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Complementary Therapies (complementary + therapy)

Distribution by Scientific Domains

Medical Sciences	100%

Distribution within Medical Sciences

Nursing General	13%
Consumer Health General	10%

Selected Abstracts

Integrating Complementary Therapies in Primary Care.

FOCUS ON ALTERNATIVE AND COMPLEMENTARY THERAPIES AN EVIDENCE-BASED APPROACH, Issue 2 2002
A Practical Guide for Health Professionals
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Complementary therapies for menopausal symptoms

FOCUS ON ALTERNATIVE AND COMPLEMENTARY THERAPIES AN EVIDENCE-BASED APPROACH, Issue 1 2003
A Huntley
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Complementary therapies for the relief of menopausal symptoms

FOCUS ON ALTERNATIVE AND COMPLEMENTARY THERAPIES AN EVIDENCE-BASED APPROACH, Issue 2 2002
Alyson Huntley PhD
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Complementary therapies for overweight and obesity

FOCUS ON ALTERNATIVE AND COMPLEMENTARY THERAPIES AN EVIDENCE-BASED APPROACH, Issue 1 2002
Max H Pittler
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Complementary therapies for rheumatoid arthritis

FOCUS ON ALTERNATIVE AND COMPLEMENTARY THERAPIES AN EVIDENCE-BASED APPROACH, Issue 4 2001
Edzard Ernst
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Complementary therapies for osteoarthritis

FOCUS ON ALTERNATIVE AND COMPLEMENTARY THERAPIES AN EVIDENCE-BASED APPROACH, Issue 2 2001
Linda Long
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Complementary therapies for chronic venous insufficiency

FOCUS ON ALTERNATIVE AND COMPLEMENTARY THERAPIES AN EVIDENCE-BASED APPROACH, Issue 1 2001
Max H Pittler MD
[source]

Complementary therapies for treating benign prostatic hyperplasia

FOCUS ON ALTERNATIVE AND COMPLEMENTARY THERAPIES AN EVIDENCE-BASED APPROACH, Issue 4 2000
Max H Pittler
[source]

Diabetes and complementary therapies: mapping the evidence

PRACTICAL DIABETES INTERNATIONAL (INCORPORATING CARDIABETES), Issue 7 2007
K Pilkington MSc, MRPharmS Senior Research Fellow
Abstract Complementary therapies are widely used by people with diabetes for the condition itself, for diabetes-related complications or for non-diabetes related problems. The aim of this review is to summarise the current research evidence on complementary therapies in the management of diabetes and resulting complications. The review draws primarily on systematic reviews conducted as part of the CAMEOL project (www.rccm.org.uk/cameol), included in the Cochrane Library or on the National Library for Health Complementary and Alternative Medicine Specialist Library (www.library.nhs.uk/cam). Searches were also carried out for studies published subsequently or on other therapies to provide an indication of overall research activity. Systematic reviews were found or conducted on a range of herbs, dietary supplements, massage, acupuncture, homoeopathy, hypnotherapy, meditation, reflexology and yoga. Individual studies were located on several other therapies. Studies addressed metabolic control, general well-being and complications. Herbs and dietary supplements continue to be the main focus of research activity. Acupuncture trials are also numerous but almost exclusively conducted in China using traditional approaches. For most other therapies, research evidence is limited by extent or quality. Overall, limited data from well-designed randomised controlled trials are available and results are difficult to translate into clinical practice. Based on promising findings, several herbs, dietary supplements, exercise or body-based therapies and acupuncture require further investigation. For most therapies, well-designed robust studies replicating small preliminary studies are required to support those involved in diabetes care in providing evidence-based advice on the safe and effective use of complementary therapies. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons. [source]

