Problemy sotsial'noi gigieny, zdravookhraneniia i istorii meditsinyR U Khabriev, M E Skopintseva
In Russia, the population preservation and health promotion are defined as national development goal, and within its framework life expectancy is to increase up to 78 years by 2030. In national normative legal acts considerable attention is paid not only to issues of medical care support but also to importance of making system to maintain and to promote health. In 2025, the WHO adopted the Global strategy of traditional medicine for the period up to 2034. The strategy defines concepts of traditional medicine, complementary medicine and integrative medicine. When considering integrative medicine exactly as comprehensive approach supporting health it is essential to understand whether there are opportunities to improve and to maintain population health. The study permitted to comprehensively analyze indicators both characterizing performance of health care system (financial support and infrastructure conditions) and public health (index of universal health care services coverage; non-communicable disease mortality rate; probability to die at the age from 30 to 70 years from any cardiovascular diseases, cancer, diabetes, or chronic respiratory diseases; and life expectancy at birth) in countries with no application of regulated methods of integrative medicine and in countries with implemented system of integrative medicine. The obtained data testify availability of potential to enhance public health under application of methods of integrative medicine.
Problemy sotsial'noi gigieny, zdravookhraneniia i istorii meditsinyV G Zilov, L V Kosmodemyansky
The article considers placement of methods of traditional and complementary medicine in the public health system of the Russian Federation, focusing on prevention and management of chronic non-communicable diseases. The analysis of the evidence base on key methods of traditional and complementary medicine (acupuncture, phytotherapy, homeopathy, manual therapy, osteopathy) was carried out, including differentiated estimate of level of evidence for forms of homeopathy based on the latest systematic review of meta-analyses. The legal framework of its application in Russia are explored. The corresponding collisions and barriers are identified. The following proposals concerning integrative health care model are formulated: differentiated register of methods, clinical guidelines, pilot integration into compulsory health insurance system and enhancement of research.
Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) is a severe form of premenstrual syndrome (PMS), affecting 3%-8% of women of reproductive age. It is characterized by emotional, behavioral, and physical symptoms during the luteal phase, primarily driven by neuroendocrine sensitivity to hormonal fluctuations and dysregulation of central neurotransmitter systems. Genetic predisposition and environmental stressors contribute to its onset. Although conventional treatments such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and hormonal therapies offer symptom relief, they are often accompanied by adverse effects and limited long-term efficacy. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) posits that the core pathogenesis of PMDD lies in the dysfunction of liver's conveyance and dispersion, which may consistent with modern biological research evidence. TCM approaches, represented by Chinese herbal medicine and acupuncture, may alleviate symptoms of PMDD by targeting and modulating its core modern pathogenic mechanisms. With its few side effects and the unique advantage of individualized treatment based on syndrome differentiation, TCM holds the potential to become a mainstream therapeutic option for PMDD. This narrative review synthesizes evidence from clinical trials, animal and pharmacological studies to explore the efficacy and underlying mechanisms of TCM in the treatment of PMDD and compares these approaches with conventional therapies. Nonetheless, the integration of TCM into mainstream practice for PMDD is still hampered by challenges such as insufficient evidence-based medical data. Research in TCM focusing on biomarker identification, establishment of standardized treatment protocols, and refinement of efficacy evaluation systems is expected to drive its evolution into a mainstream treatment option for PMDD.
JMIR research protocolsSo-Jeong Wi, Dong-Hyeon Kim, Su-Hyon Kim, Sang-Jin Lee, Jong-Sung Park, Seon-Mi Shin, Byung-Cheol Lee, So-Jung Park
BACKGROUND: Prostate cancer treatment increasingly emphasizes quality-of-life maintenance alongside oncological control. Integrative Traditional East Asian Medicine (TEAM), including traditional Chinese medicine, traditional Korean medicine, and Kampo medicine, has been used as an adjunctive approach for symptom management during cancer treatment. However, evidence regarding its effectiveness and safety across different disease stages remains heterogeneous and has not been comprehensively synthesized. OBJECTIVE: This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to evaluate the clinical effectiveness, safety, and quality-of-life benefits of TEAM-based adjunctive therapies combined with standard conventional treatments in patients with prostate cancer. METHODS: Randomized controlled trials will be identified through comprehensive multilingual searches of PubMed, Embase, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Oriental Medicine Advanced Searching Integrated System, Research Information Sharing Service, and other databases from inception to January 2026. Two reviewers will independently screen studies, extract data, and assess risk of bias using the Cochrane risk of bias 2 tool. Primary outcomes will consist of tumor-related outcomes (prostate-specific antigen levels and Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors-evaluated tumor response rates) and survival outcomes (overall survival and progression-free survival). Secondary outcomes will include clinical symptoms (International Prostate Symptom Score), pain scores (visual analog scale or numeric rating scale), quality of life, and treatment-related adverse events. Potential herb-drug interactions reported in primary trials will also be systematically assessed. Meta-analyses will be performed using random effects models in RevMan (version 5.4). In cases of substantial heterogeneity (I²≥50%), sensitivity and subgroup analyses will be conducted. The certainty of evidence will be assessed with the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation approach. RESULTS: The study selection process will be illustrated using a PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) flow diagram. Where appropriate, pooled effect estimates will be presented using forest plots. CONCLUSIONS: This review will provide comprehensive evidence on the role of TEAM-based adjunctive therapies in prostate cancer care across disease stages and will inform the development of integrative oncology guidelines. TRIAL REGISTRATION: PROSPERO CRD420251275137; https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/view/CRD420251275137. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID): PRR1-10.2196/94053.
