Alternative and Complementary Medicine Commons^™

Feldenkrais And Music Informed Listening: A Neurophenomenological Perspective On Autism, Arona Primalani

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

Phenomenologists identify the subjective body and its felt-senses as the basis for human development and consciousness, including mental health. Several mental health disorders, when viewed from a phenomenological perspective, share common symptomology related to varying extents of fractured selves, which in turn hinders dynamic interaction between individuals, their actions, and their relationships with their social and material worlds. Autism is one such condition. Hence, I created an intervention to investigate how listening, which foster subjective and intersubjective experiences, lies at the heart of somatic and arts-based interventions. This thesis, first, begins with a summary of the presenting symptoms observed in …

Effects Of Nonpharmacological And Pharmacological Interventions On The Management Of Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, Ellington Fagg

The Eleanor Mann School of Nursing Undergraduate Honors Theses

Background: Polycystic ovarian syndrome, commonly known as PCOS, is a metabolic endocrine disorder that affects many women of childbearing age. Although PCOS is a rather common disease, there is a general lack of knowledge on how to approach treatment for different types of women.

Purpose: The purpose of this literature review is to investigate both nonpharmacological and pharmacological treatment interventions that can be used to manage both the symptoms and underlying conditions associated with PCOS.

Methodology: Twenty articles that contained a mix of clinical trials and randomized control trials were reviewed for the evidence that is included in this literature …

Process Modeling The Neuroprotective Effects Of A Plant-Based Diet On Parkinson's Disease, Julia Mitchell

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by motor symptoms such as tremors, bradykinesia, rigidity, and postural instability. Recent research suggests an avenue for potential neuroprotection through dietary intervention, specifically the adoption of a plant-based diet. A plant-based diet predominantly comprises foods derived from plants, emphasizing fruits, vegetables, grains, legumes, and nuts while minimizing or excluding animal products. This thesis aims to explore the biochemical pathways implicated in PD progression and the potential impact of dietary choices on these pathways. The investigation focuses on several key pathways: alpha-synuclein aggregation, the blood-brain barrier crossing of levodopa, oxidative stress, ferroptosis, …

Hispanic Cookbook For Individuals With Diabetes, Jewel Santamaria

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Can a cookbook positively influence the quality of life for Hispanics with diabetes? The purpose of this study was to develop a cookbook that is diabetic-friendly and culturally appropriate using common traditional Hispanic ingredients and methods.

Methods: Recipes for traditional Hispanic dishes were modified to meet nutritional needs for people with diabetes. The modified recipes were very similar to traditional Mexican cuisine, except healthier ingredients and techniques were substituted from the original recipes. Nutritional analysis was conducted using Cronometer software, with inclusions of calories, protein, carbohydrates, and fat in the cookbook. Additionally, a carbohydrate exchange for each recipe …

Utilizing Aromatherapy To Decrease Anxiety In Adults Experiencing Homelessness, Thomas A. Clawson

Theses and Graduate Projects

This scholarly project analyzes health disparities faced by people experiencing homelessness, specifically in regard to their mental health and how they experience heightened levels of anxiety when compared to individuals who have stable housing. Through a literature review, the use of Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) was analyzed and has shown to be an effective non-pharmacologic treatment for anxiety in a multitude of settings. Utilizing a theoretical framework distilled from Margret Newman’s theory Health as Expanding Consciousness, and Martha Rogers’ The Science of Unitary Human Beings. The quality improvement project was implemented at an inner city resource center for people experiencing homelessness. …

”To Be Or Not To Be – It’S Good”: Actor And Student Experiences In A Drama Club For People With Aphasia, Jade K. Hannan

Senior Theses

Individuals with aphasia, a disorder caused by damage to the brain’s language network, confront a variety of social and emotional struggles. While leaving their cognition largely intact, aphasia tremendously impacts a person’s ability to communicate confidently, fracturing their social network and contributing to feelings of loneliness and frustration. To address this persistent need in the chronic aphasia population, the Play on Words drama club at the University of South Carolina provides a forum for people with aphasia (PWA) to engage in dramatic exercises focused on non-verbal communication of emotions, ideas, and stories, culminating the production of an original devised play. …

