Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice最新文献

{"title":"Comparative efficacy and safety of Chinese patent medicines as adjunctive therapies for glycolipid regulation in metabolic syndrome: A network meta-analysis","authors":"Zhilin Chen ,&nbsp;Haoyue Shi ,&nbsp;Juju Shang ,&nbsp;Wenchu Kang ,&nbsp;Yuhan Hao ,&nbsp;Xuerui Zhao ,&nbsp;Sinai Li ,&nbsp;Yifeng Shen","doi":"10.1016/j.ctcp.2025.102024","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ctcp.2025.102024","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background and purpose</h3><div>Effective management of glycolipid metabolism is key to reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease in patients with metabolic syndrome (MetS). Chinese patent medicines (CPMs), a type of standardized herbal formulation, are widely used in China. This study compared the efficacy, safety, and cost-effectiveness of CPMs as adjunctive therapies for glycolipid regulation in MetS via network meta-analysis (NMA), providing a reference for clinical decision-making.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>By October 2024, we searched eight databases for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) investigating the use of CPMs in the treatment of MetS. The impact of CPMs on lipid profiles, blood glucose levels, and insulin resistance indicators was evaluated using methods including surface under the cumulative ranking curve (SUCRA). The cost-effectiveness analysis was conducted on the basis of the market price in China and SUCRA rankings.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>A total of 25 RCTs involving 17 CPMs were included. The results revealed that combining specific CPMs with conventional treatment had significant beneficial effects on lipid and glucose metabolism. Hedan tablet was revealed to be the most effective at regulating the levels of lipids, when both efficacy and cost were considered. Shenqi Jiangtang granule and Jiangzhi Jianfei capsule had the greatest beneficial effects on glucose metabolism and insulin resistance.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>CPMs have the potential to serve as effective adjunctive therapies for glycolipid regulation in patients with MetS. However, given the limited number and quality of studies included in this NMA, these conclusions should be interpreted with caution. Further high-quality RCTs are warranted to validate and update the current evidence.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48752,"journal":{"name":"Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice","volume":"61 ","pages":"Article 102024"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145218965","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":"Understanding the role of the animal in animal-assisted therapy: A qualitative study","authors":"Dovile Dixon,&nbsp;Ceri Jones,&nbsp;Robin Green","doi":"10.1016/j.ctcp.2025.101983","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ctcp.2025.101983","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>The popularity of adjunctive psychological therapies, such as animal-assisted therapy (AAT), continues to grow. However, there is a lot of inconsistency and uncertainty regarding the mechanism of AAT and, more specifically, the role of the therapy animal. This study aimed to better understand the animals’ role in AAT from the perspective of those who deliver it.</div></div><div><h3>Method</h3><div>Fifteen professionals from a wide range of mental health backgrounds completed 1-h semi-structured interviews online. Reflexive Thematic Analysis was used to analyse the data.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>The analysis resulted in four main themes and 12 subthemes, representing the various aspects of the animals’ role in therapy. The four main themes were: Providing experiential learning, developing an alternative relationship, offering a different way of processing and collaborating in therapeutic activities.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>This study demonstrates that the role of the therapy animal is complex and tightly linked to the relational aspect of human-animal interactions. It shows their presence is valuable even when the animals are not directly involved in therapeutic interventions. The challenge of balancing training and socialising the animals and allowing them to display natural behaviours is highlighted. The findings are discussed in the broader context of existing AAT research and theories, considering clinical implications and directions for future research.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48752,"journal":{"name":"Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice","volume":"60 ","pages":"Article 101983"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143834902","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 and optimal acupoints of auricular acupressure for treating prediabetes: a meta-analysis and data mining","authors":"Yunfeng Yu ,&nbsp;Yuman Yin ,&nbsp;Juan Deng ,&nbsp;Xinyu Yang ,&nbsp;Qin Xiang ,&nbsp;Rong Yu","doi":"10.1016/j.ctcp.2025.101998","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ctcp.2025.101998","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background and purpose</h3><div>Auricular acupressure has potential in treating prediabetes; however, its effectiveness remains unclear. We aimed to evaluate the effect of auricular acupressure on blood glucose levels in patients with prediabetes and to identify optimal acupoints.