Complementary therapies in medicine最新文献

{"title":"Comparison of the effects of Echium amoenum and Melissa officinalis on hypertension in stage 1 hypertensive patients: A randomized, triple-blind, three-arm clinical trial","authors":"Melika Jafari Dehnayebi ,&nbsp;Pouya Zeidy ,&nbsp;Soheila Shamsikhani ,&nbsp;Mehdi Salehi ,&nbsp;Mehdi Safarabadi","doi":"10.1016/j.ctim.2025.103266","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ctim.2025.103266","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Hypertension is one of the most prevalent chronic diseases worldwide, and stage 1 hypertension provides a critical window for implementing non-pharmacological interventions. Herbal remedies such as Melissa officinalis and Echium amoenum have shown promising effects on cardiovascular health.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>In this randomized, triple-blind clinical trial, 105 patients with stage 1 hypertension were randomly assigned to three groups: Melissa officinalis (n = 35), Echium amoenum (n = 35), and control (n = 35). Participants received 10 mL of the assigned extract or placebo daily for four weeks. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure were measured weekly. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 26. The Shapiro-Wilk test indicated that the distribution of blood pressure values was not normal (p &lt; 0.05); therefore, non-parametric tests were used</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Significant within-group reductions in both SBP and DBP were observed in the Melissa officinalis and Echium amoenum groups (p &lt; 0.001). The Melissa officinalis group had the greatest decrease in SBP (8 mmHg) and DBP (4 mmHg). Between-group comparisons showed significant differences favoring Melissa officinalis over both other groups at weeks 2, 3, and 4 (p &lt; 0.001).</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Both Melissa officinalis and Echium amoenum effectively reduced blood pressure in patients with stage 1 hypertension, with Melissa officinalis demonstrating superior efficacy. These findings support the use of Melissa officinalis as a complementary treatment for hypertension management.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":10545,"journal":{"name":"Complementary therapies in medicine","volume":"95 ","pages":"Article 103266"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-10-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145307197","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Impact of ginger supplementation on obesity indices and Adipokine profiles in adults: A GRADE-based systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials","authors":"Shrin Rjabi ,&nbsp;Seyed Sina Seyedhatami ,&nbsp;Maede Makhtoomi ,&nbsp;Mohammad Reza Ahmadi ,&nbsp;Saeede Alimohamadi ,&nbsp;Ehsan Aliabadi ,&nbsp;Soroush Talakesh ,&nbsp;Mehran Nouri ,&nbsp;Behzad Zamani ,&nbsp;Moein Askarpour","doi":"10.1016/j.ctim.2025.103260","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ctim.2025.103260","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Overweight and obesity are major health concerns. The impact of ginger on weight has been studied. In the present systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis we aim to sum up the findings from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on the effect of ginger on various weight measurements/indices.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Several databases (PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science Core Collection, and Google Scholar) were comprehensively searched. Relevant studies were selected using defined criteria. Outcomes included: body weight (BW), body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), body fat percentage (BFP), adiponectin and leptin. Weighted mean difference (WMD) and confidence interval (CI) were reported. Subgroup analysis was carried out. Linear and non-linear associations, based on dosage and duration of interventions, were investigated.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Thirty-six RCTs were included. Ginger supplementation significantly improved WC (WMD: −0.65 cm, 95 % CI: −1.07, −0.24), BFP (WMD: −1.49 %, 95 % CI: −2.65, −0.32), and serum adiponectin levels (WMD = 0.84 μg/mL; 95 % CI: 0.01). Other measurements were not improved by the intervention. An inverse, linear association was found between the duration of intervention and changes in BW (BW: coefficient = -0.471, P = 0.001). Also, a non-linear direct association was observed between ginger dosages and WC (P-nonlinearity = 0.023).</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Ginger supplementation does not seem effective in improving major measurements/indices of weight, including body weight and BMI. However, ameliorations in other measurements of local adiposity, findings from subgroup analyses, and investigations of linear and non-linear association on dosage and duration, indicate that further studies with longer intervention periods are needed to make a conclusive decision.