Motivations Behind The Rise And Success Of Homeopathy In India, Kavya Patchipulusu

Senior Theses

Homeopathy is a form of medicine that is incredibly controversial and is often labeled as a fraudulent, placebo effect drug, that can have potentially dangerous side effects. This is the picture that is painted of homeopathy in the United States and many other countries in which these medicines are banned in distribution or highly unregulated. In contrast, India has popularized and well-integrated homeopathy into their medical systems with government backing and consistent funding towards accredited homeopathic institutions and funding hospital systems. This paper will explore the circumstances and health care dynamics of India that allowed homeopathy to gain the level …

Music As A Coping Mechanism: Clinical Implications Of How College Students Utilize Music To Cope With Anxiety, Depression, And Daily Stressors, Karly Pikel

Senior Theses

Many college students face stress, anxiety, and/or depression in their daily lives which they cope with in their own ways. Listening to music or playing an instrument are particularly powerful forms of coping that can have a plethora of positive effects on an individual. The purpose of this study was to conduct a survey amongst the University of South Carolina student body to determine how they utilize music to cope in their daily lives. Of 847 respondents, almost all of them reported experiencing some extent of anxiety and/or stress and listening to music to help them cope. Respondents agreed that …

Remodeling Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer's Aggressive Profile And Metabolic Signature By Natural Alkaloid Berberine, Tara Elizabeth Jarboe

NYMC Student Theses and Dissertations

Anaplastic thyroid cancer is a rare, fatal cancer with a five-year survival of 4%. Universally diagnosed at stage IV, anaplastic thyroid cancer is characterized by its lack of differentiation, rapid proliferative rate, highly inflammatory tumor microenvironment, and metabolic dysregulation. Refractory to all established therapies, anaplastic thyroid cancer requires a novel therapeutic approach that targets all of these drivers of anaplastic thyroid cancer carcinogenesis. We propose natural alkaloid berberine as a therapeutic with multitarget efficacy to alter mitochondrial metabolism and reprogram anaplastic thyroid cancer’s aggressive phenotype. Our in vitro model uses monocyte cell line U937, anaplastic thyroid cancer cell lines T238 …

The Impact Of Brief Electronic Guided Mindfulness Meditation On Anxiety Scores, Sierra King

DNP Scholarly Projects

In the United States, anxiety rates are on the rise for the general population (Goodwin et al., 2020a). Prolonged and frequent anxiety can become unprompted and problematic (American Psychiatric Association, 2021). Management of anxiety is crucial for overall wellbeing. Access to treatment and resources for anxiety may be limited in rural geographical locations (Morales et al., n.d.). This DNP project sought to determine whether a brief intervention of electronic guided mindfulness meditation (MM) by Insight Timer is effective in decreasing anxiety in a rural populous. Convenience sampling recruited a final total of 11 rural participants who participated in seven sessions …

Chronic Atopic Dermatitis: Symptom Management Using Moisturizers Among Asian American Pediatrics, Ethan J. Brillantes

Nursing | Senior Theses

Background: Atopic Dermatitis (AD), also commonly known as eczema, affects 31.6 million (10%) of the United States Population, with 13% being Asian American or Pacific Islander. A cure is not present for AD; however, the best way to treat AD is with symptom management. While there are many pharmacological treatments that aid with symptom management such as topical or oral corticosteroids, there are also non pharmacological treatments such as moisturizers that can aid with symptom relief of AD as well. Objective: The literature review explores moisturizer use and other non pharmacological methods for symptom management of AD and provides understanding …

Empowering Low-Income Women With Breast Cancer: Promoting Acupuncture At Community Health Fairs, Katrina Ramos

Nursing | Senior Theses

While research has explored the positive effects of acupuncture on cancer and cancer treatment symptoms, a notable gap exists in understanding its impact on lower-income populations. These individuals encounter barriers to accessing acupuncture, such as limited availability, cost, and provider knowledge. This longitudinal study aims to assess the impact of community health fairs, featuring acupuncture information for breast cancer and chemotherapy-induced symptoms, on the acceptance and utilization rates of acupuncture among low-income women with breast cancer. Collaborating with the Women’s Cancer Resource Center and a local non-profit integrative cancer care clinic in Oakland, we will conduct a three-day health fair …

Traditional Chinese Medicine And The Argument For Future Application In The United States, Kylie Nicole Frohlich

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

No abstract provided.

