by Marcus A. Henning  , David Lu  , Lillian Ng  , Frederick Sundram  and Yan Chen

Received: 16 August 2024;  Published: 23 January 2025;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2501007

This scoping review aims to understand the available research and the quality of evidence about the cost-effectiveness of mindfulness-based interventions when applied to the medical student context. There is considerable literature pertaining to the application of mindfulness-based interventions in this context. However, the links between cost and effectiveness need to be established to ensure the relative integrity of these therapeutic systems. The participants included in the study were medical students (undergra [...]

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 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 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 inst [...]

by Gerhard Litscher

Received: 05 January 2025;  Published: 07 January 2025;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2501003

Acupuncture, an ancient practice in traditional Chinese medicine, is founded on understanding of human physiology and the dynamics of energy flow (Qi). The emergence of artificial intelligence (AI) in modern medicine presents opportunities to integrate advanced technologies into acupuncture, enhancing diagnostic precision and empirical validation. AI tools can analyze complex datasets, model energy flow dynamics, and provide evidence-based insights, potentially bridging traditional methodologies with scientific par [...]

by Annie J. Keeney  , Anabel Rodriguez  , Jaime Murillo  and Savannah S. Ingold

Received: 20 August 2024;  Published: 06 January 2025;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2501002

Farmworkers are the backbone of the agricultural economy in the US yet are disproportionately burdened with economic-related stress and adverse behavioral health outcomes. How these stressors translate to children and family well-being is poorly understood. Grounded in Transactional Stress and Coping Theory, we aimed to understand how children and families adapt and respond to the stressors associated with farm labor occupations in a rural, underserved, bi-national community. We utilized focus groups with adult chi [...]

by OBM Integrative and Complementary Medicine Editorial Office

Received: 03 January 2025;  Published: 03 January 2025;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2501001

The editors of OBM Integrative and Complementary Medicine would like to express their sincere gratitude to the following reviewers for assessing manuscripts in 2024. 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 can download a certificate of recognition directly from our submission system. Additionally, revie [...]

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 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 [...]