Use of Complementary and Alternative Medicines among Cancer Patients: A Single-Center Study.

PURPOSE: It is usual for cancer patients to use complementary and alternative medicines (CAMs) and yet the literature evaluating their efficacy in cancer patients is very limited. The objective of the present study was to report on the nature, frequency of use, and patient-reported outcome of CAMs in a single-center study. METHODS: All the consecutive patients treated between November 2017 and June 2018 at the Lucien Neuwirth Cancer Institute (France) were screened. Their reasons for using CAMs and their usage habits were collected. Patients evaluated their benefit. RESULTS: Of the 209 patients screened, 200 patients were included. CAMs ranged from osteopathy, homeopathy, acupuncture, healing touch, magnetism, naturopathy, suction cups, Chinese medicine, reflexology, to hypnosis. CAMs were widely used (n = 166, 83%), the first being osteopathy (n = 99, 49.5%), the second homeopathy (n = 78, 39.0%), and finally acupuncture (n = 76, 38.0%). Whatever the CAM, high satisfaction rates were reported (median satisfaction: 61-81%). CAMs were mainly used to prevent/treat side effects of anticancer treatments (81.2% for healing touch), increase well-being (55.4% for naturopathy), improve the immune system (16.9% for homeopathy), and treat cancer (n = 3, 5.1% for homeopathy). Patients could easily consider using CAMs, as up to 50.8% would have accepted a consultation. CONCLUSIONS: The reasons for using CAMs differed among patients. They praised CAMs and kept asking for more information although there is limited evidence about their efficacy in the literature. Thus, prospective randomized controlled trials exploring the safety and efficacy of CAMs in cancer patients are needed.

A perspective on complementary/alternative medicine use among survivors of hematopoietic stem cell transplant: Benefits and uncertainties.

The widespread use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in cancer survivors is well known despite a paucity of scientific evidence to support its use. The number of survivors of hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HCT) is growing rapidly and HCT clinicians are aware that many of their patients use CAM therapies consistently. However, due to a paucity of data regarding the benefits and harms of CAM therapies in these survivors, clinicians are reluctant to provide specific recommendations for or against particular CAM therapies. A systematic literature review was conducted with a search using PubMed, the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, and Ovid online for each CAM therapy as defined by the National Center of Complementary and Alternative Medicine. The search generated 462 references, of which 26 articles were deemed to be relevant for the review. Due to extensive heterogeneity in data and limited randomized trials, a meta-analysis could not be performed but a comprehensive systematic review was conducted with specified outcomes for each CAM therapy. In randomized controlled trials, certain mind and body interventions such as relaxation were observed to be effective in alleviating psychological symptoms in patients undergoing HCT, whereas the majority of the other CAM treatments were found to have mixed results. CAM use is an understudied area in HCT survivorship and clinicians should convey the benefits and uncertainties concerning the role of CAM therapies to their patients.

[Alternative therapies for smoking cessation: clinical practice guidelines review]. / Terapias alternativas para la cesación de la adicción al tabaco: revisión de guías de práctica clínica.

BACKGROUND: smoking is a chronic disease in the group of addictions and its treatment includes two components:psychosocial and pharmacological intervention. Other types of therapeutic approaches have been used as treatment options for tobacco addiction. Acupuncture, hypnosis and homeopathy are the most used nonconventional interventions. OBJECTIVE: review the available evidence in regards to the use of alternative therapies for smoking cessation in the adult population from the published clinical practice guidelines (CPG). METHODS: we performed an adaptation process of clinical recommendations from a systematic review of the literature specifically related to the use of alternative therapies for smoking cessation. RESULTS: we found 925 references, 9 were pre-screened and selected 5 CPG for adaptation.Acupuncture and related techniques do not improve abstinence rates compared to the placebo effect. There is insufficient evidence to recommend the use of hypnosis as a therapy for smoking cessation. There is no evidence that justifies the use of homeopathic medicines for the treatment of smoking. CONCLUSIONS: alternative therapies have not demonstrated efficacy in cessation. It is recommended to use other treatment options with proven efficacy for smoking cessation.

Complementary and miscellaneous interventions for nocturnal enuresis in children.