Complementary therapy for psoriasis

DERMATOLOGIC THERAPY, Issue 2 2003
Giovanni Luigi Capella
ABSTRACT: The authors provide some specifications regarding the correct terminology to be applied in the field of complementary medicine, and review and comment on several complementary treatments for psoriasis. Putative psychotherapeutic equivalents are kept distinct from treatments based on the surreptitious administration of physical or pharmacologic agents. Limits on the application of psychotherapeutic techniques are discussed. Risks inherent to complementary treatments (psychological derangements, moral subjugation, physical damage, economic exploitation) are underscored. The authors plead for the application of adequate scientific criticism in complementary medicine, but warn that any approach to the practice of medicine which is not disinterested and patient oriented,as the academic one should be,will be inappropriate, misleading, or even immoral. In the authors' opinion, this could also apply to the evidence-based medicine movement (often perceived as the archenemy of alternative medicine), should this movement be influenced by economical, political, or other nonmedical factors. [source]

The use of complementary therapy by men with prostate cancer in the UK

EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF CANCER CARE, Issue 5 2008
S. WILKINSON
The study aims were to determine the use of complementary therapies (CT) by men with prostate cancer, and to explore factors influencing CT use and attitudes toward CT use. A cross-sectional survey design was used in which a postal questionnaire was mailed to an eligible sample of 405 patients with prostate cancer receiving outpatient treatment in a London teaching hospital. The primary outcomes were the prevalence of CT use and the relationship between CT use and mental health status. Two hundred and ninety-four patients (73%) responded, of whom 25% were using CT. The most frequently used CTs were vitamins, low-fat diets, lycopene and green tea. Multivariate analyses revealed no differences in mental health scores between CT users and non-users. CT users were younger (OR 0.93, 95% CI 0.89,0.97) and were more likely to be receiving conservative management in the form of ,active surveillance' (OR 5.23, 95% CI 1.78,15.41) compared with non-users. Over half of the participants (55%) wanted to learn more about CT. Forty-three per cent of CT users had not informed any doctor about their CT use. Clinicians need to be aware of the prevalence of CT use amongst patients with prostate cancer, considering the potential harm that could be caused by interactions with conventional treatments. [source]

Cost-effectiveness of complementary therapies in the UK , a systematic review

FOCUS ON ALTERNATIVE AND COMPLEMENTARY THERAPIES AN EVIDENCE-BASED APPROACH, Issue 2006
PH Canter
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MYCaW: an individualised questionnaire for evaluating complementary therapies in cancer support care

FOCUS ON ALTERNATIVE AND COMPLEMENTARY THERAPIES AN EVIDENCE-BASED APPROACH, Issue 4 2003
C Paterson
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Evidence for complementary therapies in premenstrual syndrome

FOCUS ON ALTERNATIVE AND COMPLEMENTARY THERAPIES AN EVIDENCE-BASED APPROACH, Issue 3 2000
Clare Stevinson
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Effects of music listening on adult patients' pre-procedural state anxiety in hospital

