Formación médica en la terapéutica no convencional en el mundo (homeopatía y acupuntura) / Medical training in non-conventional therapeutics in the world (homeopathy and acupuncture)

Utilizadas de forma complementaria, alternada o integrada con la medicina convencional, la demanda de la población por las terapias no convencionales se ha incrementado considerablemente en las últimas décadas, requiriendo de los médicos un conocimiento de las nociones básicas de tales enfoques terapéuticos para orientar a sus pacientes en relación con tratamientos distintos a aquellos que suelen prescribir. Entre las mismas, la homeopatía y la acupuntura se han considerado especialidades médicas en Brasil durante varias décadas. Objetivo: Describir el estado actual de la formación médica en terapias no convencionales (homeopatía y acupuntura) alrededor del mundo. Métodos: Actualizamos los datos relacionados con los estudios y revisiones publicados hasta 2013 a través de una revisión de los estudios más recientes incluidos en la base de datos PubMed. Resultados: En todos los países, la enseñanza de terapias no convencionales se considera un tema relevante para la formación de médicos como una función del creciente interés de la población en su uso, con un amplia variedad de enfoques dirigidos a los estudiantes de licenciatura y posgrado, médicos residentes y profesionales con otras especialidades médicas. Conclusiones: Las escuelas brasileñas de medicina deben proporcionar a los estudiantes de licenciatura y posgrado, así como a los médicos residentes, un conocimiento preciso de los supuestos teóricos y enfoques clínico-terapéuticos propios de la homeopatía y la acupuntura, entre otras terapias no convencionales.

Used as complementary to, alternating or integrated with mainstream medicine, the population's demand for non-conventional therapies has substantially increased in the past decades, requiring from doctors knowledge on the basic notions of such therapeutics to orient their patients regarding treatments different to the ones they usually prescribe. Among them, homeopathy and acupuncture are considered medical specialties in Brazil for various decades. Aim: To describe the current state of medical education in non-conventional therapies (homeopathy and acupuncture) around the world. Methods: We updated data resulting from studies and reviews published until 2013 through a review of more recent studies included in database PubMed. Results: In all countries the teaching of non-conventional therapies is considered a relevant topic for the training of doctors as a function of the increasing interest of the population in their use, with a broad range of approaches targeting undergraduate and graduate students, medical residents and doctors from other medical specialties. Conclusions: The Brazilian medical schools must provide undergraduate and graduate students and medical residents accurate knowledge on the theoretical assumptions and clinical-therapeutic approaches proper to homeopathy and acupuncture, among other non-conventional therapies.

Effects of COVID-19 fear and anxiety on attitudes towards complementary and alternative medicine use in women with gynecological cancer during the COVID-19 pandemic / 中西医结合学报

OBJECTIVE@#Patients with gynecological cancer commonly use complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) methods to cope with the disease. However, despite the existence of treatment strategies, the effect of fear and anxiety caused by coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on attitudes about CAM use is unclear. This study was carried out to investigate the effect of fear and anxiety experienced by patients with gynecological cancer during the COVID-19 pandemic on their attitudes towards the use of CAM.@*METHODS@#This is a cross-sectional and descriptive study that included 177 women with gynecological cancer; participants were recruited from a social networking site for cancer patients in Turkey between June and December 2021. Data were collected using an online survey that included the Personal Information Form, the Fear of COVID-19 Scale, the Coronavirus Anxiety Scale, and the Attitude Towards Holistic Complementary and Alternative Medicine Scale. Descriptive statistics, t-test, Pearson's correlation test, and simple linear and multiple regression analyses were performed to analyze the data.@*RESULTS@#During the pandemic, 55.4% of the participants reported using CAM methods, but only 22.6% were using CAM before the pandemic. The participants who used CAM during the pandemic also scored higher on the fear of COVID-19 and coronavirus anxiety scales (20.69 ± 5.37 and 13.09 ± 6.29, respectively) compared to the participants who did not use CAM (9.29 ± 2.72 and 6.35 ± 2.06, respectively). Fear of COVID-19 accounted for 52% of the CAM attitude score, while coronavirus anxiety accounted for 15% of the CAM attitude score. Fear of COVID-19 and coronavirus anxiety together accounted for 53% of CAM attitude.@*CONCLUSION@#Gynecological cancer patients with high levels of COVID-19-related anxiety and fear during the pandemic used CAM more. Given that the psychological effects of the pandemic will continue in the coming years, CAM use should be evaluated as a coping strategy, especially due to the COVID-19-related anxiety and fear experienced by patients with gynecological cancer. While the rational and effective CAM methods should be supported, strategies should be developed to prevent misuse of CAM and its interference in prescribed medical treatments. Please cite this article as: Uslu-Sahan F, Yesilcınar I, Kurt G, Hancer E, Guvenc G. Effects of COVID-19 fear and anxiety on attitudes towards complementary and alternative medicine use in women with gynecological cancer during the COVID-19 pandemic. J Integr Med. 2023; 21(4): 377-384.

