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.
MedicineYe-Vin Lee, Jonghun Ahn, Euiju Lee, Chelin Park, Eui-Jin Son, Ja Yeon Jeong
RATIONALE: Brainstem hemorrhage is a rare but devastating subtype of intracerebral hemorrhage that frequently presents with impaired consciousness, quadriplegia, and recurrent infections. Integrative personalized medicine care (IPMC), which combines essential conventional treatments with personalized traditional Korean medicine interventions, has been suggested to improve functional outcomes and support immune regulation. By closely monitoring a patient with massive brainstem hemorrhage treated with IPMC, we observed neurological improvement, effective control of recurrent infections and inflammation, and sustained safety of long-term herbal medications. PATIENT CONCERNS: A 48-year-old female patient with a brainstem hemorrhage was managed at Kyung Hee University Hospital with IPMC for posthemorrhagic functional impairment and recurrent infection. DIAGNOSES: The patient was diagnosed with a massive pontine hemorrhage with posthemorrhagic functional impairment and recurrent infection. INTERVENTIONS: The patient received conventional treatment and integrative personalized traditional Korean medicine interventions, including herbal medications and acupuncture. OUTCOMES: We retrospectively analyzed the 2-year clinical course of the patient who received IPMC to evaluate the efficacy and safety of the treatment. Functional outcomes and inflammation control were assessed using standardized scales (modified Barthel index, Korean mini-mental state examination, Glasgow Coma Scale, global deterioration scale, level of consciousness, manual muscle testing, and Fugl-Meyer assessment) and hematological markers (C-reactive protein, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, and systemic inflammation response index). Liver and renal functions were monitored through laboratory tests (alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, γ-glutamyltransferase, blood urea nitrogen, serum creatinine, and estimated glomerular filtration rate). Regarding the efficacy of IPMC, functional improvements in neurological and motor outcomes were observed throughout the treatment period. Dependence on antibiotics progressively decreased, whereas the proportion of herbal medication-centered treatments increased. Infections with C-reactive protein levels <2.0 mg/dL were effectively managed with herbal medications alone. Furthermore, despite the long-term use of combined treatments, no hepatotoxicity or nephrotoxicity was observed, confirming the safety of IPMC. LESSONS: This case demonstrates the efficacy and safety of IPMC, which integrates herbal medications with conventional treatment, for managing posthemorrhagic functional impairment and recurrent infections. These findings provide a foundation for future prospective studies. Further research is required to strengthen this evidence and validate the effectiveness of IPMC.
BMC complementary medicine and therapiesTido von Schoen-Angerer, Manfred Wischnewsky, Michael Jeitler, Benno Brinkhaus, Miriam Ortiz, Rasmus Hoffmann, Christian S Kessler
BACKGROUND: Previous cross-sectional studies suggest that Traditional, Complementary and Integrative Medicine (TCIM) is used frequently in Germany. We assessed TCIM usage patterns across different disease categories in the German population. METHOD: In this cross-sectional survey of an online-representative sample of the German population aged 18-75 years, participants were asked about their use and acceptance of TCIM. Participants were also queried about 15 illness categories. Health-related quality of life was assessed using the EQ-5D-5L questionnaire. Data were analyzed descriptively and inferentially. RESULTS: A total of 4,065 individuals (52% female) responded. 70% had used TCIM at some point in their lives, 32% in the last 12 months, and 18% were current users. Over half (52%) reported a mostly or very positive attitude towards TCIM. The highest rates of TCIM use were reported for acute respiratory illness (55.9%), chronic gastrointestinal illness (51.4%) and acute gastrointestinal illness (49.2%). The illness-specific, self-reported benefit from TCIM ranged from 61.4 to 86.2% (mean 70.8%) and remained high even among individuals of poorer health-related quality of life. No relation between TCIM use across different disease categories and the global research activity in those categories was apparent in the scatter plot. CONCLUSIONS: TCIM is widely used and perceived as beneficial for acute and chronic conditions in Germany. Individuals with poorer health status also reported substantial benefit. Stakeholders in the German healthcare system should critically examine the high level of TCIM use, promote rigorous scientific evaluation, integrate evidence-informed TCIM with conventional medicine, and ensure appropriate reimbursement for TCIM through statutory health insurance.
Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania)Hyangyu Park, Yeonghun Wi, Cheol-Hyun Kim
Background and Objectives: Patients with chronic stroke aged 65 years or older and who are more than 6 months post-onset are generally considered to have reached a rehabilitation plateau, beyond which further functional improvement is difficult to achieve. This study aimed to evaluate changes in gait function before and after integrative Korean-Western medicine treatment in older adults with chronic stroke. Materials and Methods: In this single-center, retrospective, single-group pre-post observational study, we analyzed the medical records of 15 patients with chronic stroke aged ≥65 years who received integrative Korean-Western medicine treatment five times per week for 4 weeks. The primary outcome was the step length ratio, reflecting gait symmetry. Secondary outcomes included walking velocity, lateral symmetry, center of pressure (COP)-related parameters, manual muscle test (MMT) scores, and Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA) scores. Results: The step length ratio increased significantly from 0.61 [0.50-0.70] before treatment to 0.86 [0.62-0.94] after treatment (p = 0.009, r = 0.675). Walking velocity (p = 0.006, r = 0.715) and mean COP velocity (p = 0.007, d = -0.822) also improved significantly. In contrast, no significant changes were observed in MMT or FMA scores, and no treatment-related adverse events were recorded. Conclusions: In this retrospective, uncontrolled, single-group study, significant improvements in gait symmetry, walking velocity, and postural control were observed following integrative Korean-Western medicine treatment in older adults with chronic stroke. The improvement in gait function without a corresponding change in FMA-based motor function-although both MMT and FMA scores were relatively high at baseline, potentially limiting sensitivity to detect further motor improvement-raises the hypothesis that other mechanisms, potentially including enhanced sensorimotor integration, may have contributed to these changes; however, this mechanistic interpretation remains speculative and was not directly tested. Randomized controlled trials with appropriate control groups are warranted to further verify these findings.
Integrative cancer therapiesMilena Beierlein, Carolin C Hack, Anna-Katharin Theuser, Katharina Au, Lena Brueckner, Matthias W Beckmann, Katharina Seitz
BackgroundThis study aimed to evaluate differences in adherence to integrative therapy recommendations provided by the Consultation Service for Integrative Medicine (SIM) at the Women's Clinic of the University Hospital Erlangen, Germany, across patient subgroups. The study sought to identify opportunities for further optimization and refinement of the integrative care program.MethodsIn this cross-sectional study, data of 120 women who visited the SIM consultancy were collected at the first presentation (Baseline) and after 3 to 6 months of therapy (Follow-Up) using standardized questionnaires. The adherence variable was defined as the proportion of integrative therapy methods implemented for at least four weeks of the total number of therapy recommendations received per patient. Differences in patient-reported adherence to integrative therapies among cohorts defined by demographic characteristics, lifestyle factors, and tumor-related characteristics were evaluated using independent-samples t-tests and analyses of variance (ANOVA).ResultsThere was no significant difference in adherence with Integrative therapy recommendations in cohorts based on age, education, Body-mass-index (BMI), tumor localization and treatment modality. Factors significantly associated with lower adherence, were low physical activity, defined as self-reported absence of regular exercise, compared with patients reporting approximately 1 hour or 2-4 hours of exercise per week, and presence of distant metastases.ConclusionAdherence with SIM recommendations was significantly lower among patients with low physical activity levels, as well as among patients with distant metastatic disease. This shows that the treatment concepts of the SIM need to be adapted more individually and, in particular, body-based treatments need to be reviewed in order to make them accessible for patients with poorer physical condition.
Frontiers in public healthInae Youn, Jisu Ha, Sunjoong Kim, Sohyeon Ryu, Juchul Kim, Ji Hun Wi, Dong Kyun Ko, Sung-Youl Choi, Unho Yang, Jungtae Leem
INTRODUCTION: Firefighters, as essential workers, face substantial barriers to healthcare access due to shift work, unpredictable schedules, and physically demanding duties. Workplace-based healthcare delivery models have emerged as a potential strategy to address these access gaps, yet real-world evidence remains limited. METHODS: This study evaluated a workplace-based visiting healthcare program implemented at fire stations in Seoul, Korea, between September 2023 and February 2024. A retrospective chart review assessed changes in pain intensity among firefighters receiving integrative care, including acupuncture and Chuna manual therapy, while a cross-sectional survey examined user satisfaction, perceived need, and acceptability of the program. RESULTS: Forty firefighters were included in the clinical evaluation, showing significant reductions in pain intensity (Numeric Pain Rating Scale, median [IQR]: 4.0 [4.0-6.0] to 2.0 [1.0-2.0]; Wilcoxon signed-rank test, p < 0.001), with 97.5% achieving the minimal clinically important difference. The intervention was well-tolerated, with only minor and transient adverse events reported. Survey responses from 133 participants indicated high satisfaction (median 4 out of 5 for all items) and strong willingness to recommend the service (88.0%). Most respondents recognized the need for such services (92.0%) and supported their integration into institutional healthcare systems (84.0%). CONCLUSION: Workplace-based integrative care may represent a feasible and acceptable model to improve healthcare access among shift-based essential workers. These findings provide real-world evidence supporting workplace-based healthcare delivery models for shift-based essential workers.
