European Journal of Integrative Medicine最新文献

{"title":"The efficacy and safety of Shensong Yangxin capsule combination therapy in chronic heart failure combined with atrial fibrillation: A systematic review and meta-analysis","authors":"Heng Sun ,&nbsp;Zuoying Xing ,&nbsp;Genhao Fan ,&nbsp;Jinyu Huang ,&nbsp;Yucai Hu ,&nbsp;Boyong Qiu ,&nbsp;Yankun Song ,&nbsp;Yongxia Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.eujim.2025.102590","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.eujim.2025.102590","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Introduction</h3><div>In recent years, ShenSong YangXin capsule (SSYX) has gained widespread application in China as an adjunctive therapy for patients with chronic heart failure combined with atrial fibrillation (CHF-AF). However, its efficacy and safety profile remain subject to debate, and there is a notable lack of relevant systematic reviews and meta-analyses on this topic.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>A comprehensive search was conducted across seven databases up to August 25, 2025, identifying eligible randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Meta-analysis, subgroup analysis, and sensitivity analysis were performed using RevMan 5.4 and Stata 15.1. The Risk of Bias 2.0 tool was used to evaluate study quality, and publication bias was assessed with Egger’s test in Stata. Trial sequential analysis and the GRADE framework were utilized to assess the cumulative evidence and certainty of outcomes. The study protocol was prospectively registered with PROSPERO (CRD42023482018).</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>The meta-analysis included 17 RCTs comprising a total of 1756 patients from China. Results indicated that SSYX combined with conventional medication significantly improved clinical efficacy in patients with CHF-AF [RR 1.18 (95 % CI 1.11, 1.25), <em>p</em> &lt; 0.00001] and reduced the incidence of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) [RR 0.31 (95 % CI 0.23, 0.41), <em>p</em> &lt; 0.00001]. Statistically significant improvements were also observed in the following outcomes: B-type natriuretic peptide, N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide, left ventricular ejection fraction, left ventricular end-diastolic diameter, left ventricular end-systolic diameter, QT dispersion (QTd), ventricular rate, and AF duration. Adverse reactions were reported in 11 trials. According to the GRADE framework, one outcome (MACE) was supported by moderate-certainty evidence, three outcomes (clinical efficacy, QTd, and ventricular rate) were graded as low-certainty, and the remaining six outcomes were assessed as having very low-certainty evidence.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>The combination therapy incorporating SSYX showed potential benefits compared to conventional treatment alone in patients with CHF-AF. However, the overall certainty of evidence is limited. Therefore, these findings require careful interpretation and further large-scale, rigorously designed RCTs are warranted to provide more robust evidence regarding the efficacy and safety of SSYX.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11932,"journal":{"name":"European Journal of Integrative Medicine","volume":"81 ","pages":"Article 102590"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145733034","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Modified Saengmaeksan (Shengmai-san) for arterial stiffness in middle-aged women: A feasibility study","authors":"Nahyun Cho ,&nbsp;Jungah Uhm ,&nbsp;Changsop Yang ,&nbsp;Hiroshi Miyashita ,&nbsp;Hobin Moon ,&nbsp;Jungtae Leem","doi":"10.1016/j.eujim.2025.102581","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.eujim.2025.102581","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Introduction</h3><div>Aging causes significant vascular alterations, increasing susceptibility to arterial stiffness and cardiovascular diseases. Interest in complementary and alternative medicines, such as modified Saengmaeksan (mSMS), a traditional East Asian herbal formulation, has intensified given its benefits in mitigating arterial stiffness. However, robust clinical evidence supporting it's efficacy remains limited. This feasibility study aimed to explore the applicability, safety, and potential short-term effects of mSMS on pulse wave indices associated with arterial stiffness in a real-world clinical setting.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>This prospective single-arm feasibility study enrolled 30 patients aged 19–75 years who underwent mSMS for 4 weeks. The second-derivative photoplethysmography (SDPTG), heart rate variability, augmentation index, and blood pressure-related indices were measured at baseline, after 2 weeks, and after 4 weeks of treatment. The body mass index, Measure Yourself Medical Outcome Profile, and Patient Global Impression of Change scores were also obtained. Blood tests were conducted to assess the safety profile of mSMS.