Forschende Komplementarmedizin und klassische Naturheilkunde = Research in complementary and natural classical medicine最新文献

{"title":"Open trial to assess aspects of safety and efficacy of a combined herbal cough syrup with ivy and thyme.","authors":"Samuel Büechi,&nbsp;Roger Vögelin,&nbsp;Mónica Mennet von Eiff,&nbsp;Mac Ramos,&nbsp;Jörg Melzer","doi":"10.1159/000088934","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1159/000088934","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background and objectives: </strong>Changes in the symptoms of cough after treatment with a combined herbal preparation containing dry ivy leaf extract as main active ingredient, decoction of thyme and aniseed, and mucilage of marshmallow root (Weleda Hustenelixier, new formulation) and its tolerability were investigated in an open clinical trial ('Anwendungsbeleg').</p><p><strong>Patients and methods: </strong>Between January and March 2004, 13 general practitioners recruited and treated 62 patients with a mean age of 50 years (range 16-89). The patients had irritating cough in consequence of common cold (n = 29), bronchitis (n = 20) or respiratory tract diseases with formation of viscous mucus (n = 15). The mean daily intake was 10 ml (range 7.5-15) of syrup, and the mean duration of treatment was 12 days (range 3-23 days). Treatment results were assessed on the basis of changes in the symptom scores for cough and expectoration. Safety was evaluated by means of an analysis of adverse events. In addition, efficacy and tolerability were analyzed from the judgments of the doctors and patients.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>At the final visit, all symptom scores showed an improvement as compared to baseline. Doctors and patients assessed efficacy as good or very good in 86% and 90% of the cases, respectively. Tolerability was assessed as good or very good by 97% of the doctors and patients. Only one adverse event was reported. However, a relation to the medication was classified to be unlikely.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Considering the traditional use of ivy leaves, thyme herb, aniseed and marshmallow root in preparations for cough, the reduction in the symptom score as well as the good tolerability the investigated combined herbal cough syrup seems to alleviate cough in consequence of common cold, bronchitis or respiratory tract diseases with formation of mucus.</p>","PeriodicalId":80278,"journal":{"name":"Forschende Komplementarmedizin und klassische Naturheilkunde = Research in complementary and natural classical medicine","volume":"12 6","pages":"328-32"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2005-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1159/000088934","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"25782253","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":"Biomedical evidence of influence of geopathic zones on the human body: scientifically traceable effects and ways of harmonization.","authors":"Gerhard W Hacker,&nbsp;Elisabeth Pawlak,&nbsp;Gernot Pauser,&nbsp;Gottfried Tichy,&nbsp;Hermann Jell,&nbsp;Gabriele Posch,&nbsp;Günther Kraibacher,&nbsp;Alfred Aigner,&nbsp;Jörg Hutter","doi":"10.1159/000088624","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1159/000088624","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Empiric knowledge of the existence of geopathic zones ('water veins' etc) is probably as old as humankind. It has often been tried to experimentally detect direct influences on the body. However, so far, there have been no publications in accepted biomedical journals. The target of this study was to verify influences of 2 different zones above ground on the human body and to test a device for which pilot studies have indicated a potential harmonizing effect in this context.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>Using a randomized, non-clinical, double-blinded trial design, 52 persons were tested with a gas discharge visualization (GDV) system whilst staying on 2 zones with or without the Geowave device (Geowave-Research, Salzburg, Austria). The 2 zones investigated had been dowsed by experienced professional dowsers and labeled with black dots in a non-persuasive manner, thereby blindly representing areas of geopathy or more neutral zones. The main analytical parameter was the GDV glow image area (area of glow). Complementary calculated parameters were spatial fractality, corona projections and corona diagrams.