Pub Date : 2024-05-21DOI: 10.21926/obm.icm.2402029
Syd Hiskey, N. Clapton
The work of psychotherapy demands much of those who engage in it. Compassion provisioned by therapists requires varying competencies, yet remains a highly embodied and enactive endeavour. Therapist skill can be cultivated in this area and enhanced through a variety of body-mind trainings, including various forms of therapist personal practice. However, much clinical training/continued professional development centres on education workshops, emphasising knowledge above skill. Given this we present feasibility data from two deliberate practice/procedural learning, martial arts-based radically embodied compassion workshops aimed at enhancing therapist courage. Our findings show that conducting such training is feasible, with those attending able to participate in each practice. Participant self-report suggests the workshops can result in significant personal benefit, are able to deepen attendee understanding of compassion focused therapy and lead to an enhanced sense of how to apply it. Via self-report pre, post and 3-month after the workshops, significant beneficial changes in overall total clinical distress tolerance as well as specifically in absorption (the level of attention absorbed by distressing emotions) were shown. Beneficial changes were also noted in experiential acceptance and in total general equanimity pre and post workshops. We discuss limitations of the current study and potential future work that could follow from it, before concluding that training in this way represents an important first step in delineating a novel approach to therapist self-development. Practices drawn from traditional martial arts may be well suited to providing the context, relational safety and necessary skills for therapist development, in terms of enhanced distress tolerance and management of the self, to occur.
{"title":"Enhancing Therapist Courage: Feasibility and Changes in Distress Tolerance and Equanimity Following Martial Arts-Based Radically Embodied Compassion Workshops","authors":"Syd Hiskey, N. Clapton","doi":"10.21926/obm.icm.2402029","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21926/obm.icm.2402029","url":null,"abstract":"The work of psychotherapy demands much of those who engage in it. Compassion provisioned by therapists requires varying competencies, yet remains a highly embodied and enactive endeavour. Therapist skill can be cultivated in this area and enhanced through a variety of body-mind trainings, including various forms of therapist personal practice. However, much clinical training/continued professional development centres on education workshops, emphasising knowledge above skill. Given this we present feasibility data from two deliberate practice/procedural learning, martial arts-based radically embodied compassion workshops aimed at enhancing therapist courage. Our findings show that conducting such training is feasible, with those attending able to participate in each practice. Participant self-report suggests the workshops can result in significant personal benefit, are able to deepen attendee understanding of compassion focused therapy and lead to an enhanced sense of how to apply it. Via self-report pre, post and 3-month after the workshops, significant beneficial changes in overall total clinical distress tolerance as well as specifically in absorption (the level of attention absorbed by distressing emotions) were shown. Beneficial changes were also noted in experiential acceptance and in total general equanimity pre and post workshops. We discuss limitations of the current study and potential future work that could follow from it, before concluding that training in this way represents an important first step in delineating a novel approach to therapist self-development. Practices drawn from traditional martial arts may be well suited to providing the context, relational safety and necessary skills for therapist development, in terms of enhanced distress tolerance and management of the self, to occur.","PeriodicalId":413918,"journal":{"name":"OBM Integrative and Complementary Medicine","volume":"98 7","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-05-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141116183","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-05-15DOI: 10.21926/obm.icm.2402027
Gerhard Litscher
Laser acupuncture, a rising complementary therapy, applies a low-intensity laser to acupuncture points, yet its underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Proposed hypotheses include modulation of cellular signaling, tissue repair, and immune modulation. Laser acupuncture may stimulate energy flow, neurotransmitter release, cellular changes, immune regulation, and neuroendocrine activity. Additionally, the biophoton theory suggests an involvement of ultra-weak photon radiation from cells. Litscher et al. explore these mechanisms through neurophysiological analysis, biochemical measurements, imaging techniques, and clinical trials. They documented subtle human brain responses following laser stimulation, potentially modulating the ascending reticular activating system. However, further research is needed to validate and expand these findings for broader clinical application of laser acupuncture.