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>High adherence (mean intake of 94.4 %) and full data completeness were achieved. After 4 weeks of mSMS treatment, exploratory analyses showed significant improvements in SDPTG vascular age (mean change: −15.90 years, <em>p</em> &lt; 0.001) and augmentation index (<em>p</em> &lt; 0.01), with no serious adverse events. Patient-reported outcomes also showed improvement. The study suggests that mSMS may have the potential to improve vascular function and could offer benefits in middle-aged women, potentially independent of menopausal status.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>mSMS administration was feasible and well-tolerated in middle-aged women in a clinical setting. However, due to the single-arm design and small sample size, definitive conclusions cannot be drawn. These results support the need for larger, controlled clinical trials to further evaluate the clinical efficacy and target population of mSMS in preventing cardiovascular problems.</div></div><div><h3>Registration</h3><div>Public Institutional Review Board Designated by the Ministry of Health and Welfare (authorization number: P01–201,711–21–020). Research Information Service of South Korea (KCT0002648).</div></div><div><h3>Funding</h3><div>the National Development Institute of Korean Medicine, funded by the Ministry of Health and Welfare, Republic of Korea [grant number HI16C0275]; the National Research Foundation of Korea, funded by the Korea government [grant number RS-2022-NR072366]; the Korea Health Technology Project through the Korea Health Industry Development Institute, funded by the Ministry of Health and Welfare, Republic of Korea [grant numbers RS-2023-KH139333, RS-2023-KH139598].</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11932,"journal":{"name":"European Journal of Integrative Medicine","volume":"81 ","pages":"Article 102581"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145536860","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The effectiveness and safety of GeloMyrtol® forte in the treatment of acute and chronic bronchitis: A rapid review of clinical studies","authors":"Mohsen Sobh ,&nbsp;Mohammad Oli Al Islam ,&nbsp;Katrin Vagedes ,&nbsp;Rolf Heine ,&nbsp;Thomas Breitkreuz ,&nbsp;Henrik Szőke ,&nbsp;Holger Cramer ,&nbsp;Jan Vagedes","doi":"10.1016/j.eujim.2025.102594","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.eujim.2025.102594","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Introduction</h3><div>Bronchitis is a global health burden characterized by symptoms such as cough, sputum production, and respiratory distress. Although the efficacy of GeloMyrtol forte, an herbal product, in treating bronchitis has been evaluated in clinical trials, no reviews have yet been conducted.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>This rapid review included the systematic search of PubMed, Cochrane, CINAHL, and CAMbase from inception to February 2025 for clinical trials that investigated the efficacy of GeloMyrtol forte in treating acute or chronic bronchitis. Two independent reviewers screened the resulting papers for eligibility criteria and extracted the relevant data for data synthesis. The risk of bias in the included randomized controlled trials was assessed using the Revised Cochrane Risk-of-Bias tool (RoB-2).</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>The systematic search in four databases yielded 28 papers, four of which met the inclusion criteria. These four studies included 1846 patients (511 children) with acute (three studies) or chronic (one study) bronchitis. GeloMyrtol forte reduced cough exacerbations and the need for antibiotics, improved respiratory function and sputum consistency, and led to a statistically significant reduction in symptom duration compared to placebo. Side effects were rare, mainly affecting the gastrointestinal tract, and resolved spontaneously. No study examined the effects of GeloMyrtol forte in pregnancy or lactation.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Oral administration of GeloMyrtol forte reduces the intensity and frequency of the signs and symptoms associated with bronchitis, provided that there is no severe infection and no underlying chronic disease.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11932,"journal":{"name":"European Journal of Integrative Medicine","volume":"81 ","pages":"Article 102594"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145733032","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Evidence-based ranking of herbal medicines for hypertension management: A systematic review and network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials","authors":"Alireza Malektojari ,&nbsp;Parsa Ghaedzade Khamiri ,&nbsp;Fatemeh Bagheri ,&nbsp;Najmeh Baniasadi ,&nbsp;Laya Khajooei ,&nbsp;Mahdieh Roohi ,&nbsp;Mojgan Bolandparva ,&nbsp;Atena Ghorbani ,&nbsp;Mohammad Mehdi Noormohammadi ,&nbsp;Nazanin Hooshyari ,&nbsp;Ani Orchanian-Cheff ,&nbsp;Fateme Afra ,&nbsp;Raziyeh Mirzadeh ,&nbsp;Zahra Mafi ,&nbsp;Raha Paozki ,&nbsp;Abbas Dehghan ,&nbsp;Sara G. Khosrowshahi","doi":"10.1016/j.eujim.2025.102582","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.eujim.2025.102582","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Introduction</h3><div>Hypertension affects over 116 million adults in the United States and &gt;1 billion globally, substantially contributing to cardiovascular morbidity. Herbal therapies have emerged as potential complementary treatments for blood pressure management. To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first systematic review with network meta-analysis (NMA) aimed at ranking the most effective herbal therapies for lowering blood pressure.