Spiritual Therapies and Autolytic Behavior

"Can the Minnesota model and the 12-step program be an effective intervention model based on the religious and spiritual approach to reduce substance and alcohol consumption but also suicidal ideation? Can these programs also lead to increased quality of life and unconditional self-acceptance by study participants? In this study, we aimed to highlight the role of the Minnesota Model and the 12-Step Program used in reducing stress, anxiety, depression, suicidal ideation, increasing quality of life, and unconditional acceptance of oneself by participants in Alcoholics Anonymous groups in Constanta County. Another goal we set out was to compare the results obtained by the participants at the end of these programs, but also by comparing their results with the results obtained by the participants who make up a control group. Through this study, we aim to identify the most important predictors and include them in effective models for increasing the quality of life of alcohol addicts, as well as highlighting a relationship between alcohol dependence and suicidal ideation, before and after these two programs."

Preventive measures of Ayurveda and Yoga for Covid-19 Prophylaxis

Covid -19 outbreak is now a frustrating entity to the medical field and having dreadful impacts on the global health care system & its economy. A standard timeline of treatment for this entity is not yet being established. This situation demands an alternative search for its treatment in other science & also emphasises the importance of its prevention in the current situation by improving immunity. The basic aim of this paper is to search for various treatment & preventative regimes in Ayurveda, Yoga, Pranayama, and Meditation for the management of different communicable diseases. Various references in Ayurveda show that both preventative & curative aspect of airborne communicable diseases can be fulfilled with the help of Ayurveda. By the adopting Ayurvedic measures such as following proper Dincharaya, Rutucharya, Sadvritta, Achara Rasayana, Panchakarma , Shaman Cikitsa & Rasayana, Yogapachara , Spiritual therapies, Dhoopana Karma; both physical and mental health can be maintained & occurrence & spreading of such diseases can avoid. During this covid 19 pandemic, peoples maybe got stress and depression. To avoid such conditions used pranayama and meditation for better treatment. This was an encouraging development and a good initiative for the treatment.

The Effectiveness of the Intervention Depression in the Elderly: A Systematic Review

The increasing life expectancy in Indonesia has an impact on the amount of attention on the elderly population. Depression is becoming one of the health problems of elderly people in the world. This research approach using systematic review aims to gain a greater understanding about the effectiveness of interventions against depression in the elderly. Methods a systematic review was conducted by searching the literature related to the theme taken, namely “intervention”, “depression”, “elderly”. Literature search using Scient Direct, PubMed, and Google Scholar, from the years 2017-2020, so that the obtained 18 articles eligible. Article quality was evaluated using the CASP checklist The results of the articles obtained came from several countries including Indonesia. These interventions can be grouped into three categories, the first physical therapy/exercise, psychological therapies, and spiritual therapies to lower the level of depression in the elderly in a variety of settings such as in nursing homes, in correctional institutions, and the general community, including home visits, using an individual approach or group. This review helped inform some of the interventions that can be performed on the elderly, it can save the cost, feasible and easy to do, and effective to reduce the level of depression in the elderly, and can improve the quality of life, overcome other psychological problems.

Integrative approach in Ayurveda for COVID -19- A Review

Covid -19 outbreak is current frustating entity to medical field and having dreadful impacts on global health system & economy.As standard line of treatment for this entity is not yet established & current statistics based on its impacts of high mortality rate is really discoraging.This situation demands for alternative search for its treatment in other science & also emphasizes over importance of its prevention in current situation by improving immunity.Basic aim of this paper is to search various treatment & preventative regimes in Ayurveda for management of different Aoupasargic Roga i.e. communicable diaseses. Relevant literature regarding concept of communicable disease in Ayurveda was explored from available Ayurvedic compendium. Various references in Ayurveda shows that both preventaive & curative aspect of airborne communicable diseases can be fulfilled with the help of Ayurveda.By adopting Ayurvedic measures such as following proper Dincharaya , Rutucharya , Sadvritta,Achara Rasayana, Panchakarma , Shaman Cikitsa & Rasayana , Yogapachara ,Spiritual therapies,Dhoopana Karma; both physical and mental health can be maintained & occurrence & spreading of such diaseases can avoided.Ayurveda can give This is an encouraging development and a good initiative for the treatment.

