Complementary Medicine Research最新文献

Background: Chronic radiation-induced rectal injury (RRI), a complication of pelvic radiotherapy, with existing treatments often providing suboptimal symptom relief. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) retention enema therapy, leveraging localized anti-inflammatory and mucosal regenerative properties, offers a promising alternative. This trial aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Changrui Enema Powder (CEP), aiming to establish an evidence-based protocol for managing chronic RRI.

Patients and methods: This multicenter, randomized, triple-blinded controlled trial will enroll 180 participants (2:1 allocation) with grade 2 chronic RRI following pelvic radiotherapy. The experimental group will receive daily CEP enemas for 4 weeks plus a concurrent 1-week course of dexamethasone sodium phosphate (DEX) injection enemas, while the control group will receive an identical-appearing placebo enema for 4 weeks plus a concurrent 1-week course of DEX injection enema. Both interventions will be administered in a total enema volume of 100 mL. The primary outcome is the overall effective rate at 4 weeks, assessed using the LENT-SOMA scoring system. Secondary outcomes encompass TCM syndrome efficacy, the Vienna Rectoscopy Score, pain assessment, and quality of life.

Conclusion: This trial is the first study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of a standardized TCM retention enema formulation (CEP) as an add-on to a short-course standard corticosteroid regimen for chronic RRI. The findings are expected to provide an objective clinical basis for integrating TCM into the management of chronic RRI and may inform the development of relevant clinical guidelines.

Introduction: The aim of this study was to develop a psychometric measurement tool to assess beliefs regarding complementary and alternative medicine and to ensure its validity.

Methods: For the purpose of the study, sample of 735 people was reached between December 2023 and April 2024. During the scale development process, exploratory factor analysis was first conducted using packaged programs. The accuracy of structure determined by exploratory factor analysis was confirmed by confirmatory factor analysis.

Results: The scale comprises 6 subdimensions, including psychological, self-efficacy, perceived barriers, acceptance, perceived benefits, and spirituality, with a total of 37 items. The Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin (KMO) value of the developed Belief Scale for Complementary and Alternative Medicine was calculated as 0.925. The Bartlett's test result was significant (p = 0.000), indicating high correlations among variables.

Conclusion: The developed Belief Scale for Complementary and Alternative Medicine was found to be a reliable and valid scale with psychometric properties.

In the article by Kalbermatten and Saller entitled "St John's Wort (Hypericum perforatum) Fresh Plant Tincture for Patients with Mild to Moderate Depression: A Prospective Observational Study" [Complement Med Res. 2025;32:363-375; https://doi.org/10.1159/000547920], there is an error in Table 1. In the row for "C-SJW-ft (pp strict)", several values were incorrectly reported due to an extraneous "1" being added before the correct numbers and abbreviations. The correct values should be: "C-SJW-ft (pp strict)" (not "1C-SJW-ft"), 42 (not 142), 76% (not 176%), 24% (not 124%), 51 (not 151), 11.8 drops (not 111.8 drops), 49% (not 149%), and 50% (not 150%).The original article has been updated.

Introduction: This case report describes a 65-year-old female patient from Germany who developed clinically significant lead poisoning following the use of Ayurvedic herbal preparations provided by an unlicensed practitioner in a major German city.

Case presentation: Although the patient presented with nonspecific symptoms such as weight loss, fatigue, and gastrointestinal complaints - possible indicators of heavy metal toxicity - these warning signs were initially overlooked by the practitioner. It was only after a colleague at the same institute raised concerns that appropriate diagnostic investigations were initiated. Laboratory analyses revealed a markedly elevated blood lead level (BLL) of 574 µg/L, prompting hospitalization and initiation of chelation therapy with dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA). The patient responded well to DMSA therapy, with subsequent serum lead levels showing a marked decrease to 86 µg/L at a 10-months follow-up. She tolerated the treatment without significant adverse effects and is in good health, able to engage fully in both her personal and professional life. Despite this adverse experience with lead toxicity resulting from advice given by an unlicensed Ayurvedic practitioner, the patient remains interested in Ayurveda - now with a strong preference for treatment by qualified and licensed professionals.

