Explore-The Journal of Science and Healing最新文献

Background

Osteoporosis is a chronic skeletal disease characterized by low bone mass and increased risk of fracture. In Taiwan, Guilu Erxian Jiao (GEJ) is the commonly used formula of Chinese herbal medicines for patients with osteoporosis. However, the effect of GEJ on subsequent fractures in the long term is unclear. This is the first long-term case-control study of the effects of GEJ on the rates of fracture in patients with osteoporosis.

Methods

We collected data from January 1, 2000 to December 31, 2019 from the Chang Gung Research Database. We interpreted from the reports of DXA to confirm whether the patients met the criteria for osteoporosis (T score ≤ -2.5). Eighty-five patients were enrolled in the GEJ group. After two propensity score matchings, 425 patients were identified as the non-GEJ group. We assessed four outcomes to confirm the effects of GEJ in patients with osteoporosis, including the change in the T-score, new occurrences of fractures, cumulative rate of fracture, and how many doses of GEJ need to be administered to effectively reduce fractures

Results

There was no significant difference in either the improvement in the T score or the 5-year overall fracture (p = 0.335) between these two groups. At the fracture-prone sites, the fracture in lumbar vertebrae was less in the GEJ group (p = 0.034). A total of 600 GEJ pills are required to effectively reduce the incidence of fractures (p value= 0.0039).

Conclusions

Patients who take at least 600 GEJ pills would have a decreased fracture risk at fracture-prone sites.

Introduction

Treating older patients with acute appendicitis with multiple underlying diseases is a challenging situation in the clinical setting. Throughout the history of East Asian medicine, many texts have noted the use of herbal decoctions to successfully treat symptoms associated with appendicitis, thereby providing an alternative management strategy for treating frail patients with acute appendicitis.

Case presentation

This report presents the case of a 93-year-old male diagnosed with acute appendicitis with appendicolith who was unsuitable for surgical intervention due to poor lung condition and prolonged prothrombin time caused by Apixaban. By receiving complementary therapy consisting of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and antibiotics, he recovered successfully.

Discussion

In the early stage of acute appendicitis, infection control and gastrointestinal mobility are the most important factors to consider. Scientific research has demonstrated that many herbs used in TCM formulas possess anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative and immune attenuation effects. For many patients who are unsuitable for surgical intervention due to unfavorable conditions, such as the prolonged prothrombin time presented in this case, complementary treatment with TCM offers adjuvant therapeutical effects associated with infection control, and improvement of the gastrointestinal environment and function of elderly patients.

Context

Anecdotal experience of Magdalena energy session(s) offers some indication of its health benefits, yet the literature on this new energy healing modality is scarce.

Objective

To explore the personal experience of recipients of the Magdalena energy session(s).

Method

In-depth interviews were conducted with 25 generally healthy volunteer adults from around the world who had received at least one Magdalena energy healing session with a certified Magdalena practitioner. Thematic analysis was used to discern patterns in the experience.

Results

Participants had different motives for attending the Magdalena energy session(s). Clients reported experiencing movement and release of energy, changes in sensation and feeling, and transcendental experience during the Magdalena energy session(s). After the session(s), there were reports of a sustained feeling of lightness, increased positive emotions, increased self-awareness, and deeper spiritual connection. Participants noted the uniqueness of the Magdalena energy session(s) compared to other energy healing practices.

Conclusion

The findings from this qualitative study suggest that Magdalena energy session(s) can elicit a relaxation response, alter emotions, and increase spiritual connections to facilitate a subjective healing experience. Therefore, the present study recommends further investigations to elucidate variables for a larger-scale intervention study of the effects of Magdalena energy session(s) on health outcomes and the underlying mechanisms of action.

Background

Preoperative anxiety is a prevalent concern among patients undergoing surgery, potentially elevating the risk of postoperative complications. This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of inhalation aromatherapy using rosemary essential oil and music therapy in reducing anxiety levels among general surgery patients.

