Alternative and Complementary Medicine Commons^™

Malaria Prevention And Treatment In The Province Of Toliara, Madagascar: A Socioeconomic And Cultural Perspective Of Supermoustiquaire Use And Healing, Lily Conover

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

To preface my intentions, I never find myself viewing this place passively; I cannot help but be constantly attuned to the small struggles, conflicts, and successes that take place on a minute by minute basis as I roll through a village in a taxi-brousse or fly over the countryside in an airplane. I chose to study malaria in south-eastern Madagascar not only because it may have chosen me first, but because it is one of those continual struggles that is taking place between a plasmodium and red blood cells, families, communities, cultures, ethnicities, economic sectors, governmental agencies, and non-governmental organizations …

Embracing The Demons Within: Spiritual Possession And Mental Health Support In Madagascar, Thomas Cody Swift

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Possession, and the systems of mental health support existing under the same spiritual paradigm, inherently address and serve to instigate a change in the entirety of one’s life. The two traditional systems of mental health support in Madagascar, tromba spirit healers and Protestent exorcisms, appear to differ in doctine and tradition and have been proposed to be fundementally incompatible because of “conflicting or alternative epistemological realities” (Sharp, 525). The goals of this research, however, will be to identify the contextual and functional trends of the two systems that exist to support and ameliorate the mental health of the Malagasy people. …

Light Therapy For Seasonal Affective Disorder With Blue Narrow-Band Light-Emitting Diodes (Leds), Gena Glickman, Brenda Byrne, Carissa Pineda, Walter W. Hauck, George C. Brainard

Marcus Institute of Integrative Health Faculty Papers

Background: While light has proven an effective treatment for Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), an optimal wavelength combination has not been determined. Short wavelength light (blue) has demonstrated potency as a stimulus for acute melatonin suppression and circadian phase shifting.

Methods: This study tested the efficacy of short wavelength light therapy for SAD. Blue light emitting diode (LED) units produced 468 nm light at 607 µW/cm2 (27 nm half-peak bandwidth); dim red LED units provided 654 nm at 34 µW/cm2 (21 nm half-peak bandwidth). Patients with major depression with a seasonal pattern, a score of ≥20 on the Structured …

The Value Of The Awareness Of Near-Death Experiences, David San Filippo Ph.D.

Faculty Publications

A principal value of Near-death experiences may be in the telling of the stories and the effect these stories have for others to reduce their fears of and concerns about death. This E-book explores the impact and value knowing about, not having a near-death experience has on those who have heard, watch, or read reports of this phenomenon.

Ayurvedic Concept Of Food And Nutrition, Amala Guha

SoM Articles

Ayurveda places special emphasis on Ahar (diet) and Anna (food) and believes that healthy nutrition nourishes the mind, body and soul. Ayurveda does not discriminate food to be good, or bad, instead it emphasizes various factors that influence food, such as its biological properties, origin, environmental factors, seasons, preparation, freshness, and provides a logical explanation of how to balance food according to one's dosha and physical needs.

Neuroimmune Interactions: A Bidirectional Flow That Leads To Health And Disease, Robert E. Cone

SoM Articles

The Vedic philosophy deals with harmony and balance between the mind and the body as well as interactions with nature. This ancient approach to health and well-being is being more and more appreciated in part as we understand the intimate relationship between the immune system, our major defense mechanism and the nervous system. Like other organ systems, the immune system is dependent on the central nervous system (CNS) and the endocrine system in its role for effective defense against foreign and domestic invaders.

Humor And Laughter May Influence Health. [Part] I. History And Background, Mary Payne Bennett, Cecile A. Lengacher

Nursing Faculty Publications

Articles in both the lay and professional literature have extolled the virtues of humor, many giving the mpression that the health benefits of humor are well documented by the scientific and medical community.The concept that humor or laughter can be therapeutic goes back to biblical times and this belief has received varying levels of support from the scientific community at different points in its history. urrent research indicates that using humor is well accepted by the public and is frequently used as a oping mechanism. However, the scientific evidence of the benefits of using humor on various health related outcomes …

Relief Of Symptoms, Side Effects, And Psychological Distress Through Use Of Complementary And Alternative Medicine In Women With Breast Cancer, Cecile A. Lengacher, Mary P. Bennett, Kevin E. Kip, Lois Gonzalez, Paul Jacobsen, Charles E. Cox

Nursing Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Health Professions Division Catalog 2006-2007, Nova Southeastern University

Health Professions Divisions Course Catalogs and Course Descriptions

No abstract provided.

'Science Of Trivalency', Kwaku L. Carlisle Woods Rn Md Metd1, Dr. Kwaku L Carlisle Woods Rn Md Metd1

Walden Faculty and Staff Publications

Due to mine cross cultural living, (I was born in the U.S. but grew in Southeast Asia), I became very interested in the Anthological, Social and Scientific difference between cultures. This led to a historical meta evaluation of humanity in general. Using the principals of Noetic Science, this evaluation reviled the ignorance and down right absence of any educational opportunities to learn the true functional abilities of mankind.

