Alternative therapies in health and medicine最新文献

Background: Palmoplantar psoriasis is a type of psoriasis that primarily affects the palms and soles, characterized by erythematous plaques, scaling, and fissuring. These features can significantly impair the quality of life, varying in severity. Skin disorders often result from lifestyle changes, such as consuming an incompatible diet (Viruddha Ahaar Sewan refers to eating foods in a contradictory order or that vitiate the body's Doshas), unhealthy food habits and a sedentary lifestyle. Additionally, genetics, stress, exposure to radiation or UV light, and other environmental influences can contribute to skin problems. This case report describes the clinical presentation, diagnostic challenges, and psychosocial impact of palmoplantar psoriasis in a 12-year-old male with a high recurrence rate, and highlights successful Ayurvedic management.

Aim and objectives: This case study aimed to document the Ayurvedic management and outcomes in a chronic inflammatory skin condition.

Methods: A 12-year-old male presented to the Ayurvedic hospital with thick scaling, cracks/fissures, severe itching, and severe pain on both soles, along with a two-year history of recurrent plaques. Thorough analysis was conducted using Ayurvedic examinations, including Dashavidha (10-fold) and Ashtavidha (8-fold), to diagnose the root causes. The condition was managed with Ayurvedic Shaman Chikitsa, involving internal medicine (herbal formulations and dietary modifications) and external applications (therapeutic oils, pastes, and other topical treatments) to alleviate symptoms and promote healing.

Observation: Assessment through scores based on clinical features and grading, which was 13 at the time of admission, 2 on day 15, and 0 on day 30. (higher the score higher is the severity of disease).

Result: Major improvements in scaling, itching, cracks, and pain on the soles were observed after 15 days of treatment. After 15 days, internal medicines were discontinued, but external applications continued until complete relief, around the 25th day. The patient was reassessed on the 30th day, showing complete resolution of all signs and symptoms with no recurrence.

Discussion and conclusion: This study demonstrates that Vipadika (plantar psoriasis) in children can be treated using an Ayurvedic approach, which includes Abhyantar Chikitsa (internal medicines) and Bahya Chikitsa (external or local treatments). The detailed descriptions of all the medicines used, their contents, their applications, and the procedures followed are provided in the main text. This information will be beneficial for physicians, aiding them in effectively treating similar cases of psoriasis.

The evolution and purpose of humor have long been of interest to the scientific community. Humor and laughter play an important role in social, emotional, mental, and physical health and well-being. The purpose of this narrative review is to explore perspectives and research findings of studies on the role of humor and laughter in health promotion and direct care interventions throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Also discussed is the cross-disciplinary context of studies during the global pandemic, which illustrates the complexity of humor in human behavior and its manifestation in healthcare environments and public health outcomes. This review of studies on humor and laughter behaviors employed during the COVID-19 pandemic points to the need for further work on the potential of humor and laughter for use in direct care interventions, health messaging, health education, and in improving the social bonds and connections among health professionals, patients, and students.

Fisetin, a natural flavonoid compound, is a senolytic agent that has shown promise in extending the lifespan of aging mice. Our goal was to determine whether Fisetin can reduce human biological aging, as verified by the TruAge test. This would be the first study in healthy human adults over the age of 50 years old to determine if Fisetin can reduce their biological age. Fisetin 500 mg daily was administered for one week per month for six months. The results showed that four out of ten healthy adults experienced a reduction in biological aging, five out of ten saw an increase, and one out of ten had no change. No adverse effects were noted among the ten subjects. Telomere lengths did not statistically change with the use of Fisetin. Because five of ten had an increase in biological age, taking Fisetin as an anti- aging agent is not recommended until more extensive studies are done.

Context: Allergic rhinitis (AR) is a common immune disease of the nasal mucosa, and anti-allergenic medications provide only momentary relief. Multiple factors, such as rising pollution, especially in urban areas; dust particles, such as from air conditioners; house mites; and the use of chemicals and aromatic products can stimulate AR.

