Complementary Health Practices Research Articles

Social determinants and work-related musculoskeletal disorders in Brazil.

This study aimed to analyze the prevalence of work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSD) and their association with individual and contextual factors in the Brazilian population. This quantitative cross-sectional study used secondary data from the Brazilian National Health Survey from August 2013 to February 2014. The dependent variable included WMSD, and independent variables were analyzed as individual and contextual factors. WMSD was mostly prevalent in females, individuals aged 43 to 59 years, with chronic physical or mental disorders, reporting frequent sleep disorders, and performing integrative and complementary health practices, physical exercise or sports, and heavy physical activity or housework. Regarding contextual factors, high social classes and proportion of individuals with formal work were associated with a high prevalence of WMSD, whereas a high Gini index was associated with a low prevalence. Thus, a high prevalence of WMSD in the Brazilian population was associated with individual and contextual factors, which should be the target of health professionals for actions of promotion, prevention, and intervention at individual or collective care levels.

The Impact of Sauna on Health

This review examines the health implications of regular sauna use, a tradition deeply rooted in Finnish culture now gaining global interest for its potential health benefits. It consolidates findings from various scientific studies, emphasizing the physiological and health impacts of traditional sauna practices on cardiovascular health, mental well-being, and overall mortality. The review highlights the positive cardiovascular outcomes associated with regular sauna use, such as reduced risks of hypertension, coronary artery disease, and sudden cardiac death, attributing these benefits to improved endothelial function, decreased arterial stiffness, and positive changes in blood pressure. Additionally, sauna bathing is shown to offer mental health benefits by reducing stress, depression, anxiety levels, and possibly lowering the risk of neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's and dementia. Despite the substantial benefits, the review also acknowledges potential risks, especially for individuals with specific health conditions, underscoring the importance of hydration and caution against alcohol consumption before sauna sessions. Conclusively, the evidence supports the integration of sauna bathing into health promotion strategies, with a call for further research to explore the mechanisms underlying its health benefits and to develop guidelines for optimizing these benefits while minimizing risks. Sauna bathing emerges as a promising, non-invasive approach to enhancing overall health and well-being, warranting its consideration in complementary health practices.

Historical evolution of ethical and legal aspects in aromatherapy in Brazilian Nursing

Introduction: Aromatherapy is an ancient practice performed by nurses, initially practiced by Florence Nightingale to calm wounded soldiers in the war and later consolidated by Marguerite Maury, considered an icon of modern Aromatherapy. This practice has sparked interest today due to its inclusion in Integrative and Complementary Health Practices and its congruence with the holistic vision present in nursing education and practice, which aims for care that reaches biopsychosocial and spiritual aspects. Objective: To describe the historical trajectory of ethical and legal aspects of nurse practice in Aromatherapy in Brazil. Material and Methods: This is a narrative review, in which publications from the Ministry of Health, the Federal Nursing Council, and Regional Nursing Councils were fully read, tracing a historical line of the legal developments of nurse practice in Aromatherapy. Searches used the keywords: aromatherapy, integrative practices in health, nursing, combined by the boolean indicator "and". These were organized in a chart that allows analyzing the evolution of these legislations over time. Results: Nursing, through its ethical and legal aspects, is a profession supported for the use of Aromatherapy in the nursing process in various health/disease situations. Nurses are allowed to prescribe essential oils, provided they have the training to do so that considers patient safety, and the development of institutional protocols is recommended. Nursing work in Aromatherapy has been recently regulated, with a minimum course load of 120 hours/lesson, in the form of free courses. Discussion and Conclusion: The ethical and legal aspects of Nursing in Aromatherapy have advanced, with solid ethical and legal bases. However, the lack of mandatory specialized education in the standards of the Ministry of Education, with courses subjected to evaluation and with a course load of over 360 hours/lesson, could mean a step back in the pursuit of in-depth knowledge, scientific research, and innovation. It is concluded that the regulation of Nursing in Aromatherapy is an important pathway opener for entrepreneurship, as well as consolidates its action as an integral member of the Integrative and Complementary Practices in Health.

Misinformation Persists in Complementary Health: Evaluating the Reliability and Quality of YouTube-Based Information on the Use of Acupuncture for Chronic Pain.

