Archive for the 'C. MIND-BODY THERAPIES' Category
Wednesday, June 10th, 2015

If you expect aromatherapy to cure a major illness, you will probably be disappointed, according to AromaWeb — a source of practical information on this complementary treatment.
The available scientific evidence (such as it is) supports this statement. The Natural Standard website (which charges a membership fee) conducted literature reviews on the various applications of aromatherapy and concluded that even for the best documented conditions (eg, anxiety and agitation), the data are conflicting and based on small, poorly designed trials.
However, to conclude from this that aromatherapy is to be avoided would be excessive. Its current use is not intended to replace standard medical care but complement it. If using volatile plant oils, including essential oils, improves your sense of psychological and physical well being, by all means, indulge yourself.
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Anxiety (Panic)/Depression, Aromatherapy | Comments Off on What you should know about aromatherapy
Thursday, January 2nd, 2014
Cerebral palsy results from injury to or abnormal development of the brain, with various problems in movement, posture, and other behavioral functions.
Researchers at the Graduate School of Education and Ewha Music Rehabilitation Center, in Seoul, Korea, studied the effects of Therapeutic Instrument Music Performance (TIMP) for fine motor exercises in adults with cerebral palsy.
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A. ALTERNATIVE MEDICAL SYSTEMS, Art, Music, Dance, Cerebral Palsy | Comments Off on Benefits of keyboard playing in people with cerebral palsy
Friday, July 12th, 2013
Belief in God is common and tied to mental health and illness in the general population.
Researchers at McLean Hospital/Harvard Medical School, in Belmont, Massachusetts, studied its relevance to psychiatric patients. (more…)
Anxiety (Panic)/Depression, Religion/ Spirituality | Comments Off on Belief in God and psychiatric treatment outcomes
Sunday, June 23rd, 2013
Sleep bruxism (nocturnal tooth grinding) causes hypersensitive teeth, aching jaw muscles, and headaches. There may even be tooth damage and loss.
Researchers at Sichuan University, Chengdu, People’s Republic of China, reviewed the evidence. (more…)
Biofeedback, Bruxism | Comments Off on Is there a role for biofeedback to treat sleep bruxism?
Tuesday, April 30th, 2013
It’s reported that 55% of patients with ovarian cancer acknowledge a fear of dying, and 32% experience loss of hope in their fight against this illness.
Researchers at Harvard Medical School, in Boston, examined CAM and its influence on hopelessness in these patients. (more…)
Cancer, Massage, Religion/ Spirituality | Comments Off on Hopelessness and the value of CAM in ovarian cancer
Thursday, April 25th, 2013
The American Heart Association has summarized the blood pressure-lowering effects of several alternative approaches and provided recommendations for their use.
Here’s what we know in people with blood pressure (BP) levels higher than 120/80 mmHg. (more…)
Biofeedback, Breathing, Exercise, High Blood Pressure, Meditation, Yoga | Comments Off on Review: Benefits of CAM to help treat hypertension
Monday, February 18th, 2013
Various topical emollients can affect the penetration of ultraviolet (UV) radiation during phototherapy of psoriasis.
Researchers at the University of Arizona, in Tucson, reviewed the evidence. (more…)
Light Therapy, Psoriasis | Comments Off on Using emollients to increase absorption of UV light in psoriasis
Tuesday, January 1st, 2013
Researchers at Abbott Northwestern Hospital, in Chicago evaluated the effectiveness of an inpatient integrative medicine consult service for pain management. (more…)
Acupuncture/ pressure, Aromatherapy, Art, Music, Dance, Massage, Mindfulness, Pain, Reflexology, Therapeutic Touch | Comments Off on Results of nonpharmacological approaches to treating pain
Saturday, December 8th, 2012
Only a third of patients with depression respond fully to antidepressant drugs, and little evidence exists regarding the best next-step treatment for patients with resistant symptoms.