In medical-psychological centers, care is provided through a multidisciplinary team comprising nurses, advanced practice nurses specializing in psychiatry and mental health, psychologists, and psychiatrists. These care approaches work in a complementary manner - particularly between nursing care and psychotherapy - enabling support for both symptoms and psychological development. Ms. C.'s situation illustrates this integrative care approach.
International journal of molecular sciencesStephanie Sawicki, Anjali Dhawan, Dikshya Devkota, Michelle Elway, Anish R Maskey
Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic, relapsing, and remitting condition that affects approximately 10% of the population. It is a multifactorial disease involving immune dysregulation, gene mutations, and environmental factors that ultimately disrupt skin barrier restoration, causing pruritic lesions. Given the marked heterogeneity of AD and the presence of multiple immune and clinical endotypes, no single therapeutic strategy is likely to be universally effective. Instead, a growing panel of distinct biomarkers offers an avenue for true precision medicine by enabling more accurate endotype classification, prediction of treatment response, and tailored treatments. In this context, ongoing research is increasingly focused on individualized, biomarker-informed strategies, as well as the evaluation of adjunctive approaches that can be integrated with standard therapies to optimize long-term disease control. Given the central role of systemic inflammation and barrier dysfunction in AD, the mechanistic focus of osteopathic manipulative medicine (OMM) on circulation, lymphatic drainage, and autonomic regulation offers another biological treatment to use alongside conventional therapies. This concise review examines the pathogenesis of AD, current treatments and their limitations, and the expanding role of biomarkers in refining diagnosis, prognosis, and therapeutic decision-making. It also explores the potential integration of OMM as a biologically plausible adjunct to support individualized, endotype-aware treatment strategies, while emphasizing the current lack of empirical evidence and the need for rigorous mechanistic and clinical studies.
Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacologyAnqi Li, Jun Ren, Gordon H Guyatt, Jason W Busse, Behnam Sadeghirad, Bhushan Patwardhan, Sarika Chaturvedi, Angela M Cheung, Long Ge, Qiukui Hao, Lehana Thaban…
BACKGROUND: Although the use of Traditional, Complementary, and Integrative Medicine (TCIM) interventions to treat coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is common, the effectiveness of these interventions is unclear. OBJECTIVE: To compare different TCIM interventions for the treatment of mild/moderate acute COVID-19. DATA SOURCES: EMBASE (Elsevier), Medline (OVID), VHL TCIM database, Cochrane Central, ClinicalTrials.gov, ICTRP, as of April 29th, 2025, as well as eight Chinese and four Korean databases. STUDY SELECTION: Randomized controlled trials comparing a TCIM intervention with another, the standard of care (SoC), placebo, or conventional medicine in participants with suspected, probable, or confirmed mild/moderate acute COVID-19. DATA EXTRACTION: Reviewers worked in pairs and independently extracted data and assessed the risk of bias and rated the certainty of the evidence for each outcome. RESULTS: One hundred fifty-five trials evaluating 142 TCIM therapies were eligible for review, of which 69 (45%) trials enrolling 18,627 patients met criteria for analysis, contributing at least 80 participants or 20 events to one intervention. All the following estimates come from direct evidence, as networks were sparse. Compared with SoC or placebo, high to moderate certainty evidence showed that three TCIM add-on interventions probably reduced time to symptom resolution: Lianhua Qingwen (mean difference [MD] -2.82 days, 95% confidence interval -3.14 to -2.50, high certainty); Kovir capsule (MD -3.14 days, -3.67 to -2.61, moderate certainty); and honey and Nigella sativa (MD -3.00 days, -4.12 to -1.88, moderate certainty). Using conversion to severe cases as a proxy for hospitalization, Andrographis paniculata extract