Conclusion: This case underscores a key lesson: adverse outcomes in traditional medicine often result not from the therapeutic system itself but from its use outside of regulatory and ethical frameworks. It highlights the importance of seeking care from trained and licensed practitioners and emphasizes the necessity of sourcing botanical products only from rigorously tested, quality-controlled, and legally registered suppliers within the European Union or other places outside Ayurveda´s countries of origin. Using preparations following rasa-śāstra -practice is contraindicated in the EU because of possibly toxic doses of heavy metals.

Introduction: Tai Chi and Qigong (TCQ) are mind-body practices widely recognized for their psychological benefits; however, the underlying physiological mechanisms remain less clearly defined. Time-domain heart rate variability (HRV) indices, specifically standard deviation of normal-to-normal intervals (SDNN) and root mean square of successive differences (RMSSD), serve as valuable markers of autonomic function. This meta-analysis quantified the effects of TCQ on these HRV parameters and examined whether baseline autonomic function and intervention complexity influenced outcomes.

Methods: Following PRISMA 2020 guidelines and a registered protocol (PROSPERO CRD420251053398), randomized controlled and quasi-experimental studies comparing TCQ with control interventions in adults were systematically synthesized. Comprehensive searches were conducted in PubMed, Scopus, CINAHL Ultimate, and MEDLINE Ultimate databases from 2022 to 2025, with earlier studies identified through backward citation tracking. Eligible studies reported time-domain HRV outcomes with SDNN and RMSSD as the primary endpoints. The risk of bias was assessed using RoB 2 for randomized controlled trials and ROBINS-I for non-randomized studies. Random-effects meta-analyses were conducted to estimate Hedges' g with 95% confidence intervals. Pre-specified moderators included baseline autonomic function and intervention complexity.

Results: Fifteen studies met the inclusion criteria, all involving participants who were naïve to TCQ. Ten studies (N = 543) provided SDNN data, and pooled analyses showed a moderate improvement with TCQ (g = 0.47, 95% CI: [0.22, 0.72]; p < 0.001; I2 = 49%; τ2 = 0.078). Four studies (N = 212) reported RMSSD data, revealing a significant increase (g = 0.60, 95% CI: [0.21, 0.99]; p = 0.002; I2 = 49%; τ2 = 0.078). The risk of bias was generally assessed as having some concerns. Notably, baseline autonomic function significantly moderated treatment effects, with larger gains observed in participants exhibiting preserved baseline autonomic function (Q = 7.59, p = 0.014); however, intervention complexity did not significantly influence outcomes (Q = 0.02, p = 0.89).

Conclusion: TCQ was associated with moderate improvements in time-domain HRV (SDNN and RMSSD). The effects were larger at normal baseline HRV, and we found no evidence that intervention complexity modified the outcomes. The certainty of evidence is limited by the risk of bias, potential confounding, and heterogeneity. Low-complexity readiness-tailored routines may be appropriate for pilot prevention or adjunctive programs. Confirmation requires well-powered baseline-stratified trials, particularly in impaired cohorts.

Introduction: Diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs), among the most severe complications associated with diabetes, impose a substantial economic and public health burden due to their significant prevalence (15-25%). In India, the escalating incidence of DFUs has markedly increased the frequency of lower-limb amputations. This case sought to examine the potential wound healing efficacy of homeopathic medicines as part of an integrative approach to DFUs management, demonstrated through evidence-based case reports.

Case presentation: Patient presenting with DFU classified as Wagner grade 2 and with a 12-year history of diabetes were managed using individualized homeopathic treatment. Alongside homeopathic intervention, patients continued their prescribed oral hypoglycemic agents for glycemic control and adhered to routine wound-dressing protocols. DFU was monitored until complete healing using the Leg Ulcer Measurement Tool (LUMT). Neuropathic involvement was evaluated via the 10 g monofilament tactile test, while the Modified Naranjo Criteria for Homeopathy Inventory (MONARCH) tool was employed to determine the probability of a causal relationship between the observed clinical improvement and the homeopathic treatment. Within 12 weeks, the DFU demonstrated notable healing, reflected in a significant reduction in LUMT scores. The MONARCH tool assessment yielded a score of +8, strongly suggesting a causal link between the observed therapeutic outcomes and the homeopathic intervention. The homeopathic remedies administered were found to contribute effectively to the patient's recovery.

Conclusion: Adjuvant Homeopathic treatment appeared to play a supportive role in expediting the healing process of DFU within a clinically acceptable timeframe.