Integrative medicine, combining conventional medicine and complementary approaches, represents an opportunity to optimize patient care in primary care. However, its clinical adoption is hindered by a lack of knowledge by general practitioners, insufficient coordination among healthcare providers, and uncertainties regarding reimbursement conditions. This article does not aim to provide a systematic review of the effectiveness of complementary medicines (CM). Instead, it proposes a pragmatic framework for integrative medicine referral intended for general practitioners untrained in this approach. Practical cases illustrate its application, its limitations are discussed, and prospects for standardization are explored.
MedicineSunny Jui-Shan Lin, Shung-Tai Ho, Yi-Chang Su, Chien-Sung Tsai, Shu-Meng Cheng, Cheng-Yi Cheng, Chien-Jung Lin, Tso-Chou Lin
In 2020, a novel botanical preparation of traditional Chinese medicine was developed and officially recommended for treating mild COVID-19 cases in Taiwan. This study examined the perceptions of integrative care combining Western and Chinese medicine in Taiwanese medical students. A cross-sectional questionnaire survey was conducted in April and May 2020 among first- to fourth-year medical undergraduates to evaluate their knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors regarding the use of Chinese medicine in integrative health care. In total, 396 out of 668 medical students (59.3%) responded to the survey, including 255 students who had participated in at least 1 elective Chinese medicine course, with the most common courses being "Introduction to Chinese Medicine" (86.3%) and "Chinese Medical Physiology" (47.1%). These 255 students scored higher on the knowledge scale (P < .001) and positive attitude scale (P = .002) in terms of Chinese medicine utilization compared with 141 undergraduates who did not participate in any Chinese medicine courses. Most students reported that they would collect their patients' Chinese medicine history (63.4%) and the concurrent use of Western and Chinese medications (72.5%). Among Taiwanese medical students, those who completed an elective Chinese medicine course demonstrated high levels basic knowledge, positive attitudes towards Chinese medicine utilization, and proactive engagement in integrative care involving both Western and Chinese medicine.
BackgroundTraditional, complementary, and integrative medicine (TCIM) is an evolving field in oncology focused on managing cancer symptoms. Hydrogen water (HW) has gained attention for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, yet its clinical effectiveness needs further exploration. This randomized controlled trial aimed to assess the impact of gargling with HW on oral mucositis severity, pain levels, oral frailty, and quality of life in head and neck cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy or concurrent chemo-radiotherapy.MethodsIn this single-center, single-blind, parallel-group randomized controlled trial, patients were randomly assigned to receive either HW or distilled water (DW) for gargling. Oral mucositis (OM) severity, pain, oral frailty, and quality of life (QoL) were assessed using the World Health Organization Oral Mucositis Grading Criteria (WHO-OMGC), the Brief Pain Inventory-Taiwan (BPI-T), the Oral Frailty Checklist (OFC), and the EORTC QLQ-H&N35 questionnaire. Assessments were conducted at baseline (T0) and on Days 1 (T1), 3 (T2), 7 (T3), and 14 (T4) post-treatment.ResultsThe HW group showed significant OM improvement at Day 7 (p = 0.04) and Day 14 (p = 0.002). Pain decreased significantly in the HW group at Day 14 (p = 0.02). QoL improved in the HW group (p = 0.03), while OFC scores showed no significant difference between groups (p = 0.74).ConclusionHW gargling significantly alleviated OM severity and pain and improved QoL in head and neck cancer (HNC) patients undergoing radiotherapy or CCRT. HW gargling may serve as a simple, well-tolerated, and effective complementary and integrative therapy during cancer treatment.
Physical medicine and rehabilitation clinics of North AmericaMelissa E Phuphanich, Catherine Cho, Andrew Lai
Chronic pain affects over 50 million Americans and contributes to rising disability, opioid dependence, and healthcare utilization. As the limitations of pharmacologic-only strategies become increasingly evident, integrative approaches offer a compelling, evidence-based alternative. This article reviews complementary, alternative, and integrative medicine modalities commonly used in chronic pain management, including manual therapies (craniosacral, chiropractic, and massage), movement-based therapies (yoga, tai chi, Alexander technique, Feldenkrais method, Pilates, qigong), acupuncture, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, scrambler therapy. These approaches support holistic, patient-centered care that engages the body's innate healing capacity and may reduce reliance on opioids.