The journal of alternative and complementary medicine : research on paradigm, practice, and policy
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J Altern Complement Med · Apr 2007
Use of traditional chinese medicine in the Hong Kong special administrative region of China.
The role of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) as a part of the Hong Kong health care system was not formally recognized until the handover of the city's sovereignty from the United Kingdom to mainland China in 1997. Population-representative data collected in a Thematic Household Survey (THS) in 2002 provided the first large-scale, cross-sectional study of utilization of TCM after 1997. ⋯ Compared to the pre-1997 studies, the THS of 2002 made three novel findings. First, respondents of higher socioeconomic class emerged as a new class of TCM users. Second, there was a low rate of TCM utilization among institutionalized elderly persons. Lastly, older respondents were less like to be covered by TCM insurance. This paper discusses the issues raised by the THS of 2002 and suggests areas for future research, including a better understanding of TCM accessibility among the elderly and possible financing opportunities for community TCM services.
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J Altern Complement Med · Mar 2007
Randomized Controlled TrialBinaural beat technology in humans: a pilot study to assess neuropsychologic, physiologic, and electroencephalographic effects.
When two auditory stimuli of different frequency are presented to each ear, binaural beats are perceived by the listener. The binaural beat frequency is equal to the difference between the frequencies applied to each ear. Our primary objective was to assess whether steady-state entrainment of electroencephalographic activity to the binaural beat occurs when exposed to a specific binaural beat frequency as has been hypothesized. Our secondary objective was to gather preliminary data on neuropsychologic and physiologic effects of binaural beat technology. ⋯ We did not find support for steady-state entrainment of the scalp-recorded EEG while listening to 7-Hz binaural beats. Although our data indicated increased depression and poorer immediate recall after listening to binaural beats, larger studies are needed to confirm these findings.
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J Altern Complement Med · Dec 2006
ReviewDevil's Claw (Harpagophytum procumbens) as a treatment for osteoarthritis: a review of efficacy and safety.
Osteoarthritis (OA) is a highly prevalent musculoskeletal disorder. Conventional treatment (i.e., the use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs-NSAIDs) is associated with well-documented adverse effects. Devil's Claw (Harpagophytum procumbens) a traditional South African herbal remedy used for rheumatic conditions, may be a safer treatment option. To date, 14 clinical trials have assessed its efficacy/ effectiveness in OA. ⋯ The methodological quality of the existing clinical trials is generally poor, and although they provide some support, there are a considerable number of methodologic caveats that make further clinical investigations warranted. The clinical evidence to date cannot provide a definitive answer to the two questions posed: (1) Does it work? And (2) is it safe? A definitive high-quality trial that addresses the necessary methodologic improvements noted is needed to answer these important clinical questions.
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J Altern Complement Med · Dec 2006
Comprehensive, integrative management of pain for patients with sickle-cell disease.
The study was conducted to: (1) investigate both pharmacologic and complementary therapies used for pain management by caregivers of children with sickle cell disease (SCD), (2) investigate the prevalence and types of complementary therapies used for pain management by caregivers of children with SCD, and (3) explore caregivers' interests in using complementary therapies in the future. ⋯ Caregivers of children using greater numbers of conventional pain medications were more likely to be using complementary therapies as well. If offered in the future, many caregivers were willing to try various types of complementary therapies for pain management.
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J Altern Complement Med · Nov 2006
Clinical TrialA pilot study of external qigong therapy for patients with fibromyalgia.
Although qigong is an important part of Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) based on a philosophy similar to acupuncture, few studies of qigong exist in the Western medicine literature. To evaluate qigong therapy as a modality in treating chronic pain conditions such as fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS), we report a pilot trial of 10 women with severe FMS who experienced significant improvement after external qigong therapy (EQT). ⋯ Treatment with EQT resulting in complete recovery for some FMS patients suggests that TCM may be very effective for treating pain and the multiplicity of symptoms associated with FMS. Larger controlled trials of this promising intervention are urgently needed.