Journal of Integrative and Complementary Medicine

Ovid Medline, PsychINFO, CINAHL, Science Direct, and PubMed databases were searched to extract articles that evaluated the effect of inhaled essential oils on sleep in humans.

: The search yielded 15 quantitative studies, including 11 randomized controlled trials that examined hypnotic effects of inhalation of essential oils. A majority of the study findings suggested a positive effect of essential oils on sleep. Lavender was the most frequently studied essential oil. No adverse events were reported.

: Inhalation of essential oils may be considered for people with mild sleep disturbances. Further studies with larger samples and stronger methods and endpoints are needed to build on the findings.

Quantum theoretical discourse has previously illustrated (1) the therapeutic process as three-way macro-entanglement (between patient, practitioner, and remedy, called PPR entanglement), and (2) depicted the Vital Force (Vf) as a quantized spinning gyroscope. Combining the two via semiotic geometry leads to a topological description of the patient's journey to cure. In this present article, two new metaphors for the homeopathic therapeutic encounter are described, based on (1) a quantum mechanical model of adaptive mutation (QMAM), and (2) the illuminated geometric patterns generated by a light source attached to a spinning gyroscope.

(1) QMAM demonstrates how quantum superposition between DNA and mutant adaptations could arise and how environmental pressure “collapses” the DNA wave function to a particular state. In QMAM for the therapeutic process, isolation helps induce coherence between patient, practitioner, and remedy, generating a quantum-like superposition of patient “unwell” and “well” states. (2) The light beam from a precessing gyroscope sweeps out an ellipse, which becomes circular, the faster the gyroscope spins on its axis and the less it precesses. Ellipses have two foci that, as a metaphor for the state of a patient's Vf, are seen to represent the patient's “unwell” and “well” states.

Superposition of the patient's “unwell” and “well” states generated by the QMAM metaphor can “collapse” to the cured state, following decoherence at the end of therapeutic process. Similarly, the curative therapeutic process may be thought to “spin up” the patient's Vf, so the precessing ellipse's foci (i.e., the patient's “unwell” and “well” states) merge into a “circular” curative state.

The two new metaphors may be seen as equivalent and semiotic simplifications of the previous more complex topological description of the patient's “journey to cure.”

Few studies have been conducted among pediatric patients to examine clinical outcomes associated with the combined use of Oriental medicine and other therapies to treat epilepsy. The purpose of this study was to examine the clinical and laboratory characteristics of children with epilepsy being treated with traditional Korean medicine (TKM) in addition to their conventional antiepileptic drugs (AEDs), and to survey whether other nonpharmacologic combination treatments were also being used.

The study included 398 pediatric patients with epilepsy being treated at the Pediatric Neurology Clinic of Pusan National University Children's Hospital. A questionnaire-based survey was carried out to determine the extent to which combination treatments were being used from March 1 to July 31, 2011.

Of the 398 epileptic patients, 75 (18.8%) were receiving treatment based on TKM in addition to their AED treatment. The number of AEDs used was significantly greater in this group (mean±standard deviation, 2.3±1.5) than in the group not receiving TKM (2.0±1.2; p=.028). The number of seizure-free patients in the TKM group (44 patients [59%]) was significantly reduced (p=.037) compared with the group not receiving such treatment (236 patients [73%]). Of the 398 patients, 237 (59.5%) were receiving other combination treatments. Fifty-six of the 75 patients (74.7%) in the TKM group were receiving other combination treatments (p<.001 compared with nonusers), which included language therapy, education therapy (music therapy, art therapy), Chuna therapy, and health food supplements (p=.004, p<.001, p=.011, and p=.004, respectively). The use of other combination treatments, such as rehabilitation therapy, counseling, cognitive behavioral therapy, and neurofeedback therapy, did not differ between the two groups.

The TKM group took more AEDs and had fewer seizure-free patients and more patients receiving other combination treatments, such as language, music, and art therapies.

To analyze changes in cardiac function indices after electroacupuncture (EA) at the pericardium 6 (PC-6) acupoint using the equilibrium radionuclide angiocardiography (ERNA) quantity analysis technique.

Analysis of clinical outcomes after EA at PC-6 measured by ERNA.

The study was conducted in a hospital.

31 participants (17 patients with angina and 14 healthy volunteers).

The study used ERNA to study outcomes of EA at PC-6 on heart function.

ERNA images were taken before the treatment (T0), at the end of the treatment (T1), and 20 minutes after the treatment (T2) and then processed.

Regional left ventricular ejection fraction (REF) increased after EA in the angina and control groups. REF at T2 was significantly higher than at T1 in the angina group (p<.01). In the control group, REF was higher at T1 than at T0 (p<.01) but did not differ between T1 and T2 (p=.08). The REF deviation among ventricular regions in the angina group was significantly greater than that in the control group at T0 (p<.01) but was reduced to the level of that in control group after EA (p=.52). Peak filling rate was lower in the angina group than in controls at all three time points (all p<.01). After EA, peak filling rate increased markedly in the angina group but not in the control group. The cardiac cycle was shorter in the angina group than in the control group at T0 (p<.01) and increased after EA. The cardiac cycle of the control group did not change.