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>We searched nine public databases for randomized controlled trials published before March 1, 2025, according to pre-established inclusion and exclusion criteria. The risk of bias was assessed using the Risk of Bias 2 tool. RevMan 5.3 was employed to conduct a meta-analysis on glycosylated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), fasting blood glucose (FBG), and 2-h postprandial blood glucose (2h-PBG) levels, and body mass index (BMI). We used a Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) approach to assess the certainty of evidence. Data mining was used to determine optimal acupoints.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>This meta-analysis involved eight studies (694 participants). Compared with lifestyle intervention alone, auricular acupressure combined with lifestyle intervention significantly reduced HbA1c (mean difference [MD] <em>-</em>0.51, 95 % CI -0.84 to -0.18), FBG (MD -0.63, 95 % CI -0.94 to -0.31), and 2h-PBG (MD -0.78, 95 % CI -0.95 to -0.62) levels in patients with prediabetes but no significant effect was observed concerning BMI (MD -0.26, 95 % CI -1.15 to 0.63). The GRADE showed low to very low certainty levels of evidence. Data mining indicated that CO₄, CO₁₀, CO₁₁, CO₁₃, CO₁₄, and CO₁₇ were core acupoints for prediabetes.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Auricular acupressure demonstrates potential as a complementary approach for prediabetes, with CO₄, CO₁₀, CO₁₁, CO₁₃, CO₁₄, and CO₁₇ identified as optimal acupoints. However, due to methodological limitations, these findings require further validation through high-quality evidence.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48752,"journal":{"name":"Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice","volume":"60 ","pages":"Article 101998"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143911543","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":"Impact of Pilates training on lower limb joint muscle strength in unilateral transtibial amputees: a single-cohort pre-post- intervention study","authors":"Janny Mirian Antonelli Tavares ,&nbsp;Letícia Pophal Cutisque ,&nbsp;John Gerrard Buckley ,&nbsp;André Luiz Felix Rodacki","doi":"10.1016/j.ctcp.2025.102000","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ctcp.2025.102000","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Purpose</h3><div>This study investigates the impact of a 3-month Pilates training program on lower limb joint muscle strength in unilateral transtibial amputees (TTA), focusing on enhancing muscle function in both the intact and residual limbs.</div></div><div><h3>Materials and methods</h3><div>This is a single-cohort pre-post-intervention study without a control group. Ten TTA participants, actively using prostheses for at least six months, completed a Pilates intervention with 36 sessions online, involving progressively increasing exercise intensities. Measurements of joint muscle strength in the intact limb and residual limb hip were taken at baseline, pre- and post-intervention, and at a three-month follow-up using an isokinetic dynamometer. Repeated measures ANOVA determined statistical significance (alpha level, p &lt; 0.05); and effect size (ES) differences were determined to highlight clinical meaningfulness.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Significant muscle strength increases were observed in the intact limb ankle (45.6 % plantarflexors, 11.9 % dorsiflexors), knee (25.9 % extensors, 28.7 % flexors), hip (22.9 % flexors, 42.2 % extensors) and hip of the residual limb (23.1 % flexors, 52.1 % extensors) – all increases represented a large effect size (ES &gt; 3.0). These improvements persisted at follow-up.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>This pilot study demonstrated that Pilates training significantly improved joint muscle strength in the intact and residual limbs of the TTA participant group. These preliminary findings support Pilates as a beneficial and accessible modality for enhancing strength and mobility in lower limb amputees. However, further randomised controlled studies are required to fully determine the effects of Pilates training on functional outcomes and mobility in lower limb amputees.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48752,"journal":{"name":"Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice","volume":"60 ","pages":"Article 102000"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143924079","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":"Integrating traditional and modern Practices: Qualitative perspectives from mental health professionals in Mexico","authors":"Ximena Cors-Cepeda,&nbsp;Monica Armas-Neira,&nbsp;Orlando Herrera-Barron,&nbsp;Alexa Bochm","doi":"10.1016/j.ctcp.2025.102003","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ctcp.2025.102003","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background and purpose</h3><div>In Mexico, traditional practices like herbal remedies, spiritual rituals, and energy-based therapies remain integral to mental health care. These are deeply rooted in cultural beliefs and often coexist with modern treatments. This study explores mental health professionals’ perspectives on the prevalence, factors influencing, and integration of traditional practices into modern psychiatric care.