The journal of alternative and complementary medicine : research on paradigm, practice, and policy
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J Altern Complement Med · Feb 2009
Comparative Study Clinical TrialComparison of effects of ginger, mefenamic acid, and ibuprofen on pain in women with primary dysmenorrhea.
To compare the effects of ginger, mefenamic acid, and ibuprofen on pain in women with primary dysmenorrhea. ⋯ Ginger was as effective as mefenamic acid and ibuprofen in relieving pain in women with primary dysmenorrhea. Further studies regarding the effects of ginger on other symptoms associated with dysmenorrhea and efficacy and safety of various doses and treatment durations of ginger are warranted.
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J Altern Complement Med · Feb 2009
Treatment of pneumothorax following acupuncture: is a closed thoracostomy necessary for a first choice of treatment modality?
Acupuncture is currently the most popular of all forms of complementary and alternative medicine, and acupuncture is not dangerous in the hands of a trained practitioner. However, complications of acupuncture including pneumothorax have been reported. ⋯ We treated the acupuncture pneumothorax by making a choice between the closed thoracostomy and the percutaneous chest drainage based on a smoking history and chest radiographic findings. In the absence of smoking history and pulmonary emphysema or bullae, we got favorable results, not by the closed thoracostomy but only by the percutaneous chest drainage with a narrow-bore central venous catheter.
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J Altern Complement Med · Jan 2009
Randomized Controlled TrialEffects of music and essential oil inhalation on cardiac autonomic balance in healthy individuals.
The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of listening to soft music or inhaling Citrus bergamia aroma on autonomic nervous system activity in young healthy individuals. STUDY DESIGN, LOCATION, AND SUBJECTS: This single-institution study was an open-label randomized controlled trial carried out on 114 healthy undergraduate students at a university located in south Taiwan. ⋯ Listening to soft music and inhaling Citrus bergamia essential oil was found to be an effective method of relaxation, as indicated by a shift of the autonomic balance toward parasympathetic activity in young healthy individuals.
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J Altern Complement Med · Dec 2008
Randomized Controlled TrialDoes auricular acupuncture reduce postoperative vomiting after cholecystectomy?
To find the efficacy of auricular acupuncture for the prevention of postoperative nausea and vomiting after cholecystectomy. ⋯ Auricular acupuncture is effective in reducing vomiting following transabdominal cholecystectomy in female patients.
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J Altern Complement Med · Dec 2008
Complementary and alternative medicine: attitudes and patterns of use by German physicians in a national survey.
To generate valid data on attitudes about complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) as well as patterns of use in a large stochastic sample of general practitioner physicians and specialists. ⋯ This survey demonstrates a broader acceptance and practice of CAM by physicians than hitherto believed. Methods traditionally known as "natural medicine" were more frequently used than more typical CAM procedures. Further research should focus on physicians' differing motivations and observed results.