BACKGROUND: Nocturnal enuresis (bedwetting) is a socially disruptive and stressful condition which affects around 15% to 20% of five year olds, and up to 2% of young adults. OBJECTIVES: To assess the effects of complementary interventions and others such as surgery or diet on nocturnal enuresis in children, and to compare them with other interventions. SEARCH METHODS: We searched PubMed (1950 to June 2010), EMBASE (1980 to June 2010), the Traditional Chinese Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System (TCMLARS) (1984 to June 2010), Chinese Biomedical Literature Database (CBM) (1975 to June 2010), China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) (1979 to June 2010), VIP database (1989 to June 2010), and the reference lists of relevant articles, all last searched 26 June 2010. No language restriction was used. SELECTION CRITERIA: All randomised or quasi-randomised trials of complementary and other miscellaneous interventions for nocturnal enuresis in children were included except those focused solely on daytime wetting. Comparison interventions could include no treatment, placebo or sham treatment, alarms, simple behavioural treatment, desmopressin, imipramine and miscellaneous other drugs and interventions. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Two reviewers independently assessed the quality of the eligible trials, and extracted data. MAIN RESULTS: In 24 randomised controlled trials, 2334 children were studied, of whom 1283 received a complementary intervention. The quality of the trials was poor: 5 trials were quasi-randomised, 5 showed differences at baseline and 17 lacked follow up data.The outcome was better after hypnosis than imipramine in one trial (relative risk (RR) for failure or relapse after stopping treatment 0.42, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.23 to 0.78). Psychotherapy appeared to be better in terms of fewer children failing or relapsing than both alarm (RR 0.28, 95% CI 0.09 to 0.85) and rewards (RR 0.29, 95%CI 0.09 to 0.90) but this depended on data from only one trial. Medicinal herbs had better results than desmopressin in one trial (RR for failure or relapse after stopping treatment 0.35, 95% CI 0.14 to 0.85). Acupuncture had better results than sham control acupuncture (RR for failure or relapse after stopping treatment 0.67, 95% CI 0.48 to 0.94) in a further trial. Active chiropractic adjustment had better results than sham adjustment (RR for failure to improve 0.76, 95% CI 0.60 to 0.95). However, each of these findings came from small single trials, and must be verified in further trials. The findings for diet and faradization were unreliable, and there were no trials including homeopathy or surgery. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: There was weak evidence to support the use of hypnosis, psychotherapy, acupuncture, chiropractic and medicinal herbs but it was provided in each case by single small trials, some of dubious methodological rigour. Robust randomised trials are required with efficacy, cost-effectiveness and adverse effects clearly reported.

To feel what others feel: two episodes from 18th century medicine.

In the late 18th century two medical fashions--Mesmerism in France and the Perkins 'tractor' in the USA and England--appealed to the principle that a single universal force acts on all of us and is responsible for health and illness. This principle served both fashions well, as it made it all the easier for those who came within their force fields to experience the sort of sensations that other subscribers to the fashion also seemed to feel. The first research on what is now known as the placebo effect was in connection with these two movements. The propensity to feel what we suppose or imagine that others like us feel remains even now one of the channels of the placebo effect.

Práticas integrativas e complementares na odontologia / Integrative and complementary practices in dentistry / Prácticas integradoras y complementarias en odontología

As Práticas Integrativas e Complementares (PICs) apresentam-se como métodos coadjuvantes, auxiliando na obtenção de sucesso em determinados tratamentos clínicos e/ou cirúrgicos, atuando na prevenção, auxiliando na cura e no equilíbrio psicossomático com a finalidade de reestabelecer concordância entre mente e corpo. O Conselho Federal de Odontologia (CFO) regulamentou práticas como acupuntura, hipnose, terapia floral e fitoterapia, entretanto, suas aplicabilidades dependem da emissão de uma habilitação e seu devido registro no Conselho (Resolução CFO 82/2008). Para a Odontologia, as PICs proporcionam novas ferramentas para exercer um atendimento integral do ser humano. Neste trabalho, propõe-se fazer uma revisão de literatura sobre as PICs e Odontologia. Esta revisão de literatura foi realizada por meio de busca de artigos na base de dados Scielo, PubMed e Scholar Google no período de 2000 a 2021. Foram encontrados artigos sobre as seguintes PICs atuando conjuntamente com a Odontologia: terapias florais, acupuntura, hipnodontia, ozonioterapia, laserterapia, fitoterapia, homeopatia e odontologia antroposófica. Essas práticas apresentam grande valia, pois promovem o bem-estar sem causar dano ao indivíduo, apresentando poucos ou nenhum efeito colateral possibilitando maior segurança aos pacientes, além de favorecer a relação entre paciente e cirurgião-dentista, otimizando o tempo de trabalho no consultório odontológico e reduzindo custos.