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>In the geopathic zone, the detected areas of glow were statistically significantly smaller than in the more neutral zone. With the Geowave blindly mounted in an adjacent room of the above story, a marked increase of the glow image area was found in both zones. The corona projections showed well-recognizable points of body energy deficits in the geopathic zone, mostly associated with the lymphatic system, the cardiovascular system and the pineal gland, which were -- to a distinctly lesser degree -- also present in the more neutral zone. The device tested yielded compensation or harmonization in both zones in most of the test persons.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The significant differences in the physical area of glow parameter, which were also noticed for the complementary parameters analyzed, lead to the conclusion that the 2 different zones within the same room (geopathic vs. more neutral zone) exerted different influences on the human body, which may have caused a geopathic stress phenomenon. As a result, individually different retardation of the immune system and other organs may occur. The device tested in both zones showed harmonizing effects, which may help to compensate some influences of geopathy and possibility also superimposed stressors derived from certain other sources, such as technical electromagnetic fields.</p>","PeriodicalId":80278,"journal":{"name":"Forschende Komplementarmedizin und klassische Naturheilkunde = Research in complementary and natural classical medicine","volume":"12 6","pages":"315-27"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2005-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1159/000088624","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"25782302","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":"[Reduction of endogenous regulation in internal medicine patients].","authors":"Matthias Kröz,&nbsp;Hans Broder von Laue,&nbsp;Roland Zerm,&nbsp;Dagmar Brauer,&nbsp;Marcus Reif,&nbsp;Matthias Girke,&nbsp;Harald Matthes,&nbsp;Christian Heckmann","doi":"10.1159/000089148","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1159/000089148","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>General health-related questionnaires on quality of life do not satisfactorily distinguish between healthy and sick people. One of the reasons cited for this lack is too much mental influence. This is why we developed a questionnaire on endogenous regulation (eR) that reflects the regulatory state of various vegetative functions.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>The current study examines whether the short version eR questionnaire is able to distinguish between healthy people and internal medicine patients.</p><p><strong>Patients and methods: </strong>408 participants were included in the study (284 females, 124 males). Among these were patients with colorectal cancer (n = 49), breast cancer (n = 95), diabetes mellitus (type 1: n = 20, type 2: n = 40), coronary disease (n = 39), rheumatoid illnesses (n = 28) and multimorbid patients (n = 22) as well as a healthy control group (n = 115). In addition to the eR questionnaire the study also used the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), the short questionnaire on self-regulation and questions on the vegetative status.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The healthy control group showed the highest eR, with an estimated average of M = 29.8. Patients with breast cancer, diabetes mellitus type 2, coronary disease and rheumatoid illnesses reveal a significantly lowered eR. Multimorbid patients show the lowest eR. Patients with cancer of the colon and diabetes type 1 were measured at M = 27.9 and M = 27.3 respectively and showed no significantly lowered estimated average compared to the control group. A high eR significantly correlates (p < 0.002) with the following parameters: low levels of anxiety (r = 49) and depression (r = 0.36), high self-regulation (r = 0.34), morning type (r = 0.40), less congestive perspiration (r = 0.38), less shivering (r = 0.23), dysmenorrhoea (r = 0.38) and allergies (r = 0.17).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Healthy people show the highest, multimorbid patients the lowest eR. Consistent relations to health, illness, heat regulation and personality presence have been shown. Further studies to clarify clinical relevance are necessary.