probably reduced hospital admission (risk difference -15 per 1000, -24.9 to 12.3, moderate certainty) for patients at moderate risk of hospitalization. No compelling evidence supports that any TCIM intervention reduced hospital admissions for patients at low or high risk of hospitalization, or reduced mortality and mechanical ventilation requirement across all patients. High to moderate certainty evidence showed that Lianhua Qingwen, Kovir capsule, COROPROTECT kit, and Shen Cao Gan Jiang likely did not increase adverse events leading to drug discontinuation; evidence for other TCIM interventions was insufficient to inform adverse events leading to discontinuation. High to moderate certainty evidence supported that Lianhua Qingwen was effective in resolving cough (MD -1.62 days, -1.80 to -1.45, high certainty) and probably effective in resolving fatigue (MD -1.41 days, -1.73 to -1.08, moderate certainty), honey and Nigella sativa was probably effective in resolving fever (MD -4.00 days, -4.72 to -3.28, moderate certainty), and Jinghua Jiedu was probably effective in resolving cough (MD -1.72 days, -2.23 to -1.21, moderate certainty). Other TCIM interventions were either ineffective, or of uncertain effectiveness. CONCLUSION: Adding Lianhua Qingwen, Kovir capsule, or honey and Nigella sativa to SoC likely reduces symptomatic duration of mild/moderate acute COVID-19. Andrographis paniculata extract probably decreases hospital admissions among patients at moderate risk of hospitalization. Replication of positive findings is warranted. REGISTRATION: PROSPERO (CRD42024517321).
BMC public healthG Ciarlo, J Buentzel, S Grüll, J Huebner
BACKGROUND: This study examines whether migration background, health literacy, and religious-spiritual orientation are associated with the use of traditional, complementary and integrative medicine (TCIM). In addition, the relationship between religious-spiritual orientation, Religious Orientation (RO), and different TCIM modalities was explored. From a public health perspective, migration background, health literacy, and social determinants may further influence patterns of traditional, complementary and integrative medicine (TCIM) use. This study examines how religious orientation relates to the use of body-mind and biological TCIM approaches and whether these dimensions function as coping resources or determinants of health behaviour. METHODS: Between October 2023 and January 2024, 375 patients were recruited in a single-center primary care study. Data were collected using an anonymous questionnaire assessing TCIM use, health literacy, religious orientation, and sociodemographic characteristics. RESULTS: Of all participants, 19.5% reported a migration background. The most frequently used TCIM methods were physical activity (75.2%), vitamins and minerals (41.6%), and vitamin D (35.6%). Overall TCIM use was largely comparable between participants with and without a migration background, with a significant difference observed only for homeopathy (14.1% vs. 6.1%, p = 0.007). Participants with a migration background showed higher religious orientation scores, while specific RO were determined by religious affiliation. Health literacy levels were generally high and varied mainly by age, gender, and education, showing only weak associations with TCIM use. Female gender and higher educational level were the most consistent predictors of TCIM use. CONCLUSION: TCIM use was common in primary care patients and showed little association with migration background or religious orientation, despite higher religiosity among migrants. Religiosity appears to function primarily as a psychosocial coping resource rather than a determinant of therapeutic behavior. From a public health perspective, TCIM use appears to be more strongly shaped by gender and educational level than by migration background or religious orientation. Female participants consistently reported higher use of several TCIM modalities, while educational level was primarily associated with lifestyle-related approaches such as physical activity. These findings underscore the importance of addressing social determinants and avoiding culturally stereotypical assumptions in primary care.