Acupuncture is commonly used to treat chronic pain. Patients often access public social media platforms for healthcare information when querying acupuncture. Our study aims to appraise the utility, accuracy, and quality of information available on YouTube, a popular social media platform, on acupuncture for chronic pain treatment. Using search terms such as "acupuncture for chronic pain" and "acupuncture pain relief", the top 54 videos by view count were selected. Included videos were >1 minute duration, contained audio in English, had >7000 views, and was related to acupuncture. One primary outcome of interest was categorizing each video's usefulness as useful, misleading, or neither. Another primary outcome of interest was the quality and reliability of each video using validated instruments, including the modified DISCERN (mDISCERN) tool and the Global Quality Scale (GQS). The means were calculated for the video production characteristics, production sources, and mDISCERN and GQS scores. Continuous and categorical outcomes were compared using Student's t-test and chi-square test, respectively. Of the 54 videos, 57.4% were categorized as useful, 14.8% were misleading, and 27.8% were neither. Useful videos had a mean GQS and mDISCERN score of 3.77±0.67 and 3.48±0.63, respectively, while misleading videos had mean GQS and mDISCERN score of 2.50±0.53 and 2.38±0.52, respectively. 41.8% of the useful videos were produced by a healthcare institution while none of the misleading videos were produced by a healthcare institution. However, 87.5% of the misleading videos were produced by health media compared to only 25.8% of useful videos from health media. As patients increasingly depend on platforms like YouTube for trustworthy information on complementary health practices such as acupuncture, our study emphasizes the critical need for more higher-quality videos from unbiased healthcare institutions and physicians to ensure patients are receiving reliable information regarding this topic.

Determining the use of traditional and complementary health practices by adults during the COVID-19 pandemic

The research was conducted in a descriptive manner to determine the use of traditional and complementary health practices among adult individuals during the COVID-19 pandemic. The sample group of the study consisted of 385 adult individuals aged between 20-65 registered at Mucur Primary Health Care Centers. Data were collected using a "Data Collection Form" prepared by the researchers based on relevant literature review. Number, percentage, and mean were used in the analysis of the data. The mean age of the participants was 42.03±13.51, with 54.3% being female and 45.7% male. 66.0% of the individuals believe in the effectiveness of traditional and complementary health practices in COVID-19 disease, and 40.3% stated that they use traditional and complementary health practices every day during the COVID-19 pandemic. The most commonly used phytotherapy method (herbal treatment) during the COVID-19 pandemic by individuals is vitamin, citrus fruits, and garlic. It was found that individuals mostly practice breathing exercises, movement therapies, and music therapy among body and mind practices. Other complementary health approaches practiced by individuals during the COVID-19 pandemic include reading prayers, performing prayers, and seeking amulet-based therapies. It is recommended that healthcare professionals collect data on traditional and complementary health practices during the COVID-19 pandemic, and provide education and counseling services to the community on this issue.

Integrative and complementary health practices among university students: reasons for use or non-use

Resumo O objetivo deste estudo é compreender os motivos de uso e não uso das práticas integrativas e complementares entres estudantes universitários da área da saúde. Trata-se de uma pesquisa quanti-qualitativa, com dados coletados por meio de questionários (667) e entrevistas (34) e submetidos à análise de conteúdo. Os efeitos terapêuticos, a influência familiar e a oferta de alternativa à biomedicina foram as principais razões elencadas para o uso das práticas integrativas e complementares, ao tempo que a ausência de demanda, o desinteresse e a falta de oportunidade foram as motivações mais frequentes para o não uso. Nesse sentido, as motivações de uso enfatizam as vantagens obtidas através da interlocução com essas práticas e alguns contextos que determinam sua adoção. Em relação às motivações de não uso, destaca-se um cenário de baixa oferta e dominância da biomedicina na cultura ocidental contemporânea. Portanto, esses resultados corroboram a demanda de enfrentamento da monocultura da biomedicina, bem como a abordagem das práticas integrativas na educação superior. Desse modo, a universidade pode se construir a partir da tessitura entre diferentes culturas em saúde, com a facilitação do emprego das práticas não hegemônicas e a ampliação das bases epistêmicas de cuidado na formação e vida da comunidade acadêmica.