{"title":"Mechanisms of Laser Acupuncture – Hypotheses and Evidence","authors":"Gerhard Litscher","doi":"10.21926/obm.icm.2402027","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21926/obm.icm.2402027","url":null,"abstract":"Laser acupuncture, a rising complementary therapy, applies a low-intensity laser to acupuncture points, yet its underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Proposed hypotheses include modulation of cellular signaling, tissue repair, and immune modulation. Laser acupuncture may stimulate energy flow, neurotransmitter release, cellular changes, immune regulation, and neuroendocrine activity. Additionally, the biophoton theory suggests an involvement of ultra-weak photon radiation from cells. Litscher et al. explore these mechanisms through neurophysiological analysis, biochemical measurements, imaging techniques, and clinical trials. They documented subtle human brain responses following laser stimulation, potentially modulating the ascending reticular activating system. However, further research is needed to validate and expand these findings for broader clinical application of laser acupuncture.","PeriodicalId":413918,"journal":{"name":"OBM Integrative and Complementary Medicine","volume":"21 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-05-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140971625","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-05-11DOI: 10.21926/obm.icm.2402026
Tracy O’Halloran, Jennifer E. Symonds, Linda Bhreathnach
This systematic review examined the impact of wellbeing interventions on the anxiety levels of children attending low-income schools. Studies, published between January 2000 and April 2022, were included if they had samples of school aged children attending low-income schools who were given a universal school-based wellbeing intervention. Ten databases were searched systematically to identify 542 records. After title and abstract screening, 43 records remained for full text screening, and of these studies, 10 met inclusion criteria. Quantitative data were extracted and were analysed narratively. The review found that in 50% of studies, wellbeing interventions were effective for reducing anxiety and that the impacts were maintained longer-term. The effects were stronger for girls when measured using self-report and were stronger for boys when measured using parental report.
{"title":"The Impact of Wellbeing Interventions on the Anxiety Levels of Children Attending Low-Income Schools: A Systematic Literature Review","authors":"Tracy O’Halloran, Jennifer E. Symonds, Linda Bhreathnach","doi":"10.21926/obm.icm.2402026","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21926/obm.icm.2402026","url":null,"abstract":"This systematic review examined the impact of wellbeing interventions on the anxiety levels of children attending low-income schools. Studies, published between January 2000 and April 2022, were included if they had samples of school aged children attending low-income schools who were given a universal school-based wellbeing intervention. Ten databases were searched systematically to identify 542 records. After title and abstract screening, 43 records remained for full text screening, and of these studies, 10 met inclusion criteria. Quantitative data were extracted and were analysed narratively. The review found that in 50% of studies, wellbeing interventions were effective for reducing anxiety and that the impacts were maintained longer-term. The effects were stronger for girls when measured using self-report and were stronger for boys when measured using parental report.","PeriodicalId":413918,"journal":{"name":"OBM Integrative and Complementary Medicine","volume":" 42","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-05-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140990432","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-04-03DOI: 10.21926/obm.icm.2402022
Gerhard Litscher
Acupuncture, as a promising complementary therapy for cancer patients, offers personalized symptom management and improved quality of life alongside conventional treatments. With its proven efficacy in alleviating chemotherapy-induced side effects such as nausea, fatigue, and pain, acupuncture stands as a holistic approach to cancer care. Tailored to individual needs and boasting a favorable safety profile, acupuncture addresses both physical symptoms and psychological distress, promoting resilience and quality of life. By integrating specific acupuncture points into treatment protocols, practitioners can provide targeted relief and support for patients, fostering holistic healing and emotional well-being amidst the challenges of cancer treatment.