The Prevalence of Online Natural Health Products Purchase: A Systematic Review

@#Aim and design: This systematic review aimed to estimate the prevalence of online natural health products (NHPs) purchases among consumers. Data Sources: Four databases (PubMed, Science Direct, Scopus and Web of Sciences) were searched for articles published up to July 1, 2021. Review Method: Studies included were those reporting the prevalence of online NHPs purchases, those excluded were case reports, commentaries, letters, editorials, review articles, theses and non-English studies. The risk of bias of selected studies was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute’s checklist, and the pooled prevalence of online NHPs purchases was generated using the random-effect model. Results: A total of 30 studies were included in the meta-analysis, representing a total of 40,535 respondents. The pooled prevalence of online NHPs purchases was estimated at 7.60% (95% CI: 5.49, 10.01). Prevalence was higher in studies conducted in recent years, among physically active populations and when sports nutrition was included within the scope of NHPs. More than half of the selected studies have a moderate risk of bias, and considerable heterogeneity was observed across the selected studies. Conclusion and Impact: Online purchases of NHPs are not common among consumers, but they have become more common in recent years. A wide range of NHPs were investigated across studies, which may have contributed to the considerable heterogeneity reported in this review. It is suggested that future studies investigating online NHPs purchases consider reporting individual prevalence statistics specific to each NHP type, to facilitate meaningful comparisons between studies.

Uso de medicina complementar e alternativa em pacientes brasileiros com doença inflamatória intestinal / Complementary and alternative medicine use in brazilian patients with inflammatory bowel disease

ABSTRACT Background: The conventional treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is based on drug therapy, but different studies have shown a progressive increase in the use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). The most used CAM comprises of acupuncture, traditional Chinese medicine, Ayurvedic medicine, homeopathy, and herbal medicine, as well as more modern practices, including aromatherapy and reflexology. Data from CAM use in Brazil has previously been scarce and there are no studies among Brazilian patients with IBD. Objective: The aim of the study was to evaluate the frequency of, and factors associated with the use of CAM among IBD patients in Brazil, in addition to estimating the satisfaction with CAM use. Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed in adult IBD outpatients from two Southeastern Brazilian referral centers, with a total a sample of 227 individuals. A semi-structured questionnaire was used containing CAM products - tea, probiotics, omega 3 or glutamine, homeopathy, and herbal therapy, and factors associated with CAM use and patient satisfaction. We used descriptive statistics, association tests (P<0.05) and logistic regression for statistical analyses. Results: In total, 126 patients with Crohn's disease and 101 with ulcerative colitis were included. The mean age was 41.19±14.49 years and 57.27% were female. The time since diagnosis was 10.58±7.5 years, and most patients were in clinical remission. Twenty-nine patients (12.8%) reported having used CAM for IBD treatment, such as tea (5.29%), probiotics (5.29%), omega-3 or glutamine (1.76%), homeopathy (0.88%), and herbal therapies (0.44%). Despite the low frequency, patients were satisfied (>50%). There was no difference between CAM use in Crohn's disease as compared to ulcerative colitis patients (P=0.1171). The factors associated with the use of CAM were regular or poor quality of life (odds ratio 2.084; 95% confidence interval 1.147-3.786, P=0.0159) and a shorter time since diagnosis (odds ratio 0.956; 95% confidence interval 0.918-0.995; P=0.0260). Conclusion: The prevalence of CAM use was low, but satisfactory among Brazilian IBD patients. The application of CAM has been associated with poor quality of life and shorter disease duration compared to patients with no use of CAM.