Methods

This study employed a randomized controlled clinical trial design involving 236 patients scheduled for general surgery. The participants were randomly assigned to one of four groups: aromatherapy with Rosmarinus officinalis L. essential oil (n = 59), music therapy (n = 59), combined aromatherapy and music therapy (n = 59), and a control group (n = 59). Data collection instruments consisted of the Spielberger State Anxiety Inventory, a personal information form, a music player, and wireless headphones. In the aromatherapy group, patients were instructed to inhale three drops of 25% rosemary essential oil. The music therapy group listened to instrumental music through headphones, while the combined group received both inhalation aromatherapy with rosemary essential oil and music therapy. The control group received three drops of an aromatic placebo. The interventions were administered for a duration of 30 min, starting one hour before surgery. Inferential statistics, including the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, chi-square test, paired t-test, one-way analysis of variance, and LSD post-hoc test, were employed for data analysis.

Results

The study findings demonstrated significant effectiveness in reducing anxiety among surgical patients for aromatherapy (P = 0.001), music therapy (P < 0.001), and combined aromatherapy and music therapy (P = 0.001). Aromatherapy showed the highest anxiety-reducing effect, whereas combined therapy exhibited the lowest effect.

Conclusion

The results indicate that inhalation aromatherapy, music therapy, and combined aromatherapy and music therapy are all effective approaches for anxiety reduction in surgical patients. Hence, the implementation of these cost-effective and non-invasive interventions is recommended to alleviate anxiety among surgical patients.

Background

Melatonin, zinc, and multivitamins are among most recommended supplements in the fight against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). We aimed to examine the efficacy and safety of this association in the treatment of COVID-19 and COVID-like illnesses.

Methods

We conducted a multicenter prospective, randomized, double-blind, controlled trial. Patients with no medical history consulting the emergency department for covid and covid-like illness and who were not hospitalized were included. Patients were assigned in a 1:1 ratio to the treatment or the placebo group. The primary outcome was studying the effectiveness of zinc multivitamin supplement and melatonin in the treatment of COVID and -like illnesses symptoms’ according to the time from randomization to clinical improvement. The pre-specified secondary outcomes were date of disappearance of symptoms present on admission, appearance of an adverse effect due to the administration of the treatment, number of patients developing complications, requiring hospitalization, requiring respiratory support.

Results

One hundred sixty four patients were eligible for the study and were randomized to either the treatment group or the placebo group. Overall, 128 of the 164 patients had a PCR for SARS-CoV-2, yielding a positive PCR result in 49.1% of them. Regarding the disappearance of all initial presenting symptoms: on the ^5th day of the follow-up, there was a significant difference between the two groups with a p value 0.04;On the 10th day, there was a significant difference too with p value of 0.038. There were no significant differences between the two groups in recovery during the 15th day of follow-up p>0.5. Finally, 100% of patients fully recovered in the treatment group vs 98.8% in the placebo group. No severe adverse events were reported throughout the trial.

Conclusions

Our results showed that daily doses of Melatonin, zinc and vitamins did significantly reduce the duration of symptoms accelerating its disappearance among patients consulting with COVID-19 or COVID-19 like illness.

Introduction

Insomnia and vasomotor symptoms are frequently experienced during the menopausal transition and in postmenopause, worsening sleep maintenance and quality of life. Our study evaluated the use of lavender essential oil and sleep hygiene guidance on quality of life, sleep patterns and self-reported hot flashes in postmenopausal women with insomnia diagnosis.

Methods

This study is part of a larger experimental, double-blind, randomized controlled trial. We included 35 postmenopausal women with a diagnosis of insomnia who were distributed in two groups: A Placebo group (sunflower oil) and an Aroma group (Lavandula angustifolia essential oil); both inhaled the oils before bedtime for 29 days. The groups received sleep hygiene guidelines and weekly follow-up. Validated questionnaires were used to assess the effect of the intervention, and a sleep diary was used to assess sleep onset latency (SOL), total sleep time (TST), and sleep efficiency (SE) daily. Participants who complained of vasomotor symptoms at baseline kept a daily record of their frequency and intensity.

Results

All participants benefited in almost all domains of quality of life and in the self-assessed TST and SE. The Aroma group achieved a significant improvement in their overall quality of life score over time. No differences were observed in respect of the hot flashes record and daytime sleepiness.