{"title":"Acupuncture in Oncology – Update 2024","authors":"Gerhard Litscher","doi":"10.21926/obm.icm.2402022","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21926/obm.icm.2402022","url":null,"abstract":"Acupuncture, as a promising complementary therapy for cancer patients, offers personalized symptom management and improved quality of life alongside conventional treatments. With its proven efficacy in alleviating chemotherapy-induced side effects such as nausea, fatigue, and pain, acupuncture stands as a holistic approach to cancer care. Tailored to individual needs and boasting a favorable safety profile, acupuncture addresses both physical symptoms and psychological distress, promoting resilience and quality of life. By integrating specific acupuncture points into treatment protocols, practitioners can provide targeted relief and support for patients, fostering holistic healing and emotional well-being amidst the challenges of cancer treatment.","PeriodicalId":413918,"journal":{"name":"OBM Integrative and Complementary Medicine","volume":"3 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-04-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140748486","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-03-27DOI: 10.21926/obm.icm.2401021
James Hackley, A. Dixon, Carol Royle, Christopher Moss, Richard Brown, Tobyn Bell
Compassion-focused chairwork has become a recent focus of empirical investigation. This study extended this area of research by exploring how participants with depression experienced the ‘compassionate other’ imagery exercise enacted via chairwork methods. Eight individuals from primary care NHS mental health services were interviewed about their experience of the practice. The resultant data were analysed using interpretive phenomenological analysis (IPA). Three group experiential themes were identified: care that feels real, chairwork processes and encountering challenges on the road to discovery. The findings indicate that the intervention has therapeutic utility both as an intervention for cultivating compassion and as means of assessing for and identifying blocks to compassion. The results also suggest that there is potential value in enacting compassion-focused imagery techniques through chairwork methods, especially for those who have difficulty accessing mental imagery practices. The findings are contextualised within broader theory and literature, and clinical and research implications are discussed.
{"title":"“Seeing Myself Through Someone Else’s Eyes”: Embodying the Perfect Nurturer in Compassion Focused Therapy","authors":"James Hackley, A. Dixon, Carol Royle, Christopher Moss, Richard Brown, Tobyn Bell","doi":"10.21926/obm.icm.2401021","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21926/obm.icm.2401021","url":null,"abstract":"Compassion-focused chairwork has become a recent focus of empirical investigation. This study extended this area of research by exploring how participants with depression experienced the ‘compassionate other’ imagery exercise enacted via chairwork methods. Eight individuals from primary care NHS mental health services were interviewed about their experience of the practice. The resultant data were analysed using interpretive phenomenological analysis (IPA). Three group experiential themes were identified: care that feels real, chairwork processes and encountering challenges on the road to discovery. The findings indicate that the intervention has therapeutic utility both as an intervention for cultivating compassion and as means of assessing for and identifying blocks to compassion. The results also suggest that there is potential value in enacting compassion-focused imagery techniques through chairwork methods, especially for those who have difficulty accessing mental imagery practices. The findings are contextualised within broader theory and literature, and clinical and research implications are discussed.","PeriodicalId":413918,"journal":{"name":"OBM Integrative and Complementary Medicine","volume":"6 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-03-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140374066","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-03-20DOI: 10.21926/obm.icm.2401020
Jessica Munafo
Compassion focused therapy concepts and techniques are explored in the context of weight management efforts within community, specialist and surgical settings. Living at higher weights within a culture that over-values life at low weights can induce feelings of shame, self-loathing and hypercriticism. This article examines points at which individuals engaging in weight management may experience heightened distress and describes some of the ways that the model has been applied with this population. An outline of the way that CFT could be used to inform service delivery and development is proposed, from first contact through assessment, interventions and wider aspects such as staff well-being.
{"title":"The Heavy Burden of Judgement: Cultivating Compassion with People Accessing Healthcare Services for Support with Weight Management","authors":"Jessica Munafo","doi":"10.21926/obm.icm.2401020","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21926/obm.icm.2401020","url":null,"abstract":"Compassion focused therapy concepts and techniques are explored in the context of weight management efforts within community, specialist and surgical settings. Living at higher weights within a culture that over-values life at low weights can induce feelings of shame, self-loathing and hypercriticism. This article examines points at which individuals engaging in weight management may experience heightened distress and describes some of the ways that the model has been applied with this population. An outline of the way that CFT could be used to inform service delivery and development is proposed, from first contact through assessment, interventions and wider aspects such as staff well-being.","PeriodicalId":413918,"journal":{"name":"OBM Integrative and Complementary Medicine","volume":"104 12","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-03-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140224889","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-03-13DOI: 10.21926/obm.icm.2401019
Ampere Tseng
The aim of this article is to provide a quantitative assessment of the correlation between heightened mindfulness and stress reduction among cancer patients and survivors who engaged in Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) interventions. Utilizing data from eight studies, we conducted quantitative analyses to provide the effectiveness scores of MBSR interventions on mindfulness, assessed using the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS), and stress symptoms, evaluated through standardized self-reported questionnaires. The effectiveness scores are standardized as percentages relative to baseline (pre-intervention) levels, which allows for the comparison of two variables: mindfulness and perceived stress, on a common scale, facilitating a regression analysis to generate a correlation trendline. The findings reveal that MBSR interventions yielded an average increase in mindfulness levels of 7.93%, with a standard deviation of 4.97%, while concurrently reducing stress or stress-like symptoms by an average of 22.58%, with a standard deviation of 8.77%. Subsequent linear regression analyses were performed on these effectiveness metrics to establish a correlation trendline, demonstrating a robust negative correlation between mindfulness and stress among cancer patients and survivors. In conclusion, MBSR interventions are effective in enhancing mindfulness and alleviating stress or stress-like symptoms in cancer patients and survivors. This finding suggests a causal relationship between mindfulness and stress reduction, endorsing the integration of MBSR as a complementary therapy for cancer management.
