Advances in Mind-Body Medicine最新文献

It is no surprise that nature has provided us with many therapeutic compounds for thousands of years. Throughout history, plants and their derivatives have been used orally and locally to treat most of the diseases. In addition to providing a wealth of health benefits, Azadirachta indica stands out among all of them as one of the most universal and prolific trees. Since antiquity, this medicinal plant has been used in the Unani System of Medicine as well as in other traditional systems of medicine (Ayurveda, Homeopathic, Chinese, and European "Materia Medica") to treat a wide range of diseases. Almost every part of the tree can be used as medicine, including its leaves, flowers, seeds, fruits, roots, and bark, both locally and systemically after being properly processed in pharmaceutical industries. Apart from treating various skin ailments like dermatitis, eczema, acne, and fungal and bacterial infections, it also exhibits anti-malarial, anticancer, antifertility, antioxidant, antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective, neuroprotective, and wound healing properties. In modern times, it is also used in cosmetics, toiletries, and pharmaceutical products. The purpose of this review is to gather all the information available about Azadirachta indica, including its distribution, botanical description, commercial use, and medicinal properties.

Background: Diabetes Mellitus coexisting with hypertension has received significant global attention and remains a public health challenge in the past two decades. The states of hyperinsulinemia and insulin resistance have been postulated as causes or consequences of hypertension. Evidence shows that alternative systems of medicine can play a significant role in achieving glycemic control. This study aimed to compare and evaluate the impact of yoga and naturopathy-based lifestyles on patients with diabetes mellitus and diabetes mellitus with hypertension.

Methods: Sixty subjects were recruited into two groups, group 1 (diabetes mellitus with hypertension) and group 2 (diabetes mellitus) based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Both the groups underwent naturopathy and yoga intervention for ten days. The glycemic profile and heart rate variability (HRV) of the patients were assessed at the baseline and 10 days after the intervention.

Results: Study resulted in a significant change in both time domain and frequency domain variables (HRV, FBS, and PPBS) in both group 1 and group 2 (P < .05, for all) but the mean difference was more in group 2 with a significant difference between the two groups, P < .05. The diastolic blood pressure significantly decreased only in group 2, whereas the systolic blood pressure decreased in both groups without any difference between the two groups.

Conclusion: The results of the present study show that integrated yoga and naturopathy management significantly help in glycemic control and autonomic functions in both groups.

Background: Diabetes mellitus is one of the most prevalent metabolic diseases. Literature suggests that yoga including a group of asanas reduces blood glucose and glycated hemoglobin levels in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). However, to the best of our knowledge, no known study evaluated the effects of a single asana (i.e., Vakrasana) in T2DM.

Objective: This study aimed to determine the effect of Vakrasanana on blood glucose levels in T2DM patients.

Materials and methods: Sixty T2DM patients aged 51.12 ± 6.43 years were randomly (1:1 ratio) allocated to yoga group (YG) and control group (CG). YG was asked to perform only one session of Vakrasana, while the CG was on rest in a sitting posture for 10 minutes. Random blood glucose (RBG) levels were assessed before and after the intervention.

Results: Within-group analysis showed a significant reduction in RBG levels in YG (P < .001; Effect size (d) = 0.203), while a significant increase in RBG was observed in CG (P < .001; Effect size (d) = 0.077), compared to the respective pre-test assessments. Whereas the between-groups analysis did not show a significant difference in RBG levels between the two groups (z = 1.597; P = 0.110). However, YG had a small effect size (Effect size (d) = 0.288) in reducing RBG levels compared to CG.

Conclusion: Ten minutes of Vakrasana has some positive effect in reducing blood glucose levels, unlike rest in sitting posture in patients with T2DM. However, further studies are required to validate the findings of this study.

Objective: Recent scientific literature points out that religiosity and spirituality play a relevant role in many aspects of life, including health issues. We aimed to evaluate the healthcare students' perceptions about approaching spirituality in their training and patient care in Brazilian universities.

Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted following the STROBE guidelines. Through an anonymous online survey, adult healthcare students from two universities in the city of Pelotas (Brazil) answered a questionnaire about their perceptions on approaching spirituality in their training and patient care. Chi-squared tests were performed, and P ≤ .05 was considered statistically significant.

Results: A total of 163 students were included in the analysis. Most believed that spirituality is important for their training (74.8%) and patient care (84%). However, a minority had had contact with the theme of spirituality during their training (48.5%) or had experienced a situation in which the spiritual aspects of a patient were addressed (47.2%). The students from the private university had more contact with the theme of spirituality in healthcare during their training. Nursing students had significantly more contact with the theme of spirituality in healthcare (P = .008) and had experienced more situations in which the spiritual aspects of a patient were addressed (P = .031) than other students.

Conclusion: Most students believed that the theme of spirituality in healthcare is important for their training and patient care. However, they still had insufficient contact with it during their education. More studies with greater statistical power are needed to better understand this situation globally.

