Alternative and Complementary Medicine Commons^™

Healthy People Are Bad For Capitalism, Eri King

Theses and Dissertations

Healthy People are Bad For Capitalism is a four part installation that creates an alternative space for the chemicals, Red 40 and Monosodium Glutamate. Presented as a holistic center that offers healing services and remedies, Center for the Red 40 and MSG Healing explores the homeopathic doctrine of Like Cures Like (what make a human ill also cures them) through the relationship between Traditional Japanese Healing Practices, and Western Capitalism.

Healthy People are Bad For Capitalism presents Red 40 MSG Apothecary, Red 40 Zen MSG Healing Rock Garden, Theta Wave Eternal Flame Meditation and Red 40 MSG …

Improving Nurses' Proficiency And Confidence In The Use Of Aromatherapy For Patients In The Hospice Setting, Erika Bigwood-Keaton

Master's Projects and Capstones

The Institute of Medicine noted patient centered care as one of the six priority areas of improvement for the U.S. healthcare system. Recognizing that patients in hospice require specialized care to address the physical, emotional and spiritual needs that are associated with a terminal illness, the focus of this project is to improve the hospice nurses’ knowledge of and confidence in the use of aromatherapy for symptom management. There is recognition within the field of healthcare that patients are interested in having options for treatment. With little to no side effects, aromatherapy has been shown to be an effective alternative …

Comparing The Effectiveness Of Alternative And Prescription Antibiotics Against Gram-Positive Bacteria, Rachel Jenkins, Roan Dickenson, Sam Turnbull, Marcela Torres

Senior Theses

The rapid emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria is a global public health concern that threatens the efficacy of antibiotic drugs. We found that natural remedies, specifically coconut oil, honey and cinnamon essential oil, have the potential to be used as a clinical alternative to treat antibiotic-resistant infections. In this experiment, we performed a disk diffusion test and measured the area of inhibition of each treatment to compare the effectiveness of natural and prescription antibiotics. Cinnamon essential oil showed significantly greater antibiotic activity compared to a prescription treatment, amoxicillin. With bacterial resistance continuously expanding, more work needs to be done to determine …

Are Tart Cherry Supplements Effective On Reducing Muscle Soreness And Perception Of Pain In Young, Healthy Males Following High Intensity Resistance Training?, Alyssa Davis

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine whether or not tart cherry supplements are effective at alleviating muscle soreness and pain following high resistance training.

STUDY DESIGN: Review of two double blind randomized control trials, and one crossover randomized control trial. All three studies were published in English between 2006-2015.

DATA SOURCES: Two double blind randomized control trials and one crossover randomized control trial found using Cochrane and PubMed.

OUTCOMES MEASURED: The outcomes measured were muscle soreness and perception of pain. They were measured using a pressure-pain threshold and 10 point pain …

Is Oral Aloe Vera Effective In Reducing Symptoms In Adults With Irritable Bowel Syndrome (Ibs)?, Chelsey J. Gebhardt

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

Objective: The objective of this EBM review is to determine whether or not “Is oral aloe vera effective in reducing symptoms in adults with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) symptoms?”

Study Design: Systematic review of three English, randomized, controlled, double-blind studies, including one cross-over study, were selected based on their relevance to the clinical question. The studies were published in 2006, 2011, and 2015.

Data Sources: Three RCTs analyzing the effects on IBS symptoms of drinking aloe vera daily compared to a placebo drink were found using PubMed.

Outcomes Measured: Various patient-reported IBS symptom questionnaires were utilized …

Provider Adherence To Prescribing The Elimination Diet, Seth Osgood

Doctor of Nursing Practice

Allergy-related diseases, chemical sensitivities, and food intolerances have increased dramatically over the last 20 years in both the pediatric and adult populations, contributing to escalating rates of morbidity. Despite an abundance of literature supporting the negative impact food reactions can have in multiple disease states, food reactions continue to be seen as a modern enigma in medicine and are often met with great skepticism. There are a variety of interventions available to identify food reactions in both adults and children; yet, the traditional elimination diet remains the standard of care. Regardless of its utility and clinical effectiveness in the healthcare …

A Simulated Walk In Nature: Testing Predictions From The Attention Restoration Theory, Corey Crossan