Use of integrative and complementary health practices by Brazilian population: results from the 2019 National Health Survey

BackgroundIn 2006, Brazil implemented the National Policy on Integrative and Complementary Practices of the SUS. and in 2015, the Brazilian Ministry of Health issued a reinforcement to this policy to increase access to integrative and complementary health practices (ICHP). In this study, we described the prevalence of ICHP in Brazilian adults according to their sociodemographic characteristics, self-perceived health, and chronic diseases.MethodsThis is a nationally representative cross-sectional survey including 64,194 participants from the 2019 Brazilian National Health Survey. Types of ICHP were categorized according to their purposes: health promotion (Tai chi/Lian gong/Qi gong, yoga, meditation, and integrative community therapy) or therapeutic practices (acupuncture, auricular acupressure, herbal treatment and phytotherapy, and homeopathy). Participants were classified as non-practitioners and practitioners, who in turn were grouped according to use of ICHP in the last 12 months: only used health promotion practices (HPP); only used therapeutic practices (TP); used both (HPTP). Multinomial logistic regressions were performed to estimate the associations of ICHP with sociodemographic characteristics, self-perceived health status, and chronic diseases.ResultsBrazilian adults showed an ICHP use prevalence of 6.13% [95%CI = 5.75–6.54]. Compared to non-practitioners, women and middle-aged adults were more likely to use any ICHP. Afro-Brazilians were less likely to use both HPP and HPTP, whereas Indigenous people were more likely to use both HPP and TP. We found a positive gradient of association among participants with higher income and educational attainment and access to any ICHP. People from rural areas and those with negative self-perceived health were more likely to use TP. Participants with arthritis/rheumatism, chronic back problems, and depression were more likely to use any ICHP.ConclusionsWe found that 6% of Brazilian adults reported using ICHP in the previous 12 months. Women, middle-aged individuals, chronic patients, people with depression, and wealthier Brazilians are more likely to use any type of ICHP. Of note, rather than suggesting to expand the offer of these practices in the Brazilian public health system, this study diagnosed Brazilians’ behavior of seeking for complementary healthcare.

Homeopathy: A State of the Science Review With Recommendations for Practical Therapies in Midwifery Practice.

A substantial proportion of adults and children in the United States use complementary and alternative health practices, including homeopathy. Many homeopathic therapies are readily available over the counter, and many individuals access and self-administer these therapies with little or no guidance from health care practitioners. In addition, patients and health care providers are often confused by terminologies associated with complementary practices and may be unable to distinguish homeopathy from naturopathy, herbalism, holistic medicine, Ayurveda, traditional Chinese medicine, or other forms of health care. Compared with European and Asian countries, education in the United States about complementary and alternative health practices is not typically found within traditional nursing, midwifery, or medical education curricula. Given this lack of education and the broad acceptance and popularity of homeopathy, it is necessary for health care practitioners to improve their knowledge regarding similarities and differences among therapies so they can fully inform and make appropriate recommendations to patients. The intent of this article is therefore to examine the state of existing science of homeopathy, distinguish it from other complementary methods, and provide midwives and women's health care providers with an introduction to common homeopathic therapies that may be recommended and safely used by persons seeking midwifery care. This review also presents the evidence base, pharmacology, manufacturing, and regulation of homeopathic therapies. We also consider controversies and misunderstandings regarding safety and efficacy of homeopathic remedies relevant to women and birthing persons. Examples of practical applications of homeopathic therapies for use in midwifery practice are introduced. Implications for practice and sample guidelines are included.