Background: Cognitive impairment is one of the long COVID symptoms that many people experience after Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). Many individuals report a decline in cognitive functions, such as reduced memory and brain fog. These symptoms not only directly affect the cognitive functions of the brain but also hinder daily living activities, thereby reducing the quality of life. Moreover, these symptoms are significant risk factors for long-term cognitive decline in the elderly and can have both short-term and long-term effects on brain function. Clinically, acupuncture is widely used to improve cognitive impairment in the elderly. Elucidating the brain network mechanisms underlying acupuncture therapy for long COVID-related cognitive impairment represents an urgently needed research focus. In this study, we employed acupuncture as an intervention to mitigate cognitive decline in long COVID patients and investigate the potential mechanisms by which acupuncture alleviates cognitive impairment. Methods: In this randomized controlled trial, 60 eligible participants are planned to be recruited and randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to the acupuncture group and the health education group, which will then receive acupuncture treatment and health education. The acupuncture group will participate in treatment three times per week for a total of 8 weeks. The health education group will receive health education once per week for a total of 8 weeks. The primary assessment index was the Montreal Cognitive Assessment Scale (MoCA), and the secondary assessment indexes included Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR), Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Activity of Daily Living Scale (ADL), Auditory Verbal Learning Test-Huashan Version (AVLT-H), and resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging data. These assessment indicators were all tested in 1 week each before and after the intervention was implemented. Discussion: This trial aims to investigate the therapeutic effects of acupuncture on cognitive impairment in patients with long COVID and to further explore the imaging mechanisms by which acupuncture alleviates cognitive dysfunction in these patients.

Hintergrund: Standardisierte Ginkgo-biloba-Extrakte werden häufig zur Behandlung von Demenz, Tinnitus, Schwindel und peripherer arterieller Verschlusskrankheit eingesetzt. Darüber hinaus gibt es zahlreiche Off-Label-Anwendungen. Zusammenfassung: Ginkgo-biloba-Extrakte weisen antioxidative, neuroprotektive und durchblutungsfördernde Eigenschaften auf. Studien deuten darauf hin, dass sie positive Effekte auf die kognitive Leistungsfähigkeit, die Stresshormonregulation und die Endothelfunktion haben. Erforscht wird ihre potenzielle Rolle bei Stressbewältigung, Angststörung, unipolarer Depression, Schlafstörungen, Herz-Kreislauf-Erkrankungen, Augenerkrankungen und erektiler Dysfunktion. Kernaussagen: Ginkgo-biloba-Extrakte könnten über ihre antioxidativen und neuroprotektiven Effekte therapeutische Vorteile bei Off-Label-Anwendungen bieten. Die vielversprechenden Ergebnisse klinischer Studien deuten auf eine potenzielle Wirksamkeit bei psychischen und kardiovaskulären Erkrankungen, Augenerkrankungen und erektiler Dysfunktion hin. Weitere randomisierte, kontrollierte Studien sind erforderlich, um die langfristige Sicherheit und Wirksamkeit in diesen Off-Label-Indikationen zu bestätigen.

Introduction: Asthma is a chronic respiratory disease with potential side effects from conventional treatments. This study analyzed research trends and collaborations in acupuncture as a complementary therapy for asthma.

Methods: A literature search was conducted in the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC) for English-language publications on acupuncture and asthma from 1975 to 2024. Data on publication counts, citations, authors, institutions, countries, and journals were collected. Bibliometric indicators were computed using Microsoft Excel, with visualization tools like VOSviewer, CiteSpace, and R packages including bibliometrix.

Results: An analysis of 247 publications from 1,201 researchers across 909 institutions in 41 countries was conducted, prominently featuring work from China Medical University Taiwan and the University of California Los Angeles. China led with 83 articles, followed by the USA and Germany. Notable authors included Benno Brinkhaus and Wei Ying. Influential journals such as the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine and Acupuncture in Medicine highlighted their pivotal roles in clinical acupuncture research. The journal Allergy attained the highest citation impact. The predominant keywords were "asthma," "acupuncture," and "prevalence," reflecting the increasing studies on acupuncture's mechanisms and its integration with conventional treatments.

Conclusion: This analysis emphasizes the growing global interest in acupuncture for asthma and the need for further research on its mechanisms.