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Attention Restoration Theory (ART) predicts that top-down processing during everyday activities can cause attentional fatigue and that bottom-up processing that occurs when people experience nature will be restorative (Kaplan, 1995). The present study examined this prediction by exposing participants to three different conditions using a repeated measures design: a control condition during which participants walked on a typical treadmill, a nature/restorative condition during which participants walked on the same treadmill, experiencing a simulated nature walk, and a perturbation condition that included the same simulated nature scene but also required top-down processing during the walk. The findings supported ART predictions. As …

Walking As Ontological Shifter: Thoughts In The Key Of Life, Bibi (Silvina) Calderaro

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

With walking as ontological shifter I pursue an alternative to the dominant modernist episteme that offers either/or onto-epistemologies of opposition and their reifying engagements. I propose this type of walking is an intentional turning towards a set of radical positions that, as integrative aesthetic and therapeutic practice, brings multiplicity and synchronicity to experience and being in an expanded sociality. This practice facilitates the conditions of possibility for recurring points of contact between the interiority perceived as ‘body’ and the exteriority perceived as ‘world.’ While making evident the self’s at once incoherence with it-self, it opens to a space beyond the …

Mindful Mornings: Piloting A Meditation Group With Vulnerable Adults In A Drop-In Center, Iyo Kubota

Master's Projects and Capstones

An accumulation of stress and lack of coping resources can contribute to a higher incidence of mental and physical health disparities. Homeless adults are one of the most vulnerable subgroups who utilize Enterprise Resource Center, a peer-run day-center in Marin County. Because stress from multiple factors was identified in this transient and high-risk population, an intervention for stress reduction and management was explored. The findings from the needs assessment suggested that there was a need for an integrated approach for stress reduction and management. The challenge of sustaining a program was also highlighted during the needs assessment.

A brief mindfulness …

Putting Care Back Into "Health Care:" An Analysis Of The Place Of Community Health Workers Within The U.S. Health Care System, Megan Schowalter

Honors Program Theses

This paper explores who a Community Health Worker (CHW) is and contextualizes the social, political, and historical factors that allowed for the growth of CHWs within the primary health care sector in the U.S. It analyzes how CHWs perceive their own roles and responsibilities within the U.S. health system as a means of highlighting the gap within health care services and the influence of Social Determinants of Health (SDH) on well-being. The second part of this paper relates CHWs to scholarship by medical anthropologist Paul Farmer and public health scholar Alicia Yamin concerning pathologies of power and the need for …

Mindfulness And Law Enforcement: An Effective Approach To Implementing Mindfulness For First Responders, Gina White

Mindfulness Studies Theses

An increasing number of studies show that people employed as first responders in high trauma service jobs tend to experience a high level of stress, at work and after hours. Studies suggest that constant exposure to job related stress leads to both physical and mental dysregulation. This study looks at the effects of implementing mindfulness tools and techniques to those working in law enforcement. Other works on this topic report mindfulness as a successful tool to increase wellbeing to a broad spectrum of populations. The methodology used in this study was designed specifically for first responders. The data findings were …

Healing Touch: Enhancing Quality Of Life, Julia Mccann-Khludenev

Evidence-Based Practice Project Reports

Healing touch (HT) is a non-invasive energy therapy used in the management of symptoms of various health conditions. HT utilization has demonstrated enhanced comfort and relief of symptoms such as chronic pain, post-traumatic-stress, depression, and anxiety. The purpose of this evidence-based practice (EBP) project was to promote awareness and appointment compliance rate of HT amongst veterans, and also to determine effectiveness of HT intervention on symptom relief and well-being. The PICO question was: “For Veterans, what is the effect of HT education material and mail notification on appointment compliance rate, and HT delivery on symptom relief and well-being as compared …

Therapy Dogs And The Impact On Employees In The Pediatric Medical Setting, Laine Foith

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

More than 40% of nurses reported experiencing significant burnout. Burnout is characterized by disengagement, cynicism, negative views of personal accomplishment and ability, and emotional exhaustion. The healthcare providers that experience burnout can possibly expect a decrease in ability to recognize/report errors, increase of negative feelings toward the patient, and decrease levels of patient satisfaction (Ernest, 2014). One of the ways Schub (2015) suggested to regulate burnout for employees was to provide psychosocial support to colleagues to reduce stress. This study is one of the first attempts to bridge the gap between the unknown correlation between qualitative and quantitative benefits of …

