Effects of auriculotherapy in the treatment of nausea and vomiting: a systematic review

ABSTRACT Objectives: to identify the effectiveness of auriculotherapy in the treatment of nausea and vomiting through a systematic review of the scientific literature. Methods: it was performed a systematic review of the literature making use of the following data basis: The Scopus, PubMed, CINAHL (Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature), Web of Science, LILACS and Cochrane databases were used. Articles from complete research from randomized controlled clinical trials that describe using auriculotherapy in nausea and vomiting treatment were selected, without restriction of date or language. Results: eleven articles were selected for analysis. The majority approached the population in surgical situations, followed by patients undergoing chemotherapy and pregnant women. As for results, 81% (n=8) of the articles reported that nausea and vomiting were lower in incidence and/or intensity in the intervention group. Conclusions: the review provided relevant data on the effects of auriculotherapy in nausea and vomiting treatment, with a decrease in the intensity and frequency of these symptoms in different populations.

Terapi Pijat Tangan dan Minuman Herbal Jahe Madu untuk Ibu Hamil dengan Mual Muntah

Mual muntah merupakan salah satu ketidaknyamanan kehamilan yang dapat mengganggu dan menimbulkan komplikasi. Asuhan yang diberikan untuk mengatasi mual muntah dapat dilaksanakan dengan pendekatan farmakologi dan nonfarmakologi. Terapi non farmakologi yang dapat dikembangkan untuk mengurangi mual muntah yaitu hand massage dan pemberian minuman herbal. Sehingga asuhan mual muntah dapat dilakukan baik secara internal dan eksternal. Tujuan dari penelitian ini yaitu mengetahui pengaruh pemberian terapi hand masaage dan minuman herbal jahe pada ibu hamil dengan mual muntah trimester 1. Jenis metode yang digunakan adalah quasy eksperiment dengan pre-post test design. Sampel di bagi menjadi 2 kelompok yaitu kelompok kontrol dan kelompok perlakuan. Pengambilan sampel secara Randomized Controlled Clinical Trials (RCT). Jumlah sampel sebanyak 30 responden untuk masing-masing kelompok sehingga total responden yaitu 60 orang. Instrumen yang digunakan adalah Pregnancy-Unique Quantification Of Emesis/Nausea (PUQE). Penelitian dilakukan selama 3 bulan. Jenis analisa univariat menggunakan distribusi frekuensi dan analisa bivariat menggunakan analisis Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan intervensi yang dilakukan efektif terlihat dari selisih penurunan intensitas mual muntah pada ibu hamil dan nilai p-value 0,000 < dari nilai alpha (0.05). Simpulan didapatkan adanya pengaruh yang signifikan antara yang di berikan terapi hand massage dan konsumsi minuman herbal dengan yang tidak diberikan perlakuan terhadap ketidaknyamanan mual muntah pada ibu hamil. Berdasarkan penelitian di atas, hand massage dan terapi minuman herbal dapat diterapkan sebagai salah satu penanganan mual muntah pada ibu hamil.

From pharmaceutical standardizing to clinical research: 20 years of experience with fifty-millesimal potencies

Background: 20 years ago we began to standardize the procedures of preparation and use of fifty-millesimal dilutions (LM or Q) according to indications in the 6th edition of Hahnemann’s Organon. Aim: to describe the main stages in standardization as well as our teaching and research experience on Organon 6th edition. Results: with the use of standardized LM dilutions we observed a lower incidence of homeopathic aggravation than with our earlier experience with non standardized preparations. Organon.modus, a clinical-pharmaceutical protocol derived from the standardization was adequate for the teaching of homeopathy at Faculty of Medicine of Jundiai (São Paulo), the first Brazilian medical school with a graduate course on homeopathy. A randomized double-blind trial comparing individualized homeopathic medicines prescribed in LM dilutions and fluoxetine showed the former not be inferior to the latter in the treatment of moderate-to-severe depression. Conclusion: protocol Organon.modus showed to be adequate to graduate-level teaching of homeopathy and efficient in a controlled clinical trials, favoring its use as common denominator between the art of healing and medical science.

Enhancing Endocannabinoid Control of Stress with Cannabidiol

The stress response is a well-defined physiological function activated frequently by life events. However, sometimes the stress response can be inappropriate, excessive, or prolonged; in which case, it can hinder rather than help in coping with the stressor, impair normal functioning, and increase the risk of somatic and mental health disorders. There is a need for a more effective and safe pharmacological treatment that can dampen maladaptive stress responses. The endocannabinoid system is one of the main regulators of the stress response. A basal endocannabinoid tone inhibits the stress response, modulation of this tone permits/curtails an active stress response, and chronic deficiency in the endocannabinoid tone is associated with the pathological complications of chronic stress. Cannabidiol is a safe exogenous cannabinoid enhancer of the endocannabinoid system that could be a useful treatment for stress. There have been seven double-blind placebo controlled clinical trials of CBD for stress on a combined total of 232 participants and one partially controlled study on 120 participants. All showed that CBD was effective in significantly reducing the stress response and was non-inferior to pharmaceutical comparators, when included. The clinical trial results are supported by the established mechanisms of action of CBD (including increased N-arachidonylethanolamine levels) and extensive real-world and preclinical evidence of the effectiveness of CBD for treating stress.

Does exercise beneficially affect sex hormones when added to hypo-caloric diets in adults with overweight or obesity? A systematic review and meta-analysis of controlled clinical trials

Objective: There is no consensus of opinion if exercise beneficially affects sex hormones if added to weight-loss diets. The purpose of this study was to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis of controlled clinical trials to evaluate the effect of adding exercise to a hypo-caloric diet during a weight loss program, on serum testosterone, estradiol, and sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) in adults with overweight/obesity. Design: Systematic review and meta-analysis of the literature. Methods: Online databases including PubMed/MEDLINE, EMBASE, Scopus, ISI Web of Science, and Google Scholar were searched up to April 2021. A random-effects model was applied to compare mean changes in sex hormones and SHBG between participants undergoing a hypo-caloric diet with or without exercise. Results: In total, nine eligible clinical trials with 462 participants were included. Out of these, seven, three, and four studies illustrated changes in testosterone, estradiol, and SHBG, respectively. The meta-analysis revealed that exercise had no significant effect on circulating testosterone (WMD = −0.03 nmol/L, 95% CI: −0.11, 0.06, P = 0.51), estradiol (WMD = −0.46 pg/mL, 95% CI: −1.57, 0.65, P = 0.42), and SHBG (WMD = 0.54 nmol/L, 95% CI: −2.63, 3.71, P = 0.74) when added to low-calorie diets. Conclusion: The addition of exercise to a hypo-caloric diet provided no additional improvement in sex hormone profiles. Further well-designed randomized controlled trials with longer follow-up periods in both sexes are recommended to confirm and expand the current results.