Researchers in the CoBalT study (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy) at the University of Bristol in England examined cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) as an adjunct to usual care (including pharmacotherapy) for primary care patients with treatment-resistant depression compared with usual care alone. (more…)
Anxiety (Panic)/Depression, Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy | Comments Off on A role for cognitive behavioral therapy in treatment-resistant depression
Saturday, September 15th, 2012
Approximately 30% of people over 65 years of age living in the community fall each year.
This Cochrane review updates what we know. (more…)
Bone Fracture, CAM Cost Effectiveness, Cochrane Library, Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, Elderly, Exercise, Tai Chi | Comments Off on Reducing the rate and risk of falling
Thursday, September 13th, 2012
There’s lots of interest, but nobody ever reviewed the evidence before this.
Researchers at the College of the Holy Cross, in Worcester, Massachusetts, accepted the challenge. (more…)
Alzheimer's Dementia, Art, Music, Dance, Elderly | Comments Off on Review of art therapies in dementia care
Thursday, August 9th, 2012
Clinicians in California described their clinical practice, which uses the simultaneous interview technique (SIT). (more…)
Acupuncture/ pressure, Chiropractic, Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, Pain, TENS/FNS/VNS | Comments Off on SIT and the co-disciplinary pain clinic
Thursday, August 2nd, 2012
Researchers in Finland and Germany studied the first year of life. (more…)
Animal-assisted Therapy, Infants, Infection, Pregnancy | Comments Off on Dog and cat exposure and the risk of respiratory symptoms and infections
Monday, June 4th, 2012
It’s reported that the personal importance of religion or spirituality is associated with a lower risk for major depression.
Researchers at Columbia University, in New York City, examined this association in adults. (more…)
Anxiety (Panic)/Depression, Religion/ Spirituality | Comments Off on Religion lowers the risk of depression
Wednesday, May 30th, 2012
Treating chronic pain is challenging. Often, the reason for the pain isn’t clear and may require combinations of treatments before finding relief, if then.
Researchers at the Centre Mémoire de Ressources et de Recherches, in Paris, France assessed the usefulness of their music intervention to manage patients with chronic pain. (more…)
Anxiety (Panic)/Depression, Art, Music, Dance, Fibromyalgia, Pain, Rheumatoid Diseases | Comments Off on Music to manage chronic pain
Saturday, May 26th, 2012
Different theories attempt to explain the relaxation response to lavender aromatherapy.
This study suggests there’s another reason. (more…)
Anxiety (Panic)/Depression, Aromatherapy, Lavender | Comments Off on The role of expectation on the response to lavender aromatherapy
Wednesday, February 29th, 2012
Psychosocial factors are associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease morbidity and mortality, but the effects of psychosocial factor treatment on heart disease are uncertain.
Researchers at Uppsala University Hospital, in Sweden, studied the effects of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) on the recurrence of cardiovascular disease. (more…)
Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, Heart Disease | Comments Off on CBT and the risk for heart disease
Monday, February 20th, 2012
Patients with Parkinson’s disease have impaired balance, which affects function and increases the risk of falling. Exercise is routinely encouraged by healthcare providers, but few programs have been proven effective.
Researchers at the Oregon Research Institute, in Eugene, studied whether a tailored tai chi program could improve postural control in patients with Parkinson’s disease. (more…)
Balance Training, Exercise, Parkinson's, Tai Chi | Comments Off on Tai chi benefits in Parkinson’s disease
Thursday, February 16th, 2012
Apathy is prevalent among patients with Alzheimer’s disease and is associated with greater morbidity and worse outcomes.
Researchers in Spain report that the music+art combination reduced apathy in patients with mild or moderate dementia. (more…)
Alzheimer's Dementia, Art, Music, Dance | Comments Off on Music plus art therapy for dementia-related apathy
Wednesday, February 15th, 2012
Researchers at the University of Witten/Herdecke, in Germany, reviewed the evidence. (more…)
Pain, Yoga | Comments Off on Yoga appears to be beneficial for people with pain