</p>","PeriodicalId":80278,"journal":{"name":"Forschende Komplementarmedizin und klassische Naturheilkunde = Research in complementary and natural classical medicine","volume":"12 6","pages":"333-41"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2005-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1159/000089148","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"25782254","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":"[Protocol application as an understandable format and systematic elevated experiences].","authors":"Reinhard Saller,&nbsp;Beat Meier","doi":"10.1159/000089829","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1159/000089829","url":null,"abstract":"Die Verfugbarkeit von nachvollziehbar dokumentierten Daten aus der unmittelbaren Behandlungssituation ist wohl fur jeden therapeutisch tatigen Arzt wunschenswert. Um die Behandlungssituation zu erforschen und erfassen, wird eine Reihe von Studientypen verwendet. In der vorliegenden Nummer der Forschenden Komplementarmedizin wird ein solcher Studientyp fur Phytotherapeutika entsprechend dem Schweizerischen Heilmittelgesetz aufgegriffen und eine Arbeit mit «Anwendungsbelegen» veroffentlicht [1]. Anwendungsbelege konnen sowohl bei pflanzlichen Monopraparaten wie auch bei Kombinationsarzneimitteln eine relevante Rolle spielen, desgleichen beim Nachweis der pharmazeutischen Aquivalenz zweier pflanzlicher Arzneimittel und beim Vertraglichkeitsnachweis. Charakterisierung und Funktion der Anwendungsbelege werden in der so genannten Phytoanleitung der Swissmedic von 2004 [2] naher erlautert. In den Vorbemerkungen zu «Klinische Dokumentation» werden der mogliche Stellenwert und die mogliche Aussagekraft dargelegt: «Art und Ausmass der erforderlichen Unterlagen richten sich nach der Zusammensetzung des Arzneimittels, der Sicherheit und Unbedenklichkeit und der beantragten Indikation. Das Institut bestimmt im Einzelfall, welche Unterlagen zum Nachweis von Sicherheit und Wirksamkeit erforderlich sind und orientiert sich dabei an den nachfolgend dargelegten Kriterien. Die Anforderungen an die einzureichenden Unterlagen steigen, wenn genaue und uberprufbare Indikationen – gemass einem klinisch kontrollierten Wirksamkeitsbeleg, wie: ‹XY wirkt bei ...› oder ‹wirksam gegen ...› – beansprucht werden, bzw. das Arzneimittel zur Behandlung oder Vorbeugung schwerer Krankheitszustande empfohlen wird. Bei Arzneimitteln zur Behandlung von Befindlichkeitsstorungen und bei Beanspruchung traditioneller Anwendungsgebiete (z.B. ‹wird traditionsgemass verwendet bei ...› oder ‹unterstutzend bei ...›), sind die Anforderungen an die einzureichenden Unterlagen geringer (vgl. z.B. Teil IV Bst. C Ziff. 3 ‹traditionell verwendete pflanzliche Arzneimittel›).» Im Teil «IV B: Vorlage von eigenen klinischen Prufungen (Phase I–IV) bzw. Anwendungsbelegen» wird ausgefuhrt: «Bei pflanzlichen Arzneimitteln, deren Wirksamkeit nicht auf kontrollierten klinischen Studien, wohl aber auf ausreichenden wissenschaftlichen Grundlagen und Belegen uber die klinische Erfahrung beruht und deren Nutzen-Risiko-Evaluation positiv ausfallt, konnen Anwendungsbelege unter den Voraussetzungen von Artikel 9 Absatz 1 VAZV in der Regel zum Beleg der Wirksamkeit und/oder der Vertraglichkeit in der beanspruchten Indikation und Dosierung allein ausreichend sein. Die Indikation ist bei solchen Arzneimitteln auf die Behandlung/Vorbeugung von leichten Krankheiten bzw. auf Befindlichkeitsstorungen und die Beanspruchung traditioneller Anwendungsgebiete (z.B. ‹wird traditionsgemass verwendet bei ...› oder ‹unterstutzend bei ...›) beschrankt. Anwendungsbelege konnen auch erganzend zum Beleg der Wirksamkeit und Sicherheit vor","PeriodicalId":80278,"journal":{"name":"Forschende Komplementarmedizin und klassische Naturheilkunde = Research in complementary and natural classical medicine","volume":"12 6","pages":"312-3"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2005-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1159/000089829","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"25829173","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":"[Intravenous oxygen therapy increases the activity of the antioxidative and antiatherogenic serum enzyme paraoxonase 1].","authors":"Steffi Kopprasch,&nbsp;Franz Josef Kreutzer,&nbsp;Vinzenz Nowak,&nbsp;Juergen Graessler","doi":"10.1159/000089012","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1159/000089012","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Intravenous oxygen infusions have been introduced in complementary medicine for treatment of atherosclerosis and inflammatory diseases. As atherosclerosis and inflammation are causally related to oxidative stress and as intravenous supply with oxygen causes oxidative stress, it was suggested that the clinical success of intravenous oxygen therapy is biochemically based on an enhancement of endogenous antioxidative mechanisms. The anti-atherogenic enzyme paraoxonase-1 (PON1) is is part of this system.