by Michael D. Owens  and Megan Halliday

Received: 24 December 2020;  Published: 30 August 2021;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2103025

The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic continues to bring challenges in identification and management of which the “happy hypoxic” or silent hypoxia presentation has been found to present its own unique challenge. A 67-year-old African American COVID-19 positive female presents to the emergency department (ED) with a chief complaint of decreased oral intake and responsiveness, oriented and stable, with oxygen saturations found to drop as low as 47%. The patient was successfully managed with supplemental oxygen and det [...]

by Paul Andrew Entwistle

Received: 09 March 2022;  Published: 26 September 2022;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2203046

Much has been written about the aetiological role of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) in the development of chronic adult physical and emotional health problems but current screening methods utilising questionnaires and formal interviewing often fail to show consensus across populations and surveys. This paper proposes that hypnotic regression might provide an alternative approach to ACE screening through its facility in revealing unsuspected and seemingly minor ACEs, which nevertheless can go on to have long t [...]

by Michael Frass

Received: 13 November 2019;  Published: 14 November 2019;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.1904063

Highlights of Application of Homeopathy in Oncology Patients: An Interview with Prof. Michael Frass

by Ana Valado  , Márcia Morais  , Stephanie Fortes  , Joana Rosado  , João Paulo Figueiredo  and Armando Caseiro

Received: 20 November 2023;  Published: 21 May 2024;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2402028

Hydrotherapy is highly recommended for older adults because it offers warmth and support, so people with pain or reduced mobility and balance can move and exercise more freely compared to regular physical activity. The high plasma antioxidant capacity of uric acid in neutralizing oxidative species and the importance of nitric oxide (NO) in vasodilation and inflammatory response are relevant in older adults. This work aimed to evaluate hydrotherapy's effect on uric acid and NO concentrations in a population aged ≥ 6 [...]

by Kajsa Landgren  , Hólmfríður Margrét Bjarnadóttir  , Helga Sif Friðjónsdóttir  and Jóhanna Bernharðsdóttir

Received: 19 December 2024;  Published: 15 April 2025;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2502018

Depression, insomnia, cravings, and anxiety are significant and often long-lasting health problems. As medication has limited effect and often side effects, complementary methods such as ear acupuncture are used in mental health care. To describe mental health care users' experiences of ear acupuncture, including ratings of sleep, anxiety, depression, stress, pain, and cravings. This mixed methods study included in- and outpatients at a mental health rehabilitation service in Iceland. Standardized ear acupuncture ( [...]

by Gaëtan Collignon  , Aminata Bicego  , Marie-Elisabeth Faymonville  , Olivia Gosseries  , Vincent Bonhomme  , Dominique Dive  , Corine Sombrun  , Antoine Bioy  and Audrey Vanhaudenhuyse

Received: 14 August 2024;  Published: 05 March 2025;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2501012

Auto-induced cognitive trance (AICT) is a method for voluntarily entering modified state of consciousness. The therapeutic implications of AICT are still unknown. Since complementary approaches based on modified states of consciousness are recognized to be beneficial for patients suffering from chronic pain (e.g., hypnosis, meditation), we here present the first case report of a 68-year-old man with a long history of chronic pain linked to an open Spina Bifida L4-L5, who used AICT to improve his health condition. S [...]

by Thao N. Le  and Emma L. Brown

Received: 18 June 2024;  Published: 23 December 2024;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2404070

This qualitative study explores the mental health challenges faced by Hawaiʻi farmers and allied agricultural producers, focusing on the main stressors they encountered and the coping mechanisms they employed. Through interviews with 77 farmers across all four counties, data revealed that significant stressors for Hawaiʻi farmers were legislative and policy issues, financial and economic concerns, as well as pests and diseases. Farmers employed various coping strategies to mitigate stress, primarily along the lines [...]

by Kunsang Yang Yang

Received: 15 June 2024;  Published: 15 January 2025;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2501004

This is a conceptual paper comparing how narrative therapy and Buddhist mantra-based meditation promote mental healing. Narrative therapy promotes mental healing by shifting families’ attention to their subjugated stories of strengths and personal agencies. Whilst Buddhist meditation has been integrated into psychotherapy developed in the West, the application is primarily the focus on breath as a way to help sufferers attain mindfulness. Mantra-based meditation uses the recitation of mantra as the focus instead of [...]

by Kristi Kanel

Received: 30 January 2019;  Published: 30 April 2019;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.1902030