Ciis Today, Fall 2005 Issue, Ciis

CIIS Today

This volume is the Fall 2005 issue of CIIS Today, the Magazine of the California Institute of Integral Studies.

Avoid Cold: A Brief Look At Tibetan Medical Practice And Ideals Compared To Modern Allopathic Medical Treatment Through A Study And Analysis Of The Essential Tremor, Graham Brant-Zawadzki

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

For hundreds of years, western science understood the material world as a set of individual objects assembled into an impossibly large and complex machine. This mechanistic ideology, dubbed reductionism, finds its roots in the mathematical theories of Newton, the philosophy of Descartes, and the methodological approaches proposed by Francis Bacon. The culmination of these ideologies lead to the belief that all complex systems could be understood and ultimately mastered by reducing them to their basic elements. Some texts, including Fritjof Capra's The Turning Point argue that once classical physicists established this type of thought, the other sciences, including medicine, simply …

The Experience Of American And Canadian Cancer Patients In Deciding To Seek Alternative Care In Mexican Cancer Clinics, Alicia Bright

Dissertations, Masters Theses, Capstones, and Culminating Projects

Background. Each year, despite warnings from the American Cancer Association, many US and Canadian citizens travel to Tijuana, Mexico, for cancer care. The main criticism of these clinics is that they provide treatments that are unproven, potentially unsafe, and expensive. Despite this, about 35 clinics exist in Tijuana that provide alternative care to patients who pay cash for these services.

Objectives. To understand the lived experience of people who have made the choice to receive cancer treatment at alternative cancer clinics in Tijuana, and gain insight into the process by which that decision occurs.

Population. 5 participants were interviewed. Three …

Reasons For Complementary And Alternative Medicine Usage In Japanese Americans, Theodora Stratis

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) has received much research attention in the last several years due to marked increase in usage in the U.S. To date, findings indicate that 34% of adults in the U.S. report using at least one form of CAM for the maintenance of general health and acute symptoms and such use continue to increase (Astin, 1998; Eisenberg et al., 1993). CAM therapies are also used by those who suffer from chronic physical and psychological symptoms not successfully treated by conventional medicine (Testerman et al., 2004). Though researchers have examined who is using CAM and why they …

Importance Of Prakurti Analysis In Ayurvedic Diagnosis: An Interview With Dr. Doiphode, Amala Guha

SoM Articles

No abstract provided.

Therapeutic Use Of Ginkgo Biloba, Amala Guha

SoM Articles

Gingko biloba, one of the most popular herbs in the USA is known for its various therapeutic uses and is now well researched for its various active compounds. Although originally grown in Asia, the tree is distributed all over the world. Leaves, bark, roots all have therapeutic properties and are used for various illnesses like asthma, circulatory ailments and cognitive support or dysfunction.

Health Professions Division Catalog 2005-2006, Nova Southeastern University

Health Professions Divisions Course Catalogs and Course Descriptions

No abstract provided.

Identifying Inaccuracies On Emergency Medicine Residency Applications., Eric D Katz, Lee Shockley, Lawrence Kass, David Howes, Janis P Tupesis, Christopher Weaver, Osman R Sayan, Victoria Hogan, Jason Begue, Diamond Vrocher, Jackie Frazer, Timothy Evans, Gene Hern, Ralph Riviello, Antonio Rivera, Keith Kinoshita, Edward Ferguson

Department of Emergency Medicine Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Previous trials have showed a 10-30% rate of inaccuracies on applications to individual residency programs. No studies have attempted to corroborate this on a national level. Attempts by residency programs to diminish the frequency of inaccuracies on applications have not been reported. We seek to clarify the national incidence of inaccuracies on applications to emergency medicine residency programs. METHODS: This is a multi-center, single-blinded, randomized, cohort study of all applicants from LCME accredited schools to involved EM residency programs. Applications were randomly selected to investigate claims of AOA election, advanced degrees and publications. Errors were reported to applicants' deans …

Folk Healing In The Tradition Of The Fidencista Movement, Katherine Brittain

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

The Fidencista Movement is a religion in process . Like in many other medico-religions whose primary ministry is healing, women hold the highest positions of authority. The shamanic channeling of the spirit of the folk saint, Niño Fidencio , plies Fidencistas' belief in the spirit world and ameliorates physical and emotional healing. Fidencistas are concentrated in the Texas/Mexico borderland region where they are facing a passing of traditionalism, the social matrix in which folk healing thrives. However, the signature of the Movement, the penitential trek up the Vía de Dolores in Espinazo, is a cohering bi-annual ritual that fortifies devotion …

Complementary Medicine In Chronic Cancer Care, Daniel A. Monti, Jingduan Yang

Marcus Institute of Integrative Health Faculty Papers

Although advancements in cancer care have led to increased cure rates and survival times, those coping with the long-term sequelae of a cancer diagnosis often report high levels of distress, poor health-related quality of life, and unmet psychosocial needs. The shortcomings of the conventional biomedical system at sufficiently addressing these chronic illness issues are a primary reason that many patients turn to complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). Although patients usually use such treatments in addition to conventional care, they often do not discuss doing so with their conventional physicians, who are perceived as being unreceptive to the topic. Physicians may …

