Integrative Medicine Research最新文献

{"title":"Self-medication and off-label prescribing in post COVID-19 syndrome: Baseline data of a randomized acupressure and qigong trial","authors":"Theresa Bauer ,&nbsp;Weronika Grabowska ,&nbsp;Miriam Ortiz ,&nbsp;Judith Bellmann-Strobl ,&nbsp;Ute Engelhardt ,&nbsp;Rainer Nögel ,&nbsp;Josef Hummelsberger ,&nbsp;Andreas Michalsen ,&nbsp;Stephanie Roll ,&nbsp;Barbara Stöckigt ,&nbsp;Hosnya Batram ,&nbsp;Anna Mietzner ,&nbsp;Carmen Scheibenbogen ,&nbsp;Stefan N. Willich ,&nbsp;Friedemann Paul ,&nbsp;Benno Brinkhaus ,&nbsp;Joanna Dietzel","doi":"10.1016/j.imr.2025.101197","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.imr.2025.101197","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Post COVID-19 syndrome (PCS), characterized by persistent fatigue and multi-systemic symptoms following SARS-CoV-2 infection, emerged as a clinical challenge with limited treatment options and high patient burden. This paper presents the medication history and clinical baseline characteristics of PCS patients recruited in a randomized controlled trial (RCT).</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Patients who reported PCS symptoms of ≥12 weeks after SARS-CoV-2 infection and who met defined fatigue criteria were included in this study. At baseline we assessed among others demographic data, symptom burden, medication history including off-label drug use, dietary supplements, and complementary self-help strategies.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Altogether 235 adult PCS-patients were recruited between June 2022 and June 2023. The study population (mean age 42.1 years, 85.1 % female) reported a mean PCS duration of 56.4 weeks, with 74 % on sick leave. Patients frequently used off-label medications (e.g. antihistamines 9.4 %), supplements (vitamin D 53.6 %, minerals 50.2 %), and herbal medicine products (32.3 %). Most PCS patients had prior experience with complementary medicine. Correlations between fatigue and depressive symptoms (PHQ-9) were modest but notable. No strong associations were found between fatigue and age, sex, PCS duration, or vaccination status.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>PCS-patients suffered from long-term complaints that led to a long period of sick leave and resorted to diverse, largely unproven therapeutic strategies amid clinical uncertainty. This baseline analysis highlights the unmet needs of PCS patients. Understanding these baseline patterns is essential for optimizing care pathways and patient-centered management strategies in PCS.</div></div><div><h3>Trial registration</h3><div>Clinicaltrial.gov (NCT05289154).</div></div>","PeriodicalId":13644,"journal":{"name":"Integrative Medicine Research","volume":"14 3","pages":"Article 101197"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144662144","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"From sound to science: Enhancing transparency in music-based therapeutic research","authors":"Hyun Ju Chong","doi":"10.1016/j.imr.2025.101203","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.imr.2025.101203","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":13644,"journal":{"name":"Integrative Medicine Research","volume":"14 3","pages":"Article 101203"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144810287","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Should thread-embedding and auricular acupuncture be combined rather than used individually for non-specific chronic low back pain?: A double-blinded, randomized, sham-controlled trial","authors":"Thuy-Tu Long Pham ,&nbsp;Nam Trung Le ,&nbsp;Tin Trong Nguyen ,&nbsp;Haoran Chu","doi":"10.1016/j.imr.2025.101180","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.imr.2025.101180","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Non-specific chronic low back pain (NCLBP), the most common type, is a leading cause of global disability. The combined effect of thread-embedding acupuncture (TEA) and auricular acupuncture (AA) remains unclear. This study evaluates whether combining TEA and AA improves NCLBP management compared to either alone.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>In this double-blind randomized controlled trial, 168 NCLBP patients were randomized into four groups (<em>n</em> = 42): TEA+AA, TEA+sham AA, AA+sham TEA, or sham both, alongside conventional treatment. The intervention lasted 4 weeks with a 4-week follow-up. The primary outcome was the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI); secondary outcomes included pain score, paracetamol use, quality of life, global improvement, and adverse events (AEs).