The journal of alternative and complementary medicine : research on paradigm, practice, and policy
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J Altern Complement Med · Jan 2010
Randomized Controlled TrialElectro-acupuncture for pain relief after nasal septoplasty: a randomized controlled study.
Electro-acupuncture (EA) can be effective in some pain conditions, but still there have been no randomized controlled studies of EA for treatment of acute postoperative pain in nasal septoplasty. Therefore, we did a study to test whether EA of specific points is superior to sham acupuncture for complementary analgesia after nasal septoplasty. ⋯ Findings from our study demonstrate that both uses of EA and 0.1 mg/kg IV morphine given intraoperatively resulted in a similar postoperative pain score, and meperidine was not given in any patient in the two groups during postoperative period because the VAS scores of all patients were less than 40 mm.
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J Altern Complement Med · Jan 2010
Randomized Controlled TrialThe effect of Hypericum perforatum on the wound healing and scar of cesarean.
The aim of this study was to determine the effects of Hypericum perforatum on cesarean wound healing and hypertrophic scar. ⋯ Topical application of H. perforatum is safe and can facilitate cesarean wound healing and minimize formation of scar and its pain and pruritus.
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J Altern Complement Med · Oct 2009
Randomized Controlled TrialRandomized controlled trial of mindfulness-based therapy for dyspnea in chronic obstructive lung disease.
Patients with chronic obstructive lung disease (COPD) suffer from significant dyspnea and may benefit from complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) therapies aimed at mitigating symptoms. The objective of this study was to test the efficacy of a mindfulness-based breathing therapy (MBBT) on improving symptoms and health-related quality of life in those with COPD. ⋯ This trial found no measurable improvements in patients with COPD receiving a mindfulness-based breathing CAM therapy compared to a support group, suggesting that this intervention is unlikely to be an important therapeutic option for those with moderate-to-severe COPD.
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J Altern Complement Med · Aug 2009
Randomized Controlled TrialEvaluation of manual acupuncture at classical and nondefined points for treatment of functional dyspepsia: a randomized-controlled trial.
Acupuncture has been used traditionally as a treatment for functional dyspepsia (FD). The goal of this trial was to examine the efficacy of acupuncture at classical points and nondefined points as a treatment for functional dyspepsia. ⋯ Our data show that both acupunctures at classical points and nondefined points improved the symptoms of patients with FD. However, we cannot rule out the possibilities of placebo effect in this trial.
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J Altern Complement Med · Jul 2009
Randomized Controlled TrialEffect of slow- and fast-breathing exercises on autonomic functions in patients with essential hypertension.
Breathing exercises practiced in various forms of meditations such as yoga may influence autonomic functions. This may be the basis of therapeutic benefit to hypertensive patients. ⋯ Both types of breathing exercises benefit patients with hypertension. However, improvement in both the sympathetic and parasympathetic reactivity may be the mechanism that is associated in those practicing the slow-breathing exercise.