{"title":"Yoga in Brazil and the National Health System","authors":"P. Siegel, N. F. de Barros","doi":"10.1177/1533210109343306","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/1533210109343306","url":null,"abstract":"Background: Yoga is practiced in almost all Brazilian urban centers by people of various social, economic, and cultural strata. Practitioners use yoga for health promotion and illness prevention, as well as for developing self-knowledge and self-care. Objective: This article explores the perceptions of yoga leaders regarding the potential contributions of yoga to the Brazilian National Health System (BNHS). Methods: Leaders of the 15 most developed yoga traditions in São Paulo, Brazil, were interviewed regarding their perceptions of potential contributions of yoga to the National Health System. Interviews were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed according to qualitative methodology. Results: Areas in which yoga was perceived as being able to make important contributions included the concept of body-mind-soul; vegetarianism; postural correction and integration of movements; peace culture; the cultivation of virtuous values (e.g., abstention from addictive substances); spiritual consciousness; integration of the self; cultivation of awareness; brain oxygenization; cultivation of discipline and improved quality of life. Conclusion: Yoga is seen as a group of useful physical, social, and philosophical practices for the health field. However, challenges to its integration into the BNHS include its maintenance as an alternative culture practice and its distance from the epistemological bases of present complementary and integrative medicine.","PeriodicalId":10611,"journal":{"name":"Complementary Health Practice Review","volume":"303 1","pages":"107 - 93"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2009-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"91458879","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Envisioning a Future Contemplative Science of Mindfulness: Fruitful Methods and New Content for the Next Wave of Research.","authors":"Eric Garland, Susan Gaylord","doi":"10.1177/1533210109333718","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/1533210109333718","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Mindfulness is an ancient spiritual practice as well as a unique behavioral technique involving the cultivation of non-judgmental, non-reactive, metacognitive awareness of present-moment experience. Given the growing interest in mindfulness across numerous academic and clinical disciplines, an agenda is needed to guide the next wave of research. Here, we suggest four areas that, in our view, are important for a future contemplative science of mindfulness: performance-based measures of mindfulness, scientific evaluation of Buddhist claims, neurophenomenology of mindfulness, and measuring changes in mindfulness-induced gene expression. By exploring these domains, the wisdom of the meditative traditions may be complemented by leading-edge empirical research methodologies.</p>","PeriodicalId":10611,"journal":{"name":"Complementary Health Practice Review","volume":"14 1","pages":"3-9"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2009-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1177/1533210109333718","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"29155453","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Mindfulness Research Update: 2008.","authors":"Jeffrey M Greeson","doi":"10.1177/1533210108329862","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/1533210108329862","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>OBJECTIVE: To briefly review the effects of mindfulness on the mind, the brain, the body, and behavior. METHODS: Selective review of MEDLINE, PsycINFO, and Google Scholar databases (2003-2008) using the terms \"mindfulness\", \"meditation\", \"mental health\", \"physical health\", \"quality of life\", and \"stress reduction.\" A total of 52 exemplars of empirical and theoretical work were selected for review. RESULTS: Both basic and clinical research indicate that cultivating a more mindful way of being is associated with less emotional distress, more positive states of mind, and better quality of life. In addition, mindfulness practice can influence the brain, the autonomic nervous system, stress hormones, the immune system, and health behaviors, including eating, sleeping and substance use, in salutary ways. CONCLUSION: The application of cutting-edge technology toward understanding mindfulness - an \"inner technology\" - is elucidating new ways in which attention, awareness, acceptance, and compassion may promote optimal health - in mind, body, relationships, and spirit.