Effects of EA at PC-6 on heart function can be detected and quantified by ENRA.

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is a serious and common complication of diabetes mellitus leading to end-stage renal disease in up to 30% of diabetic patients. The first manifestation of DN in humans is microalbuminuria, which arises from the increased passage of albumin through the glomerular filtration barrier. Reactive oxygen species, inflammatory cytokines, and growth factors are key players in the context of damage to the glomerular filtration barrier.

In this study the herbal combination Canephron^® N, containing lovage root, rosemary leaves, and centaury herb, was administered to patients with DN to study the effects on microalbuminuria and overall oxidant/antioxidant status. An open study involving 59 patients with DN was performed to compare the effects of Canephron N administered concomitantly with standard antidiabetic therapy and an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor, with the standard therapy and ACE inhibitor treatment alone.

After 6 months of therapy the level of microalbuminuria decreased significantly in the study group compared with the control group. Canephron N had a positive effect on the antioxidant defense status and lipid peroxidation levels. In addition, liver aminotransferase levels did not change.

With respect to the excellent tolerability, the study results encourage use of the herbal combination as an add-on therapy in patients with DN.

Glucosamine and chondroitin supplements have been shown to have anti-inflammatory properties in both in vitro studies and animal models; however, little is known about these relationships in humans. The VITamins and Lifestyle (VITAL) biomarker study evaluated the associations between use of these supplements and a panel of circulating inflammatory biomarkers.

Study participants included 217 men and women age 50–75 years living in the Seattle metropolitan area. Use of glucosamine and chondroitin supplements was ascertained by home interview/supplement inventory. Inflammation was assessed by using blood and urine collected at the time of home interview. Measures of systemic inflammation included plasma high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, IL-8, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, soluble TNF receptors I and II, and urinary prostaglandin E₂-metabolite (PGE-M). Multivariate-adjusted linear regression was used to evaluate the associations between supplement use and biomarkers of inflammation.

High users (14 or more pills/week) of chondroitin had 36% lower hsCRP (ratio, 0.64; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.39–1.04; p for trend=.03) and 27% lower PGE-M (ratio, 0.73; 95% CI, 0.5–0.98; p for trend=.07) than nonusers. Compared with nonusers, high users of glucosamine had 28% lower hsCRP (ratio, 0.72; 95% CI, 0.47–1.08; p for trend=.09) and 24% lower PGE-M (ratio, 0.76; 95% CI, 0.59–0.97; p for trend=0.10). Use of glucosamine and chondroitin supplements was not associated with the other markers of inflammation.

These results support prior research suggesting that use of glucosamine and chondroitin is associated with reduced hsCRP and PGE₂, but further work is needed to more definitively evaluate the anti-inflammatory potential of these supplements.

To investigate the effects of Thai traditional massage (TTM) on pressure pain threshold (PPT) and headache intensity in patients with chronic tension-type and migraine headaches.

Randomized controlled trial of TTM compared with the sham ultrasound (nine sessions each) during a 3-week period.

Seventy-two participants who had had a headache diagnosis for at least 3 months before the experiment was recruited.

After the treatment and at 3 and 9 weeks of follow-up, the TTM group showed a significant increase in PPT (p<0.01) compared with the sham ultrasound group. PPT values at baseline, after 3 weeks of treatment, and at 3- and 9-week follow-up for the TTM group were 2.71±1.22, 3.57±1.41, 3.72±1.46, and 3.42±1.46 pounds/cm², respectively; values in the sham ultrasound group were 2.85±1.20, 2.62±1.07, 2.58±1.05 and 2.63±0.94 pounds/cm². In both groups, headache intensity decreased significantly (p<0.05) at every end point of the outcome measures, and there were no differences between the groups (p>0.05).

TTM could increase PPT and reduce headache intensity, suggesting that this is a possible alternative treatment for chronic headaches.

To examine whether maternal–child interaction during feedings was suboptimal in dyads in which the infant had gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and to compare massage therapy to a nonmassage therapy sham treatment in improving the mother–child interaction in these dyads.

In this randomized, controlled pilot study, infants received massage therapy (n=18) or a nonmassage touch/holding sham treatment (n=18). Mothers, data collectors, and the investigator who scored the feeding observations were blinded to group assignment.

Dyads were recruited from pediatric care providers in the Denver metropolitan area and online advertisements at the University of Colorado. Treatments were given in the home of the dyad.

Healthy infants, born at 38–42 weeks gestational age, were 5–10 weeks of age at enrollment; had a score of at least 16 on the Infant Gastroesophageal Reflux Questionnaire-Revised; and were diagnosed with GERD by their pediatric provider. Mothers were English speaking and at least 18 years of age.

