European Journal of Integrative Medicine

IFC - Editorial Board

2010-06-01

Editorial Board

2010-06-01

Stefan N. Willich — 2010-06-01

The second EuJIM issue of the year 2010 opens with a lead article on professional treatment in the context of medical pluralism. Medical professionalism has been increasingly debated during recent years with particular focus on the principles for successful patient/physician relationships. The present article extends these discussions under the premises of integrative medicine, i.e. coexistence of conventional and complementary/alternative medical approaches. The authors including the president of the German Medical Association are founders of the German and the European Dialogue Forums on Pluralism in Medicine devoted to promote dialogue between different medical approaches and to foster integrative medicine. In the present article they propose professional standards for science and pluralism, evaluation, and competence.

Professional treatment in the context of medical pluralism—A German perspective

2010-06-01

Abstract: The current debate on medical professionalism is challenged by situations of co-existent “conventional” and “complementary/alternative” medical approaches. The issue of this article is how to realize professional behaviour in such pluralistic context.Medical pluralism is presented as consequence of the inherent pluralistic feature of science. Both conventional and complementary medical approaches need to adhere to the ethical principles and commitments of the medical profession. Though questioning scientific mainstream models, professional pluralism means to comply with scientific attitude. It calls for an unfolding of the premises and consequences of the respective therapeutic concepts. Scientific orientation of individual therapy includes competence, rational assessment of the patient's situation, clinical experience, knowledge of external evidence, and a critical evaluation of the course of disease. Furthermore, shared decision making on individual therapy requires empathy and the consideration of the patient's perspective.

Can improvements in sleep be used as an indicator of the wider benefits of Autogenic Training and CAM research in general?

Nicola Robinson, Ann Bowden, Ava Lorenc — 2010-06-01

Abstract: Introduction and study aims: Poor sleep exacerbates health problems which in turn can affect sleep. Behavioural approaches to insomnia management are preferred to prescribed hypnotics. This article examines whether resolving sleep problems as a result of Autogenic Training (AT) can be used as a potential indicator of effectiveness for people with chronic health problems.Methodology: In an observational study at the Royal London Homeopathic Hospital, patients acted as waiting list controls before receiving standard 8 week group AT training. Data was collected on sleeping patterns, symptoms and general health.Results: Of 153 participants with various health conditions completing the AT course, 11% presented with sleep problems as their main complaint, on further questioning 62% also had a sleep problem. Worry, stress, anxiety and depression were identified as the possible cause or trigger of sleep problems for 52% of patients. After an AT programme overall changes in sleep included: improvement in sleep onset latency (p=0.049), ability to fall asleep faster after night waking (p<0.001), waking more refreshed (p<0.001), and more energy on waking (p=0.019). Sleep improved irrespective of whether insomnia was their main presenting complaint.Discussion/conclusions: Sleep problems were only one of the primary reason for patients’ referral to AT. However, AT improved sleep quality despite sleep not being the focus of the training or a common presenting complaint. These changes in wellbeing may not be captured in health research, but make a critical difference to patients and their health outcomes. Measuring sleep disturbances as a potential outcome indicator for health research should be considered.

Durable tumour responses following primary high dose induction with mistletoe extracts: Two case reports

M. Orange, M. Fonseca, A. Lace, H.B. von Laue, S. Geider — 2010-06-01

Abstract: Introduction: Viscum album L. extracts (VAEs) are widely used in the complementary treatment of cancer, to improve quality of life of cancer patients, commonly using subcutaneous application of low doses of VAEs.Case presentations: Two patients were treated with VAE (AbnobaViscum®) alone, using a combination of intratumoural, subcutaneous and in one case intravenous administration. A 75-year-old lady with relapsed Merkel cell cancer – a rare and aggressive neuro-endocrine cancer of the skin – declined radiotherapy, and was treated with VAE alone over 9.8 months, using a total of 5.8G VAE, averaging 592mg/VAE/month (>300,000ng mistletoe lectin (ML)/month; >2300μg viscotoxin (VTX)/month); the 3cm tumour was impalpable after 4 months and she continues to be in complete remission after 3 years. A 50-year-old postmenopausal woman with asynchronous bilateral breast cancer (right breast: grade 1, hormone sensitive; left breast: grade 3, hormone insensitive and HER2-positive ductal carcinoma), declined all conventional cancer treatment. She was treated with VAE alone for 2.6 years, with a total of 8.9G VAE, averaging 290mg/month (>150,000ngML/month; >1200μgVTX/month); she had complete responses of both tumours after 31 months of intratumoural and subcutaneous VAE application, and remains in remission after 4 years.Conclusions: Durable tumour regression occurred in 2 patients following treatment with VAE, used in higher than generally used doses and combining different applications. Both patients had no other established cancer therapies. Further studies are required to define the strategic role of VAE and its different applications, safety and efficacy.