Integrative and Complementary Practices (PICs) are presented as supporting methods, helping to achieve success in certain clinical and/or surgical treatments, acting in prevention, assisting in healing and psychosomatic balance in order to reestablish agreement between mind and body. . The Federal Council of Dentistry (CFO) has regulated practices such as acupuncture, hypnosis, floral therapy and herbal medicine, however, their applicability depends on the issuance of a license and its proper registration with the Council (Resolution CFO 82/2008). For Dentistry, PICs provide new tools to provide comprehensive care to human beings. In this work, we propose to review the literature on PICs and Dentistry. This literature review was carried out by searching articles in the Scielo, PubMed and Scholar Google databases from 2000 to 2021. Articles were found on the following PICs working together with Dentistry: floral therapies, acupuncture, hypnodontics, ozone therapy , laser therapy, phytotherapy, homeopathy and anthroposophic dentistry. These practices are of great value, as they promote well-being without causing harm to the individual, presenting few or no side effects, allowing greater safety for patients, in addition to favoring the relationship between patient and dentist, optimizing working time in the dental office and reducing costs.

Las Prácticas Integrativas y Complementarias (PIC) se presentan como métodos coadyuvantes, ayudando a obtener el éxito en determinados tratamientos clínicos y/o quirúrgicos, actuando en la prevención, ayudando en la cura y en el equilibrio psicosomático con el fin de restablecer la concordancia entre mente y cuerpo. El Consejo Federal de Odontología (CFO) ha regulado prácticas como la acupuntura, la hipnosis, la terapia floral y la fitoterapia, sin embargo, su aplicabilidad depende de la emisión de un título y su correcto registro en el Consejo (Resolución CFO 82/2008). Para la odontología, los PIC aportan nuevas herramientas para la atención integral del ser humano. En este trabajo, nos proponemos hacer una revisión bibliográfica sobre los PIC y la Odontología. Esta revisión bibliográfica se realizó mediante la búsqueda de artículos en las bases de datos Scielo, PubMed y Scholar Google desde el año 2000 hasta el 2021. Se encontraron artículos sobre los siguientes CFP que actúan conjuntamente con la Odontología: terapias florales, acupuntura, hipnodoncia, ozonoterapia, terapia láser, fitoterapia, homeopatía y odontología antroposófica. Estas prácticas tienen un gran valor porque promueven el bienestar sin causar daño al individuo, presentando pocos o ningún efecto secundario, proporcionando mayor seguridad a los pacientes, y favoreciendo la relación entre el paciente y el dentista, optimizando el tiempo de trabajo en el consultorio y reduciendo los costos.

Complementary therapies for depression: an overview.

Depression is one of the most common reasons for using complementary and alternative therapies. The aim of this article is to provide an overview of the evidence available on the treatment of depression with complementary therapies. Systematic literature searches were performed using several databases, reference list searching, and inquiry to colleagues. Data extraction followed a predefined protocol. The amount of rigorous scientific data to support the efficacy of complementary therapies in the treatment of depression is extremely limited. The areas with the most evidence for beneficial effects are exercise, herbal therapy (Hypericum perforatum), and, to a lesser extent, acupuncture and relaxation therapies. There is a need for further research involving randomized controlled trials into the efficacy of complementary and alternative therapies in the treatment of depression.

Complementary and miscellaneous interventions for nocturnal enuresis in children.

