Complementary therapies in medicine最新文献

{"title":"The anxiolytic effects of exercise: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials","authors":"Hao Su ,&nbsp;Yin Liang ,&nbsp;Runyu Zhou ,&nbsp;Yuanyuan Lv ,&nbsp;Lingxiao He ,&nbsp;Laikang Yu","doi":"10.1016/j.ctim.2026.103328","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ctim.2026.103328","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objective</h3><div>This study aimed to evaluate the anxiolytic effects of exercise in individuals with high anxiety or diagnosed anxiety disorders and to identify optimal exercise prescription parameters. A key methodological innovation of this work is the application of a three-level meta-analytic model, which accounts for effect-size dependency arising from multiple outcomes within studies, thereby improving the robustness and precision of the pooled estimates.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>A comprehensive literature search was conducted across five databases: Embase, PubMed, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and Scopus. Inclusion criteria: (1) randomized controlled trial (RCT) design; (2) outcomes assessed using validated scales; (3) participants diagnosed with an anxiety disorder or identified as high-anxiety through validated scales; and (4) inclusion of both an intervention group and a control group, with the sole distinction between them being the addition of exercise in the intervention group. Analyses were performed using a three-level restricted maximum likelihood random-effects model.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Twenty-seven randomized controlled trials involving 1447 participants were included. Exercise demonstrated a significant anxiolytic effect (Cohen’s <em>d</em> = −0.42, <em>p</em> &lt; 0.01). Subgroup analysis indicated that comorbid chronic conditions attenuated treatment efficacy (Cohen’s <em>d</em> = −0.29, <em>p</em> &lt; 0.01). O<em>p</em>timal outcomes were observed with exercise programs lasting &lt; 12 weeks, sessions lasting 45–60 min, frequencies of &gt; 3 times per week, and total weekly exercise durations of ≥ 180 min. In contrast, individuals without chronic conditions showed more favorable results. The most beneficial exercise regimens for this group included programs lasting &lt; 12 weeks, sessions lasting &gt; 60 min, frequencies of 3 times per week, and total weekly durations of &gt; 180 min.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Exercise appears to be an effective non-pharmacological intervention for alleviating anxiety symptoms. While chronic conditions may diminish the magnitude of these benefits, tailored exercise prescriptions remain promising. Nevertheless, given the heterogeneity of interventions and limited long-term follow-up across included studies, further high-quality research is needed to confirm the sustainability and generalizability of these findings.</div></div><div><h3>Trial registration</h3><div>The protocol was registered in PROSPERO with the registration number CRD420251014897.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":10545,"journal":{"name":"Complementary therapies in medicine","volume":"97 ","pages":"Article 103328"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146776286","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Acupuncture for glucose metabolism: An updated meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials","authors":"Xinyue Jiang ,&nbsp;Hui Dong ,&nbsp;Lingling Yu ,&nbsp;Xingyue Yang ,&nbsp;Yueheng Tang","doi":"10.1016/j.ctim.2026.103335","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ctim.2026.103335","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This meta-analysis evaluates the efficacy of acupuncture in improving glucose metabolism in patients with metabolic disorders. We comprehensively searched PubMed, Web of Science, Excerpta Medica Database (Embase), Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang, and other databases from January 2017 to October 2025 for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing acupuncture to control interventions. Fourteen RCTs involving 1179 participants were included. Pooled random-effects analyses demonstrated that acupuncture was associated with greater improvements in several glycemic parameters compared with control groups: homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR; MD −0.79, 95% CI −1.30 to −0.28, I²=91%), glycosylated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c; MD −0.68%, 95% CI −1.02 to −0.34, I²=88%), fasting plasma glucose (FPG; MD −0.61 mmol/L, 95% CI −0.82 to −0.41, I²=95%), 2-hour Postprandial Plasma Glucose (P2hPG; MD −0.94 mmol/l, 95% CI −1.49 to −0.39, I²=92%) and fasting insulin (FINS; MD −3.27 mU/L, 95% CI −5.59 to −0.95). However, these pooled estimates were accompanied by substantial to considerable heterogeneity, and findings varied across stratified analyses based on control type. Subgroup analyses suggested that manual acupuncture might be more effective. The overall certainty of evidence was moderate, with heterogeneity and potential risks of selection and detection bias, identified as major limitations. Adverse events were infrequent and mild. In conclusion, this meta-analysis indicates a potential role for acupuncture in managing glucose metabolism, but the high heterogeneity and methodological limitations preclude definitive conclusions. Future large-scale, rigorously designed RCTs with homogeneous comparators and standardized protocols are needed to establish its efficacy and optimal role in clinical practice.