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":10545,"journal":{"name":"Complementary therapies in medicine","volume":"94 ","pages":"Article 103260"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-10-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145307186","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A narrative review of aromatherapy: Mechanisms and clinical value in physiological and psychological regulation","authors":"Ling Men ,&nbsp;Ling-Ling Liang ,&nbsp;Shang-Wei Wu ,&nbsp;Yi Sun ,&nbsp;Hao Liu ,&nbsp;Qiang Mi ,&nbsp;Maryam Mazhar ,&nbsp;Gang Luo ,&nbsp;Qiu-Yu Liu ,&nbsp;Meng-Nan Liu","doi":"10.1016/j.ctim.2025.103261","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ctim.2025.103261","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objective</h3><div>This narrative review comprehensively explores the physiological mechanisms, psychological effects, and theoretical hypotheses of aromatherapy, along with its applications in clinical practice.</div></div><div><h3>Background</h3><div>Aromatherapy, utilizing plant-derived essential oils, is a significant component of complementary medicine widely implemented in clinical practice. Recent research advancements demonstrate its regulatory effects physiologically and psychologically, showing clinical potential for nervous, circulatory, and immune systems.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Searches were conducted in the China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), PubMed, and Web of Science databases to identify relevant studies published in recent years. Based on the retrieved literature, the biological effects of aromatherapy on the nervous, circulatory, and immune systems are summarized in this review.</div></div><div><h3>Discussion</h3><div>From a physiological perspective, olfactory molecules can enter the bloodstream either through the olfactory system or via transdermal absorption, subsequently modulating the immune system. They have been shown to inhibit the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines, enhance the expression of anti-inflammatory factors, scavenge free radicals, reduce cellular oxidative stress, and mitigate systemic inflammatory responses. Regarding psychological effects, aromatherapy modulates the secretion of neurotransmitters such as gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), thereby alleviating anxiety. Additionally, it influences emotional states and cognitive functions by stimulating the olfactory system, which interacts with the limbic system and brain regions involved in emotional processing. Specific essential oils like lavender demonstrate substantial evidence for analgesic and anxiolytic effects, while Rosmarinus officinalis shows efficacy in enhancing cognitive function. The review particularly focuses on its mechanisms and clinical applications in pain relief, anti-inflammatory activity, antioxidative properties, antidepressant and anxiolytic effects, and adjunctive care.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Future research should prioritize elucidating mechanisms of action, bioavailability, and long-term safety to fully uncover its therapeutic potential.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":10545,"journal":{"name":"Complementary therapies in medicine","volume":"94 ","pages":"Article 103261"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-10-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145307170","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effectiveness of 10.6-μm laser therapy for diabetic peripheral neuropathy: A double-blind, randomized controlled trial","authors":"Yue Yin ,&nbsp;Zouqin Huang ,&nbsp;Yuxia Li ,&nbsp;Yi Chen ,&nbsp;Ke Cheng ,&nbsp;Haiping Deng ,&nbsp;Weibo Lv ,&nbsp;Yan Wang ,&nbsp;Xueyong Shen ,&nbsp;Ling Zhao ,&nbsp;Lin Lin","doi":"10.1016/j.ctim.2025.103259","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ctim.2025.103259","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objective</h3><div>To observe the clinical effects of 10.6-μm laser moxibustion (LM) on diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) and quality of life in patients.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Sixty-eight patients with DPN were randomly assigned to two groups in a 1:1 ratio and received LM or sham LM 3 times/week for a total of 12 treatments. Outcome parameters were assessed at baseline, at Weeks 2 and 4 of treatment, and at 4 and 8 weeks post-treatment (Weeks 8 and 12) using Michigan Neuropathy Screening Instrument (MNSI) and Diabetes-Specific Quality of Life (DSQL) scores, nerve conduction velocity (NCV), and blood rheology parameters.