While it may seem intuitive to suggest that compassion aids in the healing process, there is actual evidence to support that compassion changes physiology, which in turns affects emotional and physical healing. The focus of this opinion paper is on the use of compassion between health care providers and patients based on the use of compassion in the mental health field. Not only do patients benefit from compassion, but health care providers may also benefit. Creating compassionate relationships with patients may [...]

by Tracy O'Halloran  , Jennifer Symonds  and Linda Bhreathnach

Received: 02 November 2023;  Published: 11 May 2024;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2402026

This systematic review examined the impact of wellbeing interventions on the anxiety levels of children attending low-income schools. Studies, published between January 2000 and April 2022, were included if they had samples of school aged children attending low-income schools who were given a universal school-based wellbeing intervention. Ten databases were searched systematically to identify 542 records. After title and abstract screening, 43 records remained for full text screening, and of these studies, 10 met i [...]

by Syd Hiskey  and Neil E Clapton

Received: 07 April 2024;  Published: 21 May 2024;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2402029

The work of psychotherapy demands much of those who engage in it. Compassion provisioned by therapists requires varying competencies, yet remains a highly embodied and enactive endeavour. Therapist skill can be cultivated in this area and enhanced through a variety of body-mind trainings, including various forms of therapist personal practice. However, much clinical training/continued professional development centres on education workshops, emphasising knowledge above skill. Given this we present feasibility data f [...]

by Nasim Foroughi  , Laura Douglass  , Caroline A. Smith  and Phillipa Hay

Received: 11 July 2022;  Published: 09 October 2022;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2204047

Depression and mental health-related issues are increasingly prevalent in young adolescents and adults and so is the use of Complementary Therapies (CTs) to treat depression. Systematic reviews have found that, of all CTs, acupuncture, exercise, and the herbal remedy St John’s Wort have the greatest amount of evidence for efficacy in treating depression. We aimed to assess Mental Health Literacy (MHL) levels in the treatment of depression and Complementary Therapy’s (CT) usage in adolescents and adults. Surveys wer [...]

by Jennifer S. Jewell  , Ashley Brooks-Russell  and Jenn Leiferman

Received: 11 November 2022;  Published: 29 January 2023;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2301010

Postpartum depression (PPD) affects a notable number of women. While many of the risk and protective factors for PPD are specific to the mother, there are also factors that are related to the partner. However, the partner is often overlooked when assessing the landscape of PPD and potential treatment programs. This study sought to expand the knowledge on partner perceptions during the perinatal period. This online, cross-sectional survey of fathers who were in relationships with mothers who had given birth within t [...]

by Gerhard Litscher

Received: 18 April 2023;  Published: 19 April 2023;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2302020

This editorial briefly describes possible relationships and similarities between chess and acupuncture. Although the methods of chess and acupuncture could not be more different, possible joint effects on the brain can be hypothesized. However, the effectiveness of these joint effects has yet to be proven in scientific studies. Both chess and acupuncture can be used to improve physical and mental well-being. According to the author, the Yintang point could play a key role here.

by A. Maya Kaye

Received: 14 October 2023;  Published: 27 April 2024;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2402024

Fueled by decreased state support, economic pressures, and a growing emphasis on academic capitalism, higher education in the United States faces significant challenges. These shifts have fostered fast-paced, competitive environments, impacting the quality and equity of faculty-student mentoring in graduate programs, particularly for Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC), and first-generation students. This article proposes a novel framework, the compassion-focused mentoring conceptual model (CFM-CM), to addre [...]

by Vivian Huang  and Alexandra J. Fiocco

Received: 02 April 2024;  Published: 23 July 2024;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2403042

This survey-based, cross-sectional study explored the independent and synergistic effect of filial piety discrepancy (FPD), acculturation, and living arrangement on the psychological, social, and physical wellbeing of older Chinese immigrants living in Canada. A total of 299 older Chinese immigrants were recruited from community organizations in the Greater Toronto Area. Participants completed questionnaires that assessed demographic information, filial piety, living arrangement, acculturation, and three domains of [...]

by Boju Sun  , Maya Kudo  , Misa Hayashi  , Lingling Qin  , Lili Wu  , Tonghua Liu  and Ming Gao

Received: 25 October 2021;  Published: 30 June 2022;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2202023

YNCRG is a combination of five traditional Chinese ingredients with medicinal properties. We studied its effects and mechanism of action on a rat model of non-alcoholic fatty liver with metabolic syndrome. Eight-week-old male SHRcp rat(s) and Wister Kyoto (WKY) rats were adaptively fed for one week, after which they were randomly divided into three groups, including the control group (n = 9), the YNCRG group (n = 8), and the WKY group (n = 8). The WKY group could freely consume water, the control group was provided [...]

by James David Adams, Jr.