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":10545,"journal":{"name":"Complementary therapies in medicine","volume":"97 ","pages":"Article 103335"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147324886","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The role of acupuncture in managing hyperhidrosis and vasomotor sweating: Evidence, mechanisms, and gaps","authors":"Guangming Lu ,&nbsp;Wenting Tong ,&nbsp;Kexuan Zhu ,&nbsp;Qiong Liu ,&nbsp;Hongyu Tan ,&nbsp;Delong Xiao ,&nbsp;Jinglin Pan ,&nbsp;Hui Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.ctim.2026.103337","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ctim.2026.103337","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background and purpose</h3><div>Hyperhidrosis and thermoregulatory disorders, including menopausal and treatment-induced hot flushes, can significantly impair quality of life. While acupuncture has been proposed as a potential non-pharmacological treatment for these conditions, the quality and consistency of available evidence remain unclear. This review aims to critically assess the current literature on acupuncture for various kinds of hyperhidrosis, evaluating its clinical efficacy, mechanisms of action, and limitations.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>A narrative review was conducted based on English-language, PubMed-indexed published clinical studies, randomised controlled trials (RCTs), and meta-analyses investigating acupuncture as a treatment for primary hyperhidrosis, emotional sweating, paraneoplastic sweating, and hot flushes in both menopausal and breast cancer populations. Particular attention was paid to study quality, intervention protocols, and outcome durability.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Evidence for the use of acupuncture in primary, emotional, and paraneoplastic hyperhidrosis is limited to small, often uncontrolled studies with significant methodological shortcomings. In contrast, acupuncture for menopausal and breast cancer-related hot flushes is supported by multiple RCTs and meta-analyses involving over 1000 participants, demonstrating short-term improvements in frequency and severity of symptoms. However, effects on hot flushes generally diminish after three months post-treatment. Mechanistically, acupuncture is thought to act via modulation of the autonomic nervous system and neuropeptide regulation, though precise pathways remain to be fully elucidated.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Acupuncture may offer short-term benefits for hot flushes in menopausal and breast cancer populations, but current evidence for its effectiveness in other kinds of hyperhidrosis remains weak and inconclusive. High-quality, standardised clinical trials with long-term follow-up are needed to better define its role in the integrative management of thermoregulatory disorders.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":10545,"journal":{"name":"Complementary therapies in medicine","volume":"97 ","pages":"Article 103337"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147324960","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Corrigendum to “Therapeutic effect of focused-extracorporeal shockwave therapy on muscular and adjacent tissue stiffness and pain changes in myofascial pain syndrome: A randomized controlled trial study” [Complem Ther Med 92 (2025), 103203]","authors":"Pijakkana Vasvit ,&nbsp;Kultida Klarod ,&nbsp;Oranat Sukkho ,&nbsp;Sirirat Kiatkulanusorn ,&nbsp;Phurichaya Werasirirat ,&nbsp;Xue-Qiang Wang ,&nbsp;Yong-Hui Zhang ,&nbsp;Juntip Namsawang ,&nbsp;Pornpimol Muanjai ,&nbsp;Nongnuch Luangpon","doi":"10.1016/j.ctim.2026.103326","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ctim.2026.103326","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":10545,"journal":{"name":"Complementary therapies in medicine","volume":"97 ","pages":"Article 103326"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146123936","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The role of yoga in enhancing spiritual and psychological health: Evidence from a large cross-sectional study","authors":"Gusztáv József Tornóczky ,&nbsp;Henriett Nagy ,&nbsp;István Karsai ,&nbsp;Ana Conceição ,&nbsp;Robert Podstawski ,&nbsp;Attila Szabo","doi":"10.1016/j.ctim.2026.103330","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ctim.2026.103330","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Research has rarely explored yoga’s link to spirituality, and none have examined spiritual well-being via Fisher’s four-domain model. Comparative studies with active control groups are also lacking.