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Most (58/68) patients completed the trial. MNSI scores were significantly lower at every time point (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.01), and DSQL scores were significantly lower at Weeks 4, 8, and 12 (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.001), compared with baseline in both groups. The LM group had lower MNSI scores at Week 4 (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.05), and lower DSQL scores at Weeks 4, 8, and 12 (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.05) compared with the sham LM group. At Week 4, there was no significant between-group difference in NCV (<em>P</em> &gt; 0.05). Post-treatment, there were no significant differences in blood rheology parameters compared with baseline within each group (<em>P</em> &gt; 0.05). Whole blood high-shear reductive viscosity and red blood cell rigidity index were significantly lower in the LM group than in the sham LM group (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.01). No serious adverse events were recorded.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Treatment with 10.6-μm LM improved clinical symptoms and quality of life in patients with DPN.</div></div><div><h3>Clinical Trial Registration</h3><div>Chinese Clinical Trial Registry, ChiCTR2000029329. Registered 25 January 2020, <span><span>https://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.html?proj=48490</span><svg><path></path></svg></span></div></div>","PeriodicalId":10545,"journal":{"name":"Complementary therapies in medicine","volume":"95 ","pages":"Article 103259"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-10-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145299007","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Short-term effects of arm baths on blood pressure in participants with arterial hypertension - a randomized crossover study","authors":"Elisabeth Reiter ,&nbsp;Roman Huber","doi":"10.1016/j.ctim.2025.103257","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ctim.2025.103257","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Hypertension is the predominant risk factor for premature cardiovascular disease, and contributes to heart failure, chronic kidney disease, and stroke. As of recently, scientists began to systematically investigate the vast physiological potential of hydrotherapy in individuals with cardiovascular disease. Hot baths in particular have been shown to transiently reduce arterial stiffness and to exert vasodilatory effects. Potentially beneficial in patients with uncontrolled hypertension, hot arm baths (HAB) have rarely been put to the test in randomized-controlled trials.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Based on the hypothesis that HAB may exert short-term blood pressure-lowering effects, a monocentric, randomized-controlled pilot study was performed in participants with arterial hypertension. In a crossover design, participants received a HAB with a temperature of 45 °C and a thermoneutral arm bath (TAB) with a temperature of 28 °C for five minutes each, with a post-interventional observation period of 90 min. Effects on systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) as well as on heart rate (HR) and hand and foot temperature (HT, FT) were measured in close intervals (after 1, 5, 10, 15, 30, 60 and 90 min). The washout period between both interventions was seven days.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>54 participants with uncontrolled hypertension were included to the study, of which four participants had to be excluded from the analysis because they did not show up for the second intervention. The mean age of the remaining 50 participants in group A und in group B were 61 and 62 years, respectively. The participants in both groups were slightly overweight (group A: BMI 25.2 kg/m², group B: BMI 27.1 kg/m²). The majority of participants in both groups took antihypertensive medication. Analysis revealed no carry-over effect. The analyses of treatment effects showed a significant decrease from baseline of DBP 5, 10 and 15 min after the HAB in comparison with the TAB. In addition, we found statistically significant differences of the two interventions in the changes from baseline of the HR after 1 and 5 min and HT after 1, 5, 10, 15 and 30. No major side effects were reported.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>HAB could be used as rapid-acting add-on tool in conjunction with pharmacotherapy to manage uncontrolled hypertension in various contexts at home.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":10545,"journal":{"name":"Complementary therapies in medicine","volume":"94 ","pages":"Article 103257"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-10-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145298412","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Acupuncture with micro-needle for dry eye disease: A study protocol for a randomized, sham-controlled, clinical trial","authors":"Monica Sun ,&nbsp;Guancheng Li ,&nbsp;Shifen Xu ,&nbsp;Xuan Yin ,&nbsp;Shanshan Li ,&nbsp;Xiang Li ,&nbsp;Jiali Liu ,&nbsp;Baojun Liu","doi":"10.1016/j.ctim.2025.103265","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ctim.2025.103265","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Introduction&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;Dry Eye Disease (DED) is a prevalent and significant condition that affects a large number of people. Artificial tears can alleviate the symptoms in patients with mild to moderate dry eyes, but they do not have a long-term effect. Micro-needle is a novel type of acupuncture, with needle tips arrayed on a silicon chip attached to medical plaster, without penetrating the skin. Its effectiveness and efficacy need to be proven clinically.