RESUMO Contexto: O tratamento convencional da doença inflamatória intestinal (DII) é baseado na terapia medicamentosa, mas diferentes estudos têm mostrado aumento progressivo do uso de medicina complementar e alternativa (MCA) na abordagem dos pacientes. As modalidades de MCA mais usadas compreendem: acupuntura, medicina tradicional chinesa, medicina ayurvédica, homeopatia e fitoterapia, bem como práticas mais modernas, como aromaterapia e reflexologia. Os dados do uso de MCA no Brasil são escassos e não há estudos entre pacientes brasileiros com DII. Objetivo: O objetivo do estudo foi avaliar a frequência e os fatores associados com o uso de MCA entre pacientes com DII, além de estimar a satisfação com o uso de MCA. Métodos: Foi realizado estudo transversal em pacientes adultos ambulatoriais com DII oriundos de dois centros de referência no sudeste do Brasil, com amostra de 227 indivíduos. Foi aplicado questionário semiestruturado contendo produtos como - chá, probióticos, ômega 3 ou glutamina, homeopatia e fitoterapia, além de fatores associados ao uso de MCA e a satisfação do paciente. Utilizamos estatística descritiva, testes de associação (P<0,05) e regressão logística para análise estatística. Resultados: No total, 126 pacientes com doença de Crohn e 101 com retocolite ulcerativa foram incluídos. A média de idade foi 41,19±14,49 anos e 57,27% eram do sexo feminino. O tempo desde o diagnóstico foi de 10,58±7,5 anos, e a maioria dos pacientes estava em remissão clínica. Vinte e nove pacientes (12,8%) relataram ter usado MCA para o tratamento de DII, como chá (5,29%), probióticos (5,29%), ômega-3 ou glutamina (1,76%), homeopatia (0,88%) e fitoterápicos (0,44%). Apesar da baixa frequência, os pacientes ficaram satisfeitos com o uso (>50%). Não houve diferença entre o uso de MCA entre os pacientes com doença de Crohn em comparação com pacientes com retocolite ulcerativa (P=0,1171). Os fatores associados com o uso de MCA foram qualidade de vida regular ou ruim (Odds ratio 2,084; intervalo de confiança de 95% 1,147-3,786, P=0,0159) e menor tempo desde o diagnóstico (Odds ratio 0,956; intervalo de confiança de 95% 0,918-0,995; P=0,0260). Conclusão: A prevalência do uso de MCA foi baixa, mas satisfatória entre os pacientes com DII. O uso de MCA tem sido associada a baixa qualidade de vida e menor duração da doença.

Complementary and alternative medicines use among adults with migraine in a tertiary care hospital: An observational study

Background: The use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) dates back to being quite pervasive amongst patients suffering from chronic ailments such as cancer, diabetes, hypertension, and migraine. While data pertaining to the use of CAM among adults with migraine is limited and mostly undercover thereby veiling their effects. Hence, this analysis was taken up to project the paradigm of CAM usage among sufferers of migraine in our domain. Aim and Objectives: To examine various attributes of CAM utility in patients of migraine. Materials and Methods: Following the approval by the Institutional Ethics Committee vide order no. IEC/GMC/2019/767 dated November 26, 2019, this study was performed in migraine patients visiting Medicine out patient department of Government Medical College and Hospital, Jammu over a span of 3 months. After receiving their consent, they were confronted with a prevalidated questionary consisting of two sections viz. socio-demographic profile and CAM use aspects. Results: A total of 100 patients were inducted in our research, of which 64 agreed to use various CAM modalities alongwith ongoing conventional migraine therapy. Females (73.43%) belonging to rural setting (57.81%) depicted quite high use of CAM than their male (26.56%) counterparts. Ayurvedic balm/oil massage (56.25%) was the most common type of CAM used with family/friends (59.37%) being major informants about various CAM practices. The less educated patients (46.87%) showed relatively more use of CAM than in illiterates (9.37%). 53.12% of those on CAM proclaimed about its safety, being less costly (18.75%) yet effective (14.06%). Only 29.68% of patients disclosed about their CAM use to their treating doctor while the majority (70.31%) were non-revealers. Conclusion: CAM is prevalent in patients suffering from migraine with more propensity among females of rural strata. Ayurvedic balm/oil massage was the most extensively practiced CAM. Ironically, a vast chunk of patients did not reveal regarding CAM usage to their treating physician. As such there’s a dire need to embolden such patients to divulge regarding CAM to their treating doctor so as to thwart any impending undesired interplay.

A study of Tai Chi and Qigong popularity in the United States based on the NHIS data / 国际中医中药杂志

Tai Chi and Qigong (TCQ) are regarded as major therapies of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), and welcomed by increasing practitioners worldwide for their efficacy in various health issues. To better learn about the popularity of TCQ in the United States, the related data collected from 2007, 2012 and 2017 questionnaires of the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) were examined and analyzed. The result showed that adult TCQ practitioners in the US increased substantially from 2007-2017, the percentage of Tai Chi practitioners in adult population was 1.0% in 2007, and Qigong practitioners 0.3%; Tai Chi practitioners was 1.1% in 2012, and Qigong practitioners 0.3%; in 2017, Tai Chi practitioners was 1.5%, and Qigong practitioners 0.5%. The top three reasons for using TCQ were: 82.4% for general wellness or disease prevention, 64.6% to improve or enhance energy, and 35.1% recommended by family, friends or co-workers. The health benefits of TCQ, the demand for complementary therapies and increasing research evidences were positive factors for the growth, while there are also challenges including insufficiencies in scientific researches and lacking of standardized teaching system. To promote the future development of TCQ in the US and oversea countries, we should optimize the research methods and standardize the teaching system, encourage the exchange and training of TCQ related professionals, and promote the integration of TCQ into conventional medical system and other related industries.

