A fascinating culinary culture is observed in the celebration of the Bohag Bihu or a spring festival celebrated in Assam which encompasses the eating of a dish made up of 101 different types of leafy vegetables. This tradition has its roots in the region's rich cultural history and an age-old belief on the healing properties of the plants. We aimed to document this ethnomedicinal practice and corelate it with previously published literature.
Methods
An ethnobotanical survey was conducted on 117 participants of four communities located in Lakhimpur, Assam, namely Assamese, Mishing, Deori and Bodo. Along with information on collection, preparation and consumption; all 101 plant specimens were collected from various locations such as roadsides, wild/unhabitated grasslands, agricultural fields, kitchen gardens, and riverbanks. Data was analysed using theme analysis and ethnobotanical indexes to investigate the names, uses, and part of the plants used. Plant identification were validated with community members and verified using the World Flora online database. Biogeography status was collected from data available on Kew Plants of the World Online.
Results
The frequency citation (FC) of all the 101 plant species ranged from 87–117%. All plants were collected and photographically documented. The scientific names and pharmacological activity of all 101 plants were also documented. Additionally, the process of preparation of the culinary dish comprising of the 101 leafy vegetables were systematically documented and photographed.
Conclusion
This study documents the Assamese folk practice of consuming 101 leafy vegetables for their purported pharmacological activity. While scientifically validating the identity and beneficial effects of these plants; this study also highlights the spirituality, cultural oikos and rich ethnic identity of the Assamese community.
{"title":"Exploring the seasonal dietary practice of consuming 101 leafy vegetables during the Assamese festival of Bohag Bihu: a study of traditional heritage and ethnomedicinal perception in Assam","authors":"Koushik Nandan Dutta , Sangeeta Dutta , Bhaswati Kashyap , Himshikhar Sarma , Rosy Ahmed , Sameeran Gam , Darshana Hazarika , Bhargab Jyoti Sahariah , Nilutpal Sharma Bora","doi":"10.1016/j.explore.2025.103292","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.explore.2025.103292","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objectives</h3><div>A fascinating culinary culture is observed in the celebration of the Bohag Bihu or a spring festival celebrated in Assam which encompasses the eating of a dish made up of 101 different types of leafy vegetables. This tradition has its roots in the region's rich cultural history and an age-old belief on the healing properties of the plants. We aimed to document this ethnomedicinal practice and corelate it with previously published literature.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>An ethnobotanical survey was conducted on 117 participants of four communities located in Lakhimpur, Assam, namely Assamese, Mishing, Deori and Bodo. Along with information on collection, preparation and consumption; all 101 plant specimens were collected from various locations such as roadsides, wild/unhabitated grasslands, agricultural fields, kitchen gardens, and riverbanks. Data was analysed using theme analysis and ethnobotanical indexes to investigate the names, uses, and part of the plants used. Plant identification were validated with community members and verified using the World Flora online database. Biogeography status was collected from data available on Kew Plants of the World Online.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>The frequency citation (FC) of all the 101 plant species ranged from 87–117%. All plants were collected and photographically documented. The scientific names and pharmacological activity of all 101 plants were also documented. Additionally, the process of preparation of the culinary dish comprising of the 101 leafy vegetables were systematically documented and photographed.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>This study documents the Assamese folk practice of consuming 101 leafy vegetables for their purported pharmacological activity. While scientifically validating the identity and beneficial effects of these plants; this study also highlights the spirituality, cultural oikos and rich ethnic identity of the Assamese community.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50459,"journal":{"name":"Explore-The Journal of Science and Healing","volume":"22 1","pages":"Article 103292"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-11-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145684618","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}
Pub Date : 2025-11-20DOI: 10.1016/j.explore.2025.103290
Nicholas Lorenz , Misha Mathur , Nawfal Saleem, Amanda Penn, David Boesler, Anupam Bishayee
Background
Stress, anxiety, and depression are prevalent mental health conditions that have the ability to significantly impact individuals' daily lives and overall well-being. These disorders can lead to physical symptoms, impaired functioning, and a reduced quality of life. In light of these challenges, osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) has emerged as a promising complementary therapy. The purpose of this study is to determine if OMT techniques, such as myofascial release, craniosacral therapy, and lymphatic drainage, can modulate this balance by reducing sympathetic nervous system dominance and enhancing parasympathetic activity, leading to improved relaxation and stress resilience.