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Methods and analysis&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;This is a single-center, randomized, sham-controlled trial. In total, 129 DED patients will be recruited and randomized into three groups: micro-needle, sham, and artificial tears. They will receive four weeks of treatment and undergo follow-up at six and ten weeks. The primary outcome is measured by the Objective Symptoms Scoring Sheet (OSSS). Secondary outcomes include the China Dry Eye Questionnaire (CDEQ), Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI), non-invasive tear film break-up time (NIBUT), Schirmer Test I (SIT), Tear Meniscus Height (TMH), and Corneal Fluorescein Staining (CFS).&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Questionnaires, including OSSS, CDEQ, and OSDI, will be administered at screening, at the end of week two, and at the conclusion of week four, when treatment is completed. They will also be conducted at follow-up in week six and week ten; OSSS will be taken additionally on day two of the treatment.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Tests of Intraocular Pressure (IOP), Best Corrected Visual Acuity (BCVA), NIBUT, SIT 1, TMH, and CFS are conducted at screening and upon completion of treatment. At week two, NIBUT, SIT 1, TMH, and CFS tests are taken as intermittent measurements.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Ethics and dissemination&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;The trial protocol and informed consent document were reviewed and approved by the Ethics Committee of the Shanghai Municipal Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine (Approval Number: 2023SHL-KY-101–01). Prior to enrollment, each potential participant undergoes a structured informed consent process conducted by a trained research coordinator, which includes explaining the trial purpose, design, interventions, benefits, risks, and time commitments; providing sufficient time for participants to review the plain-language written informed consent document; addressing all questions to ensure comprehension; and obtaining signed written consent, with a copy provided to the participant and the original stored in the trial file. To safeguard participant confidentiality, all data are labeled with a unique study ID instead of personal identifiers; paper records are stored in locked cabinets in a restricted-access office, and electronic data are stored on password-protected, encrypted servers accessible only to authorized team members via unique logins; de-identified data are used solely for analysis and reporting, with personal identifiers accessible only to the trial coordinator for enrollment and follow-up and never shared with other parties; and study findi","PeriodicalId":10545,"journal":{"name":"Complementary therapies in medicine","volume":"95 ","pages":"Article 103265"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-10-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145299048","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"AI-assisted drawing therapy for children with ADHD: A randomised controlled trial","authors":"Jing Xu ,&nbsp;Runqing Lin ,&nbsp;Aijia Zhang ,&nbsp;Qiang Chen ,&nbsp;Dexin Li ,&nbsp;Jiajie Chen ,&nbsp;Minglu Song ,&nbsp;Shumei Chen ,&nbsp;Bingjiao Yang ,&nbsp;Linyang Li ,&nbsp;Haotian Xu ,&nbsp;Jinlin Peng ,&nbsp;Yanrong Tang ,&nbsp;Wenhua Yang ,&nbsp;Xuexing Luo ,&nbsp;Xiang Zhou ,&nbsp;Jue Wang ,&nbsp;Guanghui Huang","doi":"10.1016/j.ctim.2025.103262","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ctim.2025.103262","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objective</h3><div>This randomized controlled trial evaluated the efficacy of AI-assisted drawing therapy for children with ADHD, comparing its impact on core symptoms and functional impairments against traditional drawing interventions while assessing engagement and the rapeuticoutcomes.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Forty-one children (ages 7–10) with ADHD were randomized into AI-assisted (n = 19) or traditional drawing therapy (n = 22) groups (Trial registered in ChiCTR: ChiCTR2400089640). The AI intervention employed a process that captured children's drawings, converted them into keywords, generated AI responses based on those keywords, and provided feedback to the children, while the control group received therapist-guided verbal feedback. SNAP-IV-26(Swanson, Nolan and Pelham-IV rating scales) and WFIRS-P(Weiss Functional Impairment Rating Scales-Parent) scales assessed at baseline (T1) and post-intervention (T2) at a 24-week interval, with data analyzed using independent t-tests (p &lt; 0.05).