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>We systematically searched MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane CENTRAL, and Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (CDSR), selecting randomized controlled trials (RCTs) enrolling hypertensive and prehypertensive adults that compare herbal medicine interventions to placebo, usual care, or against each other. We used the Cochrane RoB 2 tool to assess the risk of bias. We performed frequentist random-effects network meta-analyses and summarized effects as mean differences (MD) with 95 % confidence intervals (CI). We evaluated the certainty of evidence using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluations (GRADE) approach.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>A total of 47 RCTs involving 3,559 patients met prespecified eligibility criteria. Our NMA indicates that Celery (Apium graveolens) reduces systolic blood pressure (SBP) by (MD -10.9 [95 % CI -17.6 to -4.3], p-value=0.001) with high certainty of evidence. Caucasian whortleberry (MD -16.2 [95 % CI -22.9 to -9.5], p-value&lt;0.0001), Roselle (MD -7.7 [95 % CI -11.9 to -3.5], p-value=0.0003), and Garlic (MD -6.0 [95 % CI -8.8 to -3.2], p-value&lt;0.0001) probably reduce SBP with moderate certainty. No serious adverse events were reported.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>There is moderate to high certainty that Celery and Caucasian whortleberry were the most effective treatments for reducing blood pressure, among included herbal medicines, in hypertensive and pre-hypertensive patients. Additional long-term, large-sample RCTs are warranted to refine dosing, safety, and sustained effects. Clinicians should interpret results cautiously, given heterogeneity and limited direct evidence for some herbs.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11932,"journal":{"name":"European Journal of Integrative Medicine","volume":"81 ","pages":"Article 102582"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145537048","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Evaluating the feasibility of using the TREATS tool in determining the quality of randomised trials of clinical aromatherapy","authors":"Wendy Maddocks ,&nbsp;Teresa Barron ,&nbsp;Yasmine EIGhamrawy ,&nbsp;Ying Liu","doi":"10.1016/j.eujim.2025.102600","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.eujim.2025.102600","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Introduction</h3><div>The TREATS™ protocol was developed in 2023 to improve the quality of reporting of clinical aromatherapy studies. Whilst there has been an increase in the number of studies in the last twenty years, these are often poorly conducted and reported on. The TREATS™ contains 38 points giving an overall rating of the research as either poor, fair or good. The protocol has not been widely tested outside of its development.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>This project tested the feasibility of using of the tool on forty-three randomised controlled trials involving clinical aromatherapy published between 2024–2025. The tool was used to score each of the studies to provide a perspective of the quality of current clinical aromatherapy research.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>The project found that whilst the tool was easy to use once adapted for multiple studies, and provided a good starting point to evaluate quality, there are recommendations to enhance future iterations of the tool. The overall quality of published studies remains poor to fair according to the tool, with many areas for improvement required.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>The TREATS™ is effective as an initial screening tool to evaluate the quality of clinical aromatherapy research, however the quality of extant research remains poor to fair.