding meditation that can support greater scientific rigor in reporting meditation research, and selecting meditation health interventions. There is no consistent and thorough framework for describing meditation research interventions. This impedes rigor of meditation research design and interpretation of findings. This also limits meaningful comparisons across research studies. The audience for this article includes researchers, meditation experts, healthcare professionals, and t [...]

by Sheng-Chieh Lu  , Connie W. Delaney  , Mary Fran Tracy  , Chih-Lin Chi  and Karen A. Monsen

Received: 30 December 2019;  Published: 17 February 2020;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2001006

Integrative health (IH) therapies are increasingly used to manage health conditions, but barriers hindering nurses from offering IH therapies persist. Informatics and artificial intelligence (AI) approaches have potential to promote nurses’ professional use of IH therapies. The purposes of this review are to (1) describe the state of the science of informatics and AI approaches promoting nurses’ use of IH therapies and (2) identify gaps in literature for future investigations. This systematic scoping review followe [...]

by Paul D. Loprinzi

Received: 07 February 2019;  Published: 21 March 2019;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.1901018

The objective of this brief systematic review was to examine the effects of aquatic exercise on cognitive function. Studies were identified using electronic databases, including PubMed, PsychInfo, Sports Discus and Google Scholar. In total, 13 articles met the inclusionary criteria. Among the 13 studies, all 13 demonstrated beneficial cognitive effects from exercise. This included chronic aquatic exercise-induced improvements in global cognition, executive function, attention, learning and memory, cognitively-relat [...]

by Consuelo C. Casula

Received: 18 January 2020;  Published: 27 February 2020;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2001010

This article is based on the assumption that the therapist's focused attention, open awareness and kind intention are the basic ingredients for creating a relationship of trust with the patient from the first session. He also stresses that when the attention of a genuine therapist, without prejudice or judgment, is centered on how the patient expresses him/herself and on the contents s/he proposes, the patient relies more easily on the competent care of the therapist. The author argues that to empower patients it i [...]

by Enrico Facco

Received: 04 February 2020;  Published: 08 July 2020;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2003032

The topic of resilience is of paramount importance. Although the term resilience was coined in the fields of physics and engineering, its use has spread to the fields of social sciences, biology, psychology, and psychiatry, as well as to the industry. Moreover, the term is now endowed with a wide range of meanings. The topic of resilience plays a central role in all critical life events. It is of paramount importance in medicine as well as in psychology and psychotherapy, where it is involved in both psychiatric di [...]

by Jordin Lane  and Kevin R. Fontaine

Received: 28 December 2020;  Published: 21 April 2021;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2102015

Carbohydrate-restricted ketogenic diets (KD) were introduced in the mid-19th century as a weight loss method with a resurgence of its use in epilepsy treatment in the 1920’s. Research conducted over the last several years provides evidence that KD’s can confer beneficial effects for several chronic metabolic diseases, including obesity, type-2 diabetes, and polycystic ovary syndrome. In recent years, emerging evidence suggests KD’s may also have therapeutic benefits for some cancers and for neurological conditions [...]

by Matthew Whalley  and Deborah Lee

Received: 15 August 2023;  Published: 30 November 2023;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2304058

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) often involves feeling-states of shame and self-loathing. Traditional exposure-based treatments, which are effective for fear-based PTSD, are sometimes limited in effectiveness when working with these emotional experiences: clients with high levels of shame, guilt, or disgust may experience ‘blocks’ in processing when attempting eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR). Developed to help people who suffer from pervasive shame and self-attack, compassion focused ther [...]

by Aminata Bicego  , Pauline Delmal  , Didier Ledoux  , Marie-Elisabeth Faymonville  , Benoît Maertens de Noordhout  , Alfredo Cerasoli  , Héléna Cassol  , Olivia Gosseries  and Audrey Vanhaudenhuyse

Received: 29 June 2022;  Published: 09 September 2022;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2203040

Phantom limb pain occurs in more than half of the people who have undergone an amputation. Hypnosis can alleviate pain effectively in experimental, procedural, and chronic pain. Thus, in this multiple-case study, we determined whether hypnosis might be a successful complementary approach to help patients with phantom limb pain in alleviating their pain quality (i.e., sensitive and affective), intensity, fatigue, and emotional distress (i.e., anxiety and depression). Seven patients experiencing phantom limb pain wer [...]

by Joseph V. Pergolizzi  , Jo Ann LeQuang  , Peter Magnusson  and Giustino Varrassi

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

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-body approaches, biological therapies, body-based treatments, and energy therapies. TCIM is used to help people resist infection, but people with moderate to severe COVID-19 symptoms ofte [...]