The journal of alternative and complementary medicine : research on paradigm, practice, and policy
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J Altern Complement Med · Jul 2006
Randomized Controlled TrialEffect of aromatherapy on symptoms of dysmenorrhea in college students: A randomized placebo-controlled clinical trial.
The purpose of this study was to explore the effect of aromatherapy on menstrual cramps and symptoms of dysmenorrhea. ⋯ These findings suggest that aromatherapy using topically applied lavender, clary sage, and rose is effective in decreasing the severity of menstrual cramps. Aromatherapy can be offered as part of the nursing care to women experiencing menstrual cramps or dysmenorrhea.
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J Altern Complement Med · Jan 2006
Randomized Controlled TrialEffects of guided imagery on outcomes of pain, functional status, and self-efficacy in persons diagnosed with fibromyalgia.
(1) To investigate the effects of a 6-week intervention of guided imagery on pain level, functional status, and self-efficacy in persons with fibromyalgia (FM); and (2) to explore the dose-response effect of imagery use on outcomes. ⋯ This study demonstrated the effectiveness of guided imagery in improving functional status and sense of self-efficacy for managing pain and other symptoms of FM. However, participants' reports of pain did not change. Further studies investigating the effects of mind-body interventions as adjunctive self-care modalities are warranted in the fibromyalgia patient population.
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J Altern Complement Med · Jun 2005
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialTranscutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation versus ondansetron in the prevention of postoperative vomiting following pediatric tonsillectomy.
Postoperative retching and vomiting is an important cause of morbidity that may lead to patient discomfort, distress, and complications. Stimulation of acupuncture points has been shown to be effective in the prevention as well as treatment of PONV. The current treatments of choice are the 5-hydroxytryptamine type 3-antagonists, such as ondansetron. We aimed to evaluate the efficacy and side-effects of either transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation (TEAS) or Ondansetron compared to a control group receiving no treatment in the prevention of postoperative retching and vomiting. SUBJECT AND DESIGN: This randomized, controlled, prospective study was carried out in a group of 90 children (in three equal randomly assigned groups), aged between 4 and 12 who underwent tonsillectomy under general anesthesia. In the first group, electrical stimulation via surface electrodes on acupoints Neiguan and Shangwan was performed (20 Hz, 5 minutes). The second group received a single dose of Ondansetron (0.15 mg . kg(-1)). No treatment was given to the control group. ⋯ Application of TEAS on sedated children is an easy, painless, reliable and effective method for the prophylaxis of postoperative retching and vomiting in pediatric tonsillectomy.
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J Altern Complement Med · Apr 2005
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialA double-blinded, placebo-controlled, randomized trial of the neuropsychologic efficacy of cranberry juice in a sample of cognitively intact older adults: pilot study findings.
The aim of this research was to conduct the first known clinical trial of the short-term (i.e., 6 weeks) efficacy of cranberry juice on the neuropsychologic functioning of cognitively intact older adults. ⋯ Taken together, no significant interactions were found between the cranberry and placebo groups and their pretreatment baseline and end-of-treatment phase (after 6 weeks) standardized neuropsychologic assessments. A nonsignificant trend was noted, however, on a subjective, self-report questionnaire where twice as many participants in the cranberry group rated their overall abilities to remember by treatment end as "improved" compared to placebo controls.
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J Altern Complement Med · Feb 2005
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialPerception of bodily sensation as a predictor of treatment response to acupuncture for postoperative nausea and vomiting prophylaxis.
Conditions associated with the response to acupuncture treatment remain widely elusive. This study aimed to identify predictors of treatment response in patients undergoing acupuncture treatment for prevention of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV). An intervention-specific questionnaire was developed to assess perception of bodily sensations (PBS) in patients undergoing acupuncture treatment. ⋯ The incidence of PONV after breast surgery seems to be influenced by some psychological mechanisms. In this group of patients, acupuncture might be more effective in patients who have low PBS.