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11932,"journal":{"name":"European Journal of Integrative Medicine","volume":"81 ","pages":"Article 102600"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145836765","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Association of Danshen use with all-cause and cardiovascular mortality among patients with advanced chronic kidney disease","authors":"Shih-Jiun Lin ,&nbsp;Cheng-Chi Liu ,&nbsp;David Ming Then Tsai ,&nbsp;Ya-Hsueh Shih ,&nbsp;Chuan-Pin Lee ,&nbsp;Ko-Jung Chen ,&nbsp;Yao-Hsu Yang ,&nbsp;Yung-Chien Hsu ,&nbsp;Chun-Liang Lin","doi":"10.1016/j.eujim.2025.102589","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.eujim.2025.102589","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Introduction</h3><div>Chronic kidney disease (CKD) progression is associated with an increased mortality risk, primarily due to cardiovascular (CV) event, underscoring the need for targeted treatments to reduce CV risk and improve patient outcomes. Danshen, a traditional Chinese medicine known for its CV protective effects, is a potential therapy for improving outcomes in CKD patients. This study aims to evaluate the association between Danshen use and CV mortality, all-cause mortality, and end-stage renal disease (ESRD) risk in patients with advanced CKD.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>This retrospective study utilized the Chronic Kidney Disease Health Database, a disease-specific subset of the National Health Insurance Research Database in Taiwan. A total of 38,379 patients with advanced CKD were included between January 1, 2012, and December 31, 2015, with follow up until December 31, 2017. Patients were classified as Danshen users (<em>n</em> = 1818) or non-users (<em>n</em> = 36,561). Outcomes of interest were ESRD, CV mortality and all-cause mortality. Cumulative incidence was evaluated using Kaplan-Meier analysis. Cox proportional hazards models were applied to estimate hazard ratios (HRs), with adjustment for potential confounders. Stabilized inverse probability of treatment weighting – average treatment effect (IPTW-ATE) was applied to balance baseline characteristics between patient groups and to estimate IPTW-adjusted HRs.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Danshen users showed a significant reduction in all-cause mortality (IPTW-adjusted HR, 0.80; 95 % confidence interval [CI], 0.71–0.91; <em>P</em> = 0.001) and a trend toward lower CV mortality (IPTW-adjusted HR, 0.82; 95 % CI, 0.68–1.00; <em>P</em> = 0.055), although the latter association was not statistically significant. However, there was a potential increase in ESRD risk among Danshen users (IPTW-adjusted subdistribution HR, 1.15; 95 % CI, 1.03–1.28; <em>P</em> = 0.010).</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Danshen use in advanced CKD patients was associated with a significant reduction in all-cause mortality and a trend toward lower CV mortality, but a potential increase in ESRD risk. These findings suggest that Danshen may provide CV and survival benefits in this high-risk population, but close monitoring of renal function is warranted.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11932,"journal":{"name":"European Journal of Integrative Medicine","volume":"81 ","pages":"Article 102589"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145681589","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Efficacy and safety of moxibustion for diminished ovarian reserve infertility with kidney deficiency and blood stasis: a randomized controlled trial","authors":"Qianyang Zhu ,&nbsp;Katherine Thomas ,&nbsp;Sufan Ma ,&nbsp;Junling Zhou ,&nbsp;Qun Zhan ,&nbsp;Ping Zang ,&nbsp;Dan Wang ,&nbsp;Yajie Zhang ,&nbsp;Weina Zhu ,&nbsp;Huijia Li ,&nbsp;Jingjing Li ,&nbsp;Qian Shi ,&nbsp;Cairong Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.eujim.2025.102576","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.eujim.2025.102576","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Introduction</h3><div>Diminished ovarian reserve (DOR) significantly affects female fertility and overall health. Emerging evidence suggests that moxibustion treatment improves DOR. <strong><em>Methods</em></strong>: In this multicenter randomized controlled trial, 154 patients with kidney deficiency and blood stasis–type diminished ovarian reserve (KDBSDOR) were randomized to moxibustion (76 cases) or sham moxibustion (SM) (78 cases) . Participants underwent 12 weeks of treatment followed by 12 weeks of follow-up. During the treatment period, three 7-day courses of daily (sham) moxibustion were administered, concurrently with three 28-day courses of Femoston. The primary outcome was pregnancy rate at the end of the follow-up period. Secondary outcomes included clinical efficacy, changes in hormone levels, relevant scales, and findings of ultrasound monitoring. Data were analyzed between groups based on the intention-to-treat principle.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>The pregnancy rate was higher in the moxibustion group (17.1 %) than in the sham moxibustion group (3.9 %) [risk ratio (RR) = 5.53, 95 % confidence interval (CI) (1.13, 27.00)]. The moxibustion group showed significantly greater odds of clinical efficacy than the sham moxibustion group [odds ratio (OR) = 3.32, 95 % CI (1.76, 6.25)]. Relative to the sham moxibustion group, the moxibustion group showed a greater reduction in luteinizing hormone (LH) levels and greater increases in E2, anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH), antral follicle count (AFC), and endometrial thickness (all <em>P</em> &lt; 0.05). After treatment, assessment scores decreased in both groups, with significant differences at different time points (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.001). After 12 weeks of treatment, significant between-group differences were observed in the traditional Chinese medicine clinical symptom score [mean difference (MD) = -1.405, 95 % CI (–2.031, –0.779)], menstrual integral score [MD = -0.931, 95 % CI (–1.397, –0.464)], Kupperman index [MD = -3.004, 95 % CI (–4.209, –1.800)], and self-rating anxiety scale score [MD = -3.425, 95 % CI (–4.900, –1.950)]. The patients’ KDBS physiques improved. There was no significant difference in the incidence of adverse events between the two groups (<em>p</em> = 0.209).