</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>In the intention-to-treat analysis, the acupuncture groups showed significantly lower ODI percentage scores compared to the sham group (<em>p</em> &lt; 0.0001). Both the TEA+AA and TEA+sham AA groups outperformed the AA+sham TEA group (mean differences [MD]:9.1 and -7.5, respectively; <em>p</em> &lt; 0.0001) at week 4 and achieved the minimal clinically important difference (MCID) during follow-up. The TEA+AA group showed greater improvement than the TEA+sham AA group at weeks 2 and 6; however, these differences did not reach the MCID. Secondary effectiveness outcomes followed a similar trend. The results were consistent with the per-protocol analysis. AEs were mild and self-limiting.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>TEA and AA are safe and effective adjuncts for managing NCLBP, with TEA showing more sustained benefits. Adding AA into TEA may accelerate response, though clinical relevance remains uncertain. Further multicenter studies with longer follow-up and syndrome-based approaches are warranted.</div></div><div><h3>Trial registration</h3><div>ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT06682273).</div></div>","PeriodicalId":13644,"journal":{"name":"Integrative Medicine Research","volume":"14 3","pages":"Article 101180"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144549583","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Predictors of the intention to use integrative medicine in psychiatric hospitals","authors":"Corinne Schaub ,&nbsp;Mohamed Faouzi ,&nbsp;Julien Vonlanthen ,&nbsp;Michaël Cordey ,&nbsp;Pauline Marchand ,&nbsp;Alexia Stantzos ,&nbsp;Chantal BERNA ,&nbsp;Kétia Alexandre","doi":"10.1016/j.imr.2025.101179","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.imr.2025.101179","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>The present study aimed to examine the influence of psychosocial and demographic factors on health professionals’ intention to integrate complementary and integrative medicine (CIM) into hospital-based psychiatric clinical practice. It also sought to validate the theoretical model derived from our previous exploratory study.</div></div><div><h3>Method</h3><div>A cross-sectional survey study using an online questionnaire sent to 4111 potential participants based on an adapted version of Triandis’ Theory of Interpersonal Behaviour (TIB).</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Participants reported high levels of positive attitudes towards CIM, with 61.6 % of the 1561 respondents reporting previous use in clinical practice and 37.8 % having received formal CIM training. Analysis of professionals’ intention to use CIM revealed four influential psychosocial factors - <em>affec</em>t, <em>perceived social norms, descriptive norms</em> and <em>past behaviour</em> (<em>p</em> &lt; 0.0001) - and three significant demographic factors - older age, a managerial position and fewer years of clinical practice (<em>p</em> &lt; 0.05). With an area under the ROC curve of 95.53 %, the resulting model showed high discriminatory power and excellent fit.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>These findings highlight the need for a supportive institutional environment to promote CIM. This requires the support of a wide range of professional leaders and the promotion of a shared CIM culture among healthcare professionals and interdisciplinary discussions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":13644,"journal":{"name":"Integrative Medicine Research","volume":"14 3","pages":"Article 101179"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144721346","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Herbal decoctions for dysmenorrhea under universal health coverage pilot project: Evidence from a nationwide claims database in the Republic of Korea","authors":"Kyeore Bae ,&nbsp;Minjung Park ,&nbsp;Junhyeok Yi","doi":"10.1016/j.imr.2025.101152","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.imr.2025.101152","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Despite its high prevalence, dysmenorrhea is an underestimated gynecological disorder. To enhance the service coverage, the Pilot Project for Expanding National Health Insurance (NHI) Coverage to Herbal Decoctions (HDs) was implemented in the Republic of Korea from November 2020. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness and safety of HDs for dysmenorrhea at a nationwide level. Additionally, its impact on accessibility was explored.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>This retrospective observational study used claims data from the pilot project (November 1, 2020, to April 28, 2024). A linear mixed-effects model was used to estimate symptom improvement during the HD exposure period. Time series data decomposition and structural change points detection were performed using NHI statistics on dysmenorrhea patient counts for those who received medical services between 2014 and 2023.