</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Both AI-assisted and traditional drawing therapies significantly reduced core ADHD symptoms. In the before-and-after comparison within the group, the AI group showed targeted improvements in attention (p = 0.039) and oppositional defiant behaviour (p = 0.025), while traditional therapy produced broader symptom reductions across all domains (p &lt; 0.05). Between-group comparisons showed that the AI-assisted group achieved greater improvement in inattention (Δ = −1.09, p = 0.035), whereas the traditional drawing group improved more on oppositional defiant behavior (Δ=+1.706, p = 0.010) and the SNAP-IV total score (Δ=+4.777, p = 0.041). On the WFIRS-P, the AI group showed advantages for the Family domain (p = 0.041) and the total score (p = 0.047), while Self-Concept favored the traditional drawing group (p = 0.036).</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>AI-assisted, drawing-based art therapy produced greater improvement in the pre-specified primary outcome (SNAP-IV inattention) and select WFIRS-P domains (e.g., Family, total score), whereas conventional drawing therapy yielded broader reductions in oppositional defiant symptoms and the overall SNAP-IV severity. Effects were modest and domain-specific; larger, multi-center trials are needed to confirm efficacy and identify which children benefit most.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":10545,"journal":{"name":"Complementary therapies in medicine","volume":"94 ","pages":"Article 103262"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-10-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145298973","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Auricular electro-acupuncture for smoking cravings in young smokers with nicotine dependence: A pilot fMRI study","authors":"Ying-Ying Zhang ,&nbsp;Yi-Jie Liu ,&nbsp;Yuan Wang ,&nbsp;Shi-Bing Liang ,&nbsp;Tao Yin ,&nbsp;Yun-Song Zheng ,&nbsp;Jian-Ping Liu ,&nbsp;Nicola Robinson ,&nbsp;Hai-Fa Qiao","doi":"10.1016/j.ctim.2025.103264","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ctim.2025.103264","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>This pilot study aims to evaluate the efficacy of auricular electro-acupuncture (AEA) for smoking cravings induced by quitting in young smokers and to investigate the underlying neural mechanism using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI).</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>We recruited 16 young participants with nicotine dependence (ND) and 15 matched healthy non-smoking controls (HCs). ND participants were treated with AEA for 4 weeks, and underwent brain fMRI scanning following 24-hour abstinence, 20 min of smoking satisfaction, after 1 week, and 4 weeks of AEA treatment. HCs underwent a single fMRI scanning. Fractional Amplitude of Low-Frequency Fluctuations (fALFF) was assessed.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Compared with HCs, fALFF values in ND participants following 24-hour abstinence decreased in the bilateral anterior cerebellar lobes (ACL), anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) and central tegmental area (CTA) /insula (<em>P &lt; 0.05</em>). However, after 20 min of smoking satisfaction, fALFF values for ACC and bilateral ACL significantly increased (<em>P &lt; 0.05</em>). Compared to 24-hour abstinence, the fALFF value of ACC and cerebellum in ND group significantly increased after 4 weeks of AEA treatment <em>(P &lt; 0.05</em>). Compared to baseline, both smoking cravings (<em>t = 3.87, P &lt; 0.01</em>) and nicotine dependence levels (<em>t = 3.83, P &lt; 0.01</em>) showed significant reductions after 4 weeks of AEA treatment.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>The results of this pilot study indicate that AEA may be effective in suppressing smoking cravings and alleviating nicotine dependence. ACC, cerebellum, CTA, and insula may be involved in modulating smoking cravings. AEA may inhibit cravings through regulating the functional activity of ACC and cerebellum.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":10545,"journal":{"name":"Complementary therapies in medicine","volume":"95 ","pages":"Article 103264"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-10-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145299046","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Evaluating the efficacy and safety of Curcuma longa, Boswellia serrata, and their mixed formulation in treating knee osteoarthritis: A systematic review and network meta-analysis","authors":"Chanya Inprasit ,&nbsp;Siriwadee Bunyamahote ,&nbsp;Kansak Boonpattharatthiti ,&nbsp;Phiyanuch Thimkorn ,&nbsp;Suwipa Intakhiao ,&nbsp;Teerapon Dhippayom","doi":"10.1016/j.ctim.2025.103256","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ctim.2025.103256","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Herbal interventions such as <em>Curcuma longa</em> (CL) and <em>Boswellia serrata</em> (BS) have demonstrated efficacy and safety in managing knee osteoarthritis (KOA); however, the effects of their combined formulation, including both direct and indirect outcomes, remain insufficiently explored. We performed systematic review and network meta-analysis for clinical effects of CL, BS, and their mixed formulation in alleviating KOA symptoms.