Say No To Drugs: Nonpharmacologic Interventions For Preventing Delirium In Critically Ill Patients Intubated & Sedated In A Pediatric Icu, Jessica C. Ellzey

DNP Projects

Background. Delirium is an acute clinical syndrome that is characterized by features of disrupted arousal, attention, cognition, sleep, and perception. Delirium is a well-documented phenomenon in critical care settings in both adult and pediatric populations, particularly among patients with length of stay greater than or equal to 48 hours. Delirium has multiple adverse effects, including increased mortality rate, prolonged duration of mechanical ventilation, higher reintubation rates, prolonged intensive care unit (ICU) admission, prolonged hospital admission, short- and long-term cognitive impairment, and posttraumatic stress disorder. There are currently no accepted guidelines or FDA approved medications to treat ICU delirium in the …

Variability In Perceptions Of Complementary Health Approaches Among Graduate Student Trainees, Delaney C. Bilodeau

Theses and Dissertations

Complementary Health Approaches (CHAs) encompass a diverse range of practices which are often used both independently and alongside conventional medical treatments. Understanding how graduate students training in different fields perceive CHAs is important because these professional trainees will go on to occupy roles as healthcare practitioners, researchers, policy makers, and consumers. This study used sequential rank agreement methods (Ekstrøm, Gerds, & Jensen, 2019) to investigate variations in perceptions of CHAs in a sample of graduate students (N = 416) from 140 possible training programs. Ratings of CHA familiarity, perceptions of CHA legitimacy, and willingness to recommend CHAs were compared …

Unleashing Wellness: Exploring The Impact Of Pet Therapy On Anxiety Reduction, Quality Of Life, And Treatment Adherence In Pediatric Oncology Patients, Karina Brouwer

Nursing | Senior Theses

Pet therapy is a complementary intervention that involves the interaction between a person and animal, with the focus of improving psychological well-being within diverse populations. In particular, children with oncological disorders have increases in anxiety and stress levels, therefore it is imperative to study the impact of animal interventions within this population. This literature critique explores the impact of pet therapy interventions on anxiety, stress, and quality of life perceptions in pediatric oncology patients. This research proposal will investigate how animal therapy interactions within pediatric oncology patients influence their anxiety levels and perceptions of quality of life and how these …

The Overture! Then Is Here-And-Now: Hindsight Is Twenty, Twenty?, Elena Kydd

Music Therapy Theses

My existence and presence as a Black woman and graduate scholar in music therapy have allowed me to share my experience of racial trauma and oppression in the hallways of GCSU’s music therapy program. Autoethnography is the method I use to write my thesis on the relationships between Blackness, pedagogy, and music therapy. Thus, I perform an evocative autoethnographic study that allows me to share my personal experience of racial trauma and oppression within the culture of music therapy and to critique the larger social structures of whiteness that disenfranchise and dominate me and other Black student music therapists (SMTs). …

The Role Of Niacinamide In Skin Cancer Risk Reduction, Britny Ruilova Tellez

Doctor of Medical Science (DMSc)

The contents of this article are the author’s original unpublished findings.

