Alternative and Complementary Medicine Commons^™

The Positive Effects Of Medical Cannabinoids On The Dysregulated Endocannabinoid System In Autism Spectrum Disorder Patients, Caroline J. Reichelderfer

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Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a developmental disability. The symptoms include a lack of social skills, a need for repetitive patterns of life, difficulty in communication, speaking deficits and numerous other symptoms. While the specific cause is unknown, there is much research being done on mechanisms including dysregulations of the immune system, endocannabinoid system, and overall brain (Nez Govorova 2021, Pol 2021). The Endocannabinoid system is a recently discovered branch of the nervous system composed of endocannabinoids which are produced naturally in the body; lipid-based neurotransmitters that bind to cannabinoid receptors (CBRs) and cannabinoid receptor proteins that are expressed throughout …

Understanding One Dietary Supplement For Pcos, Eva Schofield

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Poly Cystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) is the most common condition in women of reproductive age, yet nearly 70% of individuals with PCOS remain undiagnosed. For many women who do receive a diagnosis, it takes experiencing symptoms for two years or longer and receiving care from an average of 3 different providers before a diagnosis can be established. In an environment where prevalence is high, diagnosis rate is low and delayed, and dissatisfaction is prevalent regarding the health care women receive, many patients may turn to self-diagnosis and online resources to find their own therapeutic options. This CME article aims to …

The Role Of Cannabidiol In The Treatment Of Pediatric Patients With Refractory Epilepsy, Evan Chidley

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THE ROLE OF CANNABIDIOL IN THE TREATMENT OF PEDIATRIC PATIENTS WITH REFRACTORY EPILEPSY

Author(s) and affiliations: Evan Chidley¹, MMS (c), MPH (c)

¹Arcadia University; echidley@arcadia.edu; (515) 201-6901

Introduction: Intractable epilepsy in children can significantly impair quality of life and anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs) do not adequately reduce seizures for all pediatric patients. Recently, cannabidiol (CBD), one of the main compounds of marijuana, has shown promise as a potential treatment for uncontrolled seizure activity. This paper poses the following question: In pediatric patients with drug-resistant epilepsy, is cannabidiol (CBD) more effective in reducing seizure activity than traditional anti-epileptic drugs …

The Effects Of Psychological Intervention On Pregnant Women With Elevated Cortisol Levels And Adverse Birth Events, Megan Mellon

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Elevated levels of stress, anxiety, and depression during pregnancy are thought to influence cortisol levels. Dysregulations in cortisol, as a byproduct of the hypothalamic-pituitary axis, have been associated with preterm birth and adverse birth outcomes. Studies have demonstrated poorer long-term effects of antenatal stress on child neurodevelopment, temperament, and cognition. Psychological interventions of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), mindfulness, and gratitude have shown to have a positive effect on psychological wellbeing across various populations. The purpose of this literature review was to analyze a collection of randomized-controlled trials to conclude if psychological interventions during pregnancy for women with elevated levels of …

The Efficacy Of Mdma-Assisted Psychotherapy Compared To The Efficacy Of Traditional Psychotherapy In Treating Anxiety-Related Symptoms In 18–40-Year-Old Adults Diagnosed With Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (Ptsd), Blake Beasley

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Introduction: MDMA, or 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine, is a psychoactive chemical which stimulates the release of serotonin, oxytocin, prolactin, and cortisol. Up until it became a Schedule I drug in 1985, making the chemical completely illegal in the US, MDMA was used as an “adjunct to the therapeutic process” in therapeutic settings, though no known controlled therapeutic studies were performed up until that point. More recently, research has been conducted studying the effects of MDMA-Assisted Psychotherapy on helping to eliminate the fear responses common in patients afflicted with PTSD. Some researchers have further hypothesized that MDMA has a stronger, longer lasting effect …

The Efficacy And Safety Of Tetrahydrocannabinol (Thc) Compared To Traditional Pharmacotherapy In Treating Agitation And Aggression Associated With Dementia, Shane Kalette

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Introduction: Dementia is a disease that affects the brain and can cause serious deficits in the life of the patient and their family or caregivers.The current mainstay of treatment for agitation and aggression symptoms is atypical antipsychotics, and occasionally off-label SSRIs. Though these methods have shown good efficacy, the number and severity of adverse events that occur with these medications is concerning to patients, families, and providers. Due to the high side-effect profile, many clinicians are looking for an alternative approach with more safety and potentially more efficacy. Among the candidates is tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). This paper investigates the efficacy and …