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EVIDENCE BASED HEALTHCARE, Issue 1 2008
Elizabeth Gillen MSc
Executive summary Background Anticipation of an invasive procedure in hospital is likely to provoke feelings of anxiety and stress in patients. An unfamiliar environment, loss of control, perceived or actual physical risk, dependence on strangers and separation from friends and family are all factors that can contribute to the development of such feelings. Recently, there has been considerable interest in the anxiolytic potential of music listening in a variety of clinical settings, yet thus far, little is known about the impact of music listening on the pre-procedural patient population. A systematic review of all literature to date was indicated to improve understanding of outcomes and impact of music listening on pre-procedural anxiety, thus helping nurses decide whether or not to incorporate music listening into practice and to highlight a need, or otherwise, for a related primary research agenda. Objective The objective of this review was to determine the best available evidence on the effectiveness of music listening in reducing adult hospital patients' pre-procedural state anxiety. Inclusion criteria Types of studies This review included randomised controlled trials and quasi-experimental research designs that examined the efficacy of music listening in reducing state anxiety among pre-procedural hospital patients published between January 1985 and February 2006. The search was limited to publications after 1985 to coincide with the increasing interest and use of complementary therapies within health care during the 1980s and 1990s. Types of participants Participants of interest to the review were adult day patients, ambulatory patients and inpatients who were about to undergo any type of clinical procedure. Types of intervention The review focused on studies that investigated pre-procedural music listening employed and prescribed as a potentially therapeutic activity. It excluded any other form of music therapy. Types of outcome measures The primary outcome measures examined were alterations in state anxiety and a variety of physiological variables such as blood pressure and respiration and heart rates. Search strategy A search for published and unpublished literature between January 1985 and February 2006 was conducted using all major electronic databases. A three-step search strategy was devised which consisted of using high-precision MeSH terminology and keywords to ensure that all material relevant to the review was captured. Critical appraisal The methodological quality of included studies was assessed by two reviewers, who appraised each study independently, using the standard Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) critical appraisal tools. Data extraction and synthesis Data were extracted from the studies that were identified as meeting the criteria for methodological quality using a data-extraction tool developed for the review. Studies were grouped by outcome measure and summarised using tabular and narrative formats. Results The review demonstrated that state anxiety is defined and measured using both psychological and physiological parameters. Music listening had a consistently positive and statistically significant effect on reducing psychological parameters of pre-procedural state anxiety. However, the results from the measurement of various pre-procedural physiological parameters failed to reveal any consistent positive changes in patients who had listened to music. This calls into question the adequacy of the theories in this area which link anxiety and the automated and central nervous systems and the effect that music listening may have on these processes and physiological responses. Conclusions/implications for practice 1,In order to reduce anxiety, it is likely that patients will benefit psychologically from having the opportunity to listen to music in the immediate pre-procedural period. 2,Patients do not appear to experience any alteration in physiological status as a result of listening to music. 3,Further research is indicated in order to replicate existing studies, to strengthen the evidence to support such interventions and to establish intervention parameters. 4,Further research is needed analysing the physiological mechanisms by which music listening is believed to reduce state anxiety and the contribution of the automated and other nervous systems to this reduction. [source]

Efficacy of aromatherapy (Lavandula angustifolia) as an intervention for agitated behaviours in Chinese older persons with dementia: a cross-over randomized trial

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF GERIATRIC PSYCHIATRY, Issue 5 2007
Pamela Wan-ki Lin
Abstract Background Agitated behaviours among persons with dementia are distressing to both patients and their caregivers. As pharmacological interventions may be limited by their potentially adverse effects, the use of complementary therapies for treatment of agitation has become more popular and aromatherapy is the fastest growing one. Objectives This study investigates the effectiveness of lavandula angustifolia (lavender) in treating agitated behaviours of demented people in Hong Kong. Methods It was a cross-over randomized trial. Seventy Chinese older adults with dementia were recruited; half were randomly assigned to the active group (lavender inhalation) for three weeks and then switched to control group (sunflower inhalation) for another three weeks; the other half did the opposite. Clinical response was evaluated using the Chinese versions of Cohen-Mansfield Agitation Inventory (CCMAI) and Neuropsychiatric Inventory (CNPI). Results The mean CCMAI total scores decreased from 24.68 to 17.77(t,=,10.79, df,=,69, p,<,0.001). The CNPI scores changed from 63.17 (SD,=,17.81) to 58.77 (SD,=,16.74) (t,=,14.59, df,=,69, p,<,0.001) after receiving Treatment A (Lavandula Angustifolia). There were no period and sequential effects noted. Conclusion In summary, lavender is effective as an adjunctive therapy in alleviating agitated behaviours in Chinese patients with dementia. In a patient population particularly vulnerable to side effects of psychotropic medications, aromatherapy using lavender may offer an alternative option. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]