Objective: The literature review intended to examine the effectiveness of homoeopathic remedies in immune- and inflammatory-model systems based on the basic homoeopathic principle-the law of similarity of pharmacological action at the cellular level-and to evaluate the effects of dilution or dynamization on the drug activity of Wyethia tested under controlled settings, interpreting data based on similarity.

Design: The research team performeda narrative review by searching Google scholar & Pubmed databases. The search usedthe keywords "Wyethia Helenioides", "Allergic Rhinitis", "Homoeopathy", "Homeopathy", "Anti-inflammatory", "Invitro", "Invivo", "Clinical Trial", "Case report" & "Flavanoids".

Setting: The study took place at Department of Homoeopathic Materia Medica, Dr. D Y Patil Homoeopathic Medical College and Research Institute, Pimpri, Pune, Maharashtra, India.

Results: Clinical observations indicated that the homoeopathic preparations of Wyethia in low concentrations, even beyond Avogadro's number, may have antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties. The hormesis concept-a biphasic dose response with a low-dose stimulation or beneficial effect and a high dose inhibitory or toxic effect-may explain the effects against human mast cells(HMC-1s).

Conclusions: Clinical observations indicate that the homoeopathic preparations of Wyethia in low concentrations, even beyond Avogadro's number, might show anti-inflammatory properties that the hormesis concept against HMC-1 can explain. The current research team thus anticipates that the analysis of this little-known material will provide a novel and insightful look at the state-of-the-art of homoeopathy without drawing any firm judgments for or against this treatment. Although it could be challenging to accept, it's currently the most receptive stance.

Objective: To assess the efficacy of pharmacopuncture (PA) in improving lipid profiles of patients under statin therapy.

Design and setting: Single-center retrospective study.

Interventions: Fifty-nine patients who were previously under statins were retrospectively analyzed. We injected 10 cc of PA twice or thrice a week for 12 to 16 weeks at the acupoint (CV5). The PA solution was based on aqueous extracts of various herbs: Taraxaci Herba, Artemisiae Annuae Herba, Elsholtziae Herba, Acanthopanacis Cortex, and Rumecis Radix.

Main outcome measures: Lipid profiles, including total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and triglyceride (TG) levels, were compared before and after PA treatment within patients.

Results: The mean age was 59.03 ± 19.82 years, and 50.8% were women (n=30). TC and LDL-C levels decreased from 233.6 ± 54.6 mg/dL to 202.0 ± 26.4 mg/dL (P = 1.27×10-6) and from 175.1 ± 46.2 mg/dL to 133.1 ± 21.6 mg/dL (P = 1.37×10-10), respectively. Interestingly, HDL-C level increased from 30.4 ± 14.6 mg/dL to 43.1 ± 12.1 mg/dL (P = 4.39×10-10), where men demonstrated better improvement than women (P = 1.73×10-3).

Conclusion: Our findings highlight the adjuvant effects of PA treatment on the lipid profile in patients under statins and the sex interaction in HDL-C improvement, which provides a clinical foundation for future clinical trials with personalized treatment strategies to establish the clinical benefits of PA treatment with statins.

Background: Thoracolumbar fascia (TLF) is crucial for stabilization and load distribution. Individuals with non-specific low back pain (NSLBP) and hyperlordosis present with trigger points (TrPs) and tight TLF. Instrument-assisted percussion therapy (IAPT) is a form of vibration therapy used for the release of fascia. However, the effect of IAPT has not been well understood on TrPs in TLF and its effect on posture.

Primary study objective: To determine the effect of IAPT on hyperlordotic posture, pelvic inclination, TrPs, and disability in NSLBP. Another aim was to evaluate the tangible effect of IAPT on TrPs.

Methods/design: Double-blinded placebo-controlled trial conducted on NSLBP patients with lumbar hyperlordosis.

Participants: Thirty-two participants with NSLBP were randomly allocated into IAPT and placebo groups.

Intervention: The Interventional group (n = 16) underwent IAPT and the placebo group (n = 16) underwent sham IAPT along with interferential therapy (IFT) and cryotherapy for alternate days over two weeks.

