Integrative Medicine Research Articles (Page 1)

Introduction Cancer patients commonly suffer from substantial side effects of oncological therapies. Therefore, the Oncology Working Group of the Competence Network for Integrative Medicine in Baden-Württemberg, Germany (KIM-BW) developed practice-oriented recommendations for the integrative treatment of chemotherapy-induced mucositis (CIM), nausea and vomiting (CINV), and cancer-related fatigue (CRF). Methods Two expert groups of physicians and nurses developed therapeutic recommendations using an interdisciplinary expert consensus process oriented on a Delphi-methodology with a standardized scoring matrix, considering training, feasibility, time intensity, clinical effectiveness, contraindications, and interactions. The consensus process was complemented by a targeted, non-systematic literature search conducted across the AWMF S3 Guideline on Complementary Medicine in Oncology, the KOKON knowledge database, the Working Group on Integrative Care in Oncology, and PubMed/Medline. Results The expert panel consisted of 21 professionals (14 physicians, 7 nurses), all conventionally trained with additional qualifications in integrative disciplines. We evaluated 83 interventions. Top recommendations were identified for each symptom. For CIM: sage tea mouth rinses, ice cubes, sea buckthorn oil mouth rinses, frozen pineapple cubes, and herbal oral balm. For CRF: movement therapy, yarrow liver compresses, viscum album therapy, sleep hygiene with regular circadian rhythms, and hydrotherapy. For CINV: acupressure, ginger, aromatherapy, bitter botanicals such as gentian root, and homeopathic preparation nux vomica . Conclusions Integrative treatment recommendations developed by the KIM Oncology Working Group provide pragmatic, clinically grounded guidance for integrative management of common treatment-related symptoms in oncology. Prospective evaluation of safety, effectiveness, and implementation across settings is warranted.

Bioscience subjects are a core component of all health practitioner degrees. While negative attitudes towards biosciences have been explored among nursing and allied health students, little is known about how traditional, complementary and integrative medicine (TCIM) students perceive these subjects. This study employed an explanatory mixed-methods design to investigate the attitudes of first-year TCIM students—within their first or second week of study—towards biosciences in an Australian curriculum. The primary aim was to assess whether attitudes were positive or negative; the secondary aim was to examine the influence of demographic factors. A 41-item Likert scale survey, incorporating affective, cognitive, and perceived control domains, was completed by 586 students between February and December. One-way ANOVA and Tukey-Kramer post hoc tests identified statistically significant differences across demographic variables. While overall attitudes were positive, students aged 35 and older reported higher anxiety (p = 0.003), perceived difficulty (p < 0.001), and self-efficacy (p = 0.035) than younger students. Those who had studied only biology at school reported greater enjoyment (p < 0.001), self-efficacy (p = 0.001), and anxiety (p < 0.001) compared to those with no prior science background. To further explore these results, four open-ended survey questions were analysed thematically (n = 161). Responses revealed both increased confidence and ongoing concerns, particularly around subject relevance and difficulty. These findings suggest that while TCIM students value biosciences, tailored educational strategies are needed to support mature-age learners and those with limited prior science education.

Parkia platycephala has emerged as a promising medicinal species, attracting growing scientific interest due to its richness in bioactive compounds such as phenolic acids, flavonoids, tannins, saponins, terpenes, and lectins, present across different parts of the plant. Studies to date have highlighted its varied biological activities, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and antitumoral properties. Additionally, these compounds have been shown to increase the efficacy of conventional therapeutic drugs and reduce resistance to their effects. Given the breadth and relevance of these findings, compiling and systematizing the available data on P. platycephala is essential. A comprehensive synthesis not only facilitates a better understanding of the plant’s phytochemical and pharmacological potential but also lays the groundwork for the development of innovative, multi-target therapeutic strategies. This effort is particularly relevant in addressing current challenges in treating infections, inflammatory disorders, and cancer, thereby reinforcing the species’ value as a strategic resource for future drug discovery and integrative medicine.