</div></div><div><h3>Materials and methods</h3><div>This qualitative phenomenological study is part of a broader investigation into sociocultural factors in Mexican mental health care. Participants were selected through convenience and snowball sampling. Data were gathered through 1-hour semi-structured interviews, covering various aspects of mental health care. This analysis specifically focused on participants' discussions about traditional treatments, which were identified and extracted from the transcripts for thematic analysis.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>The study highlighted a wide range of traditional practices used by patients, including spiritual healing, energy therapies, medicinal plants, psychedelics, and complementary therapies. Factors influencing the use of these practices included cultural beliefs, emotional motivations, and issues within the healthcare system. Mental health professionals had varied attitudes toward these practices: most were respectful but did not integrate them into treatment, some were skeptical of their safety, and a few adopted an integrative approach, incorporating traditional practices into care.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>The study emphasizes the widespread use of traditional therapies in Mexico, influenced by cultural beliefs and gaps in access to modern care. While most professionals respect these practices, integrating them with evidence-based approaches requires a balance between cultural sensitivity and scientific validation, which is essential for providing comprehensive, culturally appropriate care.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48752,"journal":{"name":"Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice","volume":"60 ","pages":"Article 102003"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144070943","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":"Is physical activity associated with lower risk of social network problematic use or addiction? A systematic review and meta-analysis","authors":"Adrián Rodríguez-Castaño ,&nbsp;Javier Fernández-Sánchez ,&nbsp;Daniel Trujillo-Colmena ,&nbsp;Ana Myriam Lavín-Pérez ,&nbsp;Christel García-Ortiz ,&nbsp;Daniel Collado-Mateo","doi":"10.1016/j.ctcp.2025.101995","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ctcp.2025.101995","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background and Purpose</h3><div>The global rise in social media usage has led to an increasing prevalence of social network problematic use or addiction (SNPUA). Although previous research has identified a negative association between physical activity (PA) levels and some problematic digital behaviors, the relationship between PA and SNPUA remains unclear. Thus, the aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to examine possible associations between PA and SNPUA.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>The search was registered in OSF and was conducted in November 2024 using the following search terms: (‘Physical activity’ or exercise) and (addiction or ‘problematic use’) and (‘social network’ or ‘social media’ or Instagram or Facebook or ‘Tik Tok’). It was carried out in PubMed and Web of Science databases. A total of 255 articles were retrieved and 24 of them met the inclusion criteria. Meta-analysis was conducted using Review Manager 5.4 software.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>The majority of studies included university students (n = 14) and primary or secondary school students (n = 7). The participants' mean age ranged from 13.9 to 27.43 years. Female participants accounted for 50.8 % of the total sample. The meta-analysis involving 150,000+ participants revealed that PA is inversely related to SNPUA. Most of the included studies (14/24), involving 94 % of the sample, reported that those participants who engage in a higher amount of PA had lower levels of SNPUA.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>PA could be an effective tool to prevent or reduce social network addiction levels. However, inconsistency in collecting data on PA and SNPUA makes it difficult to draw solid conclusions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48752,"journal":{"name":"Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice","volume":"60 ","pages":"Article 101995"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143850697","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 music therapy on relieving the pain and distress of children undergoing venipuncture: A systematic review and meta-analysis","authors":"Qi Zhuang ,&nbsp;Yushuang Yin ,&nbsp;Zheng Liu ,&nbsp;Lijuan Zhang ,&nbsp;Hui Li","doi":"10.1016/j.ctcp.2025.101994","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ctcp.2025.101994","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Venipuncture is a routine procedure in pediatrics that often elicits pain and triggers adverse emotional responses. The stress, both psychological and physiological, that accompanies this procedure can significantly impair pediatric patients' compliance with medical regimens. To mitigate these effects, music therapy as a non-pharmacological approach known for its safety has been increasingly employed in pediatric settings. There is empirical evidence supporting the efficacy of music therapy in reducing procedural pain and in easing negative emotions experienced by pediatric patients.