Immune messengers in Neuralgia Inducing Cavitational Osteonecrosis (NICO) in jaw bone and systemic interference

J. Lechner, W. Mayer — 2010-06-01

Abstract: Aim of the study: In the practice of the author astounding improvements of systemic complaints which accompanied apparently rheumatic, neuralgic and other chronically inflammatory systemic diseases are consistently observed after cleaning pain free, radiographically normal edentulous areas of the jaw. These are marked by fatty-degenerative osteonecrosis of the cancellous bone. Thus far, in dental research there are only few scientifically proven explanations concerning such systemic therapeutic successes.Methods: In order to clarify systemic interrelations, samples of cancellous bone have been extracted from six subjects. The specimens were then analyzed by bead-based multiplex technology and tested for 27 immune messengers.Results: All six specimens concordantly showed highest concentration for IL1-ra (interleukin-1-receptor antagonist) and RANTES. In addition, in all samples FGFbasic and PDGF-bb have been distinctly evidenced. A statistically high concentration on IL1-RA and RANTES is noticeable here. The samples’ small distribution and specific concentration on IL1-ra and RANTES, despite the high number of 27 tested mediators, is a striking figure.

Oreocnide integrifolia (Gaud.) Miq leaf water extract improves metabolic alterations in high fructose fed insulin resistant and hypertensive rats

Ansarullah, Bhavna Bharucha, Vaibhav Patel, A.V. Ramachandran — 2010-06-01

Abstract: Aims of the study: The present study demonstrates the folklore use of Oreocnide integrifolia (Gaud.) Miq (OI) leaf extract used by the people of northeast India and scientifically validates the ethnomedicinal claims against diabetes and hypertension in an experimental rat model.Materials and methods: Male Charles foster rats were fed high fructose diet (60g/100g) for a period of 6 weeks for induction of insulin resistance and hypertension. Animals were divided into five groups (a) control, (b) fructose control, (c) fructose+OI 250, (d) fructose+OI 500 and (e) fructose+Metformin. Plasma levels of glucose, insulin, cholesterol, triglycerides, lipoproteins, free fatty acids along with glucose tolerance and insulin response tests were evaluated. Mean arterial blood pressure was measured at the end of 6-week period and the animals were further challenged with acetylcholine, phenylephrine, isoprenaline or adrenaline to assess the vascular reactivity in vivo.Results: Fructose fed rats exhibited hyperglycemia, hyperinsulinemia, hypertension, elevated lipid profile along with poor glucose tolerance and insulin response pattern. OI extract treated group of animals showed remarkable potential to lower all these manifestations and showed improved vascular response when challenged with different drugs displaying its antihypertensive property.Conclusion: The benefits of using OI extract in a model of metabolic syndrome validate the potential of OI extract as a therapeutant against diabetes associated hypertension.

Effect of vajikaran rasayana herbs on pituitary–gonadal axis

N.S. Chauhan, D.K. Saraf, V.K. Dixit — 2010-06-01

Abstract: Aim of the study: Rasayan drugs act inside the human body by modulating the neuro-endocrino-immune system. Vaajikaran rasayan is the special category of rasayan which investigate the reproductive system and enhance sexual function. Curculigo orchioides, Astercantha longifolia and Mucuna pruriens are well known vajikaran rasayan herbs. The effect on sexual behaviour and reproductive parameters are reported for all these plants. There are no studies on the measurement of follicular stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone that are release from pituitary–gonadal axis. Our objective was to study the effect of extract on reproductive hormone levels.Materials and methods: The study was performed by administrating ethanolic plant extracts at the doses 50 and 100mg/kg in rats. The serum hormones follicular stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH) and testosterone were measured using ELISA kit.Results: Administration of ethanolic extract of plants significantly increases the level of follicular stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone and testosterone level in treated groups in a dose dependent manner.Conclusions: So it was concluded that the administration of vajikaran rasayana viz. C. orchioides, A. longifolia and M. pruriens ethanolic extracts modulate the level of the pituitary hormones FSH and LH.

In vivo and in vitro antioxidant activity of lipid based extract of Bacopa monniera Linn. compared to conventional extract and traditional preparation

Lohidasan Sathiyanarayanan, Anant R. Paradkar, Kakasaheb R. Mahadik — 2010-06-01

Abstract: Aim of the study: To investigate the antioxidant potential of solvent-free lipid extract of Bacopa monniera Linn. (LEBM) compared to that of a conventional extract, and a traditional preparation.Materials and methods: LEBM was obtained by extracting B. monniera (BM) with Gelucire 50/13 (polyethylene glycol glycerides), a hydrophilic lipid. The effect of standardized LEBM, a methanolic extract of BM (MEBM), and Ayurvedic Ghrita of BM (AGBM) was comparatively assessed on rat brain superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GpX) activities following the oral administration of extracts, at the dose of 200mg/kg and 400mg/kg for 14 days. In addition, the extracts were tested for in vitro 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging, hydrogen peroxide scavenging, total reducing power, flavonoid content, polyphenolic contents, and anti-lipid peroxidation effects. The results were compared to those of standard antioxidants such as BHA, and l-ascorbic acid.Results: LEBM exhibited a significant increase (p<0.001) in the antioxidant enzyme activity compared to MEBM and AGBM, and the effect was dose-dependent. All the tested samples showed marked in vitro antioxidant activity, of which LEBM showed prominent activity. LEBM showed significant (p<0.01) (DPPH) free radical scavenging (63.87%), hydrogen peroxide scavenging (58.03%), and lipid peroxidation (63.3389%) at the concentration of 1000μg/ml.Conclusions: LEBM, even with lesser concentration of bacoside A, exhibited better antioxidant potential than MEBM, and was free of the shortcomings of conventional extracts; hence, it will be an alternative of greater importance in the future.