Context: Asthma is a chronic disease and its chronicity demands therapy with minimal harm and a good impact on the quality of life of asthmatics.

Objective: This study evaluates the efficacy of structured yoga intervention integrated with routine care on asthma patients in improving their pulmonary function and quality of life.

Design: The study was a single-blind (outcome assessor) hospital-based randomized controlled trial.

Participants: Adults between 18 to 60 years, diagnosed with mild to moderate asthma as per Global Initiative for Asthma guidelines, with no exacerbation in the past month before screening, were included in the study.

Intervention: A thirty-minute structured yoga intervention was delivered daily by a qualified yoga instructor through a virtual platform.

Outcome measures: Questionnaires were utilized to assess the quality of life, and Breath-o-meter equipment was used to measure peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR). It was tested at baseline and then at 15 days, 45 days, and 90 days, whereas the quality of life was evaluated once a month.

Statistical analysis: Intention to treat analysis was performed to compare the mean outcome between the yoga and control groups using an independent sample t test and repeated measures analysis of variance.

Results: The yoga group significantly improved their PEFR and asthma-related quality of life scores compared to the control group (P < .001). A significant difference (F = 539.72, degree of freedom = 1.1618; P < .001) was detected between PEFR values at several time intervals (baseline, day 15, day 45, day 90) in the intervention group on repeated measures analysis of variance. The difference in quality-of-life scores between yoga and control was also statistically significant (P < .001), with an improvement in the quality-of-life domain of external stimuli.

Conclusion: When combined with normal asthma treatment, the findings of this study show that structured yoga intervention integrated with routine care is more beneficial than traditional breathing exercises in increasing PEFR and quality of life.

Background: Peripheral neuropathies constitute a diverse array of disorders impacting the peripheral nervous system. Despite extensive research on the therapeutic potential of yoga for various health conditions, its specific effects on peripheral neuropathy remain underexplored.

Objective: This review aims to comprehensively investigate the effects, including potential adverse events, of yoga on peripheral neuropathy.

Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted using the PubMed/Medline electronic database from inception to March 5, 2024. The search strategy involved a combination of relevant Medical Subject Heading (MeSH) terms and keywords related to peripheral neuropathy and yoga. The primary outcome measures assessed in the included studies were the improvement in symptoms and clinical indicators of peripheral neuropathy following yoga interventions. Out of 101 articles initially screened, 16 were considered eligible for inclusion in this review.

Results: The synthesized literature suggests that yoga may serve as a beneficial adjunct in the management of diabetic peripheral neuropathy, chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy, lumbar disc herniation-induced neuropathy, Guillain-Barré Syndrome, and Carpal tunnel syndrome. However, caution is warranted as reported instances of yoga asanas precipitate adverse events such as progressive glaucomatous optic neuropathy, bilateral sciatic nerve neuropathy, and acute loss of motor function due to acute ulnar neuropathy.

Conclusions: Yoga holds promise as an adjunctive therapy for the management of peripheral neuropathy. Nonetheless, discrepancies in sample size, type of yoga, and intervention duration across studies underscore the need for larger-scale investigations incorporating standardized long-term yoga interventions and objective outcome measures. To mitigate risks of adverse events, patients should practice yoga under the supervision and guidance of institutionally qualified yoga physicians.

No Abstract Available.

Background: Prameha was identified in 1552 BCE as a Maharoga (major disease), one of the eight grave diseases of Ancient medical history. Initial days of recognition labeled Prameha as a rich man's disease, as found prevalent among people of higher socio-economic background. This fact was thereby linked with the diagnosis of diabetes and the invention of iron in the Iron Age, as wealthy part of the population who initiated consumption of newly harvested rice and wheat were found majorly diagnosed. Gradually, with the knowledge sought from Rigveda, Atharvaveda, Ayurveda, and Samhitas, the causes and types were identified, and further search conducted in Ayurveda resulted in denominating Prameha based on the body constitution and predominant dosha with its etiology in lifestyle and dietary factors, which, in the current scenario is known as diabetes mellitus.

Objective: The objective of the current review is to find out and collate the information sought from published ancient literature on the origin and classification of Prameha with etiological factors.

Method: Articles published between 1982 and 2021 in scientific domain was searched using several keywords in PubMed, Google Scholar, and Google, to find treatment approaches adopted by ancient medics to manage Prameha, Madhumeha, and Prameha Poorvaroopa. Classical literature was reviewed to understand the traditional approaches applied in the context of scientific interpretations. Content of this scriptural review was derived mainly from Rigveda, Atharvaveda, Ayurveda, Sushrutha Samhita, Charaka Samhita, Bhela Samhita, Harita Samhita, and Papillad Samhita.

Summary: The finding of this study brings hope for further studies evidencing advantages in adopting the ancient wisdom while devising a strategy for the management of Prameha from a modern perspective.