Determining The Knowledge, Attitudes And Beliefs Of Healthcare Providers In Treating Non-Specific Acute And Chronic Back Pain, Stacey L. Kale

Doctor of Nursing Practice Scholarly Project

An Abstract of the Scholarly Project by

Stacey Kale

Managing back pain has become a public health and clinical challenge (Krein et al., 2016). Incidence of back pain related complaints requiring treatment in the US is estimated at 11.2% of the adult population (Dowell, Haegerich, & Chou, 2016). New research suggests that it is the most common pain problem (Pauline, 2016). It is the third most expensive health disorder and is exceeded only by cancer and heart disease. Many health care providers lack formal pain management education and training thus leaving them at risk for failing to properly manage patients …

Comparative Evaluation Of Three Pharmaceutical Medications And White Willow Bark, Jazzmin Washington

Undergraduate University Honors Capstones

Pharmaceuticals have become a big business today. However, the costs of medications are continuously increasing, due to several factors such as an increased demand. This is one of the many reasons herbal remedies continue to be used; 80% of the world still uses herbal medicine as their primary form of treatment. Due to this, one must evaluate and compare herbal remedies to their pharmaceutical counterparts to ensure that individuals have the same quality of medicine. Different brands of commercial aspirin were compared to its herbal counterpart, white willow bark, to validate their similarities in chemical structure. This project will serve …

One-Pot Syntheses And Characterizations Of “Click-Able” Polyester Polymers For Potential Biomedical Applications, James F. Beach Ii

Electronic Theses & Dissertations

In this study, a synthetic polyester polymer was designed using polyethylene glycol, sorbitol, glutaric acid and 4-pentynoic acid as monomers. The synthesis was carried out using standard melt polymerization technique and catalyzed by Novozyme-435, an enzyme suitable for polyesterification of biocompatible compounds. The progress of the reaction was monitored with respect to time and vacuum exposure, with samples being subjected to standard characterization protocols. Polymers with high molecular weight and water solubility were chosen for further modification into folate-functionalized polymeric nanoparticles for targeted drug delivery to cancer cells. This was achieved by employing a solvent diffusion method, wherein the polymer …

Complementary And Integrative Therapies For The Management Of Insomnia In Chronic Disease: An Applied Research Project, Juliana Saynor, Lisa Benson, Mary Mckinley, Nicole Anderson

Master of Arts in Holistic Health Studies Research Papers

One-half of all adults in America have a diagnosis of at least one chronic disease. Up to 80% of people with chronic diseases suffer from insomnia, creating a significant health burden. Healthcare providers (HCPs) do not routinely address insomnia and primarily use pharmaceuticals to manage insomnia. The purpose of this research is to co-create with HCPs an educational artifact that helps them inform their chronically ill patients about evidence-based complementary and integrative therapies (CIT) for insomnia management. Based on a design and development culture of inquiry and research method, we used the literature to create a preliminary educational artifact focused …

The Effects Of Mandala Coloring On Reducing Stress In Corporate Employees: A Quasi-Experimental Pilot Study, Kelly Asplin, Olivia Augustin, Jenna Burckhard, Katie Jacobson

Master of Arts in Holistic Health Studies Research Papers

Job demands and extended hours contribute to chronic employee stress, leading to physical and psychological health problems. Workplace wellness programs (WWPs) strive to improve employee’s physical health and wellbeing, but lack holistic options addressing stress reduction for the mind, body, and spirit. The purpose of this project is to describe the effects mandala coloring has on reducing objective and subjective stress levels in corporate employees. This empirical, quasi-experimental pilot study sampled 14 employees (n = 6 experimental, n = 8 control) measuring blood pressure, pulse, and perceived stress levels over a course of three weeks of coloring. Participants of this …

Urban Adolescent Women And Urban Nature: A Phenomenological Inquiry Of The Human-Nature Relationship, Shyla A. Earl, Erin Heinitz