</div></div><div><h3>Objective</h3><div>This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of music therapy in managing pain, anxiety and distress in pediatric patients undergoing venipuncture procedures.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>A comprehensive search was conducted on PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, Scopus, CINAHL, EBSCO and FMRS databases for articles published up to December 20, 2024. Two reviewers independently selected studies and extracted articles that met strict inclusion and exclusion criteria. Quality assessments of the included studies were performed according to the Cochrane risk assessment tool, data analysis was performed using RevMan 5.3 software.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>A total of 16 studies including 657 participants in the intervention group and 707 participants in the control group were selected for the final analysis. The results demonstrated a significant difference between the music groups and control groups for children's self-reported pain (standard mean difference SMD = −0.42, 95 % CI −0.58 to −0.27, <em>P</em> &lt; 0.05), observer-reported pain (SMD = −0.52, 95 % CI −0.87 to −0.17, <em>P</em> &lt; 0.05) and distress (SMD = −0.70, 95 % CI −1.27 to −0.13, <em>P</em> = 0.02). However, no significant difference was observed in anxiety (SMD = −0.10, 95 % CI −0.32 to 0.13, <em>P</em> = 0.41).</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Pediatric patients undergoing venipuncture procedures would benefit from music interventions for pain and distress relief. However, no statistically significant effect was found on anxiety.</div></div><div><h3>Trial registration</h3><div>PROSPERO International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews CRD42024509600.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48752,"journal":{"name":"Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice","volume":"60 ","pages":"Article 101994"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143858891","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":"Optimal exercise dosage and type for improving post-traumatic stress disorder: a systematic review and network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials","authors":"Xiong-jie Li ,&nbsp;Han Xia ,&nbsp;Guang-hui Yu ,&nbsp;Yi-xin Hu ,&nbsp;Fei-long Zhu","doi":"10.1016/j.ctcp.2025.102004","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ctcp.2025.102004","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objective</h3><div>Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a debilitating mental health condition. Emerging evidence suggests exercise may be effective in alleviating PTSD symptoms. This systematic review and network meta-analysis aimed to identify the most effective types and dosages of exercise for managing PTSD in adults.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>A systematic search of six databases (PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, SPORTDiscus, Scopus, PsycINFO) through November 2024 identified randomized controlled trials involving adults with PTSD. Two reviewers independently screened studies, extracted data, and assessed risk of bias using the Cochrane Risk of Bias 2.0 tool. Standardized mean differences (SMDs) with 95 % confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated. The GRADE framework was used to assess evidence certainty.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Thirty randomized controlled trials involving 1435 participants were included. An inverted U-shaped dose-response relationship was found between exercise dosage and PTSD symptom reduction, with the greatest effect at ∼730 Metabolic Equivalent of Task minutes per week (SMD = 0.53; 95 % CI: 0.28–0.82). Multicomponent exercise showed the strongest benefits. Optimal outcomes were linked to 30-min sessions, more than four times per week, at moderate-to-vigorous intensity.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Exercise exerted a non-linear dose-response effect on post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms, with optimal benefits observed at approximately 730 Metabolic Equivalent of Task minutes per week. Meanwhile, multicomponent exercise was identified as the most effective modality. Short-duration, high-frequency, high-intensity regimens yielded the greatest improvements. However, the overall current certainty of the evidence was moderate-to-low due to heterogeneity among studies. Therefore, further high-quality trials are necessitated to establish optimal doses, exercise types, and individual variability in response.</div></div><div><h3>Registration</h3><div>PROSPERO (CRD4202412345111)</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48752,"journal":{"name":"Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice","volume":"60 ","pages":"Article 102004"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144254940","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":"Osteopathic diagnosis and treatment of the spine in patients with chronic back pain through the lens of medical infrared thermography: A randomized controlled pilot study","authors":"Lucas Bohlen ,&nbsp;Anna Biester ,&nbsp;Oliver Rapp ,&nbsp;Jörg Wentzel ,&nbsp;Torsten Liem ,&nbsp;Francesco Cerritelli ,&nbsp;Tobias Schmidt","doi":"10.1016/j.ctcp.2025.101999","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ctcp.2025.101999","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background and Purpose</h3><div>Chronic back pain conditions are highly prevalent worldwide. Osteopathic treatment seems to improve pain and function in this population. However, the mechanisms underlying osteopathic diagnosis and treatment of the spine are mainly unknown. Arguably, both inflammatory and autonomic processes may be involved, which should entail changes in skin temperature. Primarily, the feasibility of the study protocol was evaluated by assessing the retention, adherence, acceptability, safety, and blinding concealment rates and carrying out a power analysis. Secondarily, we investigated diagnostic correlations between pain ratings, palpatory findings, and skin temperature in spinal segments and therapeutic effects of osteopathic and sham spine manipulations.