Advances in integrative medicine最新文献

{"title":"Profile of patients presenting to Australian osteopaths: Results from a national health service use survey","authors":"Brett Vaughan ,&nbsp;Michael Fleischmann ,&nbsp;Niklas Sinderholm Sposato ,&nbsp;Jerry Draper-Rodi ,&nbsp;Kesava Kovanur Sampath ,&nbsp;Loïc Treffel ,&nbsp;Cindy McIntyre ,&nbsp;Chantal Morin ,&nbsp;Lee Muddle ,&nbsp;Oliver P. Thomson","doi":"10.1016/j.aimed.2025.100590","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.aimed.2025.100590","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background and purpose</h3><div>Musculoskeletal conditions are one of the most common complaints affecting the Australian population. Affected individuals often seek care from a range of health professionals including osteopaths. Osteopaths provide care for musculoskeletal conditions using manual therapy, exercise, and patient education. The current study is a secondary analysis of data from an Australian health service use survey.</div></div><div><h3>Materials &amp; methods</h3><div>Respondents were asked to indicate the range of health professionals they consulted during the period February 2021 and February 2022. Additional data collected from respondents related to demographic variables, presence of chronic conditions in addition to the Personal Wellbeing Index (PWI) and Short Form 20 (SF-20). Data were descriptively analysed based on whether the respondent reported consulting with an osteopath or not.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>In the period February 2021-February 2022, of the 2354 respondents, 143 (6.1 %) indicated they had consulted with an osteopath. Over half of those who consulted with an osteopath identified as female (51.7 %), had private health insurance (59.4 %) and/or a healthcare card (69.9 %). No significant difference was observed between respondents who consulted with an osteopath and those who did not for PWI scores (p &gt; 0.05). SF-20 scores were significantly lower for those who consulted with an osteopath compared with those who did not (p &lt; 0.01).</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>This secondary analysis contributes to our understanding of the profile of patients presenting to Australian osteopaths, particularly health related quality of life and subjective wellbeing of this patient cohort.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7343,"journal":{"name":"Advances in integrative medicine","volume":"13 1","pages":"Article 100590"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145584309","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":"Has the menstrual cycle been considered in assessment of pain in clinical trials of physical therapy modalities for women with primary dysmenorrhea? A scoping systematic review","authors":"Jéssica Cordeiro Rodrigues ,&nbsp;Néville Ferreira Facchini de Oliveira ,&nbsp;Daiana Priscila Rodrigues-de-Souza ,&nbsp;Mariana Arias Avila ,&nbsp;Patricia Driusso ,&nbsp;Francisco Alburquerque-Sendín","doi":"10.1016/j.aimed.2026.100615","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.aimed.2026.100615","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Problem</h3><div>Primary dysmenorrhea (PD) is a gynecological condition characterized by painful menstrual cramps, with pain intensity varying across menstrual cycle phase. Physiotherapy is a non-pharmacological treatment used to manage PD symptoms, but it is unclear whether the menstrual cycle phase has been considered in physiotherapy randomized clinical trials (RCTs) for PD.</div></div><div><h3>Aim</h3><div>This scoping review aims to investigate whether the menstrual cycle phases are considered in the assessment of pain in clinical trials of physical therapy modalities for women with PD.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>A search was conducted in PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Lilacs, and PEDro. This review included RCTs of physiotherapy modalities for management of pain in women with PD, published until December 2024.</div></div><div><h3>Findings</h3><div>The review included 42 RCTs with a total of 3694 participants. Most studies were from Iran (21.4 %), Turkey (19 %), China (11.9 %), and Brazil (11.9 %). The most common physiotherapy modalities were exercise (23.8 %), acupressure (21.4 %), acupuncture (11.9 %), transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (11.9 %), education/information booklets (11.9 %), and massage (7.1 %). The mean PEDro score for the trials was 5.81 (range: 3–9).</div></div><div><h3>Discussion</h3><div>The majority of included studies focused on pain assessment during menstruation, which aligns with the critical period of pain for many women with PD. However, the lack of focus on pain in the 48 h leading up to menstruation may lead to an underestimation of pain severity.