</div></div><div><h3>Objective</h3><div>This study examines the relationships between spirituality, subjective well-being (SWB), and mental health indicators (depression, anxiety, and stress) among yoga practitioners, physically active individuals, and inactive controls.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>A total of 1.167 Hungarian adults (79 % females), mean age 34.52 years (SD ± 14.97), completed an online survey assessing spiritual health attitudes and behaviors, SWB, and mental health symptoms, along with the frequency of physical activity.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Multivariate analyses showed significant group differences (Wilks’ Λ =.811, F(26, 2304) = 9.77, p &lt; .001, partial η² = .099) across the combined dependent variables. Yoga practitioners reported significantly (p &lt; .001) higher well-being and spirituality, and lower depression, anxiety, and distress than both regular exercisers and inactive participants. Regular exercisers also demonstrated more favorable psychological outcomes than inactive individuals, though to a lesser extent than yoga practitioners. Weekly physical activity frequency was positively associated with well-being and negatively associated with mental health symptoms across groups. Correlation patterns revealed several spirituality-related variables that were uniquely and more strongly associated (p &lt; .001 to p &lt; .023) with health indicators in the yoga group.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>These findings support the mental health benefits of regular physical activity and emphasize yoga's distinct contribution to spiritual well-being. The results highlight the integrative value of embodied spiritual practices, such as yoga, in promoting psychological resilience and holistic well-being.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":10545,"journal":{"name":"Complementary therapies in medicine","volume":"97 ","pages":"Article 103330"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146218797","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Efficacy of acupuncture for chronic recalcitrant plantar fasciitis: A randomized trial","authors":"Weiming Wang ,&nbsp;Jing Kang ,&nbsp;Xi Wang ,&nbsp;Lili Zhu ,&nbsp;Kehua Zhou ,&nbsp;Zhiwei Zang ,&nbsp;Ruimin Jiao ,&nbsp;Weina Zhang ,&nbsp;Jiaxiang Shi ,&nbsp;Yan Liu ,&nbsp;Zhishun Liu","doi":"10.1016/j.ctim.2026.103329","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ctim.2026.103329","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Plantar fasciitis (PF) is a leading cause of heel pain, yet effective treatments for chronic, recalcitrant cases are scarce. The aim of this randomized, no-treatment-controlled trial was to assess whether acupuncture (a combination of high- and low-intensity acupuncture) would reduce pain in patients with chronic recalcitrant PF compared to a waitlist control. Participants were randomly assigned (2:1:1) to high-intensity acupuncture (n = 60), low-intensity acupuncture (n = 30), or waitlist control (n = 30). The primary outcome was the proportion of responders (≥50 % reduction in worst pain intensity) at week 4 for the combined acupuncture groups versus the waitlist control group. Key secondary outcomes included responder rates for high- and low-intensity acupuncture versus waitlist control at weeks 4, 8, and 16. Of 120 randomized participants, 109 (90.8 %) completed the trial. At week 4, the proportion of responders was significantly higher in the combined groups than in the waitlist control group (56.7 % [95 %CI, 46.4 %-66.9 %] vs 33.3 % [95 %CI, 16.5 %-50.2 %]; difference: 23.3 % [95 %CI, 3.6 %-43.1 %]; <em>P</em> = 0.02), with a similar trend observed through week 16. A graded response to acupuncture intensity was evident: at week 16, the responder rate in the high-intensity acupuncture group was 76.7 %, compared to 36.7 % in the waitlist control group (difference: 40.0 % [95 % CI, 19.7 %-60.3 %]; <em>P</em> &lt; 0.001), while the low-intensity acupuncture group had a nonsignificant 20.0 % difference (95 % CI, −4.7–44.7 %; <em>P</em> = 0.11). Among patients with chronic recalcitrant PF, acupuncture, particularly high-intensity acupuncture, notably reduced pain compared with waitlist control, with lasting effects up to week 16.