RECENT RESEARCH reduced by 57 % in the CFS group and 10 % in the placebo group . The overall weekly mean daily hot flashes frequency ( effect size ηp2 0.221 , p < 0.001 , n = 66 ) and severity scores ( effect size ηp2 0.160 , p = 0.001 , n = 66 ) were significantly lower in the CFS group compared with the placebo group ( one-within one-between repeated-measures analysis of variance adjusted for baseline ). CFS was well tolerated , with similar proportions of serious and nonserious adverse events occurring in both groups .
Conclusions : This is the first study to report the effects of chicory or fumitory for the treatment of hot flashes . The findings provide preliminary evidence that CFS can improve hot flashes in breast cancer survivors undergoing hormone deprivation therapy . More research is warranted to confirm its effectiveness , safety , and mechanisms of action .
Lifestyle medicine
Crisp CD , Baldi R , Fuller M , Abreu E , Nackley AG . Complementary Approaches for Military Women with Chronic Pelvic Pain : A Randomized Trial . Journal of Integrative and Complementary Medicine . 2023 ; 29 ( 1 ). https :// doi . org / 10.1089 / jicm . 2022.0616
Introduction : Active duty ( AD ) women suffer with chronic pelvic pain ( CPP ) while providers tackle diagnoses and treatments to keep them functional without contributing to the opioid epidemic . The purpose of this randomized trial was to determine the effectiveness of noninvasive , selfexplanatory mindfulness-based stress reduction ( MBSR ) or self-paced healthy lifestyle ( HL ) interventions on CPP in AD women .
Methods : A 6-week , interventional prospective study with AD women aged 21 – 55 years at Mountain Home ( MTHM ), Idaho , was conducted . Women were randomly assigned to MBSR ( N = 21 ) or HL ( N = 20 ) interventions . The primary outcome was pain perception . The secondary outcomes were depression and circulating cytokine levels .
Results : Women in the MBSR group exhibited reduced pain interference ( p < 0.01 ) and depression ( p < 0.05 ) alongside decreased interleukin ( IL ) - 4 ( p < 0.05 ), IL-6 ( p < 0.05 ), eotaxin ( p < 0.05 ), monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 ( p = 0.06 ), and interleukin-1 receptor antagonist ( IL-1ra ) ( p < 0.01 ) and increased vascular endothelial growth factor ( p < 0.05 ). Women in the HL group did not have changes in pain ; however , they did exhibit reduced depression ( p < 0.05 ) alongside decreased granulocyte – macrophage colony-stimulating factor ( p < 0.05 ) and increased tumor necrosis factor alpha ( p < 0.05 ), stromal cell-derived factor-1 ( p < 0.01 ), and IL-1ra ( p < 0.01 ).
Conclusions : AD women receiving MBSR or HL had reduced depression scores and altered circulating cytokine levels ; however , only those receiving MBSR had reduced pain perception . Findings support MBSR as an effective and viable behavioral treatment for AD women suffering from CPP and provide premise for larger randomized controlled studies .
Lin H , Wan M , Ye Y , Zheng G . Effects of Baduanjin exercise on the physical function of middle-aged and elderly people : a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials . BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies . 2023 , 23 , Article number : 38 .
Background and purpose : Chinese mind – body exercise-Baduanjin has received increasing attention for health promotion among middle-aged and older adults in China , but there is a lack of high-quality evidence on its effectiveness . This systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted to investigate the effects of Baduanjin on physical function in middle-aged and older adults .
Methods : Seven electronic databases were searched for articles published before 22 June 2021 with the keywords Baduanjin exercise combined with physical-function-related outcomes . Risk of bias was assessed in the included studies , and data were analyzed using Review Manager software V5.3 .
Results : Fifteen articles , including 14 randomized controlled trials , were included in this study . The results of the meta-analysis showed that Baduanjin significantly improved muscle strength ( grip strength : SMD = 0.63 , 95 % CI 0.22 to 1.04 , p = 0.003 ), balance ability ( timed up-and-go test score : MD = -2.21 , 95 % CI -3.91 to -0.51 , p = 0.01 ; one-leg stand test score : MD = 3.75 , 95 % CI 1.96 to 5.55 , p < 0.0001 ; Berg balance scale score : MD = 4.16 , 95 % CI 2.49 to 5.83 , p < 0.00001 ; strengthening Romberg ’ s test result : SMD = 1.02 , 95 % CI 0.17 to 1.86 , p = 0.02 ); and cardiorespiratory fitness ( diastolic blood pressure : MD = -3.62 , 95 % CI -3.95 to -3.30 , p < 0.00001 ; resting heart rate : MD = -1.30 , 95 % CI -1.57 to -1.03 , p < 0.00001 ; step test : MD = 4.25 , 95 % CI 0.76 to 7.74 , p = 0.02 ). No adverse events were reported .
Conclusions : Baduanjin exercise may be an effective intervention to improve physical function in the middle-aged and elderly population . However , more RCTs with larger sample sizes and more rigorous research designs are needed in the future to confirm the results .
Massage , myotherapy and other bodywork
Sahraei F ; Rahemi Z ; Sadat Z ; Zamani B ; Ajorpaz NM ; Afshar M ; Mianehsaz E . The effect of Swedish massage on pain in rheumatoid arthritis patients : A randomized controlled trial . Complement Ther Clin Pract , 2022 ; 46 . ISSN : 17443881
Background and Purpose : Joint pain is one of the most common symptoms in rheumatoid arthritis patients and require medical attention . The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of Swedish massage on pain and painkiller consumption in rheumatoid arthritis patients .
Materials and methods : A total of 60 patients participated in the experiment , with half assigned to the control group ( n = 30 ) and half to the experimental ( n = 30 ) group using the block randomization method . On patients in the experimental
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