Method
This systematic review, conducted in accordance with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines, identified 16 peer-reviewed studies examining the use of OMT for managing stress, anxiety, and depression through a comprehensive literature search and screening process spanning multiple scholarly databases.
Results
Studies have demonstrated both immediate and long-term benefits of OMT, as measured by patient-reported outcomes and physiological markers like heart rate variability. Control groups receiving sham treatments or no intervention further support the idea that the benefits of OMT are specific and not due to placebo effects. While traditional treatments, such as medication and psychotherapy, are commonly used as management modalities, they have limitations in terms of side effects, accessibility, and long-term effectiveness.
Conclusion
This review highlights the potential of OMT as a complementary and adjunctive therapy to address mental health disorders, offering a holistic, non-invasive approach to enhance patients' well-being.
{"title":"Osteopathic manipulative treatment as a complementary and integrative approach to mitigate stress, anxiety, and depression: A systematic review","authors":"Nicholas Lorenz , Misha Mathur , Nawfal Saleem, Amanda Penn, David Boesler, Anupam Bishayee","doi":"10.1016/j.explore.2025.103290","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.explore.2025.103290","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Stress, anxiety, and depression are prevalent mental health conditions that have the ability to significantly impact individuals' daily lives and overall well-being. These disorders can lead to physical symptoms, impaired functioning, and a reduced quality of life. In light of these challenges, osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) has emerged as a promising complementary therapy. The purpose of this study is to determine if OMT techniques, such as myofascial release, craniosacral therapy, and lymphatic drainage, can modulate this balance by reducing sympathetic nervous system dominance and enhancing parasympathetic activity, leading to improved relaxation and stress resilience.</div></div><div><h3>Method</h3><div>This systematic review, conducted in accordance with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines, identified 16 peer-reviewed studies examining the use of OMT for managing stress, anxiety, and depression through a comprehensive literature search and screening process spanning multiple scholarly databases.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Studies have demonstrated both immediate and long-term benefits of OMT, as measured by patient-reported outcomes and physiological markers like heart rate variability. Control groups receiving sham treatments or no intervention further support the idea that the benefits of OMT are specific and not due to placebo effects. While traditional treatments, such as medication and psychotherapy, are commonly used as management modalities, they have limitations in terms of side effects, accessibility, and long-term effectiveness.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>This review highlights the potential of OMT as a complementary and adjunctive therapy to address mental health disorders, offering a holistic, non-invasive approach to enhance patients' well-being.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50459,"journal":{"name":"Explore-The Journal of Science and Healing","volume":"22 1","pages":"Article 103290"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-11-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145679322","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}
Pub Date : 2025-11-19DOI: 10.1016/j.explore.2025.103288
Yasmine Ahmed Mourad Asaad , Shahd Ashraf Izzeldin Abdalla , Ana Beatriz Pizarro
{"title":"Music therapy for autistic people: summary of a Cochrane review","authors":"Yasmine Ahmed Mourad Asaad , Shahd Ashraf Izzeldin Abdalla , Ana Beatriz Pizarro","doi":"10.1016/j.explore.2025.103288","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.explore.2025.103288","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":50459,"journal":{"name":"Explore-The Journal of Science and Healing","volume":"22 1","pages":"Article 103288"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-11-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145764400","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}
Pub Date : 2025-11-19DOI: 10.1016/j.explore.2025.103284
Stephan A. Schwartz
{"title":"The five anxieties tearing America apart","authors":"Stephan A. Schwartz","doi":"10.1016/j.explore.2025.103284","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.explore.2025.103284","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":50459,"journal":{"name":"Explore-The Journal of Science and Healing","volume":"22 1","pages":"Article 103284"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-11-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145839804","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}
Pub Date : 2025-11-19DOI: 10.1016/j.explore.2025.103287
Alexandra Henderson, Judith Zelikoff
{"title":"Integration of environmental medicine into U.S. medical school curricula: Current state and future directions","authors":"Alexandra Henderson, Judith Zelikoff","doi":"10.1016/j.explore.2025.103287","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.explore.2025.103287","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":50459,"journal":{"name":"Explore-The Journal of Science and Healing","volume":"22 1","pages":"Article 103287"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-11-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145617908","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}