The effect of CAM comprehensive nursing interventions on the improvement of quality of life to patients with breast cancer and gynaecological tumours

Breastcancerin females, which is consideredthe most dreadfuldisease in India andthe worldas compared toother gynaecological cancers,demands extensive care and proper medicationin order to control itsprogressive growth. In addition to the conventional care ofthe patients, Complementary andAlternative Medicine(CAM)is administeredin a controlled way through proper guidance and counselling in orderto attainimprovedphysical andmental health forthe patients.Objective: The aim of the study wasto assess the effectiveness of CAMcomprehensive nursing interventionsand their benefit forpatients who havebreast cancer and gynaecological tumours.Methods: Statistical data was used to map the adult womendiagnosed with breast and gynaecological cancer and who were set to start new chemotherapy treatments. A total of 450 patients from different states of East India were enrolled in the studyover a period of four years. The patients wereselectedbased on their preference for undergoing CAM.The research was conducted usingacross-sectionalanonymous self-administered questionnaireto examine women's perspectivestowards the use of CAM and itseffect on their mental andphysical health.Results:42%of the women preferred theuseofCAM astheir alternative treatment. Breast cancer patients disclosed that 48.1% of them had used CAM and 39% of women with gynaecological cancersstated that they had usedCAM. The results further indicated a less frequent deteriorationin the health of CAM users(38.4%) thantonon-users(55%). In terms of those who utilizedvitamins and nutritional diets,60% of the participants reported using a proper diet, including antioxidants, minerals, vitamins and herbs etc. 37% opted for spiritual healing through yoga, 26% utilized energy healing, 42.4% utilized acupuncture,72% preferred massagesand 23% of patients utilized chiropractic methods.The use of CAM was foundmainlyin the patients with proper education and awareness and those with a family history of cancer who were not receiving the necessary care from their previous primary physician.Conclusion:CAM still requiresextensive research in terms of its applications in dealing with patients and in orderto successfully launch programmes aimed at promoting its useworldwide andto eradicate all the other false notions about it.[Ethiop. J. Health Dev. 2022; 36(2):000-000]Keywords: Breast Cancerand gynaecological tumours,Complementary And Alternative Medicine (CAM), Complementary Oncology,Quality Of Life, Nutritional Diet and Spiritual Healing, HRQL (Health-Related Quality Of Life).IntroductionCancer has been the primaryconcern in Indiafrom the onset,resulting in thousands of deaths due to the lack of adequatemedication and therapy.Breast cancer is considered to bea common invasive form of cancer which is responsible for the second highest mortality rate among the primaryfatal conditions of cancer-causing deaths in women. Under the National Cancer Registry Program,the breast, cervix, uteri,and oral cavity(7)are the most common cancer sitesin women. According to statistics, 50-60% of all cancers amongIndian women are commonly found inthe cervix uteri, breast, corpus uteri and ovaries,which are the main organs forcancer invasion. The percentage of women who experience these types of cancer is increases, with more women becoming susceptible to breast cancer, in women up to 3-8% suffer fromovarian cancer,0.5-4.8%have cancer of the corpus uteri, 1-3% have vulva and/or gestational trophoblastic tumours and a staggering75,000 or more women have breast cancer. With the advancements of the disease through time,research programs were also improved in order to enable the improvement of existing measures and/or the development of new measures aimed at combating the diseas and decreasing mortality rates. Apart from the conventional chemotherapy technique,various other programs have been introduced andencorporated into treatment regimes in order to improve the lives of those who are affected by cancer.Complementary andAlternative Medicine (CAM) emphasizesthe methods and practices that are therapeutic and which help diagnose or curethe disease,these methods are intended tocomplement the conventional methods and can be used in place of mainstream medicine. Women with breast cancer and other gynaecological tumoursare increasingly inclined towards the use of CAM. With the increasing number of cancer reports in Indiaand the world,and with the principal amount leading to mortality, women with proper education and awareness are inclined to choosealternative methods rather than the old conventional ones. The side-effects resulting from the chemotherapy are immense and toxic,which is one of the reasons women are inclined to choose.Various research projects and cumulative studies have been conducted in order to review and discoverthe

Knowledge Domain and Emerging Trends of Chinese Medicine in Management of Pediatric Asthma: A Scientometric Study / 中国结合医学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To analyze the intellectual landscape and emerging research trends of Chinese medicine (CM) in the management of pediatric asthma through a scientometric study.@*METHODS@#Publications related to CM in the management of pediatric asthma were retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection using relevant keywords. A scientometric study was performed using CiteSpace and VOSviewer.@*RESULTS@#A total of 1,673 original articles and reviews from 1991 to 2019 were included in the analysis. The amount of annual publications had a gradual increase with time. USA was the major contributor both in country and institution analyses. Based on the co-citation, the published journals were grouped into 4 clusters. Keyword analysis indicated that the main hotspots were: (1) comprehensive management; (2) risk factors, mechanism, and prevalence; (3) prevention and treatment; (4) inflammation; and (5) environmental research. Lastly, we predicted that three emerging trends were quality of life promotion, immune response, and combination therapy.@*CONCLUSIONS@#CM research in the management of pediatric asthma will maintain the current trend of steady growth. This scientometric analysis may help scientists to identify the areas of interests and future directions in the field.