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":10545,"journal":{"name":"Complementary therapies in medicine","volume":"97 ","pages":"Article 103329"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146225497","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effect of auriculotherapy on the management of anxiety in pregnant and postpartum women in health services: Scoping review","authors":"Larissa Régia da Fonsêca MARINHO ,&nbsp;Maria Eduarda de Araújo RAMOS ,&nbsp;Vinicius dos Santos Lemos PEREIRA ,&nbsp;Gabriel Pedro Duarte da SILVA ,&nbsp;Jucielly Ferreira da FONSECA ,&nbsp;Silmara de Oliveira SILVA ,&nbsp;Kessya Dantas DINIZ ,&nbsp;Rodrigo Assis Neves DANTAS ,&nbsp;Daniele Vieira DANTAS","doi":"10.1016/j.ctim.2026.103324","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ctim.2026.103324","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objective</h3><div>To map the scientific literature on the effects of auriculotherapy for managing anxiety in pregnant and postpartum women in health services.</div></div><div><h3>Method</h3><div>The review was conducted in June 2025 by two independent reviewers. A scope search was performed across the following databases: Scopus, LILACS (Latin American and Caribbean Health Sciences Literature), Web of Science, SciELO (Scientific Electronic Library Online), PubMed, Cochrane Library, the CAPES Catalog of Theses and Dissertations, SAGE Open, Wanfang Data, and the China National Knowledge Infrastructure. The review included full-text online manuscripts that addressed the research question, encompassing dissertations, theses, ministerial orders, guidelines, and scientific articles.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>The final sample consisted of 12 studies published between 2013 and 2025, with a peak in 2023 (25 %), originating from Brazil and Asia. The interventions predominantly used dark mustard seeds applied to the Shen Men and Anxiety acupoints. The State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) was the primary instrument for anxiety assessment. Most studies demonstrated a significant reduction in mean STAI scores and anxiety symptoms in pregnant and postpartum women following auriculotherapy. Key reported effects included decreased anxiety levels, reduced low back pain and fatigue, and improved sleep quality and energy levels.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Auriculotherapy shows beneficial effects for managing anxiety in pregnant and postpartum women, leading to enhanced well-being and reduced anxiety levels.</div></div><div><h3>Implications</h3><div>for the profession and/or patient care: Further research is necessary, particularly focusing on the postpartum period, to consolidate the evidence regarding the efficacy and safety of auriculotherapy in this population.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":10545,"journal":{"name":"Complementary therapies in medicine","volume":"97 ","pages":"Article 103324"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146123984","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Bridging tradition and innovation: Acupuncture for depression through clinical efficacy and neurobiological insights","authors":"Ning Xu ,&nbsp;Siyan Xu ,&nbsp;Long Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.ctim.2025.103307","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ctim.2025.103307","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>To elucidate the research progress on acupuncture therapy as a complementary and alternative medicine treatment for depression by reviewing existing literature.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>We conducted a comprehensive search across PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure databases for relevant literature from inception to October 7, 2024. Additionally, we manually searched medical literature related to Chinese Medicine and acupuncture for pertinent theories and theoretical frameworks.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Manual acupuncture (MA) and electroacupuncture (EA) are the most commonly studied forms of acupuncture, demonstrating efficacy in modulating depression both as standalone therapies and as adjunct therapies for antidepressants in the short to medium-term. Other modalities such as auricular acupuncture, laser acupuncture, and warm acupuncture have also shown benefits in managing depression. The therapeutic mechanisms of acupuncture are multifaceted, including modulation of neural networks, regulation of neurotransmitters, neurotrophic factors, and neuropeptides, inhibition of neuroinflammation and Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) axis hyperactivity, restoration of neuroplasticity, modulation of specific gene expression, and regulation of intestinal flora. Recent studies emphasize the need for collaboration between acupuncture, engineering, and modern technology for the future development of acupuncture techniques.