{"title":"Effectiveness of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) Interventions on Mindfulness and Stress Symptoms for Cancer Patients: A Quantitative Assessment","authors":"Ampere Tseng","doi":"10.21926/obm.icm.2401019","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21926/obm.icm.2401019","url":null,"abstract":"The aim of this article is to provide a quantitative assessment of the correlation between heightened mindfulness and stress reduction among cancer patients and survivors who engaged in Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) interventions. Utilizing data from eight studies, we conducted quantitative analyses to provide the effectiveness scores of MBSR interventions on mindfulness, assessed using the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS), and stress symptoms, evaluated through standardized self-reported questionnaires. The effectiveness scores are standardized as percentages relative to baseline (pre-intervention) levels, which allows for the comparison of two variables: mindfulness and perceived stress, on a common scale, facilitating a regression analysis to generate a correlation trendline. The findings reveal that MBSR interventions yielded an average increase in mindfulness levels of 7.93%, with a standard deviation of 4.97%, while concurrently reducing stress or stress-like symptoms by an average of 22.58%, with a standard deviation of 8.77%. Subsequent linear regression analyses were performed on these effectiveness metrics to establish a correlation trendline, demonstrating a robust negative correlation between mindfulness and stress among cancer patients and survivors. In conclusion, MBSR interventions are effective in enhancing mindfulness and alleviating stress or stress-like symptoms in cancer patients and survivors. This finding suggests a causal relationship between mindfulness and stress reduction, endorsing the integration of MBSR as a complementary therapy for cancer management.","PeriodicalId":413918,"journal":{"name":"OBM Integrative and Complementary Medicine","volume":"360 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-03-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140247063","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-03-06DOI: 10.21926/obm.icm.2401018
Yiu Lin Wong, Jialing Zhang, Linda L. D. Zhong, David Moher, Zhaoxiang Bian
The modified Jade Wind-Barrier formula (MJWB) may prevent the common cold in the elderly with a Qi-deficiency Constitution. Previously, no controlled trial evidence existed to illuminate the concept of “preventive treatment of disease” as outlined in the constitution theory of Traditional Chinese Medicine. This theory distinctly suggests that enhancing the Qi-deficiency Constitution and modulating its functional state can prevent the occurrence of the common cold. This controlled trial (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT05640570) targeted Hong Kong elderly with Qi-deficiency Constitution with at least one common cold incidence per year. The two co-primary outcomes are the total score of the Qi-deficiency Constitution clinical features and the incidence of the common cold. Throughout the 3-month prevention study, 98 out of 109 (89.9%) participants in the MJWB arm and 100 out of 109 (91.7%) participants in the control arm finished the trial. MJWB significantly improved the clinical features of the Qi-deficiency Constitution compared to that in the control arm (mean difference -2.9, 95% CI -4.5 to -1.3, p < 0.001). It particularly improved the three clinical features: “Easily get tired” (mean difference -0.6, 95% CI -0.8 to -0.3, p < 0.001), “Shortness of breath” (mean difference -0.2, 95% CI -0.4 to -0.1, p = 0.012), and “Lack of energy” (mean difference -0.3, 95% CI -0.5 to -0.0, p = 0.021). MJWB also significantly improved IgG (p < 0.001) compared with the baseline of prevention among the MJWB arm. However, the common cold incidence (odd ratio 0.9, 95% CI 0.5 to 1.6, p = 0.756), the number of persistent days (mean difference 0.1, 95% CI -1.4 to 1.5, p = 0.929), and the total Traditional Chinese Medicine syndrome score (mean difference -7.1, 95% CI -21.6 to 7.4, p = 0.336) showed no difference between the two arms. MJWB can significantly improve the Qi-deficiency Constitution clinical features and the IgG level, suggesting that MJWB may be helpful for participants regarding the related clinical symptoms and their potential consequences. There is no statistically significant difference in the common cold incidence, the duration of its persistence, or the common cold symptom scores when comparing the MJWB users and the non-users. A large-scale trial is worth further investigating the preventive effect of MJWB for the common cold and whether the Qi-deficiency Constitution clinical features and the IgG level improvements can help prevent the common cold in the elderly.