Primary outcome measures: Pre- and post-intervention (2 weeks) both the groups were evaluated for TrPs using a pressure algometer, diagnostic USG to assess dimensions of TrPs on TLF, Index of lumbar lordosis (ILL), Lumbar lordosis curve (LLC) using flexicurve, pelvic tilt (PT) angle using bubble inclinometer, and Modified Oswestry Disability Index (MODI).

Results: Upon between-group comparison, for PT (P = .0009), ILL (P = .0001), LLC (P = .0033), length (P = .0007), and breadth of TrPs (P = .0004), the improvements were significantly better in IAPT group than the control group except for PPT (P = .2834) and MODI (P = .0135) where both the groups were equally effective.

Conclusion: IAPT is an effective method of releasing TrPs and correcting hyperlordotic lumbar and pelvic posture in individuals with NSLBP. Further, the study created confirmatory evidence that IAPT is effective for treating TrPs and is not merely a placebo effect.

Background: There is a growing interest for the use of an alternative treatment approach like biofield energy therapy for managing various diseases. However, the effectiveness of distance mode of biofield energy therapy on neuropsychological function has not been examined so far.

Primary study objective: The study was aimed to evaluate the effect of biofield energy therapy via distant mode for the benefits of neuropsychological functions in adult subjects.

Methods: It comprised of three parallel groups (control, sham control, and biofield intervention). The cognitive-motor functioning scores were monitored using NIH-Toolbox in 119 adult subjects on day 0, day 90, and day 180.

Setting: Double-blind, single-center, randomized controlled trial (RCT).

Participants: Adult human subjects (male and female) with one or more psychological symptoms.

Intervention: Biofield energy therapy through distant/remote (virtual) mode.

Primary outcome measures: The cognitive-motor functioning scores.

Results: The cognitive-motor functioning scores were significantly improved in the biofield intervention group compared to the control and sham control groups: cognition- language (P < .0057 to P < .0001), working memory (P < .0001), episodic memory function (P < .0369 to P < .0001), and executive function (P < .0386 to P < .0029); motor- locomotion P < .0001), standing balance (P = .0144 to P = .0019), dexterity (P = .0474 to P < .0001), grip strength (P = .0132 to P = .0078) and endurance (P = .0041 to P = .0004). No adverse effects were observed throughout the study. Physical vital signs and blood parameters were within the normal ranges during the entire study period.

Conclusions: Overall, cognitive and motor functions significantly improved in the blessing intervention group compared to the naïve control and sham control groups, which ultimately improved the neuropsychological function and quality of life in adult subjects.

Background: Despite the numerous benefits of breast milk and breastfeeding for mother, infant and society, breastfeeding rates are not at the desired level in the world. One of the factors affecting the ability of an infant to receive breast milk for the recommended duration is the attitudes and beliefs of the mother and the environment towards breastfeeding. In this study, it was aimed to develop the Attitudes and Beliefs about Breast Milk and Breastfeeding Scale to determine women's current levels of wrong beliefs and attitudes about breast milk and breastfeeding.

Materials and methods: In this study, a methodological research design was used. The research sample consisted of 200 women who had experienced breastfeeding. Reliability was tested using the Cronbach alpha reliability coefficient, item discrimination, item-total score correlations, and test-retest method. Exploratory Factor Analysis and Confirmatory Factor Analysis were conducted for construct validity.

Results: The Attitudes and Beliefs about Breast Milk and Breastfeeding Scale developed in the study consists of 23 items and 4 factors. These are: (1) maternal nutrition and breast milk characteristics, (2) maternal factors, (3) breastfeeding behavior, (4) infant factors. It has been observed that this scale is 0.88 the Cronbach Alpha coefficients of the factors vary between 0.81 and 0.88 and that the scale has high reliability.

Conclusion: The scale shows that it is a useful tool in identifying false attitudes and beliefs about breast milk and breastfeeding. It is thought that future research and health professionals, educators and researchers providing services related to breastfeeding can benefit from the scale.