Forschende Komplementarmedizin最新文献

In Germany, the interdisciplinary, evidence- and consensus-based medical AWMF S3 guidelines represent the highest available scientific level and have significant impact on patient care. In Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, herbal medicine has a long tradition in medical care. Of notice, the evidence for its efficacy in numerous indications is increasing. This systematic review evaluates to which extent phytotherapy is taken into account in the current S3 guidelines. In all available medical AWMF S3 guidelines, the recommendations/statements on phytotherapeutic options were identified, and 2 independent experts classified them into 3 categories: positive, negative, and open. In addition, comments on side effects and interactions were extracted. Phytotherapeutic options are specified in 40 (31.3 %) out of 128 AWMF S3 guidelines. Phytotherapy was not included in 55 guidelines (42.9%) with potential herbal therapeutic options. From 204 recommendations 139 (68.1%) are negative or remain open. In 27 guidelines (67.5%) phytotherapy is listed in the chapter for complementary and alternative medicine and/or miscellaneous, in 7 guidelines (17.5%) it is mentioned at the end of the recommendations on medical drug therapy, and in 8 guidelines (20.0%) it is listed in the recommendations regarding conventional treatments. Side effects and interactions are stated in 70 out of 204 recommendations (34.3%). Less than half of the currently available medical AWMF S3 guidelines include phytotherapy in their search strategy. Only few positive statements and recommendations on herbal medicine are taken into account. A systematic and comprehensive work up of the existing evidence on the one hand and the consequent incorporation on the other is necessary to appropriately integrate phytotherapy in the German medical guidelines.

Background: Since the 1970s, MORA bioresonance therapy has globally been applied in the context of complementary medicine for various indications. In this regard, practitioners also report successful application in smoking cessation. The present study aims to verify these reports in a controlled study setting.

Methods: In order to achieve the aforementioned objective, we subjected the bioresonance method to a prospective, placebo-controlled, double-blind, parallel-group study involving 190 smokers. In both study groups (placebo n = 95; active bioresonance group; n = 95) the course of treatment and study conditions were standardized.

Results: 1 week (77.2% vs. 54.8%), 2 weeks (62.4% vs. 34.4%), 1 month (51.1% vs. 28.6%), and 1 year (28.6% vs. 16.1%) after treatment, the success rate in the verum group differed significantly from the results in the placebo group. Also, the subjective health condition after treatment and subjective assessment of efficacy, polled after 1 week, were significantly more positive among participants in the active bioresonance therapy group than among those in the placebo group. Adverse side effects were not observed.

Conclusion: According to the findings attained by this pilot study, bioresonance therapy is clinically effective in smoking cessation and does not show any adverse side effects.

Background: Two cases of sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSHL) in left ear diagnosed by an ear, nose, and throat specialist are presented.

Case report: The first patient was a 22-year-old male college student with moderately severe hearing loss, tinnitus, and a feeling of fullness in the ear for 5 days. The other patient was a 48-year-old male pilot with severe hearing loss, tinnitus, and fullness in the ear for 7 days. Both patients did not respond to medical treatment, and the hearing loss became even worse. The patients were then treated with acupuncture 5 and 7 days, respectively, after hearing loss had developed. Electroacupuncture was applied to ear and neck once per day for both patients.

Results: Fullness in ear disappeared during the first treatment in both cases, and the first patient also felt great improvement in hearing during the first treatment. After 10 treatments, the first patient had recovered. In the other patient, hearing had greatly improved after 19 treatments.

Conclusion: Acupuncture may be worth trying in patients with SSHL who do not respond to routine medical treatment.

Background: Apart from well-known medical plants of rational phytotherapy there is a variety of plants, such as Mesembryanthemum crystallinum L., whose potential effects are not examined sufficiently to date. Therefore, in 3 pilot studies we investigated the dermatological effect of an extract of M. crystallinum (Mesem Cream).

Materials and methods: In a retrospective user survey and a pre-post study with 6 persons in a wheelchair the efficacy profile of Mesem Cream was investigated. In a third placebo-controlled pilot study changes in skin hydration was measured using corneometer measurement in 6 healthy volunteers with dry skin.

Results: Compared to untreated skin, corneometer measurement revealed a significant increase of skin hydration with Mesem Cream (25.8 ± 5.8 pre to 46.6 ± 9.2 post treatment vs. 26.3 ± 6.0 pre to 33.8 ± 6.0 post treatment) as well as a statistical trend (p=0.11; t-Test) compared to basic cream (25.1 ± 4.7 pre to 41.9 ± 7.3 post treatment). Improvement in skin hydration was also found in 17 of 29 survey participants. Further, the volunteers in the wheelchair showed significant improvements in their subjectively rated skin softness and hydration level.

Conclusion: These pilot studies investigated skin hydrating effects of the traditional medical plant M. crystallinum. Although the results were promising, they have to be interpreted with caution in particular due to low sample size. Further, study design should be more clear-cut and focus skin hydration as a main outcome parameter in more detail.

In this systematic review we aimed to summarize surveys investigating the use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) methods in the general German population and by physicians and lay practitioners. Nationwide surveys (using random, panel, or quota sampling methods) published since 1993 investigating the CAM use among the population and healthcare providers in Germany were identified through searches in PubMed, Google Scholar, Google, citation screening, and expert contacts. In addition we collected publicly available data from official nationwide health statistics and market statistics. 16 surveys of the general adult population and 4 surveys among physicians met inclusion criteria. The use of CAM among general population in the previous years varied between 40 and 62%. General practitioners and orthopedic specialists in private practice seem to provide CAM therapies widely and more frequently than other physician groups, with herbal medicine and chirotherapy being the most frequently used treatments. We could not identify any surveys of lay practitioners. The available surveys provide clear evidence of the widespread use of CAM methods in Germany both by the general population and by physicians. In recent years the use of CAM methods does not seem to increase any longer; for some methods (particularly herbal remedies) the use seems to be declining.

Background: Drugs used in preterm labor (PTL) have side effects. Research into new tocolytic agents is recommended. The plant Bryophyllum pinnatum (Lam.) Oken (Kalanchoe pinnata (Lam.) Pers) is used in Anthroposophic Medicine for PTL, insomnia, and emotional disturbances. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of B. pinnatum mother tincture (MT) on Wistar rats and their fetuses throughout pregnancy.

Method: Sixty animals were divided into 6 equal groups: controls C1 and C2 received 1 and 25 × the maximum daily dose of a 30% ethanol / water solution, serving as vehicle of B. pinnatum MT; B1 and B2 received 1 and 25 × the maximum daily dose of B. pinnatum MT; and B3 and B4 received 50 and 100 × B. pinnatum concentrate. The following parameters were assessed: weight gain; maternal and fetal mortality; implantations and resorptions; number and weight of fetuses and placentas; major external fetal malformations.

Results: Rat weight gain (excluding fetal and placental weight) was higher in group B4 and lower in group B2. There were no maternal or fetal deaths and no group differences in implantations and resorptions or number and weight of fetuses and placentas. No macroscopic fetal abnormalities were observed at the 4 dosage levels investigated.

Conclusion: Daily administration of B. pinnatum MT at high doses to pregnant Wistar rats interfered with maternal weight gain and did not interfere with fetal compartment.