改良玉屏风散（MJWB）可预防气虚体质老年人的普通感冒。在此之前，没有对照试验证据能够阐明中医体质理论中的 "治未病 "概念。该理论明确指出，增强气虚体质并调节其功能状态可预防普通感冒的发生。这项对照试验（ClinicalTrials.gov 识别码 NCT05640570）的研究对象是每年至少发生一次普通感冒的气虚体质香港老人。两个共同主要结果是气虚体质临床特征总分和普通感冒发病率。在为期 3 个月的预防研究中，109 名参与者中有 98 人（89.9%）完成了 "蠲痹活血汤 "治疗，109 名对照组参与者中有 100 人（91.7%）完成了治疗。与对照组相比，MJWB 能明显改善气虚体质的临床特征（平均差异 -2.9，95% CI -4.5 至 -1.3，P < 0.001）。它尤其改善了三个临床特征："容易疲倦"（平均差异-0.6，95% CI -0.8至-0.3，p < 0.001）、"呼吸急促"（平均差异-0.2，95% CI -0.4至-0.1，p = 0.012）和 "缺乏活力"（平均差异-0.3，95% CI -0.5至-0.0，p = 0.021）。与预防基线相比，MJWB 组的 IgG 也有明显改善（p < 0.001）。然而，普通感冒发病率（奇数比 0.9，95% CI 0.5 至 1.6，p = 0.756）、持续天数（平均差 0.1，95% CI -1.4 至 1.5，p = 0.929）和中医综合征总分（平均差 -7.1，95% CI -21.6 至 7.4，p = 0.336）在两组之间没有差异。MJWB能明显改善气虚体质的临床特征和IgG水平，表明MJWB可能对参与者的相关临床症状及其潜在后果有所帮助。在普通感冒的发病率、持续时间和普通感冒症状评分方面，使用 "美芝活血汤 "者与未使用者之间没有明显的统计学差异。值得进行大规模试验，进一步研究麦积温丸对普通感冒的预防效果，以及气虚体质临床特征和 IgG 水平的改善是否有助于预防老年人普通感冒。
{"title":"Modified Jade Wind-Barrier Formula (MJWB) for Preventing Common Cold in Elderly with Qi-deficiency Constitution: A Controlled Trial","authors":"Yiu Lin Wong, Jialing Zhang, Linda L. D. Zhong, David Moher, Zhaoxiang Bian","doi":"10.21926/obm.icm.2401018","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21926/obm.icm.2401018","url":null,"abstract":"The modified Jade Wind-Barrier formula (MJWB) may prevent the common cold in the elderly with a Qi-deficiency Constitution. Previously, no controlled trial evidence existed to illuminate the concept of “preventive treatment of disease” as outlined in the constitution theory of Traditional Chinese Medicine. This theory distinctly suggests that enhancing the Qi-deficiency Constitution and modulating its functional state can prevent the occurrence of the common cold. This controlled trial (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT05640570) targeted Hong Kong elderly with Qi-deficiency Constitution with at least one common cold incidence per year. The two co-primary outcomes are the total score of the Qi-deficiency Constitution clinical features and the incidence of the common cold. Throughout the 3-month prevention study, 98 out of 109 (89.9%) participants in the MJWB arm and 100 out of 109 (91.7%) participants in the control arm finished the trial. MJWB significantly improved the clinical features of the Qi-deficiency Constitution compared to that in the control arm (mean difference -2.9, 95% CI -4.5 to -1.3, p < 0.001). It particularly improved the three clinical features: “Easily get tired” (mean difference -0.6, 95% CI -0.8 to -0.3, p < 0.001), “Shortness of breath” (mean difference -0.2, 95% CI -0.4 to -0.1, p = 0.012), and “Lack of energy” (mean difference -0.3, 95% CI -0.5 to -0.0, p = 0.021). MJWB also significantly improved IgG (p < 0.001) compared with the baseline of prevention among the MJWB arm. However, the common cold incidence (odd ratio 0.9, 95% CI 0.5 to 1.6, p = 0.756), the number of persistent days (mean difference 0.1, 95% CI -1.4 to 1.5, p = 0.929), and the total Traditional Chinese Medicine syndrome score (mean difference -7.1, 95% CI -21.6 to 7.4, p = 0.336) showed no difference between the two arms. MJWB can significantly improve the Qi-deficiency Constitution