Pub Date : 2025-11-18DOI: 10.1016/j.explore.2025.103285
Angie Lillehei
{"title":"Solar storms and myocardial infarction","authors":"Angie Lillehei","doi":"10.1016/j.explore.2025.103285","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.explore.2025.103285","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":50459,"journal":{"name":"Explore-The Journal of Science and Healing","volume":"22 1","pages":"Article 103285"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-11-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145684619","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}
Pub Date : 2025-11-17DOI: 10.1016/j.explore.2025.103286
Natasha Tassell-Matamua
{"title":"Reconciling Indigenous knowledges and Western scholarship. Is it possible?","authors":"Natasha Tassell-Matamua","doi":"10.1016/j.explore.2025.103286","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.explore.2025.103286","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":50459,"journal":{"name":"Explore-The Journal of Science and Healing","volume":"22 1","pages":"Article 103286"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-11-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145571890","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}
Pub Date : 2025-11-13DOI: 10.1016/j.explore.2025.103289
Girum Melkamu Tadesse
Mental health in Ethiopia is still highly misunderstood and culturally embedded issue that is often unpacked at the spiritual level and addressed outside the formal healthcare regimes. This qualitative study examines how people with mental health conditions, their families and community members conceive mental illness in a world of religious worldviews, poverty and stigma. Interview and group discussions were carried out within urban and rural community contexts to explore local perspectives and lived experiences. Participants tended to consider the mental distress as a non-medical issue, a spiritual or a moral disruption that was often associated with phenomena, such as spirit intrusion, curses or divine punishment. Such beliefs influenced care-seeking behavior in a great way as patients resorted to Orthodox Christian healing rituals, holy water practices, and native spiritual mediators prior to the idea of seeking clinical services. The economic hardship, distance to facilities and perception of public health facilities as unwelcoming/insufficient further limited the access to biomedical care. Stigma arose as a frequent theme that expressed itself in labeling, marginalizing, and hiding the condition of affected persons – especially women, who are subject to further criticism based on the social norms of morality and family roles. In spite of these setbacks, meaningful psychosocial support and inclusive practices were observed in some community actors such as the faith-based organizations and local initiatives. There was also a hybrid model of healing in the cities wherein some of the participants engaged in both spiritual and psychiatric interventions while moving back and forth between the two to create culturally palatable routes to recovery. The findings highlight the pitfalls of bringing in canned mental health models without regard to local knowledge systems and social reality. Any mental health plan in Ethiopia has to be multi-dimensional, accepting the traditional beliefs, addressing the gendered and economic disparity, and partnering with the religious institutions. This research highlights the importance of designing community-based, culturally resonant interventions that reflect Ethiopia’s unique moral landscapes and collective values.
{"title":"Sacred suffering and stigma: Cultural pathways to mental health in Ethiopia","authors":"Girum Melkamu Tadesse","doi":"10.1016/j.explore.2025.103289","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.explore.2025.103289","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Mental health in Ethiopia is still highly misunderstood and culturally embedded issue that is often unpacked at the spiritual level and addressed outside the formal healthcare regimes. This qualitative study examines how people with mental health conditions, their families and community members conceive mental illness in a world of religious worldviews, poverty and stigma. Interview and group discussions were carried out within urban and rural community contexts to explore local perspectives and lived experiences. Participants tended to consider the mental distress as a non-medical issue, a spiritual or a moral disruption that was often associated with phenomena, such as spirit intrusion, curses or divine punishment. Such beliefs influenced care-seeking behavior in a great way as patients resorted to Orthodox Christian healing rituals, holy water practices, and native spiritual mediators prior to the idea of seeking clinical services. The economic hardship, distance to facilities and perception of public health facilities as unwelcoming/insufficient further limited the access to biomedical care. Stigma arose as a frequent theme that expressed itself in labeling, marginalizing, and hiding the condition of affected persons – especially women, who are subject to further criticism based on the social norms of morality and family roles. In spite of these setbacks, meaningful psychosocial support and inclusive practices were observed in some community actors such as the faith-based organizations and local initiatives. There was also a hybrid model of healing in the cities wherein some of the participants engaged in both spiritual and psychiatric interventions while moving back and forth between the two to create culturally palatable routes to recovery. The findings highlight the pitfalls of bringing in canned mental health models without regard to local knowledge systems and social reality. Any mental health plan in Ethiopia has to be multi-dimensional, accepting the traditional beliefs, addressing the gendered and economic disparity, and partnering with the religious institutions. This research highlights the importance of designing community-based, culturally resonant interventions that reflect Ethiopia’s unique moral landscapes and collective values.