MedicineJeremy Y Ng, Brenda X Lin, Sabrina Abdella, Magdalene Abebe, Isabella Y Tao, Holger Cramer
BACKGROUND: Traditional, complementary, and integrative medicine (TCIM) encompasses a wide range of healthcare practices and is of growing global interest. Preprints, scientific manuscripts posted prior to formal peer review, offer opportunities to address challenges in TCIM research, including limited funding, publication delays, and concerns about methodological quality. By increasing the visibility and speed of research dissemination, preprints may help strengthen the TCIM evidence base. This bibliometric analysis examined the characteristics of TCIM-related preprints posted on servers with TCIM subject filters. METHODS: Preprints were sourced from the ASAPbio preprint server directory, limited to servers with TCIM-related categories. Data extraction (June 4, 2024 to January 14, 2025) included all TCIM-related preprints posted on the selected server from their inception, and collected details such as title, DOI, abstract, authors, affiliations, preprint posted date, publication journal (if applicable), publication date, preprint type, keywords, number of versions, citations, comments, and funding information. Author geographic distribution, collaboration networks, and key research topics were also analyzed. RESULTS: Between 2012 and 2024, 1980 TCIM preprints were posted across 11 servers. Research Square hosted the most preprints, and China contributed the highest number. Among the 612 preprints later published in journals, BMC Trials was the most common destination, with a median time of 4.89 months from preprint to publication. Funding information was often missing, but when reported, the National Natural Science Foundation of China was the most frequent sponsor. Overall, citation and comment activity was low. Wellcome Open Research had the highest average citations and comments per preprint among all servers. CONCLUSION: This study provides the first in-depth analysis of TCIM preprints, revealing active research areas and important gaps in preprint usage, geographical representation, and post-publication engagement. Findings highlight opportunities to improve transparency and research dissemination in TCIM through more consistent preprint practices and tracking.
OBJECTIVE: Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is widely used by patients with chronic diseases, including cancer, but many physicians still have little knowledge about these medical methods and/or do not believe in their efficacy. This leads to inadequate doctor-patient communication and self-prescription of CAM with a high risk of interaction with standard cancer treatments. Information about CAM should be planned at all levels of medical education, starting from university, to promote the use of CAM among specialists. The primary objective of this study, conducted between October 2023 and February 2024, was to assess the opinion and impact of learning about CAM in future graduating physicians. METHODS: One hundred and sixty medical students attended a 2-hour CAM academic training course; they also completed an anonymous 35-item questionnaire divided into 2 sections. The items included in the first section investigated their attitudes toward CAM. The second part of the survey investigated the students' opinion about the course they had attended and re-evaluated their knowledge of CAM. RESULTS: Of the 160 participants, 79.4% were aware of the existence of other forms of medicine besides conventional medicine, and the most well-known CAM were Oriental and Chinese medicine (48.8%), homeopathy (8.1%), and acupuncture (5%). About 58.4% percent of participants agreed that universities should teach CAM, 51.3% believed that different medical approaches can coexist, and 78.1% did not consider Western medicine to be the only therapeutic option. One hundred percent found the teaching of CAM useful, 88.8% agreed that CAM should be taught in all medical/health/biological degrees, and 88.1% would propose an integrative approach. CONCLUSION: Clinical practice can be significantly improved by introducing CAM into university training programs. This will meet the educational needs of modern and innovative medicine, with the hope that in the future, physicians will be able to provide patients with tailored treatments choosing their options from both conventional and alternative medicine and will discourage patients from seeking treatment and medical advice from non-medical practitioners.
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.
HarefuahRaviv Peleg, Galia Avrahami, Tamar Natanzon, Michal Dayan-Sharabi, Liron Martin, Joanne Yacobovich, Shai Izraeli
This article presents the "Stronger Than Yourself" program, developed within the integrative medicine service of the Oncology Department of Schneider Children's Medical Center of Israel. The program was designed to improve treatment adherence among pediatric oncology patients, with particular emphasis on oral medication intake. We describe the case of a 7.5-year-old girl diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), who persistently refused to take her prescribed medication and struggled to cooperate with the medical team. Her condition required a tailored intervention to enable continuation of essential treatment. The "Stronger Than Yourself" program combines principles of empowerment and self-control, active parental guidance, and the use of mind-body modalities, such as touch, movement, guided imagery, and mindfulness. Through an individualized integrative intervention, her emotional and behavioral barriers were reduced, resulting in significant improvement in cooperation and full regular medication adherence. Since its launch in 2017, the program has supported more than 200 children, with the vast majority achieving independent and sustained medication intake. The model has been recognized by the professional community and presented internationally. This case demonstrates the potential of a focused integrative approach to address common barriers to medication adherence in pediatric oncology, to reduce distress, and strengthen coping in children and families. Further research is warranted to consolidate the model and extend its implementation in other pediatric care settings.
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.