Ginger compress therapy for adults with osteoarthritis

JOURNAL OF ADVANCED NURSING, Issue 10 2010
Tessa Therkleson
therkleson t. (2010) Ginger compress therapy for adults with osteoarthritis. Journal of Advanced Nursing,66(10), 2225,2233. Abstract Aim., This paper is a report of a study to explicate the phenomenon of ginger compresses for people with osteoarthritis. Background., Osteoarthritis is claimed to be the leading cause of musculoskeletal pain and disability in Western society. Management ideally combines non-pharmacological strategies, including complementary therapies and pain-relieving medication. Ginger has been applied externally for over a thousand years in China to manage arthritis symptoms. Method., Husserlian phenomenological methodology was used and the data were collected in 2007. Ten purposively selected adults who had suffered osteoarthritis for at least a year kept daily diaries and made drawings, and follow-up interviews and telephone conversations were conducted. Findings., Seven themes were identified in the data: (1) Meditative-like stillness and relaxation of thoughts; (2) Constant penetrating warmth throughout the body; (3) Positive change in outlook; (4) Increased energy and interest in the world; (5) Deeply relaxed state that progressed to a gradual shift in pain and increased interest in others; (6) Increased suppleness within the body and (7) More comfortable, flexible joint mobility. The essential experience of ginger compresses exposed the unique qualities of heat, stimulation, anti-inflammation and analgesia. Conclusion., Nurses could consider this therapy as part of a holistic treatment for people with osteoarthritis symptoms. Controlled research is needed with larger numbers of older people to explore further the effects of the ginger compress therapy. [source]

Does the experimental design capture the effects of complementary therapy?

JOURNAL OF CLINICAL NURSING, Issue 4 2007
A study using reflexology for patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft surgery
Aim., Our purpose was to pilot test whether reflexology may reduce anxiety in patients undergoing Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery in Iceland. Background., Nurses need to study the effects of complementary therapies in general and particularly those that may be beneficial to decrease patients' anxiety. It has been assumed that reflexology lessens anxiety, but research is needed to substantiate such expectations. Design., A pilot study using randomized design with experimental and control groups. Methods., Nine patients were recruited and randomly assigned into groups with five patients assigned into an experimental group receiving reflexology for 30 minutes and four patients into control group which rested for 30 minutes. Anxiety and physiological variables were measured pre- and post-reflexology sessions once a day over five days. Results., The anxiety scores were lower for patients in the control group on all measures. Systolic blood pressure lowered significantly more in the control group than in the treatment group. No significant changes were observed for other variables. Patients' comments and responses overwhelmingly suggested increased well-being due to both experimental and control intervention. Conclusion., This study showed little evidence to support reflexology as a mean of reducing anxiety in CABG patients. Several methodological problems were identified that need to be considered further. Relevance to clinical practice., It is suggested that reflexology should be tailored to individual needs and research methods used that allow for capturing its holistic nature. Further scholarly work is warranted to explore several methodological issues in studying complementary therapies in a highly complex treatment situation. [source]

Patient-based evaluations of primary care for cardiovascular diseases: a comparison between conventional and complementary medicine

JOURNAL OF EVALUATION IN CLINICAL PRACTICE, Issue 1 2008
Klazien Matter-Walstra PhD
Abstract Background, Patients with chronic diseases, including cardiovascular conditions, increasingly rely on complementary and alternative medical (CAM) therapies. Objectives, The Swiss Program for Complementary Medicine Evaluation offers a unique opportunity to analyse cardiovascular patients' satisfaction with CAM and conventional medical (COM) therapies. The treatment choices of doctors certified in conventional as well as complementary therapies also could be studied. Methods, A national observational evaluation on treatment satisfaction of patients consulting COM or CAM doctors. Out of this evaluation project, data related to patients with cardiovascular diseases were specifically analysed for patient satisfaction with treatment and outcome when treated by COM or CAM doctors. Results, Of 199 included doctors (78 COM, 121 CAM) treating cardiovascular patients, COM doctors treated twice as many cardiovascular patients per doctor than CAM doctors. CAM doctors treated less than 1/3 of their cardiovascular patients solely by CAM, while they treated 42% exclusively by COM therapies. Patients seeing a CAM doctor had a significantly longer consultation and were more likely to be highly satisfied with overall treatment outcome and patient-practitioner communication. Moreover, patients seeing a CAM doctor and being treated solely by a CAM therapy more often report ,complete fulfilment of outcome expectation' and ,high overall satisfaction with treatment', although their symptoms less often disappear totally than those of COM therapy-treated patients. Conclusion, CAM therapies are not the first treatment choice for cardiovascular diseases. However, even though CAM doctors preferentially apply COM therapies, cardiovascular patients treated by CAM doctors are more likely to be satisfied with the overall treatment outcome, possibly because of the longer and better patient,practitioner interaction. [source]

