The journal of alternative and complementary medicine : research on paradigm, practice, and policy
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J Altern Complement Med · Mar 2009
Randomized Controlled TrialYoga therapy decreases dyspnea-related distress and improves functional performance in people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a pilot study.
There has been limited study of yoga training as a complementary exercise strategy to manage the symptom of dyspnea in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). ⋯ Elderly patients with COPD participated safely in a 12-week yoga program especially designed for patients with this chronic illness. After the program, the subjects tolerated more activity with less DD and improved their functional performance. These findings need to be confirmed in a larger, more sufficiently powered efficacy study.
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J Altern Complement Med · Mar 2009
Randomized Controlled TrialEffects of auricular acupressure on menstrual symptoms and nitric oxide for women with primary dysmenorrhea.
The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of auricular acupressure on relieving menstrual symptoms and decreasing nitric oxide (NO) for women with primary dysmenorrhea. ⋯ This study supports the effects of auricular acupressure by seed-pressure method in improving menstrual symptoms, and offers a noninvasive complementary therapy for women with primary dysmenorrhea.
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J Altern Complement Med · Mar 2009
Clinical TrialImmediate effect of slow pace bhastrika pranayama on blood pressure and heart rate.
The objective of this study was to evaluate the immediate effect of slow pace bhastrika pranayama (respiratory rate 6/min) for 5 minutes on heart rate and blood pressure and the effect of the same breathing exercise for the same duration of time (5 minutes) following oral intake of hyoscine-N-butylbromide (Buscopan), a parasympathetic blocker drug. ⋯ Vagal cardiac and pulmonary mechanisms are linked, and improvement in one vagal limb might spill over into the other. Baroreceptor sensitivity can be enhanced significantly by slow breathing (supported by a small reduction in the heart rate observed during slow breathing and by reduction in both systolic and diastolic pressure). Slow pace bhastrika pranayama (respiratory rate 6/min) exercise thus shows a strong tendency to improving the autonomic nervous system through enhanced activation of the parasympathetic system.
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J Altern Complement Med · Feb 2009
Review Meta AnalysisRandomized controlled trials of acupuncture for neck pain: systematic review and meta-analysis.
The objectives of this study were to assess the effectiveness and efficacy of acupuncture in the treatment of neck pain. ⋯ The quantitative meta-analysis conducted in this review confirmed the short-term effectiveness and efficacy of acupuncture in the treatment of neck pain. Further studies that address the long-term efficacy of acupuncture for neck pain are warranted.
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J Altern Complement Med · Feb 2009
Randomized Controlled TrialA new way: alleviating postembolization syndrome following transcatheter arterial chemoembolization.
Currently, most therapies of postembolization syndrome following transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) aim directly at a single symptom, thus leading to limitations. ⋯ In conclusion, although single use of Dex or GS may improve some indices of adverse effects after TACE, the combination of Dex and GS can systematically prevent and treat the postembolization syndrome following TACE.