Conclusions

The aromatherapy intervention was effective in improving the overall quality of life in the Aroma group. Moreover, the sleep diary and sleep hygiene instructions helped all participants to, respectively, self-assess and improve their sleep patterns.

Context

Pain, abdominal distention, and anxiety are major risk factors encountered after colonoscopy. Complementary and alternative treatments, such as abdominal massage and position change, are used to reduce the associated risk factors.

Objective

To determine the effect of position change and abdominal massage on anxiety, pain, and distension after colonoscopy.

Design

A randomized three-group experimental trial.

Setting and Participants

This study was conducted with 123 patients who underwent colonoscopy at the endoscopy unit of a hospital located in western Turkey.

Methods

Three groups were formed: two interventional (abdominal massage and position change) and one control, each including 41 patients. Data were gathered using a personal information form, pre- and post-colonoscopy measurement form, the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), and the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. Pain and comfort levels, abdominal circumference values, and vital signs of the patients were measured at four evaluation times.

Results

In the abdominal massage group, the VAS pain scores and abdominal circumference measurements decreased the most and the VAS comfort scores increased the most 15 min after the patients were taken to the recovery room (p<0.05). Furthermore, bowel sounds were heard, and bloating was relieved in all patients in both intervention groups 15 min after they were taken to the recovery room.

Conclusions

Abdominal massage and position change can be considered effective interventions for relieving bloating and facilitating flatulence after colonoscopy. Moreover, abdominal massage can be a powerful method for reducing pain and abdominal circumference and increasing patient comfort.

Background and objectives

Nausea, vomiting, pain and insomnia in the postoperative period may cause discomfort, and this may adversely affect the patient's compliance with the treatment. This study was conducted to determine the effect of acupressure on nausea, vomiting, pain, and sleep quality after laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

Methods

This was a randomized controlled experimental study with a placebo group. The sample comprised 188 patients who underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy (control:64;experimental:64;and placebo:60). Acupressure was performed on the experimental and placebo groups with a wristband for 24 hours. The data were collected at the 0th, 2nd, 6th, 12th, and 24th postoperative hours. Data were collected using the patient introduction form, numeric nausea scale, visual analog scale(VAS), verbal category scale(VCS), and Richards-campbell sleep questionnaire(RCSQ).

Result

The difference between the mean scores of nausea severity and the presence of nausea at the postoperative 0–2, 2–6, and 12–24 hours was statistically significant between the groups and the presence and the severity of nausea was lower in the experimental group (p<0.05). Although not statistically significant, less vomiting was observed in the experimental group patients compared to the control group patients at postoperative 0–2, 2–6, and 12–24 hours. There was no significant difference between the mean VAS and VCS scores of the groups at postoperative 2^nd, 6^th, and 24^th hours (p >0.05). The mean RCSQ total scores of the patients in the experimental group were significantly higher (p<0.001).

Conclusion

Acupressure applied to the PC6 point after laparoscopic cholecystectomy reduced postoperative nausea and vomiting and positively affected sleep quality.

Introduction

The study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of rose oil (Rosa Damascene Mill.) aromatherapy and hand-holding in reducing pain associated with peripheral intravenous catheter insertion.

Methods

A comparative mixed-method design. A total of 126 patients were included in the study. For the study's quantitative data, sociodemographic characteristics of the patients and the Patient Interview Form for the qualitative data of the Numeric Rating Scale were used. In all patients included in the study, PIVC insertion was performed a single time by the same nurse using a standard procedure. Chi-square and Bonferroni tests were used for comparative statistics.

Results

No statistically significant difference between the groups regarding age, gender, marital status, BMI, and education level (p>0.05). Pain scores: it was 2.40±1.78 in the rose oil group, 3.53±1.98 in the hand-holding group, and 4.88±1.56 in the control group. The difference between the groups regarding pain scores is statistically significant (p=0.001).

Conclusions

The study determined that rose oil aromatherapy and hand-holding interventions reduce pain during PIVC. However, rose oil aromatherapy was more effective on pain than the hand-holding intervention.

(Clinical Trial ID: NCT05425849)