Diabetes and complementary therapies: mapping the evidence

Web-based consultations for parents of children with atopic dermatitis: results of a randomized controlled trial

ACTA PAEDIATRICA, Issue 2 2009
Trine S Bergmo
Abstract Aim: To analyse how web-based consultations for parents of children with atopic dermatitis affect self-management behaviour, health outcome, health resource use and family costs. Methods: Ninety-eight children with atopic dermatitis were randomly assigned to intervention and control groups. The intervention group received remote dermatology consultations through a secure web-based communication system. The control group was encouraged to seek treatment through traditional means such as general practitioner visits and hospital care. Both groups received an extensive individual educational session prior to the intervention. Results: Thirty-eight percent of the intervention group used web-based consultations 158 times ranging from 1 to 38 consultations per patient. We found no change in self-management behaviour, health outcome or costs. The intervention group tended to have fewer visits to practitioners offering complementary therapies than the control group, and we found a positive correlation between emergency visits at baseline and messages sent. Both groups, however, reduced the mean number of skin care treatments performed per week and had fewer total health care visits after the intervention. Conclusion: We found no effect of supplementing traditional treatment for childhood dermatitis with web-based consultations. This study showed that web consultations is feasible, but more research is needed to determine its effect on self-management skills, health outcome and resource use. [source]

What's new in psoriasis?

CLINICAL & EXPERIMENTAL DERMATOLOGY, Issue 7 2010
Analysis of the clinical significance of new guidelines, systematic reviews on psoriasis published in 200
Summary This review summarizes the clinical importance of 18 systematic reviews and guidelines on psoriasis published or indexed between November 2008 and October 2009. The topics covered include guidance on the use of topical, systemic and biological therapies for the treatment of psoriasis; comorbidities associated with psoriasis; and complementary therapies for psoriasis. A similar and more detailed review to this appeared in the 2009 Annual Evidence Update on Psoriasis from NHS Evidence , Skin Disorders in November 2009. [source]

Drug interactions in dermatological practice

CLINICAL & EXPERIMENTAL DERMATOLOGY, Issue 5 2008
H. L. Tey
Summary Systemic drugs are increasingly used in the treatment of dermatological diseases. Due to the high prevalence of polypharmacy, dermatologists are increasingly faced with the complex problem of drug interaction. Unlike adverse drug reactions, which are often unpredictable, drug interactions can be avoided. This article presents the significant drug interactions that are encountered in clinical practice, with the interactions categorized into those involving antimicrobials, immunosuppressants, antimalarials and colchicine, retinoids and psychiatric medications. There are few commonly used drugs that often cause drug interactions. These include ciclosporin, azole antifungal drugs, erythromycin, sulfonamides and rifampicin, and dermatologists should be alert whenever encountering them. A section on interactions of drugs with health supplements, herbs and food is also included, in view of the increasing use of alternative and complementary therapies in many parts of the world. [source]

The use of complementary therapy by men with prostate cancer in the UK

Use of Percutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (PENS) in the Short-term Management of Headache