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50459,"journal":{"name":"Explore-The Journal of Science and Healing","volume":"22 1","pages":"Article 103289"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-11-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145566123","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}
Pub Date : 2025-11-10DOI: 10.1016/j.explore.2025.103283
Donna M. Thomas , Elaine Rycroft , Kirsty Allan , Saima Sharif
Past life memories in children have been studied extensively through standard qualitative and quantitative methodologies. Research to date has produced valuable data to support how we understand children’s past life memories. Children are the primary source for data collection in past life research, as the producers/facilitators of memories. Despite this, children tend to be researched on rather than with, through adult-centric approaches. In this article, we include a case study example of spontaneous past life and in-utero memories of a 6-year old child. The case study example is taken from a parent study, ‘Investigating Extra Sensory Experiences of Children from Various Cultural Backgrounds’. Through the article, we demonstrate how using creative research methods and sensory ethnography can generate important knowledge from children about their own past life memories. We include results from the parent study that show past life memory data from children, parents and professionals. We propose involving children as active agents in past life memory research and argue for new directions in the field of PLM through creative and child-friendly research.
{"title":"New methodological directions for involving children in past life memories research","authors":"Donna M. Thomas , Elaine Rycroft , Kirsty Allan , Saima Sharif","doi":"10.1016/j.explore.2025.103283","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.explore.2025.103283","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Past life memories in children have been studied extensively through standard qualitative and quantitative methodologies. Research to date has produced valuable data to support how we understand children’s past life memories. Children are the primary source for data collection in past life research, as the producers/facilitators of memories. Despite this, children tend to be researched <em>on</em> rather than <em>with</em>, through adult-centric approaches. In this article, we include a case study example of spontaneous past life and in-utero memories of a 6-year old child. The case study example is taken from a parent study, ‘Investigating Extra Sensory Experiences of Children from Various Cultural Backgrounds’. Through the article, we demonstrate how using creative research methods and sensory ethnography can generate important knowledge from children about their own past life memories. We include results from the parent study that show past life memory data from children, parents and professionals. We propose involving children as active agents in past life memory research and argue for new directions in the field of PLM through creative and child-friendly research.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50459,"journal":{"name":"Explore-The Journal of Science and Healing","volume":"22 1","pages":"Article 103283"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-11-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145566088","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}
Pub Date : 2025-11-07DOI: 10.1016/j.explore.2025.103278
Hang Shi , Yichen Zhao , Xiaoyu Shi , Yimin Hao , Dongxu Ren , Yitong Liu , Gang Zhao
Background
Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a common and severe complication following total hip arthroplasty (THA). It significantly impacts patient recovery and quality of life. In recent years, certain traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) decoctions have shown potential in the prevention and treatment of DVT. However, a systematic evaluation of their efficacy and safety remains limited. This study aims to comprehensively assess the clinical effects and safety profile of TCM decoctions in managing DVT after THA via a network meta-analysis (NMA).
Methods
The China Biomedical Literature Database (CBM), China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang Data, VIP Database, PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science were searched to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating the efficacy of TCM decoctions for treating post-THA DVT from 2020 to July 17, 2024. The Cochrane risk-of-bias tool was employed to assess the methodological quality of the included studies. Data were analyzed through NMA with Stata 17 and R 4.3.2. A Bayesian random-effects model was employed for the analysis, and the surface under the cumulative ranking curve (SUCRA) values for each intervention were calculated across different outcome measures. Publication bias was assessed through funnel plots.