Impact of socioeconomic and health-related factors on consumption of homeopathic and natural remedies in Spain in 2006, 2011 and 2017 / 中西医结合学报

OBJECTIVE@#Complementary and alternative medicine use and type of use may be influenced by sociodemographic and economic determinants through which we could identify characteristics of patients with greater trend to use it. This paper aims to describe the changes in the consumption of homeopathic and natural remedies in Spain for three time points in order to discern changes in rate of consumption, associated factors and whether their use has been affected by a period of economic recession.@*METHODS@#This study utilized 2006, 2011 and 2017 cross-sectional data from the Spanish National Health Survey, a nationally representative survey of the population aged more than 15 years old and resident in Spain. Independent bivariate and multivariate descriptive analyses for each of the 3 years studied were performed.@*RESULTS@#The rate of consumption of both homeopathic and natural remedies has decreased over the periods studied. In spite of this decrease, the consumer profile appears to remain stable over the three periods. The sociodemographic factors associated with their consumption were being female, being 30-64 years old, being separated/divorced, having higher education qualifications, being employed and belonging to a higher social class. Psychiatric morbidity, chronic health problems such as pain, mental health problems or malignant tumors, and absence of major cardiovascular events were the clinical factors associated.@*CONCLUSION@#It can be concluded that beyond the economic situation, the use of homeopathic and natural remedies obeys to the needs of the patients related to their state of health and the response they receive from the health system. It may be that women have different needs and expectations of the healthcare system and, given this breach of expectations, seek remedy to alleviate their needs outside the system and conventional medicine.

Uso de medicina complementaria y alternativa y su asociación con la relación médico-paciente en enfermos con artritis reumatoide / Association between physician-patient relationship and the use of complementary and alternative medicine in patients with rheumatoid arthritis

RESUMEN Introducción: El uso de medicina complementaria y alternativa (MCA) en pacientes con enfermedades reumáticas es prevalente pero la comunicación con el reumatólogo suele ser deficiente, lo cual afecta la relación médico-paciente (RMP). Objetivos: Evaluar la asociación entre el uso de MCA y la RMP en enfermos con artritis reumatoide. Como objetivos adicionales, describir la percepción del paciente sobre la comunicación con su reumatólogo respecto al uso de MCA y el patrón de uso de las diferentes modalidades terapéuticas. Materiales y métodos: Estudio descriptivo de corte transversal. El uso de MCA y la RMP se evaluaron mediante la autoaplicación de cuestionarios validados (I-CAM-Q y PDRQ-9 respectivamente). Resultados: Se incluyó a 246 pacientes ambulatorios de una institución de tercer nivel de atención. Se encontró asociación entre una mayor satisfacción con el tratamiento y el no usar MCA, y entre el hecho de informar al reumatólogo sobre el uso de MCA con un mayor grado de acuerdo con el médico sobre el origen de los síntomas y mayor satisfacción con el tratamiento. Las modalidades más frecuentemente utilizadas fueron: quiropraxia, acupuntura y productos herbales. El 78,5% afirmaron estar de acuerdo con comunicar el uso de este tipo de medicación al reumatólogo, sin embargo, solo el 31,3% lo notificó, por temor a represalias (54,4%). Conclusiones: Pese a la alta prevalencia de uso de MCA en nuestros pacientes, la mayoría no lo comunicó al reumatólogo. Se encontró asociación entre el uso de MCA y una menor satisfacción del paciente con el tratamiento y entre la comunicación médico-paciente sobre la práctica de MCA y una mejor satisfacción con el tratamiento.

ABSTRACT Introduction: Although complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use among patients with rheumatic diseases is extensive, discussions regarding these treatments occur rarely in the rheumatology setting, directly affecting the physician-patient relationship (PPR). Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between patient-physician relationship and complementary and alternative medicine use. As secondary objectives, to describe the patient's perspective towards CAM use and estimate the prevalence of CAM treatments used in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Methods and materials: A descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted, in which CAM use and physician-patient relationship were assessed by self-reported validated questionnaires (I-CAM-Q and PDRQ-9, respectively). Results: The study included a total of 246 outpatients of a tertiary care hospital. There were no significant differences between CAM users vs. non-users, or informers vs. non-informers in terms of physician-patient relationship measured by PDQR. The most frequent used CAM treatments were: chiropractice, acupuncture, and herbal products. A large majority (78.5%) of the patients expressed agreement to the discussion of CAM use with the rheumatologist, but only 31.3% of total CAM users did so because of fear of retaliation (54.4%). Conclusion: Despite the extensive practice of CAM among patients with rheumatoid arthritis, most patients did not discuss these treatments with their physicians. Associations were found between MCA use and a lower patient's treatment satisfaction and between physician-patient communication about CAM practice and a higher patient's treatment satisfaction.