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>This scoping review highlights the importance of considering menstrual cycle phases in pain assessments and PD treatment for more personalized and effective physiotherapy interventions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7343,"journal":{"name":"Advances in integrative medicine","volume":"13 1","pages":"Article 100615"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146073820","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":"“A randomized placebo controlled clinical trial using Homoeopathy as an adjuvant to standard care in the management of COVID-19” [Adv. Integr. Med. 12 (2025) 100502] https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aimed.2025.100502","authors":"Susan Arentz","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":7343,"journal":{"name":"Advances in integrative medicine","volume":"13 3","pages":"Article 100696"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148770317","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 effectiveness of herbal remedies in preventing striae gravidarum: A systematic review and meta-analysis","authors":"Masoumeh Razavi ,&nbsp;Mojgan Mirghafourvand ,&nbsp;Mahnaz Shahnazi ,&nbsp;Khadije Hajizadeh","doi":"10.1016/j.aimed.2025.100530","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.aimed.2025.100530","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Striae gravidarum is a common skin condition that affects approximately 60–90 % of pregnant women. This systematic review aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of herbal remedies in preventing stretch marks during pregnancy.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>A comprehensive literature search was conducted in PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, Scopus, and SID databases for studies published between January 1972 and May 2024. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) assessing the preventive effects of herbal remedies—including oils, creams, and plant-based extracts—on pregnant women were included. Data were analyzed using RevMan software, and meta-analysis was performed using fixed-effect or random-effects models based on the degree of heterogeneity. Subgroup analysis was performed based on the type of herbal remedies on incidence (primary outcome) and itching and erythema (secondary outcomes).</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>A total of 12 randomized controlled trials involving 1956 pregnant women were included. Herbal treatments such as Aloe vera gel, sweet almond oil, and sesame oil showed a significant reduction in the incidence of stretch marks compared to placebo (12 studies, n = 1956; OR = 0.47, 95 % CI: 0.28–0.79, p = 0.004). In addition, four subgroup analyses from four distinct studies (n = 601) demonstrated that herbal products significantly reduced the incidence of itching compared to controls (OR = 0.09, 95 % CI: 0.03–0.30, p &lt; 0.00001), while two studies (n = 139) showed a significant reduction in erythema incidence in the intervention groups (OR = 0.17, 95 % CI: 0.07–0.38, p &lt; 0.0001).</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Although some herbal remedies, especially Aloe vera, Sweet Almond oil and Sesame oil have high potential for the prevention and management of stretch marks, the heterogeneity in the studies' design and results indicates the need for more high-quality research.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7343,"journal":{"name":"Advances in integrative medicine","volume":"12 4","pages":"Article 100530"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144523567","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":"A new era in global health: It’s time to act on the promise of integrative medicine","authors":"Susan Arentz","doi":"10.1016/j.aimed.2025.100569","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.aimed.2025.100569","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":7343,"journal":{"name":"Advances in integrative medicine","volume":"12 4","pages":"Article 100569"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144903145","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":"Effects of scalp acupuncture treatment on motor dysfunction in children with spastic cerebral palsy: A multicenter randomized controlled trial","authors":"Jun Wang ,&nbsp;Xueyan Li ,&nbsp;Wei Shi ,&nbsp;Bingpei Shi ,&nbsp;Xiaojuan Shi ,&nbsp;Dandan Luo ,&nbsp;Xiushu Shen ,&nbsp;Chun Zhai ,&nbsp;Lei Xu ,&nbsp;Meirong Li ,&nbsp;Nan Su ,&nbsp;Rencai Deng ,&nbsp;Huayu Huang ,&nbsp;Jian Li ,&nbsp;Yin Wang ,&nbsp;Hong Yang","doi":"10.1016/j.aimed.2025.100505","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.aimed.2025.100505","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Introduction</h3><div>Scalp acupuncture has been widely used as a treatment for motor dysfunction in children with cerebral palsy (CP). Previous studies have not provided high-quality evidence to demonstrate the effectiveness of this treatment in children with CP. To date, no high-quality randomized controlled trials on scalp acupuncture have been reported. The present study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of Jiao's scalp acupuncture for the treatment of motor dysfunction in children with spastic CP.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>This was a randomized controlled trial. One hundred CP patients were randomly allocated to either the treatment or control group. The control group received conventional rehabilitation treatment, while the treatment group received both conventional rehabilitation treatment and Jiao’s scalp acupuncture. Thirty-six treatment sessions were conducted over a 12-week period. Outcomes were assessed using the Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM)-66 and the Fine Motor Function Measure (FMFM) at baseline, week 4, 8, 12 (post-treatment) and week 24 (follow-up).