BACKGROUND: Nocturnal enuresis (bedwetting) is a socially disruptive and stressful condition which affects around 15 to 20% of five year olds, and up to 2% of young adults. OBJECTIVES: To assess the effects of complementary interventions and others such as surgery or diet on nocturnal enuresis in children, and to compare them with other interventions. SEARCH STRATEGY: We searched the Cochrane Incontinence Group Specialised Register (searched 22 November 2004), the Traditional Chinese Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System (TCMLARS) (January 1984 to June 2004) and the reference lists of relevant articles. SELECTION CRITERIA: All randomised or quasi-randomised trials of complementary and other miscellaneous interventions for nocturnal enuresis in children were included except those focused solely on daytime wetting. Comparison interventions could include no treatment, placebo or sham treatment, alarms, simple behavioural treatment, desmopressin, imipramine and miscellaneous other drugs and interventions. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Two reviewers independently assessed the quality of the eligible trials, and extracted data. MAIN RESULTS: In 15 randomised controlled trials, 1389 children were studied, of whom 703 received a complementary intervention. The quality of the trials was poor: four trials were quasi-randomised, five showed differences at baseline and ten lacked follow up data. The outcome was better after hypnosis than imipramine in one trial (relative risk (RR) for failure or relapse after stopping treatment 0.42, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.23 to 0.78). Psychotherapy appeared to be better in terms of fewer children failing or relapsing than both alarm (RR 0.28, 95% CI 0.09 to 0.85) and rewards (0.29, 95% 0.09 to 0.90) but this depended on data from only one trial. Acupuncture had better results than sham control acupuncture (RR for failure or relapse after stopping treatment 0.67, 95% CI 0.48 to 0.94) in a further trial. Active chiropractic adjustment had better results than sham adjustment (RR for failure or relapse after stopping treatment 0.74, 95% CI 0.60 to 0.91). However, each of these findings came from small single trials, and need to be verified in further trials. The findings for diet and faradization were unreliable, and there were no trials including homeopathy or surgery. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: There was weak evidence to support the use of hypnosis, psychotherapy, acupuncture and chiropractic but it was provided in each case by single small trials, some of dubious methodological rigour. Robust randomised trials are required with efficacy, cost-effectiveness and adverse effects carefully monitored.

[Alternative methods of nicotine dependence treatment]. / Alternatywne metody leczenia uzaleznienia od nikotyny.

The methods of tobacco dependency treatment, which are alternative to pharmacological ones, have in recent years increasingly gained popularity. The most popular include: acupuncture, laser therapy, electrostimulation, hypnosis and autohypnosis, bioresonance, as well as herbalism, aromatherapy and homeopathic methods. The above mentioned methods have been shortly characterized in this paper. Their effectiveness and usefulness of application have as well been brought up for discussion on the basis of available specialist literature. The aspects related to safety of particular methods of therapy for the patient have also been presented. The analysis showed that effectiveness of the methods is often disputable and the main advantage of those methods is a support effect to patient who wants to give up smoking. Thus, it seems that alternative methods may be applied in combination with pharmacological ones because they increase the smoker's motivation to stop smoking and at the same time increase the chance to overcome the addiction in general.

Concepts in alternative medicine.

After discussing some important alternative approaches, different interpretations are presented of the concepts of health, disease, diagnosis, therapy and patient. These differences are elucidated in three main frames of medical thinking: the pharmaceutical, the integrational and the holistic model. Attention is given to the problem of scientific proof, especially in relation to the effectiveness of alternative therapies. In a concluding paragraph it is attempted to analyse the (social) backgrounds of the controversy between regular and alternative medicine.

Complementary and alternative medical approaches to treating adult neurogenic communication disorders: a review.

PURPOSE: This paper reviews studies investigating the effectiveness of treating adult neurogenic communication disorders with complementary and alternative medicines (CAM). CAM is gradually experiencing recognition as a viable treatment approach for a variety of disorders by practitioners and patients. Some patients are using CAM as an adjunct to traditional rehabilitation. Additionally, speech-language pathologists are increasingly using CAM in treating communication disorders. METHOD: This review provides a description of various CAM techniques including acupuncture, hypnosis, relaxation training, dreamwork, biofeedback and homeopathy/herbal medicine. Investigations exploring the effectiveness of each of these approaches as they have been applied to aphasia, motor speech disorders, and cognitive impairments are discussed. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: Little scientific inquiry into the effectiveness of CAM in the treatment of aphasia, motor speech disorders, and cognitive impairments has occurred. Many of the reviewed studies demonstrate inconsistent results; use limited sample sizes; do not include quantitative measures of cognitive, linguistic or motor speech skills; and are poorly reported. This review suggests that further exploration of this area is required before any strong conclusions regarding effectiveness and efficacy of these techniques can be made.

Complementary and alternative medicine in dermatology: an overview of selected modalities for the practicing dermatologist.