La sanación desde otro paradigma: neochamanismos y su emergencia global en el caso español / The healing from another paradigm: neoshamanisms and its global emergency in the Spanish case

Resumen Entre la multitud de medicinas y terapias alternativas presentes en el mundo Occidental, el neochamanismo es una de las que, en la actualidad, ha despertado mayor interés y que se sitúa entre las nuevas formas espirituales y los procesos de patrimonialización fruto de la modernidad globalizada. En este artículo se muestra el proceso de reconfiguración de prácticas y conocimientos ancestrales, -etiquetados como chamánicos- y cómo éstos constituyen una respuesta adaptativa en la búsqueda de nuevos espacios vitales y de experiencias colectivas que den sentido a la existencia en el contexto occidental. Desde el caso español y tomando la Comunidad Valenciana como unidad de análisis, nos adentramos en el proceso de adaptación de distintas corrientes chamánicas que han llegado a nuestras tierras y en cómo, desde ellas, mostrando ejemplos concretos, se entiende la sanación como un proceso de recuperar la salud y el bienestar que incluye al ser humano en su totalidad, así como las relaciones que establece con los demás y con su entorno.

Abstract Amongst multitude of alternative medicines and therapies that are present in the western world, neo-shamanism is one that has awakened more interest and has been established between the new spiritual ways and the heritagisation of processes as a result of globalized modernity. In this article, we will show the process of reconfiguration of shamanic practices and knowledge and how they constitute an adaptive response in the search of new vital spaces and collective experiences that give meaning to existence in western context. From the Spanish case and using the Autonomous Community of Valencia as an analysis unit, we will go in depth into the adaptation process that different shamanic movements reaching our land have suffered and how one can understand healing as a process to regain health and wellbeing that includes the human being in entirety of bodies, as well as established relationships with others and with the environment.

The quality of online consumer health information at the intersection of complementary and alternative medicine and arthritis

Abstract Background: Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use is prevalent among patients living with arthritis. Such patients often seek information online, for the purpose of gaining a second opinion to their healthcare provider or even self-medication. Little is known about the quality of web-based consumer health information at the intersection of CAM and arthritis; thus, investigating the quality of websites containing this information was the purpose of this study. Methods: Four unique search terms were searched on Google across four English-speaking countries. We assessed the first 20 results of each search, including them if they contained CAM consumer health information for the treatment and/or management of arthritis. Eligible websites were assessed in duplicate using the DISCERN instrument, which consists of 16-items designed to assess quality. Results: Of total of 320 webpages, 239 were duplicates, and a total of 38 unique websites were deemed eligible and assessed using the DISCERN instrument. The mean summed DISCERN scores across all websites was 55.53 (SD = 9.37). The mean score of the overall quality of each website was 3.71 (SD = 0.63), thus the majority of websites are ranked as slightly above 'fair' quality. Conclusion: Eligible websites generally received scores better than 'moderate' in terms of overall quality. Several shortcomings included a lack of transparency surrounding references used and underreporting of risks associated with treatment options. These results suggest that health providers should be vigilant of the variable quality of information their patients may be accessing online and educate them on how to identify high quality resources.(AU)

The knowledge, attitude, practice and predictors of complementary and alternative medicine use among type 2 diabetes mellitus patients in Indonesia / 中西医结合学报

OBJECTIVE@#The prevalence of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) usage among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in Indonesia is high. However, to date, little is known about why Indonesian T2DM patients choose CAM therapies, how their knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) of CAM affects their choices, or how demographics correlate with patient choices. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the KAP and predictors of CAM usage in T2DM patients in Indonesia.@*METHODS@#This was an observational, cross-sectional study. Patients were interviewed using a questionnaire. Chi-square tests or Fisher's exact tests were used to compare demographic and clinical data, as well as KAP assessments, between T2DM patients who use and do not use CAM. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to investigate predictors of CAM usage.@*RESULTS@#A total of 628 T2DM patients were enrolled in the study. CAM therapies were used by 341 patients (54.3%). The most common therapies were herbs and spiritual healing, used by 100.0% and 68.3% of CAM-using patients, respectively. CAM therapies were frequently recommended by family members (91.5%), and CAM users had significantly more knowledge and more positive attitudes toward CAM therapies than nonusers. Among users, 66% said they would not follow their healthcare providers' instructions to not use CAM therapies, and 69.5% said they would not disclose their plan to use CAM therapies with their healthcare provider. Neither demographic nor clinical characteristics were associated with CAM use. The factors that best predicted the use of CAM therapies were their availability and low cost (odds ratio [OR] = 4.59; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 3.01-7.01), the belief that CAM therapies were safe (OR = 2.04; 95% CI: 1.40-2.95), the belief that CAM therapies could help with diabetes control (OR = 1.75; 95% CI: 1.15-2.66), and the belief that CAM therapies could help maintain physical health (OR = 1.68; 95% CI: 1.13-2.49).@*CONCLUSION@#CAM therapy users were more knowledgeable and had more positive attitudes toward CAM, but most of them chose not to disclose their CAM use to their healthcare providers. CAM use in Indonesia was associated with its accessibility, affordability, safety and effectivity, but not with any demographic or clinical characteristics. This study provided new evidence and insights for nurses and physicians in Indonesia that will help to design educational programs about the safety and efficacy of CAM therapies.