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Among 39,574 participants, a descriptive analysis of 7016 suggested a tendency to receive HD treatment for moderate-to-severe symptoms. Effectiveness analysis demonstrated that HD significantly reduced symptom severity over time (β = –0.072, <em>p</em> &lt; 0.001). Adverse events were reported by 0.58 % of the patients, mostly involving gastrointestinal symptoms. Following the initiation of the pilot project, a significant increase in the number of patients with dysmenorrhea receiving traditional Korean medicine (TKM) services was observed.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>The nationwide pilot project showed clinical effectiveness and a manageable safety profile of HDs for dysmenorrhea. The universal health coverage initiative appeared to have improved the accessibility of TKM services for managing dysmenorrhea. Further robust research utilizing nationwide real-world data is required to validate these findings.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":13644,"journal":{"name":"Integrative Medicine Research","volume":"14 3","pages":"Article 101152"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144195483","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Efficacy of herbal medicine (Thatbunjob) in the treatment of foodborne illness: A placebo-controlled, randomized trial","authors":"Jaiboonya Jaicharoensub ,&nbsp;Sumalee Panthong ,&nbsp;Intouch Sakpakdeejaroen ,&nbsp;Thanee Eiamsitrakoon ,&nbsp;Patommatat Bhanthumkomol","doi":"10.1016/j.imr.2025.101153","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.imr.2025.101153","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Foodborne illness (FI) causes 600 million cases and 420,000 deaths annually. Current treatments focus on rehydration and antispasmodic medications for managing dehydration and abdominal pain (AP). However, alternative therapies, especially those derived from natural ingredients, are needed. This study investigates the potential efficacy of herbal medicine,Thatbunjob as a complementary therapy for FI-related AP.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial assessed the efficacy of Thatbunjob in relieving AP in FI patients. A total of 114 patients, aged 18–60, with AP and diarrhea (≥3 episodes in 24 h), received either two 500 mg capsules of Thatbunjob or a placebo three times daily for three days. Both groups also received standard oral rehydration therapy. Primary outcomes included AP intensity using a visual analog scale (VAS) at 24 h, while secondary outcomes included pain at 48 and 72 h, responder rates, hyoscine butyl bromide usage, stool frequency, and adverse events.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>The Thatbunjob group showed significantly greater reduction in AP compared to the placebo. VAS scores decreased from 5.69 to 2.95 at 24 h (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.001), and pain relief persisted at 48 (1.43 vs. 3.05, <em>P</em> &lt; 0.001) and 72 h (0.32 vs. 1.86, <em>P</em> &lt; 0.001). Thatbunjob also reduced the need for hyoscine tablets and decreased stool frequency compared to placebo.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>This study demonstrates that Thatbunjob, when combined with standard rehydration therapy, effectively alleviates AP and reduces stool frequency in FI patients.</div></div><div><h3>Trial registration</h3><div>Thai Clinical Trials Registry, TCTR20220823001.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":13644,"journal":{"name":"Integrative Medicine Research","volume":"14 3","pages":"Article 101153"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144471059","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Evaluating efficacy and safety of auricular acupressure in treating allergic rhinitis: A randomized controlled trial","authors":"Ngoc-Chau Le ,&nbsp;Minh-Man Pham Bui ,&nbsp;Dieu-Thuong Thi Trinh","doi":"10.1016/j.imr.2025.101177","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.imr.2025.101177","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Allergic rhinitis significantly impacts health and quality of life, and symptom management remains a considerable challenge. This study aims to compare the treatment efficacy of auricular acupressure combined with fluticasone propionate versus fluticasone propionate alone for allergic rhinitis.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>A randomized, double-blind, controlled clinical trial study was conducted with 90 patients diagnosed with allergic rhinitis according to ARIA 2008 guidelines. The control group (<em>n</em> = 45) received standard treatment, including fluticasone propionate, and sham auricular acupressure (SA), performed four times over four weeks. The intervention group (<em>n</em> = 45) received standard treatment with actual auricular acupressure (AA), performed four times over four weeks. Treatment efficacy was evaluated using a 100-mm visual analog scale (VAS) weekly and after four weeks of treatment, along with monitoring for adverse effects of auricular acupressure.