Master of Arts in Holistic Health Studies Research Papers

The Human-Nature Relationship (HNR) is a complex, dynamic co-evolutionary relationship between humans and nature that governs human health and ecological sustainability. Demographic factors (e.g., age, gender) and personal perception (e.g., beliefs, thoughts, values) shape this relationship and subsequent human and ecological health; therefore, understanding the HNR for specific populations is imperative. We conducted a phenomenological inquiry into the lived experience of urban adolescent women (UAW) to describe their HNR, particularly with urban nature, through open-ended interviews with 10 urban female-identified persons aged 13- 18. We use Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) and find that UAW express their HNR through three themes: …

The Effect Of Coloring On Perceived Stress Levels Of Hospital Nurses: A Quasi-Experimental Pilot Study, Kate Berg Hanson, Dee Lukas, Colleen Merchlewitz, Jordan Rice, Glenda Robicheau, Whitney Ulvestad

Master of Arts in Holistic Health Studies Research Papers

Hospital nurses experience stress specific to their occupation, due to shift work, intense workload, and unsupportive management. Current literature suggests coloring offers a holistic approach to stress management, but most workplace wellness programs focus primarily on physical health. The purpose of our research is to describe the effect of coloring on perceived stress levels of hospital nurses. In this empirical, quasi-experimental pilot study, four female participants completed Perceived Stress Scale surveys (PSS-10), stress meter ratings (using visual analog scales) and responded to a brief journal prompt following individual coloring sessions over the course of two weeks. Through quantitative and qualitative …

Development Of The Infant Gut Microbiome: An Empirical Survey Of Prenatal Practitioners, Sally St. John, Kathleen Powers, Alexandra Kerlin

Master of Arts in Holistic Health Studies Research Papers

The critical window of infant gut microbiome development (IGMD) is preconception through three years of age. The improper development of the infant gut microbiome contributes to the rise of chronic illness. The literature provides no evidence that prenatal care practitioners educate patients about the critical window of IGMD. The purpose of this empirical study is to investigate knowledge of prenatal care practitioners (obstetrical and gynecological physicians, nurse practitioners, midwives, and doulas) about IGMD and how they use this knowledge in their practices. Seventy-eight registered prenatal care practitioners from Minnesota participated in an online survey consisting of 18 qualitative and quantitative …

The Lived Experience Of Adults Using A Meditation App: A Phenomenological Study, Cally R. Strobel, Zashata L. Burton, Angela J. Katzmarek, Gina M. Gafford

Master of Arts in Holistic Health Studies Research Papers

Stress is increasingly prevalent in Western culture, and researchers associate it with physical and psychological health issues. Previous research indicates meditation, specifically through meditation apps on smartphones, is beneficial for reducing stress. However, limited research addresses qualitative data regarding meditation apps; therefore, this study describes the lived experience of adults using a meditation app called Headspace. We used phenomenology as a method to describe the essence of participant lived experiences. We collected qualitative data by having twelve adults journal about their experiences after completing a series of ten meditation app sessions. We completed a thematic analysis with the journal entries, …

A Clinical Practice Change Initiative To Incorporate Animal Assisted Therapy In Advanced Practice Registered Nurses' Clinical Practice For Children And Adolescents, Donna Rae Cowell

Doctoral Projects

Background: Children and adolescents mental healthcare needs is vital for the future of our nation’s welfare (American Psychology Association, 2014). Research has indicated AAT may be a considerable choice to help with pediatrics mental healthcare and may be utilized as an adjunct to enhance the care within the psychiatric healthcare field (Chandler, 2012). AAT has become popular within the healthcare realm (Friesen, 2009; Uyemura, 2016) and is a unique method for providing “patients” health care, which may improve patient outcomes (Chandler, 2012; Cowell, 2013; McCullough, 2016; McQuarrie & Urichuk, 2008). Research supports that “providers” in the health care field may …

Humor In Medicine: A Literature Review Of Humor’S Potential Therapeutic Value In Health Care, Weston Michael Grant