</p>","PeriodicalId":10611,"journal":{"name":"Complementary Health Practice Review","volume":"14 1","pages":"10-18"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2009-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1177/1533210108329862","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"28624833","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"The Tong Ren Healing Method: A Survey Study","authors":"A. Sullivan, S. Bauer-Wu, M. Miovic","doi":"10.1177/1533210108329265","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/1533210108329265","url":null,"abstract":"Tong Ren (TR) is an untested energy healing modality with anecdotally-reported effectiveness for a variety of disorders. Study objective: To describe participant reports of effectiveness and safety. Design: Cross-sectional, anonymous survey. Setting: Weekly group sessions in the Northeast US. Participants: Adults attending group sessions. Measures: Changes in conditions attributed to TR. Results: Response rate 89% (n = 265). Cancer (30.6%), endocrine/autoimmune (17.5%) and musculoskeletal disorders (17.2%) were the most commonly reported conditions. Among respondents who had attended more than one session (n = 216), 30% used superlatives (e.g., ``amazing'') to describe TR's impact, and one-third noted improved quality of life. No adverse effects were described. Anxiety, depression, cancer, and autoimmune disorders appeared to have the greatest treatment responses, with 63.8%, 61.0%, 60.3%, and 58.1% of participants with these conditions reporting substantial improvements. Conclusion: This first study documenting self-reported effects of TR shows subjective benefits and no adverse effects. Further research on this approach is warranted.","PeriodicalId":10611,"journal":{"name":"Complementary Health Practice Review","volume":"33 1","pages":"19 - 35"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2009-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"79774046","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Research Into Complementary/Alternative Medicine: A Personal Comment","authors":"E. Ernst","doi":"10.1177/1533210109332392","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/1533210109332392","url":null,"abstract":"1. The amount of wrong or misleading information on CAM, for example, on the Internet, in popular books, newspaper articles, and so on, is colossal and by far exceeds that in neurology, gynaecology, rheumatology, or any other medical field. The following three misconceptions are, in our experience, the most widespread: (a) Proponents often claim that CAM somehow defies scientific evaluation. Yet they are more than willing to refer to scientific tests of CAM—as long as the results are positive (e.g., Mathie, 2003). (b) Enthusiasts of CAM frequently contend that the treatments are risk-free. However, important direct and indirect risks have been identified for virtually all CAM modalities (Ernst, Pittler, Wider, & Boddy, 2006). (c) Both opponents and proponents of CAM, for different reasons, often maintain that there is no or very little scientific evidence in CAM or sections of CAM. Yet, on closer inspection, one finds at least some preliminary evidence in almost all areas of CAM (Ernst et al., 2006). 2. The clinical practice of CAM is remarkably resistant to scientific evidence. Most practitioners continue to insist that their intuition and experience are more reliable than the results of rigorous clinical trials. They are thus unwilling to abandon their treatments if the best available evidence shows they have no specific effects or might even be harmful. It is my impression that, for some practitioners and for many patients, CAM is more akin to a religion than to a form of healthcare. To them, belief counts more than facts. 3. Despite these obstacles, research into CAM has made considerable progress. I estimate that approximately 5,000 clinical trials of CAM have been published during the last decade. Their quality and results are, of course, mixed. Based on these data, it is possible to classify CAM into three categories (Ernst et al., 2006).","PeriodicalId":10611,"journal":{"name":"Complementary Health Practice Review","volume":"10 1","pages":"51 - 54"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2009-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"90060951","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Chiropractors and Vaccinations: Ethics is the Real Issue","authors":"L. F. Vernon, Christopher Kent","doi":"10.1177/1533210109333771","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/1533210109333771","url":null,"abstract":"This article traces the historical and philosophical roots of the provaccination and anti-vaccination movements through to the present day, with a focus on the role of chiropractic within those movements. Political, legal, and scientific issues are considered. Attempts to portray the anti-vaccination chiropractors as unscientific extremists, by both orthodox medicine and from within the chiropractic community itself, clouds the informed consent and freedom of choice aspect relating to health care that they espouse, and scapegoats the so-called extremists rather than facing the ethical issues surrounding fully informed consent. The authors conclude that would-be medical ethicists promote their own political agendas that aid profit before safety and breed distrust within the community that is meant to be served in a balanced and ethical manner.","PeriodicalId":10611,"journal":{"name":"Complementary Health Practice Review","volume":"50 1","pages":"36 - 50"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2009-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"89670881","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Comparison of Treatment of HIV Patients in Naturopathic and Biomedical Settings","authors":"H. Baer","doi":"10.1177/1533210108326274","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/1533210108326274","url":null,"abstract":"Patients diagnosed with HIV/AIDS have turned to a variety of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in seeking relief from their illnesses and a better quality of life. Many of them have adopted an integrative approach in which they simultaneously use biomedicine and CAM. Naturopathic physicians, are