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>The CENTRAL, PubMed, EMBASE, and EBSCO Open Dissertations, databases and also from Snowballing and citation searching were searched through March 2025. The randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that studied effectiveness of CL or BS in KOA participants using Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and KOA severity by the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index (WOMAC), and adverse events as the main outcomes, were eligibly included. The Cochrane Risk of Bias a random-effects model, standardized mean differences (SMDs) along with 95 % confidence intervals (CIs) were employed.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>In total, 20 RCTs comprising 1633 participants were included. The modified formulations of CL showed a significant reduction in VAS compared to placebo (SMD: −2.82; 95 %CI: −5.30 to −0.33), while the modified formulations of BS demonstrated significant improvement in WOMAC pain, stiffness, and knee function compared to other intervention groups. No significant differences in adverse events were observed among all comparisons.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>BS extract, particularly in modified formulations, improves joint function in patients with mild to moderate KOA, while only the modified formulation of CL demonstrates notable pain-reducing efficacy. The potential benefits of combined CL and BS preparations warrant further investigation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":10545,"journal":{"name":"Complementary therapies in medicine","volume":"96 ","pages":"Article 103256"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-10-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145285670","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effectiveness of massage therapy for constipation in children with cerebral palsy: A systematic review and meta-analysis","authors":"Mengqi Li ,&nbsp;Guorui Ding ,&nbsp;Ruobing Lan ,&nbsp;Yu Li ,&nbsp;Shuying Guan ,&nbsp;Xiaolei Lu ,&nbsp;Yuxing Zhang ,&nbsp;Duo Zhao","doi":"10.1016/j.ctim.2025.103254","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ctim.2025.103254","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Constipation affects 75 % of children with cerebral palsy (CP). While massage is a safe non-invasive intervention, its clinical adoption remains limited due to insufficient evidence of its efficacy.</div></div><div><h3>Objective</h3><div>To evaluate the efficacy and safety of massage for CP-related constipation through meta-analysis.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, we searched seven databases for randomised controlled trials (RCTs) on pediatric CP-related constipation treated with massage. Eligible RCTs underwent Cochrane risk-of-bias assessment. Meta-analysis using Stata evaluated the overall efficacy, defecation parameters, and heterogeneity sources.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>A total of 11 RCTs involving 728 patients were included. The results of the meta-analysis showed that, compared with traditional therapy alone, massage was more effective in treating constipation in children with CP. This difference was statistically significant (<em>p &lt; 0.05</em>), as evaluated by the overall effective rate (RR, Relative Risk = 1.23; 95 % CI, 95 % Confidence Interval = 1.14, 1.33), defecation frequency (MD, Mean Difference = 1.57; 95 % CI = 0.40, 2.75), defecation time (MD = -3.23; 95 % CI = -3.82, -2.64), and stool form score (SMD, Standardized Mean Difference = 0.66; 95 % CI = 0.39, 0.94), confirming the superior efficacy of massage over conventional therapy. However, both interventions showed comparable effects on defecation difficulty (<em>p &gt; 0.05</em>). The baseline patient characteristics, duration and techniques of the massage, and efficacy of the control group intervention may be the sources of heterogeneity.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Massage therapy improves constipation symptoms in children with CP. These results require validation through larger, high-quality RCTs given the sample size limitations of the current study.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":10545,"journal":{"name":"Complementary therapies in medicine","volume":"94 ","pages":"Article 103254"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-10-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145250174","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}