CONHEÇO, LOGO ORIENTO: A IMPORTÂNCIA DA FORMAÇÃO DO FARMACÊUTICO EM PRÁTICAS INTEGRATIVAS E COMPLEMENTARES EM SAÚDE

Integrative and Complementary Health Practices (ICP), also called by the World Health Organization (WHO) (WHO, 2002) as traditional medicines, were instituted by the Ministry of Health (MH) in 2006 through the National Policy for Integrative Practices in Health (PNPIC). Most of the care is provided at the Basic Health Units (BHU) in the Primary Care component. The data from the MS report that considering primary care and services of medium and high complexity, there are currently 25.197 health facilities in the country offering ICPs. The pharmacist can perform all 29 practices that are offered in the Unified Health System (SUS), provided that has the proper training. The Ministry of Education (MEC), through Resolution 6/2017, establishes Curriculum Guidelines for pharmaceutical training that include education in PICs. Therefore, it is clear the importance and necessity of the movement of educational entities to implement the new Guidelines required by the MEC for Pharmacy Courses in the country.

Inequalities in access to integrative and complementary health practices in Brazil: National Health Survey, 2019.

Integrative and complementary practices (PICs) can be important health care strategies, mainly because they consider the integrality of the person. The objective of this article was to verify the inequality in the access to PICs of the Brazilian population based on data from the National Health Survey (PNS). This is a population-based cross-sectional study, with data from the 2019 PNS. The use of PICs in the past 12 months was investigated. Adjusted analysis was performed using Poisson regression and the Slope Index of Inequality (SII) and the Concentration Index (CIX) were used to assess absolute and relative inequality. The prevalence of PIC use in Brazil was 5.4% (95%CI 5.3; 5.5). Individuals from the richest quintile, with higher education and with health insurance were more likely to use PICs in general, except for medicinal plants/herbal medicine. When observing the magnitude of inequalities, this was more positively accentuated in those with higher education and who had a private health plan. The results reveal social inequalities in the access to integrative practices, where the most elitist are more accessed by people with better socioeconomic conditions.

Offer of integrative and complementary health practices for the elderly in health services: A protocol for systematic review and meta analysis.

Integrative and complementary health practices (ICHP) question the hegemony of the biomedical, technical and hospital paradigm, as they are an important axis in the process of redefining the health care model. Understanding how ICHP are offered to the elderly population can help to improve the production of changes in care and in the daily life of health services. To identify and summarize the scientific evidence on the provision of ICHP for the elderly in health services. This is a research protocol for a scoping review following the recommendations of the Extension for Scoping Reviews method proposed by the Joanna Briggs Institute. Studies will be collected in the following databases, Latin American and Caribbean Health Sciences Literature, Web of Science, Scopus, Scielo, Online System for Searching and Analyzing Medical Literature (MEDLINE), Embase, Virtual Library in Health and gray literature. Two independent reviewers will perform screening, data extraction, and risk of bias assessment using the Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Assessment Checklist. For the quality of evidence, the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation analysis will be used. This review will provide information on the provision of ICHP for the elderly population in health services. This scoping review will provide evidence to help health professionals, managers and users to recognize more effective therapeutic inventions for promoting, preventing and protecting comprehensive health at different levels of care.

Endocannabinoid System: Chemical Characteristics and Biological Activity.

The endocannabinoid system (eCB) has been studied to identify the molecular structures present in Cannabis sativa. eCB consists of cannabinoid receptors, endogenous ligands, and the associated enzymatic apparatus responsible for maintaining energy homeostasis and cognitive processes. Several physiological effects of cannabinoids are exerted through interactions with various receptors, such as CB1 and CB2 receptors, vanilloid receptors, and the recently discovered G-protein-coupled receptors (GPR55, GPR3, GPR6, GPR12, and GPR19). Anandamide (AEA) and 2-arachidoylglycerol (2-AG), two small lipids derived from arachidonic acid, showed high-affinity binding to both CB1 and CB2 receptors. eCB plays a critical role in chronic pain and mood disorders and has been extensively studied because of its wide therapeutic potential and because it is a promising target for the development of new drugs. Phytocannabinoids and synthetic cannabinoids have shown varied affinities for eCB and are relevant to the treatment of several neurological diseases. This review provides a description of eCB components and discusses how phytocannabinoids and other exogenous compounds may regulate the eCB balance. Furthermore, we show the hypo- or hyperfunctionality of eCB in the body and how eCB is related to chronic pain and mood disorders, even with integrative and complementary health practices (ICHP) harmonizing the eCB.