Received: 24 May 2019;  Published: 24 May 2019;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.1902032

Highlights of Complementary and Alternative Medicine in Nervous System Conditions: An Interview with Dr. James David Adams, Jr.

by Hannah O'Connor  , Joseph Biederman  , Maura DiSalvo  , Gagan Joshi  , Stephen V. Faraone  and Janet Wozniak

Received: 25 January 2024;  Published: 04 June 2024;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2402031

The aim of this paper is to examine effects of stimulant treatment in children and adolescents with high levels of emotional dysregulation in a psychiatric outpatient clinic. Subjects were referred children and adolescents 6-17 years of age who presented to a child psychiatric outpatient clinic between September 2016-November 2021 and received a prescription for a stimulant medication. Children were stratified into those with low and high levels of emotional dysregulation as defined by an aggregate T-score of <1 [...]

by Nils Altner  and Jasmin Friedrich

Received: 05 September 2022;  Published: 14 November 2022;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2204049

In this study, we present the results of a 48-hour mindfulness-based and compassion-based training for teachers (N = 59). This study included 3,250 students in two years. We strengthened the resources of teachers and students for health, especially for preventing addiction. The didactic approach was based on the concepts of embodiment and resonance. We first trained teachers and then encouraged them to teach students in the classroom. Qualitative data were collected on the presence of teachers, relationship buildin [...]

by OBM Integrative and Complementary Medicine Editorial Office

Received: 02 April 2022;  Published: 18 April 2022;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2202018

Interview with Dr. James David Adams. The skin is where pain is sensed and where chronic pain is created. The safest and most effective treatment for pain is topical plant medicines. Chronic pain can be cured with topical plant medicines. Transient receptor potential cation channels in the skin sense pain. Chronic pain involves a pain chemokine cycle. Monoterpenoids and diterpenoids from plants can stop this pain chemokine cycle and cure chronic pain.

by Tamerah Nicole Hunt  , Kylie Roberts  , Megan Byrd  , Kaytlyn Johnson  and Christina Gipson

Received: 28 July 2023;  Published: 04 January 2024;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2401002

Current research shows that mindfulness and physical training programs have been shown to help reduce stress independently, however, limited research is available exploring the possible additive effects of implementing both training programs together [1, 2]. To test the feasibility and effectiveness of the Mind-Body Fitness program through a case-series pilot program, seven elementary school teachers completed a nine-week mindfulness and fitness program. The Perceived Stress Scale [3] was administered at three time [...]

by OBM Integrative and Complementary Med Editorial Office

Received: 07 January 2021;  Published: 07 January 2021;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2101001

The editors of OBM Integrative and Complementary Medicine would like to express their sincere gratitude to the following reviewers for assessing manuscripts in 2020. 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 [...]

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 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 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 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 Pamela Fox  , Gerald H. Burgess  and Chris Irons

Received: 18 February 2023;  Published: 05 January 2024;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2401004

The aim of this study was to examine the relationships between self-compassion and possible predictors of depressed mood in parents of people with eating disorders. A questionnaire design was conducted cross‐sectionally in a sample of 112 parents of people with eating disorders. Participants completed measures of depressed mood, experiences of entrapment, shame, guilt, self-criticism and self-compassion. Regression analyses showed entrapment and self-criticism to be mediators between the relationship of shame and d [...]

by Saba Tanveer  , Ali Saad R. Alsubaie  , Rezzan Khan  , Hajra Ahmed  , Mahpara Safdar  , Zainab Bibi  , Sadaf Yousaf  , Bismillah Sehar  , Iftikhar Alam  , Aiman Hadayat  and Falak Zeb

Received: 31 May 2023;  Published: 15 November 2023;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2304051

Nutrition counseling may assist liver transplant patients in controlling weight gain, addressing micronutrient deficiencies, and maintaining metabolic status. This study aimed to determine the effect of nutritional counseling on nutritional status, liver profile, and serum electrolytes of liver transplant patients. In this case-control study, 100 patients were recruited from Shifa International Hospital, Islamabad, who were potential liver transplant candidates. They were divided into two groups: a case group, who [...]

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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 Gerhard Litscher

Received: 17 September 2024;  Published: 19 September 2024;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2403053

Auricular medicine, based on the concept that the ear reflects the entire body, has gained recognition for treating various conditions through targeted acupuncture. Despite documented short-term benefits, such as pain relief and nervous system regulation, research into its long-term effects is limited. This editorial discusses the need for further long-term studies to explore whether regular auricular acupuncture can offer sustained health benefits and serve a preventive role. It summarizes two studies: one on auri [...]