</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Both groups showed significant improvements in motor function (p &lt; 0.01), as assessed by the GMFM-66 and the FMFM. Compared to the control, the treatment group demonstrated a significantly greater improvement in both gross and fine motor function (p &lt; 0.05).</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Acupuncture in the motor area of Jiao's scalp acupuncture significantly improved motor function in children with spastic CP. Scalp acupuncture treatment may serve as a beneficial adjunct to conventional rehabilitation for motor dysfunction in this population.</div></div><div><h3>Trial registration</h3><div>ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03921281.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7343,"journal":{"name":"Advances in integrative medicine","volume":"12 4","pages":"Article 100505"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144501063","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":"An analysis of predictors of conventional and complementary healthcare use in Yorkshire","authors":"Felicity Astin ,&nbsp;Elizabeth Goyder ,&nbsp;Richard Cooper ,&nbsp;John Stephenson ,&nbsp;Farideh A. Javid","doi":"10.1016/j.aimed.2025.100566","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.aimed.2025.100566","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Well-recognised trends in types of services used by patients exist within health service utilisation. One increasing area is complementary and alternative medicine (CAM); considered distinct from the use of health professionals working in conventional medicine. Little is known about the contribution of CAM and whether people using CAM with multiple comorbidities make correspondingly less use of conventional health services.</div></div><div><h3>Aims</h3><div>1) To describe self-reported visits to conventional health professionals and CAM practitioners, and to identify predictors of such visits; 2) To quantify the effect of demographic, health-related and CAM service take-up factors on contact with health services delivered by conventional health professionals.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Data from 70,836 participants in the Yorkshire Health Study, a large-scale population-based cohort study, was analysed descriptively and inferentially to test for associations between variables.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>3.5 % of the cohort reported accessing CAM services in the previous three months. Level of contact with conventional health professionals was higher in those accessing practitioner-led CAM services (incidence rate ratio [IRR]=1.28; <em>p &lt; 0.001.) Female gender, older age and increased incidence of mental and physical health conditions were also positively associated with the outcome.</em></div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Self-reported utilisation of CAM services was low but there were several predictors of recent CAM use based on demographic and health conditions which may be of help in understanding conventional and CAM healthcare utilisation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7343,"journal":{"name":"Advances in integrative medicine","volume":"12 4","pages":"Article 100566"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144908465","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":"An investigation into the sensitivity and specificity of iridology for detecting abnormalities in the female reproductive system: A cross-sectional observational study","authors":"A. Aishwarya ,&nbsp;A. Mooventhan ,&nbsp;R. Arunthathi ,&nbsp;L. Nivethitha ,&nbsp;N. Manavalan","doi":"10.1016/j.aimed.2025.100572","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.aimed.2025.100572","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Iridology is an assessment technique that involves examining the iris to identify potential pathological disorders. Despite being practiced for centuries, the effectiveness of iris diagnosis as a diagnostic tool remains controversial, primarily due to limited empirical evidence supporting its claims. Thus, there is a critical need for scientific studies to provide evidence regarding the efficacy of iridology assessment. This study aimed to determine the sensitivity and specificity of iridology assessment in detecting abnormalities in the female reproductive system.</div></div><div><h3>Materials and methods</h3><div>This cross-sectional observational study included 100 female participants. All participants underwent an iris examination, a clinical assessment, and ultrasonography. The results from these investigations were compared, and sensitivity and specificity rates were calculated using standard formulas.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>The study found that iridology assessment demonstrated a sensitivity of 92 % and a specificity of 56 % in detecting abnormalities within the female reproductive system.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>The findings suggest that iridology assessment may serve as a potentially useful complementary tool for detecting abnormalities in the female reproductive system. However, further research is essential to confirm the effectiveness of this method and to explore its potential benefits and limitations in gynecological diagnosis. Continued scientific investigation is crucial to establish the role of iridology assessment in enhancing gynecological healthcare.