clinical features and the IgG level, suggesting that MJWB may be helpful for participants regarding the related clinical symptoms and their potential consequences. There is no statistically significant difference in the common cold incidence, the duration of its persistence, or the common cold symptom scores when comparing the MJWB users and the non-users. A large-scale trial is worth further investigating the preventive effect of MJWB for the common cold and whether the Qi-deficiency Constitution clinical features and the IgG level improvements can help prevent the common cold in the elderly.","PeriodicalId":413918,"journal":{"name":"OBM Integrative and Complementary Medicine","volume":"30 21","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-03-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140262663","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-02-27DOI: 10.21926/obm.icm.2401015
Rotu Arientare Rume, Oyovwi Mega Obukohwo, Peggy Ejiro Ohwin, Oyelere Abosede Oreoluwa
Regular physical activity has been proven to improve metabolism, slow aging, and decrease the likelihood of various health conditions such as obesity, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disorders. Hence, dancing was evaluated for its effects on cardiovascular, liver enzymes, and biochemical markers among healthy adults. Forty (40) healthy adults (20-40 years old) were chosen for the study, with an average age calculated. Those with certain health conditions or habits were not allowed to participate. Twenty (20) men and 20 women were chosen for the study, which involved dancing for 15 minutes a day, five days a week, for four weeks. Pre- and post-dancing groups were compared to measure any changes. Results indicated positive effects on health and well-being. The two groups were compared to analyze changes to cardiovascular, liver enzymes, and lipid profiles over a 4-week dance intervention. Both groups received assessments before and after the program, with the initial assessment taking place at 0 weeks and a follow-up at 4 weeks. This study found that a 4-week period of dancing exercise improved cardiovascular and lipid profiles (p < 0.05) in both genders. These favorable impacts were reflected in lower systolic and diastolic blood pressure, decreased total cholesterol and triglycerides, and lowered LDL with corresponding increases in HDL. This study found that participating in a tailored dance exercise program decreased glucose, insulin, and HOMA index levels compared to pre-exercise levels. Additionally, levels of ALT, AST, and GGT dropped considerably, while ALP and LDH also decreased. Kidney function, including aminotransferase, creatinine, and uric acid, was also reduced after 24 hours of post-dancing exercise. Twenty-four hours of Post-dancing exercise was found to decrease serum IL-6, CRP, and stress hormones (epinephrine and cortisol) levels as well as increased IL-10 levels in healthy adults (P < 0.05). Dancing could be demonstrated to be a practical non-medicinal approach to help prevent metabolic syndrome and reduce inflammation through increased cortisol production in healthy adults.
