The journal of alternative and complementary medicine : research on paradigm, practice, and policy
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J Altern Complement Med · Apr 2012
Randomized Controlled TrialStress-reducing effects of real and artificial nature in a hospital waiting room.
This field study investigated the potential stress-reducing effects of exposure to real or artificial nature on patients in a hospital waiting room. Additionally, it was investigated whether perceived attractiveness of the room could explain these effects. ⋯ Natural elements in hospital environments have the potential to reduce patients' feelings of stress. By increasing the attractiveness of the waiting room by adding either real plants or posters of plants, hospitals can create a pleasant atmosphere that positively influences patients' well-being.
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J Altern Complement Med · Apr 2012
Clinical TrialHypertonic dextrose injections (prolotherapy) for knee osteoarthritis: results of a single-arm uncontrolled study with 1-year follow-up.
The objective of this study was to determine whether prolotherapy, an injection-based complementary treatment for chronic musculoskeletal conditions, improves pain, stiffness, and function in adults with symptomatic knee osteoarthritis (KOA) compared to baseline status. ⋯ In adults with moderate to severe KOA, dextrose prolotherapy may result in safe, significant, sustained improvement of knee pain, function, and stiffness scores. Randomized multidisciplinary effectiveness trials including evaluation of potential disease modification are warranted to further assess the effects of prolotherapy for KOA.
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J Altern Complement Med · Apr 2012
Randomized Controlled TrialReduction in nausea and vomiting in children undergoing cancer chemotherapy by either appropriate or sham auricular acupuncture points with standard care.
Over 40% of children with cancer have reported that chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) are the two most distressing side-effects of treatment even when antiemetic drugs have been used. ⋯ These preliminary findings did show evidence that AAP is acceptable to the children and their parents to prevent/treat CINV. However, there were no statistically significant differences between the AAP and SAP groups in the prevention/treatment of CINV. There were clinical trend differences between the groups, which may due to the small sample size. In a larger study, it would be important to determine whether the effects of the AAP and SAP treatment are independent of any psychologic effects, such as the researcher's increased presence in both treatment groups.
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J Altern Complement Med · Apr 2012
Comparative StudyThe pulse spectrum analysis at three stages of pregnancy.
This study is the first to detect the radial pulses of the three diagnosis positions (inch, bar, and cubit) in both wrists (six positions) by pulse spectrum analysis. The purpose of this study was to identify the difference among pulses of the six positions at three stages of pregnancy and to examine whether the results of this study agree with the theory of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), which states that the cubit pulse shows unique changes for an expectant woman and that the pulse changes coincide with the progression of gestation. ⋯ The cubit pulse is unique for pregnant women, which is consistent with the theory of TCM. In addition, the pulse conditions at the three stages of pregnancy are dissimilar.