Background: Each year, approximately 6 million Americans are treated for skin cancer, resulting in a total annual medical expense of $8.9 billion 1. The two most common types of skin cancer are basal cell carcinoma (BCC) followed by squamous cell carcinoma (SCC)2. The metastatic potential of these cancers is minimal; however, their treatment may involve severe scarring and disfigurement2. In contrast, melanoma is an aggressive skin malignancy that grows rapidly and can metastasize in a quick manner2. Risk factors of these skin cancers include UV exposure, fair skin complexions, …

Art Of Aging – A Portraiture Study, Alaina Mann

Theses/Capstones/Creative Projects

The process of aging can be viewed through different lenses within our society. In the past, scientists and medical professionals performed various studies to better understand and analyze different facets of aging, medicine, and health in general. Historically the arts have reflected multiple aspects of medicine and treatments while more recently, the arts have been used in a research capacity to provide different ways to represent illness, suffering, and care. This study used art-based research methods and portraiture to gather qualitative observations on the older populations within our community. Data collected included drawings, a field journal, and interviews. This study …

Using Noninvasive Calibrated Cuff Plethysmography To Observe The Effects Of Cold-Water Immersion On Arterial Compliance, Rita M. Grigorian

Biomedical Engineering: Graduate Reports and Projects

As the prevalence of cardiovascular diseases continues to exponentially grow in populations across the globe, the necessity of determining underlying factors, effective methods of diagnoses, and universally available preventive measures also grows. Early detection of endothelial dysfunction, a proven precursor of cardiovascular diseases, can be extremely impactful in encouraging preventative measures and early intervention before medical conditions become chronic. In recent years, ice plunging, a form of cryotherapy involving full body immersion in cold water, has gained popularity within circles of fitness and health practitioners, gaining the interest of people of all backgrounds. Certain parallels observed between the human physiological …

Investigating The Microbiome Of The Eye And The Potential Of Probiotic Use In Optometry, Rachel Hartgerink

Theses/Capstones/Creative Projects

While the eye was once considered free of resident bacteria due to its efficient immunity mechanisms, recent studies have determined that most healthy eyes contain a variety of microbiota. Many studies have been aimed at classifying bacteria that are part of the core microbiome of the eye and the conditions under which they differ. As with gut health, a dysbiosis of ocular bacteria could correlate to disease, which presents the idea of treatment with probiotics to help regulate the microbiota of the eye. This study utilized growth assays to determine a common probiotic’s effect on bacteria that can be found …

Transformational Leadership Approach For Encouraging Historically Marginalized Communities To Access Admission To Naturopathic Medicine, Baljit Khamba

The Dissertation in Practice at Western University

Many healthcare training institutions lack cultural diversity, including naturopathic medicine. One potential reason is a lack of historically marginalized individuals applying to these medical schools. Attracting communities of colour to healthcare professions, like naturopathic medicine is important for improving healthcare access and delivery across all individuals within North America. This OIP explores the lack of diversity in applicants to the naturopathic medical program at a large multi-centre institution. The role that education and mentorship of faculty members can play to improve implicit biases and eventually encourage historically marginalized individuals to apply to the program is explored. Moreover, the OIP presents …

Exploring Level Ii Nicu Case Study Research Challenges: Embracing The Proposal Journey, Engaging In Retrospective Pragmatic Reflection On Challenges, And Enhancing Research Within Graduate Education And The Profession Of Massage Therapy, Amanda R. Winter

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Background

Infants born preterm and low birth weight face health risks; studies demonstrate massage therapy (MT) promotes weight gain and earlier hospital discharge. A gap remains in understanding the role of massage in preterm care within Canada.

Research Methods and Theoretical Orientation – Part A

Case study methodology is proposed to examine the nature of MT as a healthcare intervention within an Ontario Level II Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Constrained by a Master’s program’s two-year time limit and contextual challenges, the project could not secure support.