Results
64 studies involving 5,603 patients were included. The results demonstrated that Huoxue Tongmai Decoction (SUCRA = 74.95%, RR = 0.178, 95% credible interval (95% CrI) = 0.043, 0.521) was the most effective intervention for reducing DVT incidence rate (IR). Huoxue Xiaoshuan Decoction (SUCRA = 94.18%, weighted mean difference (WMD) = -6.42, 95% CrI: -13.7 to 0.941) was the most effective in lowering activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), while Tongmai Decoction (SUCRA = 98.84%, WMD = -2.74, 95% CrI: -4.71 to -0.733) showed the greatest efficacy in lowering d-dimer (D-D) levels. Qingyu Decoction (SUCRA = 85.34%, WMD = -1.41, 95% CrI: -2.49 to -0.330) was the most effective intervention for fibrinogen (FIB) reduction. Huoxue Xiaoshuan Decoction (SUCRA = 80.53%, WMD = -1.93, 95% CrI: -7.32 to 3.49) was the most effective in prolonging prothrombin time (PT). Additionally, Huoxue Shujin Decoction (SUCRA = 76.38%, WMD = -2.49, 95% CrI: -14.0 to 9.07) demonstrated the highest efficacy in prolonging thrombin time (TT). In terms of DVT IR, d-D, and FIB, TCM decoctions exhibited superior efficacy in comparison to conventional treatment.
Conclusion
This study presents evidence that TCM decoctions can improve coagulation parameters to varying degrees and significantly reduce the incidence of DVT following THA. Among the interventions analyzed, Huoxue Tongmai Decoction exhibited the most pronounced effect in reducing DVT incidence.
{"title":"Effects of traditional Chinese medicine decoctions on coagulation and deep vein thrombosis after total hip arthroplasty: Network meta-analysis","authors":"Hang Shi , Yichen Zhao , Xiaoyu Shi , Yimin Hao , Dongxu Ren , Yitong Liu , Gang Zhao","doi":"10.1016/j.explore.2025.103278","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.explore.2025.103278","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a common and severe complication following total hip arthroplasty (THA). It significantly impacts patient recovery and quality of life. In recent years, certain traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) decoctions have shown potential in the prevention and treatment of DVT. However, a systematic evaluation of their efficacy and safety remains limited. This study aims to comprehensively assess the clinical effects and safety profile of TCM decoctions in managing DVT after THA via a network meta-analysis (NMA).</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>The China Biomedical Literature Database (CBM), China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang Data, VIP Database, PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science were searched to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating the efficacy of TCM decoctions for treating post-THA DVT from 2020 to July 17, 2024. The Cochrane risk-of-bias tool was employed to assess the methodological quality of the included studies. Data were analyzed through NMA with Stata 17 and R 4.3.2. A Bayesian random-effects model was employed for the analysis, and the surface under the cumulative ranking curve (SUCRA) values for each intervention were calculated across different outcome measures. Publication bias was assessed through funnel plots.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>64 studies involving 5,603 patients were included. The results demonstrated that Huoxue Tongmai Decoction (SUCRA = 74.95%, RR = 0.178, 95% credible interval (95% CrI) = 0.043, 0.521) was the most effective intervention for reducing DVT incidence rate (IR). Huoxue Xiaoshuan Decoction (SUCRA = 94.18%, weighted mean difference (WMD) = -6.42, 95% CrI: -13.7 to 0.941) was the most effective in lowering activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), while Tongmai Decoction (SUCRA = 98.84%, WMD = -2.74, 95% CrI: -4.71 to -0.733) showed the greatest efficacy in lowering <span>d</span>-dimer (D-D) levels. Qingyu Decoction (SUCRA = 85.34%, WMD = -1.41, 95% CrI: -2.49 to -0.330) was the most effective intervention for fibrinogen (FIB) reduction. Huoxue Xiaoshuan Decoction (SUCRA = 80.53%, WMD = -1.93, 95% CrI: -7.32 to 3.49) was the most effective in prolonging prothrombin time (PT). Additionally, Huoxue Shujin Decoction (SUCRA = 76.38%, WMD = -2.49, 95% CrI: -14.0 to 9.07) demonstrated the highest efficacy in prolonging thrombin time (TT). In terms of DVT IR, <span>d</span>-D, and FIB, TCM decoctions exhibited superior efficacy in comparison to conventional treatment.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>This study presents evidence that TCM decoctions can improve coagulation parameters to varying degrees and significantly reduce the incidence of DVT following THA. Among the interventions analyzed, Huoxue Tongmai Decoction exhibited the most pronounced effect in reducing DVT incidence.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50459,"journal":{"name":"Explore-The Journal of Science and Healing","volume":"22 1","pages":"Article 103278"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-11-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145493022","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}
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