BackgroundWith growing evidence pointing towards the potential of integrative oncology modalities (IOM) in addressing cancer and cancer-treatment related symptoms, research on IOM utilization and implementation is warranted. This study examines global stakeholder perspectives on integrative oncology (IO) utilization for supportive cancer care.MethodsMembers of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer (MASCC) and the Society for Integrative Oncology (SIO) completed a survey on the utilization of IOM for supportive cancer care. Descriptive statistics were used to assess demographic data, IOM usage patterns, IOM education, and financial considerations for utilizing IOM.ResultsAmong 344 participants representing eight geographical regions, 70% reported having utilized or recommended IOM and 79% perceived IOM to be underutilized in cancer supportive care. Acupuncture (48%), exercise classes (39%), nutrition (38%), breathing/yoga (38%) and personalized exercise (38%) were among the most utilized IOM across regions. Relatedly, the symptoms for which IOM were most recommended for persons with a diagnosis of cancer in active treatment [AT] or completed treatment [CT] respectively were emotional (AT 23%; CT 26%), pain (AT 22%; CT 20%), gastrointestinal (AT 21%; CT 12%) and fatigue (AT 15%; CT 16%). The perceived availability of integrative medicine training was highest in North America (69%). Across regions, self-pay (20%-67%), private insurance (0%-26%) and government insurance (7%-40%) were the most common forms of payment for IOM. The IOM most recommended in high-income countries (acupuncture, exercise, massage, individual exercise) varied from the IOM most recommended in low-middle income countries (nutrition counseling, exercise classes, breathing, acupuncture).ConclusionThis study provides valuable insights into global utilization patterns of IOM in supportive cancer care, highlighting that while most respondents have utilized IOM, there is a perceived underutilization overall. Our results show significant regional differences in the availability of integrative oncology education and hint to financial barriers impacting IOM use. Further research is necessary to explore these aspects and inform strategies for supporting IOM implementation efforts.Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12906-025-05157-6.

One Health: Introduction to Integrative Veterinary Medicine.

A virtual mind-body exercise program during breast radiation: Results from a randomized controlled basket trial.

Over the past decade, complementary medicine services have been increasingly integrated into departments of obstetrics (i.e., Integrative Obstetrics) throughout Israel. This case report is presented with the goal to learn about a collaborative treatment setting involving a team of obstetric and integrative medicine practitioners. The narrative-qualitative case report analyzed the response of a woman who had been referred to an Integrative Obstetrics service after giving birth. The patient was hospitalized in the postnatal obstetric department, where she was referred by the chief department nurse to an Integrative Obstetrics service treatment with the indication of post-lumbar puncture headache pain, two days following birth. The narratives analyzed for the case study included those from the patient, the referring nurse, the patient, the integrative medicine practitioner, and the patient's obstetrician. This case study was analyzed within the broader context of integrative obstetric programs in Israel. In conclusion, communication between the obstetric and integrative medicine teams is a key factor in providing an informed referral to integrative obstetric care, based on a focused clinical indication (e.g., pain), and in creating a unified and multi-disciplinary therapeutic approach which is then documented in the patient's medical record.

Introduction: Shudhabala Taila, an Ayurvedic oil, is used for Vata-related disorders such as insomnia, paralysis and frozen shoulder. It contains Sida cordifolia, Sesamum indicum and cow’s milk, offering anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective and Rasayana effects. With increasing interest in integrative medicine, exploring its pharmacological basis and therapeutic potential is essential for broader clinical application. Aim: To review the therapeutic potential and clinical application of Shudhabala Taila in managing various disorders. Materials and Methods: This scoping review was conducted at the Department of Panchakarma, Mahatma Gandhi Ayurveda College Hospital and Research Centre, Datta Meghe Institute of Higher Education and Research (Deemed to be University) Salod (H), Wardha, Maharashtra, India, using comprehensive searches of the PubMed, Web of Science and Google Scholar databases. After carefully screening the studies, seven articles were selected. The extracted data were systematically organised and analysed to provide a comprehensive overview of the therapeutic potential of Shudhabala Taila. The present scoping review also emphasises the various routes of administration of Shudhabala Taila in treating different disorders. Results: These studies demonstrated a notable improvement in symptoms such as tremors, stiffness, pain, hypersensitivity and spasticity. According to the analysis, Shudhabala Taila is just as effective- if not more so- than alternative therapies or control groups. Conclusion: The review highlights that Shudhabala Taila is effective in providing symptom relief, improving quality of life and managing various health conditions. Incorporating Ayurvedic products like Shudhabala Taila into clinical practice can provide more holistic care. Nevertheless, further studies are required to understand its mechanism and to address the methodological shortcomings.

Nutraceuticals.

Veterinary Medical Ozone Therapy: An Integrative Approach.