According to survey data, 35-69% of patients with skin disease have used complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in their lifetime. A literature search on this subject reveals a number of studies on the efficacy of CAM treatment for dermatologic conditions, as well as a number of articles showing the growing prevalence of CAM use amongst patients suffering from these conditions. Given the consensus amongst these articles that dermatologists require increased education on CAM, this paper presents an overview of some of the most widely used systems of alternative medicine to serve as a tool for practicing dermatologists. Specifically, the history and theory behind psychocutaneous therapies, traditional Chinese medicine (including acupuncture), homeopathy, and Ayurvedic medicine will be described, along with current evidence for their efficacy and reports of their adverse effects. The authors conclude that more evidence and better studies are needed for each of the major CAM modalities before they may be considered as independent therapeutic options. Moreover, given the shortage of evidence supporting the efficacy and safety of CAM, dermatologists should obtain a thorough history of CAM use from their patients. In general, ingestible substances including most homeopathic, Ayurvedic, and traditional Chinese medicine herbal formulations that are not US FDA regulated should be viewed with caution as they may cause severe adverse effects such as arsenicosis and hepatotoxicity. On the other hand, less invasive techniques such as acupuncture and psychocutaneous therapies may be more acceptable given their low-risk profile. Ultimately, until the availability of more sound data, these treatments should primarily be used in combination with conventional treatment and rarely independently.

Hipnosis clínica para mejorar la disposición a la curación de un paciente en la unidad de cuidados intensivos / Clinical hypnosis to improve a patient's disposition to receive treatment in an ICU / Hipnose clínica para melhorar a disposição à cura de um paciente em UCI

En el presente artículo se revisa el caso de una persona adulta hospitalizada en una unidad de paciente crítico, quien ha evolucionado con agitación durante la estadía hospitalaria y que requiere curación de úlceras por presión. A la valoración la enfermera se anticipa a la reacción negativa que podría tener el paciente ante el dolor asociado a la técnica, por lo cual utiliza la hipnosis clínica con el objetivo de favorecer la disposición del paciente a mejorar su comodidad; para lograr realizar la curación sin signos de dolor en la monitorización ni en el reporte subjetivo, se constata el mejoramiento del bienestar general del paciente relacionado con la relajación involucrada en el proceso. Se presenta el proceso de enfermería, la descripción del procedimiento y se motiva a los profesionales de enfermería a incorporar la hipnosis dentro de su repertorio de competencias para la gestión del cuidado.

In this article, we review the case of an adult person hospitalized in a critical patient unit, who has become agitated, and who requires treatment for pressure sores. During assessment, the nurse anticipates the patient's possible negative reaction associated to the pain, and thus uses the clinical hypnosis technique in order to favor the patient's better disposition. This procedure improved the patient's comfort, and the healing treatment was performed without signs of pain. As a result of the enhanced relaxation, the patient's overall wellbeing was ensured. The nursing process is presented as well as the specific procedure. Nursing professionals are encouraged to incorporate the hypnosis into their competences repertoire for the care management.

No presente artigo revisa-se o caso de uma pessoa adulta hospitalizada em uma unidade de paciente crítico, quem tem evoluído com agitação durante a estadia hospitalar e que requer cura de úlceras por pressão. À avaliação, a enfermeira antecipa-se à reação negativa que poderia ter o paciente perante a dor associada à técnica, pelo qual utiliza a hipnose clínica com o objetivo de favorecer a disposição do paciente para melhorar seu conforto, consegue-se realizar a cura sem signos de dor na monitorizarão nem no relatório subjetivo, constata-se a melhora do bem-estar geral do paciente relacionado com a relaxação envolvida no processo. Apresenta-se o processo de enfermagem, a descrição do procedimento e motiva-se aos profissionais de enfermagem a incorporar a hipnose dentro de seu repertório de competências para a gestão do cuidado.

[Use of antioxidant and other complementary medicine by patients treated by antitumor chemotherapy: a prospective study]. / Prise d'antioxydants et d'autres thérapies complémentaires par les patients sous chimiothérapie antitumorale : étude prospective.

Use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) has been reported to be more and more frequent among cancer patients in USA. The aim of this study was to analyze among French cancer patients the prevalence of CAM use, focusing on antioxidants (AO) that could interfere with antitumor agents. Seventy-nine patients, treated by antitumor chemotherapy in oncology day care unit, participated to an interview (medium age  =  60 years old). CAM use was reported by 42% of patients: mostly AO (24%) (selenium, green tea and vitamins ACE, more specifically), but also relaxation, acupuncture, hypnosis (19%) and homeopathy (15%). Among patients using CAM, 66% of them indicated that their physicians were not aware of this use and 47% of them thought that CAM use was safe. Nevertheless, for seven patients who have taken AO, previous in vitro and preclinical studies suggested interactions with antitumor chemotherapy. Therefore, CAM use and, more specifically, AO use is common among cancer patients treated by antitumor chemotherapy in France. Nevertheless, AO could generate interactions with conventional treatment. Clinical studies are warranted to evaluate these interactions, and adequate communication with patients is needed.