Psychological Science Undergraduate Honors Theses

Using humor and laughter within the health care field has the potential to be relevant to patients during treatment, to the patient-caregiver relationship, to the subjective well-being of health care providers, and to the environments’ (e.g., work settings) impact on group relationships (e.g., colleagues). A review of the literature examines how the psychological and physiological effects of laughter and humor within the human body impact health and well-being, how humor and laughter improve the patient-practitioner relationship, and if humor and laughter can potentially impact physician burnout. Several possible implications for these findings are discussed, such as professional medical comedians, improvements …

Cross-Cultural Investigation Of Birth Experience : A Comparison Between Mexico And The United States., Alice J Darling

College of Arts & Sciences Senior Honors Theses

This study investigates the maternal birth experience through a cross-cultural lens. While the field of medical anthropology has researched birth practices of many cultures, few cross-cultural studies have been performed and no recent studies have suggested a transition in birthing. Ethnographic interviews with women and practitioners in Yucatán, Mexico and with women in Kentucky, United States allowed for a better understanding of the respective birthing environments. Grounded theory was then employed to develop a birth transition theory explaining changes occurring when society transitions from traditional birth practitioners to allopathic birth practitioners. The themes of knowledge, expectation and power were isolated …

Comparative Evaluation Of The Antibacterial, Anti-Biofilm And Anti-Spore Effects Of Theaflavins And Palmitoyl-Egcg, Gabriella M. Appice

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

Tea, one of the most common beverages, originates from the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant. Two major groups of tea are fermented black tea and unfermented green tea. Theaflavins (TFs) are the major polyphenols present in black tea, while mono-palmitoyl-epigallocatechin-gallate (pEGCG) is a modified green tea polyphenol. In this study, the antibacterial effects of TF and pEGCG were evaluated against six selected bacteria, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Streptococcus mutans, Bacillus cereus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Proteus vulgaris, using an antibacterial assay. A viability assay using SYTOX® staining and flow cytometry was also used to determine the effect of these compounds …

Determining The Protective Effects Of Quercetin Against Cadmium Toxicity In Human Embryonic Kidney Cells, Caroline N. Smith

Undergraduate Theses

Cadmium is a toxic industrial and environmental pollutant found in groundwater, air, soils, food and cigarettes. Chronic intake of low levels of cadmium has been shown to result in renal dysfunction due to cell death which can occur via apoptosis as well as necrosis. Previous studies have shown that plant extracts containing quercetin, a flavonoid found in many fruits and vegetables, protect against cadmium toxicity in rat liver hepatocytes. To determine if quercetin may have a protective effect in a cadmium-treated human embryonic kidney cell line, HEK-293 cells were treated using concentrations of cadmium chloride from 10 to 50 μM …

Portosystemic Shunts In Cats: Management And Care, Rachael E. Konke

Master of Arts in Professional Writing Capstones

Portosystemic Shunts in Cats: Management and Care is an informative technical manual developed for veterinary professionals and caretakers of cats with portosystemic shunts. A portosystemic shunt is a complex and rare circulatory deformity in which unfiltered blood bypasses the liver and circulates throughout the body causing serious complications. Portosystemic Shunts in Cats: Management and Care details portosystemic specifics, symptoms, treatment, and proper everyday care for cats with portosystemic shunts.

Effects Of Therapeutic Music On Pain In Spinal Surgery Recovery, Michael Poulsen

Evidence-Based Practice Project Reports

Pain is one of the most common experienced symptoms reported by more than 80% of postoperative patients. Approximately 77-98% of postoperative patients report pain following their procedure with 40- 80% having moderate to severe pain. Pain is shown to elevate stress levels manifesting in increased heart rates, blood pressures, and oxygen demand. Inadequate pain control can develop into surgical complications causing surgical failure, blood clots, pneumonia, and chronic pain. Complimentary and alternative medicine such as music can be used in combination with opioid medication help improve pain control leading to successful surgical outcomes. The purpose of this evidence-based practice project …

Pilates And Yoga As Alternative Interventions For The Treatment Of Chronic Lower Back Pain In The Primary Care Setting: An Evidence-­‐Based Practice Project, Corinna Bellwood

Thinking Matters Symposium Archive

The purpose of this project is to answer the clinical PICO question: In patients with chronic lower back pain (CLBP) how do yoga and Pilates compared to conventional treatment of chronic lower back pain affect pain control?