RECENT RESEARCH treated as inpatients with a multimodal integrative therapy approach including WBH. The primary outcome comprised changes in Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Fatigue( FACIT-F) between T0( at hospital admission) and T2( four weeks after discharge), secondary outcomes were changes in Fatigue Impact Scale( FIS-D), Multidimensional Dyspnea Profile( MDP) and Covid-Associated Symptoms( CAS) between T0-T1( at discharge) and T0-T2.
Results: FACIT-F yielded a significant increase( p < 0.001) between T0( 19.1 ± 8.4) and T2( 29.9 ± 13.0)( primary outcome), indicating an improved health status. While FIS-D and CAS scores improved significantly between T0 and T2, dyspnea parameters improved only between T0 and T1. 63 % of respondents identified WBH as an effective treatment.
Conclusions: Study results provide preliminary evidence for potentially positive effects of WBH in the setting of this study, in which it is embedded in a multimodal therapy approach. The results should be substantiated by future RCTs to identify specific effects of individual therapy components.
Herbal medicine
Pala B, Nardoianni G, Gualtieri P, Frank G, Perrone MA, Di Renzo L, Tocci G. Cardiometabolic Effects of Nigella sativa in Postmenopausal Women with Hypertension: A Prospective, Observational, Pilot Study. Nutrients. 2025 Mar 11; 17( 6): 985. doi: 10.3390 / nu17060985. PMID: 40338252.
Background: Hypertension is a prevalent condition, impacting a significant amount of general population and contributing prominently to global mortality. Increasing attention has been directed towards phytotherapy products as potential complementary or alternative therapies for hypertension prevention and treatment. Among these, Nigella sativa( NS) has shown encouraging effects in improving cardiovascular parameters. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of NS supplementation in reducing seated office systolic blood pressure( BP) in postmenopausal women. We also explored the dose-dependent effects of this intervention on BP levels and metabolic parameters.
Materials and Methods: We conducted an observational pilot study including 52 women, who were stratified into two active groups( n = 32) receiving two different dosages of NS( n = 16, age 54.2 ± 2.3 at 400 mg / day and n = 16, age 52.3 ± 2.4 at 800 mg / day) and a control group( n = 20, age 53.9 ± 3.0). Participants were evaluated at baseline( T0), at 4( T1) and 8 weeks( T2) for office brachial and central BP, heart rate( HR), lipid profile, body weight, and menopausal symptoms.
Results: NS supplementation significantly reduced office systolic and diastolic BP in a dose-dependent manner( p < 0.01), with more pronounced reductions at 800 mg / day. Improvements in climacteric symptoms and reduced HR were observed as early as T1, while metabolic parameters, including lipid profile and weight, showed significant changes at T2. Notably, the 800 mg / day dosage group also experienced significant reductions in weight and body mass index. Younger age, more recent menopausal transition, and elevated baseline HR were identified as predictors of a better response to treatment.
Conclusions: NS supplementation demonstrates significant dose-dependent benefits in reducing office BP and improving metabolic parameters. These findings support the role of NS as an effective complementary therapy in hypertension management in postmenopausal women.
Ebrahim YM, Sadek MA, Sabry MO, Lotfy RM, El-Dessouki AM, Abou-Hussein D, El- Shiekh RA, ElBishbishy RM. Integrative sleep management: from molecular pathways to conventional and herbal treatments. Naunyn Schmiedebergs Arch Pharmacol. 2025 May 8. doi: 10.1007 / s00210-025-04183-y. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 40338321.
Sleep is regarded as one of the most crucial factors in keeping a healthy lifestyle. To function normally, a person needs at least 6-8 h of sleep per day. Sleep influences not only our mood but also the efficiency with which we complete tasks. Sleep disorders exhibit diverse etiologies across different conditions and populations, with genetic and environmental factors playing a significant role in their development. Many issues emerge as a result of inadequate sleep. Unhealthy food and lifestyle choices have increased our susceptibility to sleep disorders. A wellbalanced diet rich in essential vitamins and minerals can have a profound impact on sleep patterns, enhancing both the duration and quality of rest. The primary categories of sleep disorders include insomnia, sleep apnea( SA), narcolepsy, parasomnias, circadian rhythm disorders, and restless legs syndrome( RLS). The drugs used to treat sleep disorders are primarily habit-forming and have a history of withdrawal effects. This insufficiency in medication has prompted the hunt for newer, better options. Nutraceuticals are well-suited to the treatment of such illnesses. Its non-toxic, non-habit-forming properties, and practical efficiency have made it an outstanding choice. This review provides nutraceuticals used in sleep disorders. A comprehensive literature search was conducted utilizing several databases, including Google Scholar, Elsevier, Springer Nature, Wiley, PubMed, and EKB. Nutraceuticals are products that employ food or dietary components to treat or prevent disease. In the therapy of sleep disorders, nutraceuticals such as Artemisia annua, valerian, rosemary, jujube, Passionflower, lemon balm, ashwagandha, kava-kava, lavender, and chamomile have been shown to have remarkable benefits. These remedies exert their effects through multiple mechanisms, both directly by modulating neurotransmitter and hormonal pathways within sleep circuits, and indirectly by enhancing sleep quality through the alleviation of stress, inflammation, and oxidative stress. Clinical studies were piloted to validate the efficacy of natural sleep aids. Future research should focus on elucidating the precise mechanisms through which natural products influence sleep.
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