Acupuncture Therapy In The Treatment Of Osteoarthritis Of The Knee, Reece Bartell

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Abstract

Introduction: Osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic condition that affects the joints of the body, most commonly the knees; it has the potential to cause debilitating pain, and stiffness and decrease quality of life. The current management involves lifestyle modifications of a healthy diet and exercise as well as analgesics like NSAIDs or acetaminophen to manage symptoms. Long-term use of these medications has been associated with many side effects affecting the GI and CV system. This review analyzes the use of acupuncture therapy (I) for symptom management (O) in patients aged 60-80 years old suffering from mild to moderate …

Oral Contraceptives As Possible Acl Injury Prevention Method, Haley Schweizer

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ABSTRACT

Introduction: Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) injuries are an upsetting setback for many athletes that require a long and costly recovery process. The injury rates are four times greater in women than men. Preventative measures that help to prevent ACL injuries are limited to stretching and strengthening. Therefore, this review aims to investigate if oral contraceptive [I] usage provides a possible new avenue for prevention of ACL injury [O] in young female athletes (ages 18-30) [P] compared to those that do not take oral contraceptives [C].

Methods: A literature review was performed though PubMed, Google Scholar, SCOPUS Database, and ClinicalKey …

Mindfulness Meditation As A Treatment For Generalized Anxiety Disorder (Gad), Punit Patel

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Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) involves dysregulation of worry for more than 6 months. Symptoms include fatigue, insomnia and irritability. Medications such as SSRIs may cause constipation, lower libido and cause withdrawal symptoms when discontinued. Alternative therapies like mindfulness meditation teach patients breath awareness and to redirect unwanted negative thoughts to positive ones. This paper examines the efficacy of mindfulness meditation treatment (I) for managing symptoms of anxiety (O) in adult patients with mild-moderate GAD (P) in comparison to stress management education (C).

Efficacy Of Curcumin In The Treatment Of Advanced Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma Compared To Sole Gemcitabine Chemotherapy, Komal Vadodaria

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Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a leading cause of cancer death in both men and women. Due to the difficulty of diagnosing this malignancy until it has progressed to an advanced stage, treatment is often difficult, expensive and ineffective. The first line treatment for PDAC is Gemcitabine chemotherapy. However, due to its extensive side effect profile and the early chemo-resistance the PDAC cells develop against Gemcitabine, the need for alternative therapeutic methods to manage treatment is necessary. Therefore, this review analyzes if in individuals with advanced pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma [P], does the addition of curcumin with the standard Gemcitabine chemotherapy …

The Efficacy Of Yoga As An Adjunctive Therapy To Standard Multidisciplinary Care In The Treatment Of Female Patients Presenting With Cognitive Eating Disorder Symptoms, Cassidy Nagle

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Introduction: Current treatment of patients exhibiting cognitive eating disorder symptoms is standard multidisciplinary care (SMDC) involving behavioral therapy, medical management and dietetics. Because these symptoms often persist or relapse despite treatment, research has begun to explore adjunctive therapies like yoga for this population. This review will explore seven studies in order to analyze the effect of yoga (I) on cognitive eating disorder symptoms (O) in teenage and adult females (P) when added to SMDC compared to symptom reduction with SMDC alone (C).

Methods: A literature search was conducted in PubMed, Academic Search Ultimate and Google Scholar starting November 2018. Seven …

The Efficacy Of Adding Eicosapentaenoic Acid To Statin Monotherapy In The Prevention Of Acute Coronary Syndrome In Patients With Coronary Artery Disease, Carlo Escudero

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Introduction: Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a chronic medical condition caused by the buildup of plaque within the coronary artery endothelium. If left untreated it can progress to an acute coronary syndrome (ACS) which can lead to myocardial ischemia and death. Statins are lipid lowering agents used in clinical practice for the medical management of CAD. However, incidence of major adverse cardiovascular (CV) events still occurs despite optimal statin therapy. Currently eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) has been promoted to be effective when added to statin therapy in lowering the incidence of CV events in patients with hypercholesterolemia. This paper will address …