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>After four weeks, the reduction in VAS scores for individual symptoms, including sneezing, runny nose, blocked nose, and itchy nose, showed mean differences between the control and intervention groups of 17.71 (95 % CI, 10.60–24.82); 22.73 (95 % CI, 15.71–29.76); 22.33 (95 % CI, 15.30–29.37); and 21.29 (95 % CI, 14.27–28.31) points, respectively (<em>p</em> &lt; 0.0001). The RQLQ score, medication usage decreased significantly more in the intervention group than in the control group. Adverse effects were reported in 11.11 % of cases, mostly mild, transient, and not requiring additional treatment.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Auricular acupressure combined with fluticasone propionate provides effective and safe treatment for allergic rhinitis patients. Further interventional studies based on the classification of clinical syndromes in traditional medicine are warranted.</div><div><em>Trial registration</em>: ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT06323304.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":13644,"journal":{"name":"Integrative Medicine Research","volume":"14 3","pages":"Article 101177"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144502293","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Acupuncture treatment preserves soleus muscle mass and improves mitochondrial function in a rat model of disuse atrophy","authors":"Sarah Mockler ,&nbsp;Yun-Ju Fang ,&nbsp;U-Ter Aondo Jia ,&nbsp;Jinho Park ,&nbsp;Joo Hyun Kim ,&nbsp;Yoonjung Park ,&nbsp;Adam J. Chicco ,&nbsp;Masataka Umeda ,&nbsp;Sukho Lee ,&nbsp;Eunhee Chung","doi":"10.1016/j.imr.2025.101178","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.imr.2025.101178","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Muscle atrophy leads to debilitating loss of physical capacity, particularly when alternative treatments are needed. Acupuncture is proposed as a potential therapy for disuse atrophy, but its effects on muscle biology remain unclear. This study evaluated the effects of acupuncture on soleus muscle mass and mitochondrial function in a rat model of immobilization-induced atrophy.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Female Sprague Dawley rats were assigned to three groups: Control (CON), casting-induced immobilization (CT), and CT with acupuncture (CT-A) (<em>n</em> = 8). Immobilization of the left hindlimb lasted for 14 days, and acupuncture was performed at specific acupoints (stomach-36, gallbladder-34) three times per week for 15 min. Mitochondrial function was assessed in saponin-permeabilized fibers, and signaling molecules regulating muscle mass were analyzed by Western blot.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>CT-A attenuated soleus muscle atrophy compared to CT. Under fatty acid substrate conditions, CT reduced complex I and II-supported oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) compared to CON, while CT-A decreased respiratory leak and enhanced OXPHOS coupling relative to CT. Without fatty acids, CT-A decreased both respiratory leak and complex I and II-supported OXPHOS compared to CON, but differences between CT and CT-A were not significant. AMPKα activity (p-AMPKα/AMPKα) was significantly elevated in the CT group compared to the CON group, but returned to CON levels in the CT-A group. However, there were no changes in proteins associated with muscle atrophy or autophagy markers among the groups.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Acupuncture mitigates immobilization-induced muscle atrophy and preserves mitochondrial function, suggesting its potential as a therapeutic approach for muscle disuse conditions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":13644,"journal":{"name":"Integrative Medicine Research","volume":"14 3","pages":"Article 101178"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144502294","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Reporting guidelines for music-based interventions: An update and validation study","authors":"Sheri L Robb ,&nbsp;Stacey Springs ,&nbsp;Emmeline Edwards ,&nbsp;Tasha L. Golden ,&nbsp;Julene K. Johnson ,&nbsp;Debra S. Burns ,&nbsp;Melita Belgrave ,&nbsp;Joke Bradt ,&nbsp;Christian Gold ,&nbsp;Assal Habibi ,&nbsp;John R. Iversen ,&nbsp;Miriam Lense ,&nbsp;Jessica A. MacLean ,&nbsp;Susan M. Perkins","doi":"10.1016/j.imr.2025.101199","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.imr.2025.101199","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Detailed intervention reporting is essential to interpretation, replication, and translation of music-based interventions (MBIs). The 2011 <em>Reporting Guidelines for Music-Based Interventions</em> were developed to improve transparency and reporting quality of published research; however, problems with reporting quality persist.