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>To evaluate the effect of repeated intravenous oxygen infusions on serum PON1 activity.</p><p><strong>Patients and methods: </strong>A total of 45 patients were treated with intravenous oxygen. During treatment oxygen dosage was increased from 15 to 50 ml (1-2 ml/min). Before treatments 1 and 10 blood was obtained for measurement of PON1 activities. From 20 patients blood was additionally obtained after 20 days of treatment and 2 weeks post treatment. Serum PON1 activity was measured spectrophotometrically using the synthetic substrates paraoxon, phenylacetate, and p-nitrophenyl-acetate.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Using the substrate paraoxon PON1 activity significantly increased by 38% above basal levels 24 hours after intravenous oxygen infusion 9 (p < 0.001). Adverse effects were not observed.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Treatments with intravenous oxygen infusions evoke an adaptation to oxidative stress by an increase of serum PON1 activity. In this regard, a potential molecular mechanism has been found, that explains the protecting effects of intravenous oxygen therapy against oxidative stress and its consequences. PON1 activity is proposed to be an appropriate parameter for monitoring the success of this kind of oxygen therapy.</p>","PeriodicalId":80278,"journal":{"name":"Forschende Komplementarmedizin und klassische Naturheilkunde = Research in complementary and natural classical medicine","volume":"12 6","pages":"342-6"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2005-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1159/000089012","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"25782255","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":"Patients' expectations about the benefit of antibiotic treatment: lessons from a randomised controlled trial.","authors":"Jim Young,&nbsp;Christa Hugenschmidt,&nbsp;Antje Welge-Lüssen,&nbsp;Heiner C Bucher,&nbsp;Peter Tschudi,&nbsp;Pierre Périat","doi":"10.1159/000089093","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1159/000089093","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Patient expectations may be an important component of a placebo effect, and yet few studies assess how patients' pre-existing expectations affect subsequent health outcomes.</p><p><strong>Objectives: </strong>To estimate the association between patients' expectations and time to cure in patients with clinically diagnosed acute bacterial rhinosinusitis.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>In a randomised controlled trial, expectations about the benefit of an antibiotic therapy were measured prior to treatment with either an antibiotic or placebo.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Of the patients asked for consent, 64% refused mostly because they either wanted or did not want to receive antibiotics. Over 25% of the patients who gave consent were ambivalent about the benefit of antibiotic therapy. Predictably there was no evidence of an association between expectations and time to cure in those that gave consent.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Selection bias occurs if patients with strong expectations refuse to participate in a trial and if the success of the intervention depends in part on a patient's expectations. Methods that adjust for selection bias are recommended for trials where placebo effects are either of interest or could be an important component of an intervention.</p>","PeriodicalId":80278,"journal":{"name":"Forschende Komplementarmedizin und klassische Naturheilkunde = Research in complementary and natural classical medicine","volume":"12 6","pages":"347-9"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2005-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1159/000089093","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"25782256","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":"Open letter to the editor of The Lancet.","authors":"","doi":"10.1159/000089833","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1159/000089833","url":null,"abstract":"Preliminary Remark The study on homoeopathy by Aijing Shang et al. from the ISPM (University of Berne, Prof. Egger), published in the Lancet on the 27/8/2005, has been part of the Swiss ‘Programme Evaluation Complementary Medicine’ (PEK). For the last 2 years the authors have been stating in the media that homoeopathic effects are placebo effects, but have withheld the basis of their statement until this year. We do not consider this procedure as very fair. Being directly affected by this study we have had a serious interest in sending our comments on it to the