Research Methods and Theoretical Orientation – Part B

Introducing a retrospective pragmatic reflective approach, …

Using Noninvasive Calibrated Cuff Plethysmography To Observe The Effects Of Cold-Water Immersion On Arterial Compliance, Rita M. Grigorian

Master's Theses

As the prevalence of cardiovascular diseases continues to exponentially grow in populations across the globe, the necessity of determining underlying factors, effective methods of diagnoses, and universally available preventive measures also grows. Early detection of endothelial dysfunction, a proven precursor of cardiovascular diseases, can be extremely impactful in encouraging preventative measures and early intervention before medical conditions become chronic. In recent years, ice plunging, a form of cryotherapy involving full body immersion in cold water, has gained popularity within circles of fitness and health practitioners, gaining the interest of people of all backgrounds. Certain parallels observed between the human physiological …

The Efficacy Of Group-Based Acceptance And Commitment Therapy For Decreasing Post-Stroke Depression To Improve Functional Outcomes, Lindsay Marie Folsom

Department of Occupational Therapy Entry-Level Capstone Projects

No abstract provided.

Tattoos And Trauma: Are Tattoos Healing For Trauma?, Krystal Bell

University Honors Theses

Prior research and literature reviews suggest that there is medicinal value in tattooing for the healing of trauma. However, tattooing is still a burgeoning topic in academic studies and still mostly taboo as a western societal practice, so there are gaps in qualitative and quantitative data that could further validate the healing benefits of tattoos for trauma. This literature review analyzed 30 peer reviewed articles that focus on "contemporary tattoo data," "indigenous traditions and practices," "tattoos and trauma," and other alternative healing such as "MDMA, psilocybin, EMDR" to establish a well-rounded investigation into tattoos as an alternative healing option. The …

Bipolar Disorder In Children (Including Gifted And 2e Children), Ed Malin

Graduate Student Independent Studies

Between the publication of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) in 1952 and the DSM-IV in 1993, 277 new disorders were created and made available for life-altering diagnoses. Should it be surprising that, since the late 1990s, psychiatrists in the United States have invented the diagnosis of Childhood-onset Bipolar Disorder? Common practice before that time (and still, in Europe) was that 18 was the earliest age of onset for Bipolar Disorder, based on extensive observation and family history. While lithium and anticonvulsants had been in use to treat adults with Bipolar Disorder, by the late 1990s children …

The Meaning Of A Choice, Julie-Louise Zeitoun

Masters Theses

If you are disabled or disadvantaged, you will be dismissed and stifled. Few people will actively care for your struggles. As a person with autism, I was deeply fearful of the persecution I had faced throughout my life; it was a fear that followed me with terrifying determination. I desperately wanted to blend into society. So I designed myself to be devoid of any weakness, and productivity was the way I chose to conceal any difficulties I faced. It was a way to measure my success — a way to measure my normalcy.

Standard medical textiles are generic, cumbersome devices. …

Novel Natural Compounds Derived From Tcm In The Treatment Of Food Induced Anaphylaxis, Ibrahim Musa

NYMC Student Theses and Dissertations

Food allergy is a highly prevalent disease affecting about 30 million people in the U.S. It is managed primarily by food avoidance due to lack of promising treatment options. ASHMI (anti-asthma herbal intervention) which consists of three components, Sophorae flavescentis, Ganoderma lucidum, Glycyrrhiza uralensis has been shown to inhibit allergic lung inflammation in antigen sensitized and challenged mice. In this study we isolate and identify the active compound in Sophorae flavescentis, characterized the mechanism of IgE inhibitory effect, biomarkers and potential to prevent food anaphylaxis.

To separate and identify the compounds we used column chromatography, high-performance liquid chromatography, mass …

Be Kind To Your Mind: The Use Of Mobile Based Applications To Reduce Stress And Improve Health Outcomes, Akira Hanson Finn

Doctor of Nursing Practice Final Manuscripts

Now more than ever mental health is in the spotlight on a global scale. Professionals from a variety of different disciplines are being encouraged to evaluate several different coping techniques in order combat the magnitude of societal crisis being discovered post-pandemic. At the top the list is Mindfulness-based interventions. The concept of mindfulness practices is nothing new. Evidence suggests it has existed for thousands of years; however, it is getting more notoriety in the past decade due to increasing expansion of mobile-based applications. These types of technology driven applications offer an easily accessible, convenient, and trackable way for individuals to …