Integrative and Complementary Health Practices in Coping with the Covid-19 Pandemic Period by Remote Workers

Integrative and Complementary Health Practices in Coping with the Covid-19 Pandemic Period by Remote Workers

Use of Integrative and Complementary Health Practices by professionals from the Expanded Centers for Family Health and Primary Care

Resumo Buscou-se conhecer a compreensão de profissionais dos Núcleos Ampliados de Saúde da Família e Atenção Básica (Nasf-AB) sobre a utilização das Práticas Integrativas e Complementares em Saúde (PICS) na sua atuação no município de Jaboatão dos Guararapes-PE, entre julho e agosto de 2020. Trata-se de um estudo de abordagem qualitativa, de caráter exploratório, utilizando-se da análise de conteúdo de Bardin para tratamento dos dados. Foram entrevistados 12 profissionais, dos quais dez utilizavam PICS, sendo a maioria do sexo feminino, parda, com formação em terapia ocupacional, de 30 a 39 anos. A auriculoterapia foi a prática predominante, sendo utilizada na população e nas equipes apoiadas, de forma individual e coletiva, principalmente nos problemas de saúde mental e dores crônicas. Os resultados ainda evidenciaram benefícios, formas de uso, fragilidades e potencialidades das PICS. A falta de financiamento federal das PICS, a aprovação da Emenda Constitucional (EC) 95/2017 e o atual Programa “Previne Brasil”, são vistos pelos autores como grandes desafios ao fortalecimento do Nasf-AB e à institucionalização das PICS na APS.

Integrative and Complementary Health Practices in Coping with the Covid-19 Pandemic Period by Remote Workers

Integrative and Complementary Health Practices in Coping with the Covid-19 Pandemic Period by Remote Workers

Integrative and complementary health practices in the nurses’ action of primary health care

Resumo Objetivo analisar o conhecimento e o uso das Práticas Integrativas e Complementares (PIC) na atuação dos enfermeiros da Atenção Primária à Saúde (APS). Método estudo transversal realizado em 85 Unidades Básicas de Saúde de Curitiba-PR em 2021. A amostra foi de 195 enfermeiros recrutados pela técnica Snowball. Os dados foram coletados por um instrumento eletrônico estruturado contendo 20 afirmativas com respostas tipo Likert e analisados por métodos estatísticos descritivos. Resultados 43(22,1%) dos participantes utilizam PIC na assistência, sendo que 31(15,9%) referiram ter formação em alguma modalidade. Identificou-se a utilização de 17 modalidades de PIC, sendo 33(47,8%) em auriculoterapia e sete (10,1%) em reiki. O ranking médio do item sobre o conhecimento teórico dos participantes sobre o tema foi >3,89, demonstrando concordância às afirmativas. Sobre as vivências dos participantes em relação às PIC, verificou-se o reconhecimento dessas práticas pelos enfermeiros. Conclusão o estudo contribui para a caracterização da atuação dos enfermeiros na APS, a partir das PIC. Os achados servem de subsídio para os profissionais e os gestores identificarem as lacunas no conhecimento, na atuação, bem como no gerenciamento dos serviços de saúde da APS, com o intuito de fortalecer a autonomia profissional daqueles que se utilizam dessas práticas na assistência.

A prática terapêutica do Tai Chi Chuan em um serviço de referência em práticas integrativas e complementares

Abstract Tai Chi Chuan (TCC) is among the most used Integrative and Complementary Health Practices (PICS) and, according to the scientific literature, presents clinical evidence for the treatment of various health problems. However, little is known about the development of this practice in the context of the Brazilian National Health System (SUS). In this sense, the objective of the article was to understand the therapeutic practice of TCC in a reference service in PICS in SUS, from a qualitative case study with participant observation and semi-structured interviews with users and therapists. Dissimilarities were observed between the therapeutic practice of TCC and biomedical body practices, as well as the presence of guidelines for SUS care, such as welcoming, qualified listening, therapeutic connection, and comprehensive care. The prevalence of mental distress was also identified as a reason for seeking the practice, as well as the need for greater financial support for the service, and the resistance to the use of Traditional Chinese Medicine by some female users’ support network.

A Comprehensive Review on Postpartum Depression.