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Acupuncture has shown efficacy in treating depression through multi-targeted modulation within the body. Moving forward, acupuncture is poised to enhance its practice by cooperating with engineering and digital technologies to offer patients more comprehensive and personalized treatment plans.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":10545,"journal":{"name":"Complementary therapies in medicine","volume":"96 ","pages":"Article 103307"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145562990","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The progress and application of hot spring hydrotherapy in medical fields: A narrative review","authors":"Yulan Lv ,&nbsp;Dongyun Li ,&nbsp;Ruina Liu ,&nbsp;Yongsheng He","doi":"10.1016/j.ctim.2025.103312","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ctim.2025.103312","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Natural hot spring water has been known for its healing and wellness properties for thousands of years. Hot spring hydrotherapy a form of natural therapy, the medical effects of it mainly involves a comprehensive effect of multiple aspects such as physics, chemistry, biology and psychology. This paper starts from the current stage of the application of hot spring hydrotherapy in the field of medicine, analyses the recent research on hot spring hydrotherapy in the medical field in order to form a comprehensive understanding of hot spring hydrotherapy. The recent literature and systematic reviews were surveyed and summarized, hot spring hydrotherapy is very effective in solving skin diseases, rheumatism, digestive system diseases, respiratory system diseases, nervous system diseases and cardiovascular diseases. In addition, the selection of hot spring and treatments should be considered for different conditions as hot spring hydrotherapy is not suitable for all diseases. Hot spring hydrotherapy can be considered a safe and generally well-accepted intervention in health care to alleviate symptoms and improve quality of life, and hopes that it can provide a certain reference basis for the research of the relevant content in the future.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":10545,"journal":{"name":"Complementary therapies in medicine","volume":"96 ","pages":"Article 103312"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145647475","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The health effects of diaphragmatic breathing: A systematic review","authors":"Chan-Young Kwon ,&nbsp;Jiyoon Won ,&nbsp;Boram Lee","doi":"10.1016/j.ctim.2025.103317","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ctim.2025.103317","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Diaphragmatic breathing (DB) is widely used clinically, but a comprehensive synthesis of randomized controlled trial (RCT) evidence on its health effects is lacking. This systematic review evaluated the health effects of DB interventions in adults based on RCT evidence.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Six electronic databases were searched through January 2025 for RCTs comparing DB to control conditions in adults. Two reviewers independently selected studies, extracted data, and assessed risk of bias (Cochrane RoB 2). A narrative synthesis was performed due to substantial heterogeneity across studies.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>We included 48 RCTs. DB protocols were highly heterogeneous, with parameters varying widely in breathing frequency (2–10 breaths/min), session duration (3–45 min), and total duration (single session to 12 weeks). Methodological quality was a significant concern (only 2.12 % of outcomes low risk of bias). Consistent benefits were found for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) (including reduced medication use), anxiety, post-COVID-19 syndrome, and gestational diabetes). In healthy adults, DB showed acute cardiovascular benefits. However, evidence was inconsistent for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and DB was less effective than standard care after cardiac surgery. Safety was underreported (18.75 % of studies), but no serious adverse events were noted.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>DB is a promising complementary therapy for specific conditions, including GERD, but the evidence base is constrained by methodologically weak and heterogeneous primary studies. Future research requires rigorous, standardized trial designs to establish its clinical value. Despite these limitations, DB is a low-cost, accessible, and apparently safe intervention for select conditions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":10545,"journal":{"name":"Complementary therapies in medicine","volume":"96 ","pages":"Article 103317"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145892383","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}