Complementary therapies in medicine
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Complement Ther Med · Dec 2014
Randomized Controlled TrialActivity of liver enzymes in multiple sclerosis patients with Hot-nature diet and co-supplemented hemp seed, evening primrose oils intervention.
It is unknown whether diets with a high dietary total antioxidant capacity (TAC) can modify oxidative stress, low-grade inflammation, or liver dysfunction, all of which are risk factors for multiple sclerosis disease. This study assesses alanine amino-transferase (ALT), aspartate-aminotransferase (AST) and gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) activities in MS patients treated with co-supplemented hemp seed and evening primrose oils as well as Hot-nature diet and the therapeutic potential this intervention. ⋯ Selecting foods according to their Total antioxidant capacity such as co-supplemented hemp seed and evening primrose oils with Hot-nature diet affects antioxidant intake and can have beneficial effects on improving EDSS score and activity of liver enzymes in RRMS patients.
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Complement Ther Med · Dec 2014
Randomized Controlled TrialA randomized clinical trial of the efficacy of applying a simple protocol of boiled Anethum Graveolens seeds on pain intensity and duration of labor stages.
This study aimed to test the effects of boiled Anethum Graveolens seeds on pain intensity and duration of labor stages. ⋯ Results supported the boiled Anethum Graveolens seeds as an effective way to progress of the labor.
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Complement Ther Med · Dec 2014
Randomized Controlled TrialCredibility of a comparative sham control intervention for Craniosacral Therapy in patients with chronic neck pain.
Determining efficacy in complementary medicine research requires valid placebo/sham control groups that are credible to patients and ensure successful blinding. Within the scope of this study, a light touch sham-control intervention for trials of Craniosacral Therapy (CST) was developed and tested for its credibility. ⋯ Patients' expectancy, credibility and therapeutic alliance did not appear to affect study outcomes, blinding patients to group allocation was possible, and sham intervention was tolerable and safe. The design can therefore be recommended as control for non-specific treatment effects in future CST clinical trials.
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Complement Ther Med · Dec 2014
Effect of gefitinib plus Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) in patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer: a retrospective case-control study.
Some patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) respond well to the EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor gefitinib. Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) was effective in improving the quality of life and prolonging overall survival in patient with NSCLC. We aim to determine whether gefitinib plus CHM could prolong the progression-free survival (PFS) or median survival time (MST) in patients with NSCLC than gefitinib alone. ⋯ This case-control analysis suggested that treatment with gefitinib plus CHM prolonged PFS and MST compared with gefitinib in patients with NSCLC, and it is worthy of further study.
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Complement Ther Med · Dec 2014
Use of complementary and alternative medicine across the childbirth spectrum in China.
Over the last decade, complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) has been widely used in maternity practice all over the world. Women from different cultural backgrounds prefer the use of specific CAM modalities. ⋯ In order to communicate effectively about CAM, health professionals should undertake continuing professional development on updated perspectives of CAM use in obstetrics, and equip themselves with updated knowledge about the evidence-base for CAM, in order to provide efficient and qualified care to potential CAM users.