Abstract 361: Plant-Based Diet and Lifestyle Changes Improve Lipids Among Angina Patients

Background: Angina is an important predictor of heart disease. Lipids can be an important etiological factor of atherosclerosis and angina. We examine the effect that an 18 day medical residential program has on the lipids of such patients. Methods: Participants completed an 18 day program in Weimar, California near Sacramento. Each patient was evaluated by a board certified physician who monitored them during the whole program. Blood samples were taken before and at the end of the program. Results are reported in mg/dl. Among the modalities used in all participants included whole foods plant-based diet, aerobic exercise, proper water intake and hydrotherapy, enough sunlight, avoidance of any addictive substances (tobacco, caffeine, alcohol, etc), breathing exercises, enough rest and psychological, relational and spiritual therapies. The meals were buffet style, 3 times a day with no snacks. Various cooking classes and daily educational lectures were given to empower patients to continue with the changes at home. Results: From n =2080 patients, n =133 had an angina diagnosis. From the 133 and 116 had complete lab results, 50% percent were males. Results are reported as (mean, SD, median, mode, min, max). Baseline total cholesterol (218, 41, 213, 189, 96, 316), end values (189, 33, 185, 163, 108, 283) t-test t(115)=11.4, with significant change p <.001, mean difference 28.3. Baseline LDL (137, 37, 128, 117, 53, 227), end values (115, 29, 112, 123, 55, 204), t-test t(115)=10.2, with significant change p <.001 mean difference 21.6. Baseline HDL (43, 15, 40, 31, 18, 90) end values (42, 12, 39, 33, 21, 76), t-test t(115)=1.2 change was not significant, p =.22, mean difference .92. Some patients reported decrease in angina symptoms. Conclusions: The program effectively decreases lipids towards a normal range. HDL decreased a little but the change was not significant. Long term follow up should be done on participants of this program to see the long term effect.

Abstract 270: Plant Based Diet Improves Glucose Metabolism in 18 Days

Background: Impaired glucose metabolism affects atherosclerosis. Improvement in blood glucose could prevent many future complications. Hypothesis: The low caloric density of plant-based diets could decrease weight affecting fasting blood glucose (FBG) levels Methods: Data from 1827 patients that received residential treatments at a lifestyle center in Weimar, CA was used. A low fat whole plant based diet was prescribe together with intensive exercise, sleep hygiene, medical therapy, hydrotherapy, massage, psychological and spiritual therapies were employed. A physician monitored the patients during their 18 days of training and intervention. Some patients reduced their blood glucose medication during the 18 days. The morning FBG was measured at baseline and at the end of 18 days. Mg/dl scale was used. Results: From 1827 patients, 1193 of them were females. Mean age at baseline was 59.6 SD 15.5. At baseline fasting blood sugar was (average, median, mode, min, max) 108.2, 96, 90, 39, 437, 39.5 SD 39, SEM .9. At the end of the 18 days it was measured at (average, median, mode, min, max) 102.1, 93, 89, 51, 495, SD 32, SEM .7. Weight and BMI during this time also changed. The average weight at the beginning was 178 lbs SD 54.7, SEM 1.2 and at end it was 174 lbs SD 51, SEM 1.2. Average BMI at beginning was 28.6 SD 7.7, and at end was 27.9 SD 7.7. Conclusion: Plant based diet, as well as lifestyle changes can help decrease FBG levels. Some patients had an increase in FBS due to decrease of their medication.

Gender and Spiritual Therapy in Japan

Therapies that are advertised as caring for mind, body and spirit, have become increasingly visible since the 1980s, and consist of the central focus of New Age activities in the West, and more recently in non-Western countries such as Japan. This article aims at demonstrating the applicability to the Japanese setting of theories that link the overwhelming presence of women among practitioners and clients of these “spiritual therapies” to their ability of both legitimizing and subverting traditional discourses of femininity. The author focuses particularly on Japanese women therapists’ testimonies that combine a legitimization of women’s involvement in spiritual therapies through their association with the beauty industry, with an overt criticism of the socio-economic conditions that encourage gender discrimination.