To evaluate the effectiveness of an integrative intervention combining psychological and physical therapies with pharmacologic treatment for postmastectomy pain syndrome (PMPS), and to assess its impact on pain, anxiety, and quality of life in breast cancer patients. In this prospective randomized controlled study, 302 breast cancer patients with chronic postoperative pain were assigned to a control group (standard pharmacologic treatment) or an experimental group (combined drug, psychological, and physical therapies). Key outcomes included NRS scores during movement and rest, pain interference, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), and Breast-Q scores, assessed at T0 (baseline), T1 (end of intervention), and T2 (3months after intervention). At T2, the experimental group showed significantly lower movement NRS scores (p=0.0143), pain interference scores (p=0.0488), and anxiety scores (p=0.0001) compared to the control group. Two-way ANOVA revealed significant time×group interactions for multiple pain-related outcomes (p<0.05). Quality of life improved over time (p=0.0026), but no significant between-group difference was found. A multimodal integrative intervention combining psychological and physical therapies can enhance pain relief and emotional well-being in patients with PMPS. This approach supports the application of integrative medicine in oncology rehabilitation.

The implementation of integrative medicine in an oncology setting (Integrative Oncology, IO) is increasingly taking place in cancer centers across Israel and worldwide, often together with palliative care. To learn about a collaborative treatment setting involving a team of gyneco-oncology, supportive and palliative care and IO healthcare professionals and practitioners. This narrative-based study analyzed the treatment of a patient with advanced ovarian cancer from the perspectives of healthcare professionals and practitioners from the three disciplines. The patient, a young woman from Israel with a diagnosis of ovarian cancer, had always had a strong affinity toward alternative medicine practices. The medical team at the study center accompanied her from the initial diagnosis until her passing. The narratives presented include those from the IO team of practitioners working in the gyneco-oncology department, her gyneco-oncologist and the palliative care nurse. These perspectives addressed the goals of the IO program, and the quality of the interaction in meeting therapeutic challenges, including during end-of-life care. Clinical collaboration between oncology surgeons, palliative care professionals and IO practitioners may facilitate communication with patients whose health-belief model challenges that of medical and nursing staff. This interaction may create a synergistic process, sharing treatment goals with the patient.

Integration of Mental Health Care into Food Allergy Practices: A Work Group Report of the AAAAI Integrative Medicine Committee.

Adapt or Lag Behind: Why Researchers in Traditional, Complementary, and Integrative Medicine Must Master Prompt Engineering in the Era of Artificial Intelligence

This commentary explores the synergistic integration of Mongolian Mind-Body Interaction Therapy (MMBIT) with modern Systems Theory to offer a roadmap for advancing integrative psychosomatic care. By blending traditional Mongolian medical wisdom (Heyi/Xila/Badagan?triad) with interdisciplinary systems science, MMBIT provides a holistic framework for treating mind-body disorders through its Material-Energy-Information Triadic Interaction Model. This commentary highlights the theoretical foundations, clinical applications, and technological innovations of MMBIT, demonstrating its potential to transform integrative medicine and global healthcare practices.

To investigate the diagnostic value of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) in differentiating benign and malignant endometrial diseases by analyzing the early arterial vascular architecture on CEUS images. A prospective study was conducted at the Sichuan Integrative Medicine Hospital to enroll 70 suspected endometrial lesion patients with a mean age of 42.5 ± 8.2 years (range 27-69 years). The patients underwent conventional ultrasound and CEUS examinations, and pathological examinations were obtained through surgery or curettage. They were divided into the benign group and malignant group according to their pathological types. The CEUS image features were analyzed, and the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and other parameters were compared between the two groups by carefully observing the early enhancement images and comparing the differences in the vascular architecture, including the shape of the vessels, the number of vessels, and the vessel diameter. There were significant differences in vascular shape, number, and diameter between the two groups. The difference in vascular morphology was highly statistically significant (p < 0.001). The "vascular supply" was used for the diagnosis of malignant diseases of the endometrium with a high sensitivity of 95.8%, specificity of 77.5%, positive predictive value of 71.8%, and accuracy of 84.4%. When the maximum inner diameter exceeded 1.5 mm, the sensitivity and specificity for the diagnosis of malignant lesions were 95.8% and 82.5%, respectively, with a positive predictive value of 76.6% and an accuracy of 87.5%. When the average inner diameter exceeded 1.22 mm, the sensitivity for the diagnosis of malignant endometrial lesions was 87.5%, the specificity was 80%, and the accuracy was 82.8%. The utilization of CEUS vascular architecture holds significant clinical value in the diagnosis of both benign and malignant endometrial diseases, thereby warranting further comprehensive investigation.