Huaier Granule for Breast Cancer Treatment / 日本補完代替医療学会誌

Huaier granule, which is clinically used in Japan as a health food, is originally a traditional Chinese medicine for immune dysfunction, such as cancer, in China. Huaier guanule emerged with abundant evidence, and is being prescribed to hepatocellular carcinoma, breast cancer, lung cancer, gastric cancer, et al. as indications in China. This review focused on the clinical evidence of Huaier guanule associated to breast cancer.

Post-Marketing Surveillance of Qishe Pill () Use for Management of Neck Pain in a Chinese Patient Cohort to Determine its Safety, Tolerability and Effectiveness / 中国结合医学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To evaluate the safety and effectiveness of Qishe Pill () on neck pain in real-world clinical practice.@*METHODS@#A multi-center, prospective, observational surveillance in 8 hospitals across Shanghai was conducted. During patients receiving 4-week Qishe Pill medication, Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and Neck Disability Index (NDI) assessments have been used to assess their pain and function, while safety monitoring have been observed after 2 and 4 weeks.@*RESULTS@#Results from 2,023 patients (mean age 54.5 years) suggest that the drug exposure per unit of body mass was estimated at 3.41 ± 0.62 g/kg. About 8.5% (172/2,023) of all participants experienced adverse events (AEs), while 3.8% (78/2,023) of all participants experienced adverse reaction. The most common AEs were gastrointestinal events and respiratory events. The VAS score (pain) and NDI score (function) significantly decreased after 4-week treatment. An effect-quantitative analysis was also conducted to show that the normal clinical dosage may be consider as 3-4 g/kg, at which dosage the satisfactory pain-relief effect may achieve by 40-mm reduction in VAS.@*CONCLUSION@#These findings showed that patients with cervical radiculopathy who received Qishe Pill experienced significant improvement on pain and function. (Registration No. NCT01875562).

Classical Chinese Herbal Formulas in the Treatment of Coronary Heart Disease: A Narrative Review / 中国结合医学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To summarize the current evidence for 8 frequently prescribed Chinese herbal formulas (CHF) as treatments for angina pectoris in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) and the associated adverse reactions.@*METHODS@#Seven electronic databases were screened from their inception through July 2018 for all evidence related to classical CHF for the treatment of patients with CHD.@*RESULTS@#CHF improves CHD outcomes in terms of angina pectoris, electrocardiogram results, Chinese medicine syndromes and biomarkers iomarkers. The combination of CHF and Western medicine (WM) is more effective on CHD than WM alone. The use of CHF to treat CHD shows the same or better clinical effects as the use of WM alone. The 8 investigated CHF do not induce hepatic and renal toxicity or other serious adverse effects.@*CONCLUSIONS@#The safety and efficacy of 8 frequently prescribed herbal formulas for treating CHD have been confirmed in many studies. The findings of these studies are positive but should be interpreted cautiously due to the poor methodological quality of the randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and meta-analyses. Additional high-quality, multi-center, large-sample RCTs should be performed to confirm these results.

Neural therapy approach in a hospitalized patient with acute stress disorder. case report

ABSTRACT Introduction: Acute stress disorder is a picture of rapid onset that follows a traumatic event. It is characterized by dissociative, intrusive, avoidance and activation symptoms that affect the quality of life of the patient. To date, there is no evidence of a relationship between altered organ function and this disorder, and there is no literature on its treatment with neural therapy on an inpatient basis. Case presentation: 53-year-old woman, who developed symptoms compatible with acute stress disorder after the resection of an intra-abdominal mass diagnosed as lymphoma. The patient was assessed by the neural therapy department, which applied procaine into specific skin zones -determined by the clinical history and physical examination-, with improvement of dissociated symptoms. Discussion: The neural therapy approach allowed identifying the relationship between the dissociative symptoms of the patient and the associated alteration in organ function, as well as applying a therapy that led to the resolution of the symptoms. Conclusions: The neural therapy approach allows for a comprehensive perspective and treatment of the patient, taking into account the close functional relationship between mind-emotions-body. This type of treatment also offers therapeutic strategies to hospitals, which can accompany the treatment established by other health specialists.