One of the most common psychological effects following childbirth is postpartum depression. Postpartum depression (PPD) has a significant negative impact on the child's emotional, mental as well as intellectual development if left untreated, which can later have long-term complications. Later in life, it also results in the mother developing obsessive-compulsive disorder and anxiety. Many psychological risk factors are linkedwith PPD. The pathophysiology of the development of PPD is explained by different models like biological, psychological, integrated, and evolutionary models, which relate the result of the condition with particular conditions and factors. This article also explains the role of methyldopa as a medication used during pregnancy and the postpartum phase with the development of PPD. There are different mechanisms by which methyldopa causes depression. The large-scale screening of the condition can be done by Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). The diagnosis can be made by clinical assessment, simple self-report instruments, and questionnaires provided to mothers. Currently, there has not been any specific treatment for PPD, but selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) like sertraline are effective in acute management. Venlafaxine and desvenlafaxine are serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitorsused for the relief of symptoms. The SSRIand tricyclic antidepressants(TCA) used in combination have a prophylactic role in PPD. Nowadays, women prefer psychological therapies, complementary health practices, and neuromodulatory interventions like electroconvulsive therapy more than previous pharmacological treatments of depression.Allopregnanolone drug made into sterile solution brexanoloneleads to a rapid decline of PPD symptoms. PPD is a common and severe disorder that affects many mothers following childbirth but is ignored and not given much importance. Later it affects the child's psychological and intellectual abilities and mother-child bonding. We can easily prevent it by early diagnosis and timely care and management of the mother. Understanding the underlying pathophysiology would also go a long way in preventing and managing the disorder.

Health promotion in primary care across Brazil: Genealogic-inspired qualitative study

Objective: To describe and analyze Health Promotion practices in Primary Health Care. Method: Genealogic-inspired qualitative, descriptive, and exploratory research conducted in a PHC service in Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Twenty-three semi-structured interviews were held with the service staff from February to May 2020. The data were qualitatively analyzed using genealogically inspired techniques, which allowed us to identify tensions, disputes, discourses, practices, and power relationships. Results: We established eight sets of Health Promotion practices: 1) Educational activities focused on behavioral/habit changes and development of personal abilities; 2) Intersectoral practices and community social networks involving other community equipment; 3) Practices that encourage community organization and participation; 4) Integrative and Complementary Health practices; 5) Practices that stimulate meeting people, sociability, art, and creativity; 6) Practices that encourage environmental and food sustainability; 7) Practices that stimulate income generation; 8) Community communication practices. Conclusion: We identified a heterogeneous field of practices to promote health established through the circulation of different types of knowledge and powers. The practices are permeated by discourses linked to neoliberal governability and practices that position themselves against such discourse.

EFFECTIVENESS OF THE FAMILY HEALTH STRATEGY IN BAHIA

Objective: to know the evolution of effective programs and actions in primary care through public health policies for the family health strategy (FHS) and point out which are the programs and actions in primary care in preventive health for the Baiana population. Methodology: A systematic review was conducted with the objective of answering “Which are the health policies in primary care that were effective in the incorporation of the ESF in Bahia?” in the SciELO, LILACS and MEDLINE bases using the descriptors “Estratégia Saúde da Família”; “Atenção Primária”; “Bahia” in the Portuguese language, in national journals such as Cadernos de Saúde Pública CPS, Brazilian Journal of Health Review, Ciência & Saúde Coletiva, Revista Brasileira de Enfermagem. Results and Discussion: In view of the analysis of the articles and according to the authors, the Public Policies effective in primary care that were most consolidated were: the Popular Pharmacy, Integrative and Complementary Health Practices (PICS), Community Health Agents (ACS), Smiling Brazil, Municipal Health Councilors (CMS), HiperDia Program, More Doctors Program (PMM), Hospitalizations for Conditions Sensitive to Primary Care (ICSAP), Pact for Life and Health at School Program (PSE). Concluding remarks: Therefore, added to the historical facts and the improvements in programs and actions developed in Bahia it is possible to conclude that primary health mediated by the ESF allowed the pathological diagnosis to any Baiano, to be made early and with that his sexual, emotional, nutritional and physical life could be oriented and assisted in its integrality.