Indigenous Healing Practices And Their Effect On Tb And Hiv/Tb Patients’ Utilization And Compliance With Anti-Tb Medication, Josephine Thinwa

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

A sample of 27 Tuberculosis patients attending New Brighton Clinic in small urban community for treatment were surveyed and interviewed on their use of alternative treatments and interpretation of TB. This study specifically focused on TB patients’ use of traditional medicine in treating TB and whether this use had an effect on the patients’ willingness to utilize and adherence to anti-TB treatment from the clinic. Investigations were also done to characterize if an HIV positive status influenced TB patients’ inclination to utilize traditional medicine. Through a focus group discussion with three traditional healers, information was provided on traditional medicine and …

Heme Oxygenase-2 Gene Deletion Attenuates Oxidative Stress In Neurons Exposed To Extracellular Hemin., Raymond F Regan, Jing Chen, Luna Benvenisti-Zarom

Department of Emergency Medicine Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Hemin, the oxidized form of heme, accumulates in intracranial hematomas and is a potent oxidant. Growing evidence suggests that it contributes to delayed injury to surrounding tissue, and that this process is affected by the heme oxygenase enzymes. In a prior study, heme oxygenase-2 gene deletion increased the vulnerability of cultured cortical astrocytes to hemin. The present study tested the effect of HO-2 gene deletion on protein oxidation, reactive oxygen species formation, and cell viability after mixed cortical neuron/astrocyte cultures were incubated with neurotoxic concentrations of hemin. RESULTS: Continuous exposure of wild-type cultures to 1-10 microM hemin for 14 …

Managing Unmanageable Physicians: Leadership, Stewardship, And Disruptive Behavior, Tim Keogh, William Martin

College of Business Faculty and Staff Works

Physician and health care leaders are seeking guidance and support on how to address disruptive behavior that has an impact on safety, quality, and performance. This article equips leaders with a model and process to prevent and address disruptive behavior.

Alternative Therapies To Treat Cardiovascular Disease, Brent D. Jergens

Honors Capstones

Capstone submitted as a graduation requirement for the BSU Honors Program.

Health Professions Division Catalog 2004-2005, Nova Southeastern University

Health Professions Divisions Course Catalogs and Course Descriptions

No abstract provided.

The Qi Connection: A Study In Studying Qi, Elizabeth Brooke Barrett

Presidential Scholars Theses (1990 – 2006)

The concept of Qi (pronounced "chee") is a difficult one to understand, let alone study. It strikes most of us as amorphous at best. Traditional Chinese Medicine enthusiasts in the West translate the term as "life-energy". How much more broad could it be! Some try to make the term scientific, referring to Qi as "bio-electrical" or "bio-magnetic", but they succeed only in clouding the issue further. Certainly, it does not help matters that those who would seem to know the most about this concept of Qi, the Qigong masters, are themselves most mysterious. Is it any wonder that many in …

European Mistletoe/Iscador® Faq , Clinic Staff

Topics in Integrative Medicine

Mistletoe (Viscum album) may be the most commonly used complementary cancer therapy in Europe today. Background information and important questions are presented.

Adhd: What Educators And Parents Should Know, Jessica J. Foust

Honors Capstones

Capstone submitted as a graduation requirement for the BSU Honors Program.

Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Lowers Psychological Distress In Medical Students, Steven Rosenzweig Md, Diane K. Reibel, Jeffrey M. Greeson, George C. Brainard, Mohammadreza Hojat

Marcus Institute of Integrative Health Faculty Papers

Background: Medical students confront significant academic, psychosocial, and existential stressors throughout their training. Mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) is an educational intervention designed to improve coping skills and reduce emotional distress.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the effectiveness of the MBSR intervention in a prospective, nonrandomized, cohort-controlled study.

Methods: Second-year students (n = 140) elected to participate in a 10-week MBSR seminar. Controls (n = 162) participated in a didactic seminar on complementary medicine. Profile of Mood States (POMS) was administered preintervention and postintervention.

Results: Baseline total mood disturbance (TMD) was greater in …

Knowledge And Attitudes Of Pharmacists In A Midwestern State Regarding Natural Products, Kevin A. Clauson, Cydney E. Mcqueen, Kelly M. Shields, Patrick J. Bryant

Pharmacy Faculty Scholarship

Objectives. The purpose of this descriptive investigation was to determine the perceived knowledge of and attitudes toward natural products by pharmacists in Missouri. Methods. A questionnaire was mailed to 2921 licensed pharmacists. Assessments were conducted regarding the venues and specific resources these pharmacists utilized in order to gain knowledge in the area of natural products. Results. Over half (56.9%) of those surveyed indicated that they received natural product questions on a weekly basis, but only a minority (2.4%) felt they could “always answer natural product questions.” The most commonly used means for education was printed continuing education (70.2%). Only 12.5% …