{"title":"Dancing Exercise Enhances Metabolic Functions via Hypercortisolism-Mediated Inhibition of Inflammatory Cytokines in Healthy Adult Volunteers","authors":"Rotu Arientare Rume, Oyovwi Mega Obukohwo, Peggy Ejiro Ohwin, Oyelere Abosede Oreoluwa","doi":"10.21926/obm.icm.2401015","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21926/obm.icm.2401015","url":null,"abstract":"Regular physical activity has been proven to improve metabolism, slow aging, and decrease the likelihood of various health conditions such as obesity, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disorders. Hence, dancing was evaluated for its effects on cardiovascular, liver enzymes, and biochemical markers among healthy adults. Forty (40) healthy adults (20-40 years old) were chosen for the study, with an average age calculated. Those with certain health conditions or habits were not allowed to participate. Twenty (20) men and 20 women were chosen for the study, which involved dancing for 15 minutes a day, five days a week, for four weeks. Pre- and post-dancing groups were compared to measure any changes. Results indicated positive effects on health and well-being. The two groups were compared to analyze changes to cardiovascular, liver enzymes, and lipid profiles over a 4-week dance intervention. Both groups received assessments before and after the program, with the initial assessment taking place at 0 weeks and a follow-up at 4 weeks. This study found that a 4-week period of dancing exercise improved cardiovascular and lipid profiles (p < 0.05) in both genders. These favorable impacts were reflected in lower systolic and diastolic blood pressure, decreased total cholesterol and triglycerides, and lowered LDL with corresponding increases in HDL. This study found that participating in a tailored dance exercise program decreased glucose, insulin, and HOMA index levels compared to pre-exercise levels. Additionally, levels of ALT, AST, and GGT dropped considerably, while ALP and LDH also decreased. Kidney function, including aminotransferase, creatinine, and uric acid, was also reduced after 24 hours of post-dancing exercise. Twenty-four hours of Post-dancing exercise was found to decrease serum IL-6, CRP, and stress hormones (epinephrine and cortisol) levels as well as increased IL-10 levels in healthy adults (P < 0.05). Dancing could be demonstrated to be a practical non-medicinal approach to help prevent metabolic syndrome and reduce inflammation through increased cortisol production in healthy adults.","PeriodicalId":413918,"journal":{"name":"OBM Integrative and Complementary Medicine","volume":"57 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-02-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140427595","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-02-18DOI: 10.21926/obm.icm.2401014
Ludek Fiala
This research focused on two age groups of men (under 40 and over 40 years) and their sexual function during the COVID-19 pandemic. Somatic examinations, including the measurement of hormone levels, were conducted on all patients. The subjects also completed two questionnaires and provided personal history data. The first questionnaire covered the evaluation of erectile function, while the second assessed psychosocial trauma and stress. The results in the first group (men under 40 years of age) showed a correlation between prolactin values and erectile function score results (R = 0.54), between erectile function score results and trauma and psychosocial stress symptoms (R = 0.49) and also between prolactin values and trauma and psychosocial stress symptoms (R = 0.53). The results in the second group (men over the age of 40) showed a correlation between prolactin values and erectile function score results (R = 0.42), between erectile function score results and trauma and psychosocial stress symptoms (R = 0.54) and between free testosterone level and erectile function score results (R = 0.32). These findings support the hypothesis of a different impact of stress on the development of erectile dysfunction in men under 40 and over 40 years of age during COVID-19.
{"title":"Erectile Function in Men during the COVID-19 Pandemic","authors":"Ludek Fiala","doi":"10.21926/obm.icm.2401014","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21926/obm.icm.2401014","url":null,"abstract":"This research focused on two age groups of men (under 40 and over 40 years) and their sexual function during the COVID-19 pandemic. Somatic examinations, including the measurement of hormone levels, were conducted on all patients. The subjects also completed two questionnaires and provided personal history data. The first questionnaire covered the evaluation of erectile function, while the second assessed psychosocial trauma and stress. The results in the first group (men under 40 years of age) showed a correlation between prolactin values and erectile function score results (R = 0.54), between erectile function score results and trauma and psychosocial stress symptoms (R = 0.49) and also between prolactin values and trauma and psychosocial stress symptoms (R = 0.53). The results in the second group (men over the age of 40) showed a correlation between prolactin values and erectile function score results (R = 0.42), between erectile function score results and trauma and psychosocial stress symptoms (R = 0.54) and between free testosterone level and erectile function score results (R = 0.32). These findings support the hypothesis of a different impact of stress on the development of erectile dysfunction in men under 40 and over 40 years of age during COVID-19.","PeriodicalId":413918,"journal":{"name":"OBM Integrative and Complementary Medicine","volume":"2 7","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-02-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139959004","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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