The journal of alternative and complementary medicine : research on paradigm, practice, and policy
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This review article provides an overview of published data regarding the involvement of music in anesthesia practice. Music is an important topic for research in different fields of anesthesiology. The use of music preoperatively is aimed at reducing anxiety, stress, and fear. ⋯ In postoperative pain management, postanesthesia care, and neonatal intensive care, music can be a complementary method for reducing pain, anxiety, and stress. Music is a mild anxiolytic, but it is relatively ineffective when a pain stimulus is severe. However, music is inexpensive, easily administered, and free of adverse effects, and as such, can serve as complementary method for treating perioperative stress and for acute and chronic pain management, even though music's effectiveness depends on each individual patient's disposition and severity of pain stimulus.
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J Altern Complement Med · Apr 2013
Randomized Controlled TrialNutmeg extracts for painful diabetic neuropathy: a randomized, double-blind, controlled study.
Current treatment strategies for painful diabetic neuropathy (PDN) include oral medications, which are costly and may have adverse effects. Topical therapies have been used for PDN with some benefit. Nutmeg has certain properties that may be effective in ameliorating neuropathic pain. The purpose of this study was to determine whether topical nutmeg extracts can reduce pain or improve the quality of life in PDN sufferers. ⋯ In this trial topical, nutmeg extracts did not add to the improvements observed in PDN symptoms during 4 weeks treatment with preparations containing menthol and methyl salicylate. Further research designed to test the individual components of the topical therapies used in this study may clarify their benefit.
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J Altern Complement Med · Apr 2013
Controlled Clinical TrialTapping-in method (skin penetration technique) with a placebo needle for double-blind acupuncture trials.
This study investigated the effect of acupuncture needles developed for double-blind (practitioner-patient blinding) trials employing a tapping-in method that is commonly used to penetrate the skin in Japanese-style acupuncture. DESIGN, SUBJECTS, AND INTERVENTIONS: An acupuncturist applied a penetrating, a skin-touch placebo, and a no-touch control needle designed to blind both practitioners and patients in the forearm in 80 healthy subjects (patients) by tapping-in method. ⋯ The effect of practitioner blinding employing the needles for double blinding with the tapping-in method was satisfactory. It was difficult to blind the subjects when no-touch control needles together with penetrating and skin-touch placebo needles were used.
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J Altern Complement Med · Apr 2013
Randomized Controlled TrialAuricular acupressure for pain relief in adolescents with dysmenorrhea: a placebo-controlled study.
Primary dysmenorrhea is a common problem among menstruating adolescents and young women. It may cause physical distress and result in school absenteeism and reduced physical activity. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of auricular acupressure on menstrual pain and distress in adolescents with dysmenorrhea. ⋯ Auricular acupressure relieves menstrual pain and distress in high-school adolescents. The findings may serve as a basis for using auricular acupressure to treat dysmenorrhea in adolescents. There was pain reduction with sham as well as with true acupoint acupressure, but the latter was significantly greater. The sham acupoint may not be used as a control for auricular acupoint and qualitative evaluation of dysmenorrhea should be added to the evaluation by SF-MPQ in future studies.
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J Altern Complement Med · Mar 2013
Clinical TrialOzone therapy as add-on treatment in fibromyalgia management by rectal insufflation: an open-label pilot study.
The objectives of this study were to evaluate the effectiveness and tolerability of ozone therapy by rectal insufflation as add-on therapy in fibromyalgia management. ⋯ At the dose and number of sessions used in this study, ozone therapy by rectal insufflation seems to be beneficial for physical symptoms and depression of fibromyalgia.