Lancet. Professor Egger from Berne has also invited us in a letter to make our criticism of his study public in a formal ‘Letter to the Editor’. We have sent our comments to the Lancet in a ‘Letter to the Editor’ on 1/9/2005. However, the Lancet has decided not to accept it for publication on 21/9/2005. For that reason we have decided to make our comment public in the form of this open letter.","PeriodicalId":80278,"journal":{"name":"Forschende Komplementarmedizin und klassische Naturheilkunde = Research in complementary and natural classical medicine","volume":"12 6","pages":"352-3"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2005-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1159/000089833","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"25829174","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":"[Is research on complementary medicine a waste of time and money?].","authors":"Klaus Linde","doi":"10.1159/000088309","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1159/000088309","url":null,"abstract":"Das New England Journal of Medicine und der Lancet gelten nach wie vor als die wichtigsten Journals fur die klinische Medizin. Veroffentlichungen zu komplementarmedizinischen Themen sind darin ausserst selten. Umso hoher ist der Signalwert von zwei Editorials einzuschatzen, die kurzlich dort erschienen sind. Im New England Journal of Medicine vom 28. Juli 2005 kommentierte der bekannte Skeptiker Wallace Sampson [1] eine im selben Heft publizierte, negative Echinaceastudie [2]. Am Ende seines Editorials kritisiert Sampson massiv, dass in den USA uber das National Center of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) grosse Summen offentlicher Gelder fur klinische Forschung zu unplausiblen Therapien ausgegeben werden (siehe hierzu auch seine Ausfuhrungen unter www.quackwatch.org/01QuackeryRelatedTopics/nccam.html). Die Hinwendung zur «alternativen Medizin» wird als Teil unsinniger gesellschaftlicher Trends («errant social-medical trends») bezeichnet, deren Erforschung letztlich Ressourcenverschwendung sei. Sampson greift das Wort des schillernden Skeptikers Petr Skrabanek von der «demarcation of the absurd» auf, die aus seiner Sicht bei der komplementarmedizinischen Forschung vernachlassigt wird. Am 27. August 2005 erschien dann im Lancet eine grosse Metaanalyse der placebokontrollierten Studien zur Homoopathie [3], die im Gegensatz zu der von unserer Arbeitsgruppe 1997 vorgelegten [4] zu deutlich negativeren Ergebnissen kommt. Das Herausgeberteam des Lancet schreibt im begleitenden Editorial unter dem Titel «The End of Homoeopathy» von «absurd dilutions», «surely the time has passed for ... further investment in research ...» und «now doctors have to be bold and honest with their patients about homoeopathy’s lack of benefit ...» [5]. Bis vor etwa 30 Jahren liess sich mit dem Argument der mangelnden wissenschaftlichen Plausibilitat die Forschung zu wirklich umstrittenen Verfahren weitgehend verhindern. Mit dem Aufkommen von Stromungen wie evidenzbasierter Medizin, Versorgungsforschung oder Outcomes Research, die zeigten, dass wissenschaftlich plausible Therapien haufig unwirksam und zuweilen sogar schadlich sein konnen, gewann eine pragmatisch orientierte klinische Forschung zunehmend an Boden, und die beherrschende Dominanz der Plausibilitat wurde zumindest zum Teil gebrochen. Durch diese Entwicklungen, vor allem aber durch die enorm wachsende Inanspruchnahme komplementarer Verfahren [6], wurde Forschung zu komplementaren Verfahren zumindest zu einer geduldeten Aktivitat, wenn auch eine systematische Forderung in den meisten Landern nach wie vor aussteht. Mit der zunehmenden Zahl hochwertiger, randomisierter klinischer Studien in der Komplementarmedizin wachst aber auch die Erkenntnis, dass ein uberzeugender Wirksamkeitsnachweis im ublichen Sinne haufig nicht oder nur schwer zu erbringen ist. Klinische Studien haben zahllose Fehlerquellen, und die Ergebnisse sind haufig widerspruchlich. Die Evidenzlage bezuglich placebokontrollierter Studien is","PeriodicalId":80278,"journal":{"name":"Forschende Komplementarmedizin und klassische Naturheilkunde = Research in complementary and natural classical medicine","volume":"12 5","pages":"252-3"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2005-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1159/000088309","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"25640605","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":"The effects of a 45x potency of arsenicum album on wheat seedling growth -- a reproduction trial.","authors":"Mascha Binder,&nbsp;Stephan Baumgartner,&nbsp;André Thurneysen","doi":"10.1159/000087969","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1159/000087969","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Independent replications of preclinical investigations of homeopathic potencies are rare. However, they are a necessary tool to determine the relevant factors modulating the effects of homeopathic potencies in preclinical systems.