one category of CAM practitioners upon which some HIV/AIDS patients rely. This article describes naturopathic philosophy and therapeutics; examines naturopathic medical treatment of HIV/AIDS patients in two CAM treatment centers in a Western US metropolitan area; describes treatment of HIV/AIDS patients in a biomedical treatment center frequented by many of the HIV patients who have opted for an integrative approach; and compares these approaches in terms of models of practitioner-patient relationship. I argue that the naturopathic physician-patient relationship constitutes a form of social support that generally cannot be facilitated in the biomedical physician-patient relationship due to time, and perhaps philosophical, constraints.","PeriodicalId":10611,"journal":{"name":"Complementary Health Practice Review","volume":"18 1","pages":"182 - 197"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2008-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"87291227","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"CAM Management of Peripheral Arterial Occlusive Disease (PAOD): A Case Report","authors":"Sanjeev Rastogi","doi":"10.1177/1533210108325383","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/1533210108325383","url":null,"abstract":"Peripheral Arterial occlusive Disease is one among many conditions where a dependable cure is still elusive. Despite of availability of various treatment options on medical and surgical grounds, these many options does not with stand to the complexity, generalization and rapid progression inherent to the disease. Cost of diagnosis and cost of therapy also acts as a constraint in its quick management. In these conditions, any CAM approach addressing to all these intricacies of PAOD is a welcoming thought. We tried to intervene with CAM therapy in a patient diagnosed as having PAOD. The clinical improvements observed in this single case are warranting for more serious studies to define the role of CAM in these conditions.","PeriodicalId":10611,"journal":{"name":"Complementary Health Practice Review","volume":"332 1","pages":"198 - 203"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2008-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"82938157","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Allied Health and Nursing Academic Programs at New Jersey county colleges: Holistic Health and Complementary and Alternative Medicine Content","authors":"Elsa Bruguier","doi":"10.1177/1533210108326268","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/1533210108326268","url":null,"abstract":"Rising public interest in and use of holistic health (HH) practices and complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) has created a need for health care providers to become knowledgeable in these areas. HH/CAM content is increasingly included in curricula of professional health education, a trend less clear in associate, certificate, and diploma programs of 2-year colleges. A survey of directors and coordinators of allied health and nursing programs at New Jersey county colleges was conducted to determine curricular presence of HH/CAM and program constituency awareness of institutionally accessible HH/CAM information resources. Results indicated: rising interest in HH/CAM instruction; multiple forces influencing HH/CAM inclusion; HH/CAM strengthening programs; and uncertainty regarding knowledge of and perceived use of library HH/CAM resources. By including HH/CAM, New Jersey's allied health and nursing programs are progressively aligned with consumer use, and trends of professional health schools.","PeriodicalId":10611,"journal":{"name":"Complementary Health Practice Review","volume":"5 1","pages":"155 - 170"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2008-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"89283627","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
M. Taylor, C. Booth-LaForce, E. Elven, B. McGrath, R. Thurston
{"title":"Participant Perspectives on a Yoga Intervention for Menopausal Symptoms","authors":"M. Taylor, C. Booth-LaForce, E. Elven, B. McGrath, R. Thurston","doi":"10.1177/1533210108324847","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/1533210108324847","url":null,"abstract":"A pilot study of the effects of 10 weeks of yoga practice on 11 midlife women's menopausal symptoms was conducted. Qualitative analysis of participants' exit interviews provided information not captured in quantitative measures, including perceptions of the yoga intervention and suggestions for improving the study protocol. The women reported feeling relaxed and physically better after yoga class. Many viewed yoga as a skill they could incorporate into daily life to reduce stress and manage their menopausal symptoms. The class setting provided an opportunity for individualized instruction, peer interaction, and a structured time for self-care. Factors that made it more challenging to practice yoga at home included responsibilities to others as well as limited time, space, and energy. Women suggested providing a more flexible class schedule, increasing peer support, and providing more instruction on developing a home practice. This information will be incorporated into plans for future studies.","PeriodicalId":10611,"journal":{"name":"Complementary Health Practice Review","volume":"1 1","pages":"171 - 181"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2008-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"79914173","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}