HEADACHE, Issue 4 2000
Hesham E. Ahmed MD
Objective.,To evaluate the short-term effects of percutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (PENS) in the management of three types of chronic headache. Background.,Traditional electroanalgesic therapies have been reported to be effective in the management of acute headache symptoms. However, no controlled studies have been performed in patients with chronic headache. Methods.,Thirty patients with either tension headache, migraine, or posttraumatic headache symptoms of at least 6 months' duration were randomized to receive PENS (needles with electricity) or "needles alone" according to a crossover study design. All treatments were administered for 30 minutes, three times a week for 2 consecutive weeks with 1 week off between the two different treatments. For the PENS treatments, an alternating electrical stimulation frequency of 15 and 30 Hz was used. Pain, activity, and sleep scores were assessed using a 10-cm visual analog scale, with 0 corresponding to the best and 10 to the worst, during the 48-hour period prior to the beginning of the two treatments, immediately before and after each treatment session, and 48 hours after completing each treatment modality. Results.,Compared with the needles alone, PENS therapy was significantly more effective in decreasing the overall VAS pain scores for tension-type headache, migraine and posttraumatic headache (58%, 59%, and 52% versus 20%, 15%, and 20%, respectively). Similarly, PENS therapy produced greater improvement in the patients' physical activity (41% to 58% for PENS versus 11% to 21% for needles only) and quality of sleep (41% to 48% for PENS versus 12% to 20% for needles only). However, there were no differences in the pattern of the response to PENS therapy among the three headache groups. Conclusions.,Percutaneous electrical nerve stimulation appears to be a useful complementary therapy to analgesic and antimigraine drugs for the short-term management of headache. Interestingly, the analgesic response to PENS therapy appears to be independent of the origin of the headache symptoms. [source]

Step-wise treatment of two periodontal-endodontic lesions in a heavy smoker

INTERNATIONAL ENDODONTIC JOURNAL, Issue 11 2008
C. Walter
Abstract Aim, To report a clinical case of two advanced periodontal-endodontic lesions with a focus on treatment issues related to tobacco use. Summary, A 53-year-old Caucasian male was referred to the School of Dentistry, Basel, Switzerland, for periodontal treatment. The major diagnoses were chronic (smoker) periodontitis and advanced combined periodontal-endodontic lesions on the mandibular left lateral incisor and right incisor. Conventional root canal treatment was performed, and subsequently led to reduced radiolucencies around the affected roots after 14 months. The remaining osseous defect was augmented by guided tissue regeneration using bovine bone substitute and resorbable membrane. The follow-up revealed a stable situation from clinical (probing depth 2,4 mm) and radiological points of view 32 months after initiation of treatment. Treatment considerations related to tobacco use are discussed. Key learning points, ,,After conventional root canal treatment, osseous healing should occur before further complementary therapy is taken into account. ,,Issues related to tobacco use have to be considered before treatment is initiated. [source]

The effect of Chinese food therapy on community dwelling Chinese hypertensive patients with Yin-deficiency

JOURNAL OF CLINICAL NURSING, Issue 7-8 2010
CuiZhen Shen
Objectives., The objectives of this study are to evaluate the effectiveness of Chinese food therapy in correcting the Yin-deficiency and to examine its impact on the patients' quality of life and hypertension control. Background., Epidemiological studies have shown 14,50% of people with hypertension have Yin-deficiency. Whether restoring the Yin,Yang balance by means of Chinese food therapy can help to better manage patients with hypertension has yet to be examined. Design., Two groups randomised controlled trial. Methods., Eighty-five hypertensive patients recruited from two community health service centre were divided into two groups. The intervention group (n = 48) received specific dietary instructions and corresponding management of their antihypertensive medication if indicated and brief health education, whilst the control group (n = 37) received routine support involving only brief health education. Data were collected at baseline, after intervention at four, eight, 12 and 16 weeks follow-up. Comparisons were made to examine the effects of Chinese food therapy on Yin-deficiency symptoms, blood pressure and quality of life of hypertensive patients. Results., The intervention group had reduction in the numbers of antihypertensive medication taken as well as improvement in most of the Yin-deficiency symptoms after 12 weeks of Chinese food therapy and mean scores of several SF-36 dimensions were higher than that of in the control group after 12 and 16 weeks follow-up. Significant difference was found in systolic blood pressure in the intervention group when it was compared from baseline to after four and eight weeks respectively. Conclusion., Chinese Food Therapy can restore body constitution with Yin,Yang imbalance and may potentially improve hypertensive patients' quality of life. It is also beneficial in controlling blood pressure in hypertensive patients. Relevance to clinical practice., Chinese food therapy may become a complementary therapy in health care and it should be a component of nursing education and health education. [source]