</div></div><div><h3>Materials and methods</h3><div>In this single-blinded, randomized, and sham-controlled pilot and feasibility study, participants with chronic back pain were randomly allocated (1:1 ratio) to receive a single session of osteopathic or sham spine manipulations. Manual diagnosis, pain assessment, and infrared imaging were performed before treatment (baseline) and one week after treatment (follow-up), whereas infrared imaging was additionally conducted shortly after treatment (post-intervention).</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Seventeen participants completed the trial with 89.5 % retention, 100 % adherence, 100 % acceptability, 6 % adverse events, 22 % (osteopathic) and 50 % (sham) blinding concealment. A power analysis estimated a sample of 40 subjects for future randomized controlled trials. At baseline, no significant correlations were detected between palpatory findings, pain ratings, and skin temperature. There were no significant between-group differences in palpatory findings at single time points and pain ratings across time points (<em>p</em> &lt; 0.05), whereas skin temperature showed significant between-group differences across all time points (<em>p</em> &lt; 0.01). At post-intervention, osteopathic spine manipulations increased the skin temperature with a medium effect (Cohen's <em>d</em> = 0.66).</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>The study was feasible. Osteopathic diagnosis does not seem to correlate with pain ratings and skin temperature. However, the increase in skin temperature shortly after osteopathic treatment suggests an autonomic (hyper-parasympathetic) effect.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48752,"journal":{"name":"Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice","volume":"60 ","pages":"Article 101999"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143924080","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":"Effects of Zataria multiflora mouthwash and chlorhexidine compared to chlorhexidine alone on the incidence of ventilator-associated pneumonia in patients admitted to intensive care units","authors":"Seyed Afshin Shorofi ,&nbsp;Samira Golchin-Mehr ,&nbsp;Seyed Nouraddin Mousavinasab ,&nbsp;Paul Arbon ,&nbsp;Majid Saeedi ,&nbsp;Mohammad Ali Ebrahimzadeh","doi":"10.1016/j.ctcp.2025.101966","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ctcp.2025.101966","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background and purpose</h3><div>Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is the most prevalent nosocomial infection in intensive care units (ICUs). To prevent VAP, several strategies are employed, including oral care with mouthwashes. This study sought to compare the effects of <em>Zataria multiflora</em> essential oil mouthwash combined with chlorhexidine (ZM + CHG) against chlorhexidine (CHG) alone in reducing the incidence of VAP among ICU patients.</div></div><div><h3>Materials and methods</h3><div>This study is a single-blind clinical trial involving 120 mechanically ventilated ICU patients. They were randomly assigned into two groups. One group received <em>Zataria multiflora</em> 0.2 % mouthwash and chlorhexidine gluconate 0.2 % mouthwash (ZM + CHG group), while the control group received chlorhexidine gluconate 0.2 % mouthwash (CHG group), both administered twice daily for five days. Clinical pulmonary infection, oral health, and oral mucosal-plaque condition were assessed using the clinical pulmonary infection score (CPIS), Beck oral assessment scale (BOAS), and mucosal-plaque score (MPS), respectively.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Both ZM + CHG and CHG were effective in reducing the incidence of VAP, with ZM + CHG demonstrating superior effectiveness (p &lt; 0.05). Moreover, ZM + CHG led to a significant improvement in oral and dental health scores and oral mucosal plaque condition compared to CHG (p &lt; 0.05). This study found no significant complications from using either mouthwash, although the follow-up period was relatively short.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>ZM + CHG reduced the incidence of VAP in ICU patients more effectively than CHG. It also improved oral health and mucosal-plaque condition in mechanically ventilated patients. Thus, ZM + CHG could serve as an alternative to CHG in ICU patients under mechanical ventilation. However, additional studies are needed to confirm its impact on VAP incidence.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48752,"journal":{"name":"Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice","volume":"60 ","pages":"Article 101966"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143829494","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}