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>The purpose of this study was to update and validate the 2011 reporting guidelines using rigorous Delphi approach that involved an interdisciplinary group of MBI researchers; and to develop an explanation and elaboration guidance statement to support dissemination and usage. We followed the methodological framework for developing reporting guidelines recommended by the EQUATOR Network and guidance recommendations for developing health research reporting guidelines. Our three-stage process included: (1) an initial field scan, (2) a consensus process using Delphi surveys (two rounds) and Expert Panel meetings, and (3) development and dissemination of an explanation and elaboration document.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>First-Round survey findings revealed that the original checklist items were capturing content that investigators deemed essential to MBI reporting; however, it also revealed problems with item wording and terminology. Subsequent Expert Panel meetings and the Second-Round survey centered on reaching consensus for item language. The revised RG-MBI checklist has a total of 12-items that pertain to eight different components of MBI interventions including name, theory/scientific rationale, content, interventionist, individual/group, setting, delivery schedule, and treatment fidelity.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>We recommend that authors, journal editors, and reviewers use the RG-MBI guidelines, in conjunction with methods-based guidelines (e.g., CONSORT) to accelerate and improve the scientific rigor of MBI research.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":13644,"journal":{"name":"Integrative Medicine Research","volume":"14 3","pages":"Article 101199"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144724025","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Perspectives and dietary management of excess weight in polycystic ovary syndrome: A focus group study with clinicians of traditional Indian medicine","authors":"Vibhuti S. Rao ,&nbsp;Sabrina Gupta ,&nbsp;Mike Armour ,&nbsp;Birinder S. Cheema ,&nbsp;Caroline A Smith ,&nbsp;Lisa Moran ,&nbsp;Vandana Baranwal ,&nbsp;Carolyn Ee","doi":"10.1016/j.imr.2025.101184","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.imr.2025.101184","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) use traditional medicines such as Ayurveda (traditional Indian medicine) to manage their symptoms. Dietary and lifestyle advice is one of the major components of Ayurveda treatment, however, it remains unexplored. This study aimed to understand the perspectives of Ayurveda clinicians regarding PCOS and excess weight, and its management through diet and lifestyle.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>A qualitative methodology was implemented using online focus group discussion. The data were transcribed verbatim and analysed using content analysis. Ayurveda clinicians who fulfilled the predefined eligibility criteria were included.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Ten eligible Ayurveda clinicians participated in the focus group. Five categories with relevant sub-categories were identified: characteristics of women visiting Ayurveda clinicians; Ayurveda clinical toolkit for understanding clinical presentations; Ayurveda dietary approach to managing excess weight; advice related to dietary adjustments; and advice related to eating and lifestyle behaviours. Overall, most clinicians agree that an Ayurveda dietary approach is personalized, and tailored to the health needs, primarily based on Ayurveda assessment and the clinical presentation of an individual with PCOS and excess weight.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Consistent with ‘Recommendations from the 2023 international evidence-based guideline for the assessment and management of PCOS’ Ayurveda clinicians advocate for a cultural-specific, lifelong healthy lifestyle for optimum management of PCOS beyond weight reduction. Ayurveda lifestyle counselling provides extensive insights into holistic food and lifestyle practices that individuals may adapt to their day-to-day lives. Further research may utilize consensus methods to explore potential dietary interventions and assess their effectiveness and adaptability in women with PCOS.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":13644,"journal":{"name":"Integrative Medicine Research","volume":"14 3","pages":"Article 101184"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144670182","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}