The journal of alternative and complementary medicine : research on paradigm, practice, and policy
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J Altern Complement Med · May 2011
Development of an instrument to assess the quality of acupuncture: results from a Delphi process.
Quality acupuncture influences the outcomes of clinical research, and issues associated with effective administration of acupuncture in randomized controlled trials need to be addressed when appraising studies. ⋯ Items for inclusion in an instrument to assess quality acupuncture in clinical research were identified. Further development of the instrument including relative weighting of items and reliability testing is under way.
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J Altern Complement Med · Jan 2011
ReviewMindfulness-based interventions for chronic pain: a systematic review of the evidence.
Chronic pain is a common disabling illness that does not completely respond to current medical treatments. As a consequence, in recent years many alternative interventions have been suggested. Among them, mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) are receiving growing attention. The aim of the present article is to review controlled studies investigating the efficacy of MBIs for the reduction of pain and the improvement of depressive symptoms in patients suffering from chronic pain. ⋯ However, because of these preliminary results, further research in larger properly powered and better designed studies is warranted.
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J Altern Complement Med · Jan 2011
Randomized Controlled TrialRelaxing on a bed of nails: an exploratory study of the effects on the autonomic, cardiovascular, and respiratory systems, and saliva cortisol.
This study investigated subjective and physiologic responses of lying on a bed of nails (BN) called the Shakti-mat and of listening to relaxing instructions and music. The BN has 6210 sharp-edge 5-mm plastic nails about 5 mm apart. ⋯ Healthy participants habituated to the induced pain on the BN and were able to subjectively relax. When on a BN, signs of both sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system activity were observed. The pain may hypothetically have triggered a parasympathetic response.
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J Altern Complement Med · Jan 2011
Randomized Controlled TrialNoneffect of manual needle acupuncture on experimental pain parameters in healthy young men.
The purpose of this study is to assess the effect of manual acupuncture on experimental pain parameters in healthy participants. ⋯ Manual acupuncture at bilateral acupoints LI-4 and ST-44 did not show a change in pain threshold, nociceptive flexion reflex threshold, or the nociceptive reflex amplitude in healthy participants.
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J Altern Complement Med · Jan 2011
Case ReportsIntegrative approach focusing on acupuncture in the treatment of chronic complex regional pain syndrome.
Chronic complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) is a chronic pain condition that leads to sympathetic nervous system involvement and trophic changes. ⋯ More research is needed and case studies performed to support our findings.