RESUMEN Introducción. El trastorno por estrés agudo es un cuadro de rápida instauración que se da luego de un evento traumático y se caracteriza por síntomas disociativos, intrusivos, de evitación y de activación que afectan la calidad de vida del paciente. A la fecha, no se ha evidenciado una relación causal orgánica de este trastorno y tampoco existe literatura sobre su intervención mediante terapia neural intrahospitalaria. Presentación del caso. Paciente femenino de 53 años quien desarrolló síntomas compatibles con un trastorno por estrés agudo posterior a la resección de una masa abdominal secundaria a un linfoma. La mujer fue valorada por el servicio de medicina neuralterapéutica, que intervino con procaína en sitios específicos de la piel -determinados por anamnesis y examen físico- con posterior mejoría de los síntomas disociativos. Discusión. El enfoque neuralterapeútico permitió, por un lado, identificar un vínculo entre los síntomas disociativos de la paciente y la alteración orgánica asociada, y, por el otro, hacer una intervención con la que se logró la resolución de tales síntomas. Conclusiones. La medicina neuralterapéutica ofrece estrategias de intervención a nivel hospitalario que pueden ir concomitantes al tratamiento instaurado por otras profesiones en el área de la salud ya que permite tener una perspectiva integral del paciente al considerar la estrecha relación funcional entre mente, emociones y cuerpo.

Diabetics’ Views Concerning the Safety and Efficacy of Herbal Medicines: A Qualitative Study

Introduction:Diabetics have been known as potential to consume herbal and dietary supplements (HDS) to control their diabetes. HDSare taken widely despite limited scientific evidence of their safety and efficacy.Methods:This qualitative study aimed to shed light on diabetic patients’ experiences and perceptions of HDS to identify any perceived benefit or harm.Results:The findings provided two main themes concerning patients’ experiences of HDS use: Perceived beneficial experiences and perceived harm experiences. Most patients indicated experiencing benefits from HDS use.Conclusion:It is essential to understand patients’ perceptions and appreciate their experiences in order to support them when choosing appropriate CAM treatments and avoid any harm resulting from their lack of knowledge or erroneous notions about such treatments. Many more pre-clinical and clinical studies are needed to examine the efficacy and safety of popular HDS.

Complementary and alternative medicine use by diabetic patients in rural Bengaluru

Background: Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use is common among patients with chronic diseases in developing countries. The rising use of CAM in the management of diabetes is an emerging public health concern given the potential adverse effects, drug interactions and benefits associated with its use. The main objective of this study is to determine the prevalence regarding complementary and alternative medicines among diabetic patients and to assess the perception and factors influencing use of complementary and alternative medicines among diabetic patients.Methods: A community based cross sectional study including diabetic subjects aged more than 18 years was conducted in the rural area of Bengaluru Expecting the prevalence of CAM use to be 67% as with Kumar et al, a minimum of 136 subjects were required to conduct study. Data from 150 diabetic subjects were collected during house to house visit in rural area by using a pre structured questionnaire. Diabetic subjects were randomly selected using multi stage random sampling method.Results: Most of the participants (80%) were aware of CAM and prevalence of CAM use was 54.6%. Significantly the use of CAM was more among females, literates, with diabetic complications and with family history of DM. The common source of information on CAM was friends (45.8%) and neighbors (25.8%). Desire for the quick and additional relief, low cost and easy availability was the prime factors influencing use of complementary and alternative medicines.Conclusions: The prevalence of CAM use among diabetic patients is high. Physicians need to understand CAM better and communicate more with patients.

A pilot, controlled, randomized trial of life logy as a new complementary and alternative medicine technique in patients with fibromyalgia syndrome

Background:Fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) is a complex disorder, with primary symptoms of pain and fatigue. No cure for FM yet exists and treatments have been largely disappointing. In most cases complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is used adjunctively to allopathic medicine. The present study aimed to evaluate the analgesic efficacy of sessions of life logy technique as well as patients’ physical and mental improvement on patients with fibromyalgia. Methods:Fibromyalgia patients were recruited from a private CAM center in Beirut, Lebanon from May to June 2017. Eighty patients were included and randomly assigned (1:1) to a treatment and a control groups. Each patient received 5 life logy sessions through 5 weeks and assessed by visual analogue scale, fibromyalgia impact questionnaire and SF-36 at sixth week, third and sixth months follow-up.Results:The mean visual analog score, functional impairment and quality of life and SF-32 (physical and mental) scores in treatment groups were significantly decreased for time intervals (p=0.003, 0.0034 and 0.003), (p=0.002, 0.001and 0.001), (p=0.003, 0.005 and 0.002) and (p=0.002, 0.001 and 0.004); respectively.Conclusions:This pilot study suggests that life logy techniqueis a promising,durable,non-invasive, outpatient and inexpensivetechnique with a considerable effect on reducing pain and improving life quality in fibromyalgia patients. Further studies on a larger number of patients are needed.