Treatments were given for 30 minutes twice weekly for 6 weeks. A certified infant massage therapist administered massage, and a registered nurse or physical therapist experienced with infants administered the control treatment.

Maternal and infant scores on the Nursing Child Assessment of Feeding Scale (NCAFS).

NCAFS scores were significantly lower than national norms. Small to moderately sized effects showing improvement in the massage group relative to the nonmassage group were seen for Sensitivity to Cues, Social-Emotional Growth Fostering, Cognitive Growth Fostering, and Clarity of Cues (Cohen d) and ranged from 0.24 to 0.56.

Mothers and infants with GERD experience significantly worse interactions than those without GERD. Massage given twice weekly by a professional trended toward improved interaction during feeding. Daily maternal administration of massage may have a positive effect on the relationship.

This study investigated the soothing effects of fragrance from yuzu, a Japanese citrus fruit (Citrus junos Sieb. ex Tanaka), with salivary chromogranin A (CgA) used as an endocrinologic stress marker reflecting sympathetic nervous system activity.

Twenty healthy women (mean age, 20.5±0.1 years) participated in a randomized, controlled, crossover study. Participants were examined on two separate occasions—once using the yuzu scent and once using unscented water as a control—in the follicular phase. This experiment measured salivary CgA and the Profile of Mood States (POMS) as a psychological index before and after the aromatic stimulation.

Ten-minute inhalation of the yuzu scent significantly decreased salivary CgA. At 30 minutes after the inhalation period, the salivary CgA level further decreased. In addition, POMS revealed that inhalation of the aromatic yuzu oil significantly decreased total mood disturbance, a global measure of affective state, as well as four subscores of emotional symptoms (tension–anxiety, depression–dejection, anger–hostility, and confusion), as long as 30 minutes after the olfactory stimulation.

Yuzu's aromatic effects may alleviate negative emotional stress, which, at least in part, would contribute to the suppression of sympathetic nervous system activity.

This study was performed to characterize the physiologic effects of rhythmical massage (RM), an anthroposophic therapy whose effectiveness is supported by empirical observations and a prospective observational study.

Patients referred to RM at the Paracelsus Hospital Richterswil for any indication were continuously enrolled. They received an average of 10 RM sessions, which included not only the massage but also therapeutic rest in the supine position immediately thereafter. Effects of RM on surface temperature and on heart rate variability (HRV) were determined with infrared imaging (IRI) and electrocardiography (ECG), respectively. IRI of the patients' dorsal region was performed without clothes, in standing position, at the start and at the end of two waiting periods before and after RM. ECG was performed from the beginning of the first waiting period until the end of the second one.

Results on IRI from 9 and ECG from 11 patients could be analyzed. RM led to an immediate increase in dorsal temperature. Furthermore, comparison of the IRI images for consecutive RM sessions showed a tendency toward improved warmth distribution as a progressive therapy effect. Analysis of the EGC results recorded during the waiting periods—in the sitting position—-showed a significant increase of HRV after RM, as detected by the standard deviation of the beat-to-beat periods and a relative increase of low-frequency power. During the course of the RM sessions, the change in HRV during the therapeutic rest period depended on the initial value: Low initial values were enhanced, whereas high ones were reduced.

RM led to an immediate increase in the patient's dorsal surface temperature, as well as increased HRV and sympathetic stimulation. In the long term, RM resulted in a progressive improvement of warmth distribution and regulation of the resting HRV.

The pathogenesis of licorice-induced pseudoaldosteronism is thought to involve the inhibition of 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2 by glycyrrhetinic acid. Some risk factors have been reported, but differences between Japan and other countries have not been reported.

A 79-year-old woman was hospitalized because of pseudoaldosteronism with rhabdomyolysis caused by ingestion of herbal medicines containing licorice. She had been prescribed shakuyakukanzobushito (decocted, 3 g of licorice) and keishikajutsubuto (decocted, 2 g of licorice) for the treatment of lower back pain and had been taking antihypertensive agents for the treatment of essential hypertension. After taking the herbal medicines for 2 weeks, the patient developed weakness of the extremities and pain in both thighs. On admission, she had hypertension, oliguria, an elevated serum creatine kinase level, hypokalemia, alkalemia associated with metabolic alkalosis, low plasma renin activity, and low plasma aldosterone levels. Intravenous and oral potassium supplementation and the administration of spironolactone resulted in the normalization of her condition within approximately 2 weeks.

An analysis of case reports of pseudoaldosteronism with rhabdomyolysis revealed that in Japan, most cases occurred in elderly women with essential hypertension and were caused by drugs such as herbal medicines. In contrast, in other countries, many cases involved younger men, and the dominant causes were foods containing licorice. The use of herbal medicines is increasing all over the world, and when a patient with risk factors is prescribed an herbal medicine containing licorice, careful follow-up is required.