</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Moxibustion effectively improved clinical symptoms, menstruation, ovarian reserve function, hormonal balance, and pregnancy rate in patients with KDBSDOR-related infertility. This treatment is a potential alternative for women with DOR.</div><div>For a video summary of this article, see the Supplemental file 2 available online.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11932,"journal":{"name":"European Journal of Integrative Medicine","volume":"80 ","pages":"Article 102576"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145516755","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Acupuncture therapy for atrophic gastritis with upper gastrointestinal symptoms: A systematic review and network meta-analysis","authors":"Jiashan Li ,&nbsp;Yuning Qin ,&nbsp;Liyun He ,&nbsp;Feifei Gao ,&nbsp;Ziyan Li ,&nbsp;Tingting Liu ,&nbsp;Zezhi Fan ,&nbsp;Yi Guo ,&nbsp;Tianyi Zhao ,&nbsp;Xue Zhao","doi":"10.1016/j.eujim.2025.102572","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.eujim.2025.102572","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Introduction</h3><div>Patients with atrophic gastritis (AG) exhibit typical upper gastrointestinal symptoms. Although acupuncture therapy can alleviate some gastrointestinal symptoms, it remains challenging to determine the optimal intervention for various symptoms. This study aimed to use network meta-analysis (NMA) to compare the efficacy of acupuncture therapies for AG with upper gastrointestinal symptoms.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Twelve databases were systematically searched from inception to 25 November 2024 to identify randomized clinical trials or retrospective cohort studies that evaluated the efficacy of acupuncture therapies for AG with upper gastrointestinal symptoms. The primary outcomes were stomachache, flatulence, heartburn, hiccups, and appetite disorder (assessed using the traditional Chinese medicine syndrome score, numeric rating scale or visual analogue score), and acid reflux (assessed using the symptom score). The Cochrane Risk of Bias 2 tool was used to construct a risk-of-bias map. R 4.3.2 and JAGS 4.3.1 were used to conduct the NMA. The Confidence in NMA web application was used to assess the quality of evidence.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>The NMA analyzed 26 studies involving 3,076 participants. For flatulence, acupoint sticking therapy was ranked first (i.e., most effective), with a surface under the cumulative ranking curve (SUCRA) of 83.2 %, and low to very low certainty. Manual acupuncture was ranked first for acid reflux (SUCRA 87.19 %, low to very low certainty) and appetite disorder (SUCRA 67.5 %, moderate to very low certainty). Warm acupuncture plus traditional Chinese medicine was ranked first for stomachache (SUCRA 75.0 %, low to very low certainty), while western medicine was ranked first for hiccups (SUCRA 91.93 %, very low certainty). There were no significant differences in efficacy between many acupuncture therapies.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Patients with AG with flatulence may benefit from acupoint sticking therapy, while the symptoms of acid reflux or appetite disorder may be relieved through manual acupuncture. However, clinical decision-making should be combined with practical factors due to the limited number of significant differences in the efficacy of various acupuncture therapies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11932,"journal":{"name":"European Journal of Integrative Medicine","volume":"80 ","pages":"Article 102572"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145358807","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effectiveness of aromatherapy on stress, anxiety, fatigue, and sleep quality among frontline hospital nurses: A systematic review and meta-analysis","authors":"Linfang Xu ,&nbsp;Yanan Deng ,&nbsp;Lan Zeng ,&nbsp;Ruben Martin-Payo ,&nbsp;Wei Peng ,&nbsp;Chen Qiu ,&nbsp;Keqi Chen ,&nbsp;Fengying Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.eujim.2025.102577","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.eujim.2025.102577","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Introduction</h3><div>Nurses experience a range of occupational stressors, including night shifts and excessive workloads. These factors significantly increase the likelihood of nurses developing chronic stress, anxiety, fatigue, and sleep disorders. Although numerous studies have proposed aromatherapy interventions as potential strategies to alleviate these health concerns, the evidence regarding their effectiveness remains inconclusive. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of aromatherapy on stress, anxiety, fatigue, and sleep disorders among nurses, and identify key factors for effective programs.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>We systematically searched six electronic databases, supplemented by manual searches of Google Scholar and reference lists. The search covered the period from the inception of each database up until March 2025. Two researchers independently performed study selection and data extraction. The risk of bias of the included studies was evaluated using the RoB 2.0 tool. The quality of evidence for each outcome was graded using the GRADE framework. A random-effects model was used to perform the meta-analysis. Subgroup analysis was conducted to identify potential moderating variables.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>A total of 19 studies were included in this systematic review, 12 of which were RCTs. Meta-analysis results indicated that aromatherapy significantly alleviated stress (SMD= -0.74, 95 % CI [-1.12, -0.35], <em>Z</em> = 3.76, <em>P</em> = 0.0002) and fatigue symptoms (SMD = -0.76, 95 % CI [-1.10, -0.42], <em>P</em> &lt; 0.0001) among nurses. Short-term interventions (≤1 week) produced a larger effect size (SMD =-0.80, 95 % CI [-1.47, -0.14], <em>P</em> = 0.02) than longer-term interventions (&gt;1 week) (SMD= -0.61, 95 % CI [-0.95, -0.26], <em>P</em> = 0.0006), possibly due to olfactory adaptation or metabolic regulation. In contrast, the overall effect on anxiety reduction was not statistically significant (SMD =-0.89, 95 % CI [-2.21, 0.42], <em>P</em> = 0.18), and evidence regarding sleep quality improvement remained inconclusive.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Aromatherapy effectively reduces stress and fatigue in nurses, making it a valuable addition to workplace wellness programs.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11932,"journal":{"name":"European Journal of Integrative Medicine","volume":"80 ","pages":"Article 102577"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145462685","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Yoga for weight management in women with polycystic ovary syndrome: A focus group study among yoga therapists","authors":"Vibhuti Samarth Rao ,&nbsp;Birinder S Cheema ,&nbsp;Mike Armour ,&nbsp;Caroline A Smith ,&nbsp;Kashinath G Metri ,&nbsp;Carolyn Ee","doi":"10.1016/j.eujim.2025.102569","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.eujim.2025.102569","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Introduction</h3><div>Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is a prevalent endocrinopathy among women of reproductive age and is associated with excess weight. Yoga is a holistic mind-body practice that has shown some promise in targeting clinical outcomes in women with PCOS. This study aimed to understand the yoga therapists’ experiences and explore the characteristics of a yoga therapy (YT) program for weight management in women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) to assist in a future trial.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Experienced yoga therapists with a degree in yoga, or equivalent, and &gt;5 years of experience in delivering yoga to women with PCOS were invited to an online focus group. Discussions were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim and analysed using descriptive content analysis.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Eight yoga therapists participated. Four categories with several sub-categories were derived from the analysis: (i) yogic approach to PCOS management, (ii) benefits are beyond weight reduction, (iii) characteristics of yoga therapists, and (iv) characteristics of the YT program for managing weight in PCOS. Most participants believe that YT for PCOS should not be constructed as an exclusive form of exercise but as a mind-body intervention that focuses on lifestyle reforms, helps manage day-to-day stress, and promotes sleep and quality of life in women with PCOS. Overall, the participants indicated that a meticulously planned group-based, multicomponent, PCOS-specific, YT class can be a sustainable mode of healthy living for women with PCOS.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>This is the first qualitative exploration from yoga therapists’ perspectives on weight management in women with PCOS. The results of this study provide a valuable preliminary basis for the design of future research in order to enhance lifestyle care for women with PCOS and excess weight.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11932,"journal":{"name":"European Journal of Integrative Medicine","volume":"80 ","pages":"Article 102569"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145270030","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}