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7343,"journal":{"name":"Advances in integrative medicine","volume":"12 4","pages":"Article 100572"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145095303","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":"Therapeutic efficacy and safety of Polypodium vulgare L. in psychosomatic and behavioural symptoms and health-related quality of life in premenstrual women: A randomized placebo-controlled study","authors":"Marhaba Khanam ,&nbsp;Arshiya Sultana ,&nbsp;Taseen Banu","doi":"10.1016/j.aimed.2025.100560","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.aimed.2025.100560","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background and objectives</h3><div>Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) significantly affects the quality of life and disrupts personal and social relationships among women of reproductive age. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of <em>Polypodium vulgare</em> L. (<em>Bisfayej</em>) in alleviating PMS symptoms and improving health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in affected women.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Sixty women diagnosed with PMS were randomly assigned to receive either two capsules of <em>P. vulgare</em> (1000 mg) or a placebo. The treatment was administered twice daily for three menstrual cycles, starting from day 16 of the cycle until day 5 of the following cycle. The primary outcomes were changes in symptom severity, measured by the Premenstrual Syndrome Scale (PMSS), and symptom duration, recorded using a premenstrual tracker sheet. The secondary outcome was assessed using the EQ-5D-5L (EuroQol 5-Dimensions 5-Levels) health questionnaire. Data were analyzed using both parametric and non-parametric tests at a 5 % significance level.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Following the intervention, the <em>P. vulgare</em> group showed a significant reduction in PMS symptom severity and duration, along with an improvement in EQ-5D-5L scores, compared to the placebo group (<em>p</em> &lt; 0.001). The mean reduction in PMSS scores from baseline to the end of the third treatment cycle was 44.23 (95 % CI: 39.81–48.65) in the treatment group and 24.7 (95 % CI: 21.43–27.96) in the placebo group, indicating a statistically significant difference (<em>p</em> &lt; 0.001). No adverse effects were reported in either group.</div></div><div><h3>Discussion</h3><div>The findings suggest that <em>P. vulgare</em> is both effective and safe in reducing the severity and duration of PMS symptoms while enhancing HRQoL. The therapeutic effects may be attributed to its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, as well as its potential to modulate serotonin levels. These results support the potential of <em>P. vulgare</em> as a promising treatment option for women suffering from PMS.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div><em>P. vulgare</em> was more efficacious than the placebo in reducing PMS and improving the woman’s HRQoL.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7343,"journal":{"name":"Advances in integrative medicine","volume":"12 4","pages":"Article 100560"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144903073","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":"Managing iron overload through dietary modification: A case report","authors":"Alireza Asghari,&nbsp;Babak Daneshfard,&nbsp;Maryam Golzar","doi":"10.1016/j.aimed.2025.100570","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.aimed.2025.100570","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Iron homeostasis is crucial for maintaining optimal health, as both iron deficiency and iron overload can result in significant clinical complications. This case report explores the therapeutic potential of dietary modification in managing iron overload through an individualized, temperament-based nutritional approach. A 35-year-old female presented with symptoms of hair loss and increased blood viscosity, with laboratory findings indicating elevated serum iron levels (48.7 µmol/L) and a high transferrin saturation (0.85). A tailored dietary intervention was initiated, focusing on reducing the intake of warming, desiccating foods and incorporating more hydrating and moistening dietary elements, including increased fluid intake and specific herbal teas. After one month, follow-up assessments revealed normalized serum iron levels (22.3 µmol/L), improved hemorheological parameters, and notable improvement in hair shedding, which coincided with the dietary changes. This case underscores the potential of personalized dietary strategies, grounded in traditional concepts of food temperament, as a non-pharmacological approach to correcting metabolic imbalances associated with iron overload. Future studies are recommended to investigate the efficacy of these dietary strategies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7343,"journal":{"name":"Advances in integrative medicine","volume":"12 4","pages":"Article 100570"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145003962","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}