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>The goal of the present study was to reproduce a trial published in 1997. An Italian group of researchers investigated the effect of Arsenicum album 45x on the growth of wheat which had been previously poisoned with a material dose of Arsenicum album. The homeopathic treatment was associated with increased wheat shoot growth significantly different from the control group (+24%, p < 0.001).</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>Wheat poisoned with a sublethal dose of Arsenicum album was cultivated in either Arsenicum album 45x, water 45x, or unpotentized water. After 7 days, shoot length was measured. Reproducibility was assessed in eight independent experiments.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Arsenicum album 45x significantly inhibited wheat shoot growth (-3%) compared to treatment with unpotentized water and water 45x (p = 0.011 and p = 0.037). Within the experimental series performed in this reproduction trial, the effects of Arsenicum album 45x proofed to be reproducible. The wheat seed species used did not seem to have a significant impact on the experimental outcome.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The result of this replication trial is a reversal of the original study, since Arsenicum album 45x inhibited wheat shoot growth instead of enhancing it. Nevertheless, high homeopathic potencies may induce statistically significant effects in biological systems. However, the magnitude and direction of these effects seem to depend on yet unknown parameters.</p>","PeriodicalId":80278,"journal":{"name":"Forschende Komplementarmedizin und klassische Naturheilkunde = Research in complementary and natural classical medicine","volume":"12 5","pages":"284-91"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2005-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1159/000087969","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"25640527","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":"[Unconventional cancer therapies--comparisons of attitudes and knowledge between physicians in Germany and Greece].","authors":"Karsten Münstedt,&nbsp;Richard von Georgi","doi":"10.1159/000088339","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1159/000088339","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background and objectives: </strong>Unconventional cancer therapies are becoming increasingly popular, especially in Germany. This study was conducted to determine if there are differences regarding perceived cancer etiology, knowledge and expected therapeutic success of unconventional cancer therapies between German physicians and their Greek colleagues. PERSONS AND METHODS: In 2002, a questionnaire on the topic, developed on the basis of earlier studies and the literature, was sent to 300 German physicians and distributed among 494 Greek colleagues.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Significant differences between German and Greek physicians were found regarding all aspects mentioned. German physicians generally considered themselves better informed than did their Greek colleagues. However, the percentage of physicians with good and very good knowledge amounts to more than 30% only for mistletoe therapy and antioxidants. Fewer than 10% of Greek physicians are familiar with any type of unconventional cancer therapies.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The study supports the hypothesis that cultural background affects aspects of unconventional cancer therapies. However,the differences found may also be partially explained by demographic factors, for example most of the Greek physicians who answered the questionnaire were younger than the German physicians. Improved education in the field of unconventional cancer therapies seems necessary in order to meet future demands.</p>","PeriodicalId":80278,"journal":{"name":"Forschende Komplementarmedizin und klassische Naturheilkunde = Research in complementary and natural classical medicine","volume":"12 5","pages":"254-60"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2005-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1159/000088339","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"25640606","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}