Objective: This study aims to assess the effectiveness of combining cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and acupoint application for sleep disorders in patients with benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV), and to contribute evidence for multimodal strategies in managing sleep-vestibular comorbidities within an integrative medicine model. Methods: A total of 120 patients with BPPV and comorbid sleep disorders were randomly assigned, using a random number table, to 1 of 3 groups (n=40 per group): (1) control group, which received canalith repositioning maneuvers alone, (2) acupoint application group, which received canalith repositioning combined with acupoint therapy, and (3) the combined treatment group, which received acupoint therapy along with CBT. Primary outcomes included the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), dizziness handicap inventory (DHI), and total traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) syndrome score. Assessments were conducted at baseline, 1 week, 2 weeks, and 1 month post-intervention. Results: The combined treatment group demonstrated significantly greater overall clinical efficacy compared with both the acupoint application and the control group ( P &lt;0.05). No statistically significant differences were observed among the groups in baseline PSQI, DHI, and TCM syndrome scores ( P &gt;0.05). Post-treatment evaluations revealed significant reductions in PSQI, DHI, and TCM syndrome scores in the combined treatment group compared with the other 2 groups ( P &lt;0.05). Conclusions: The integration of CBT with acupoint application significantly improved sleep quality, vestibular function, and overall quality of life of patients with BPPV, highlighting the synergistic benefits of this multimodal therapeutic approach.

Introduction Colorectal adenoma (CRA), the main precursor of colorectal cancer (CRC), has a high recurrence rate (5-year cumulative: 48 - 68%) and a malignant transformation risk (0.2 - 0.5%). Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) provides a potential method to improve risk assessment and prevention. Based on TCM theories and the characteristics of colorectal adenoma, we hypothesize that an integrated system combining TCM syndromes, constitution types, and modern medical parameters can better predict adenoma recurrence and CRC occurrence. Methods and analysis This is a multicenter prospective cohort study. A total of 15,000 patients with colonoscopy-confirmed colorectal adenomas will be recruited from 12 tertiary hospitals in China. At baseline, TCM characteristics (syndromes, constitution, tongue and pulse features), endoscopic findings, and biological samples (tongue coating, saliva, stool, blood, tissue) will be collected. The participants will be followed up for 5 years with risk-stratified standardized colonoscopy intervals. The primary outcomes are adenoma recurrence and CRC occurrence. The secondary outcomes include identifying risk factors and developing a predictive model. Multivariable logistic regression, Cox models, and mixed-effects models will be used for data analysis. A comprehensive biobank will be established to support future mechanistic studies. Ethics and dissemination Ethical approval has been obtained from the Institutional Review Board of the Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine. Written informed consent will be obtained from all participants, who can withdraw at any time without prejudice. Clinical trial registration https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06136026 , identifier NCT06136026.

The integration of traditional acupuncture systems with modern biomedical technologies offers promising avenues for therapeutic innovation. This study explores the efficacy of superficial galvanic stimulation applied to Master Tung acupuncture points, aiming to evaluate its potential in enhancing clinical outcomes. Master Tung’s points, renowned for their precision and systemic effects, were selected as stimulation sites to bridge classical theory with contemporary practice. Through structured patient selection, point identification, device application, and subsequent data analysis, the intervention was assessed for its impact on symptom modulation and physiological response. Findings suggest that superficial galvanic stimulation not only reinforces the therapeutic relevance of Master Tung’s system but also demonstrates measurable benefits when interpreted through modern clinical frameworks. This approach highlights the potential of bridging tradition and modernity to create innovative, evidence-based pathways in integrative medicine.

Nonpharmacological therapies like acupuncture, gua sha, and cupping are gain-ing prominence in integrative medicine, yet their application lacks data-driven personalization and rigorous safety assurances. This paper introduces Meridi-anFM, a causal and safe multimodal foundation model framework designed to generate personalized prescriptions for these therapies. MeridianFM integrates four key innovations: (1) a meridian-aware graph neural network that encodes the topological and semantic properties of acupoints; (2) a self-supervised mul-timodal architecture that fuses physiological time series, thermal imagery, elec-tronic health records, and patient-reported outcomes; (3) a causal inference layer employing doubly robust estimation and front-door adjustment to miti-gate confounding in observational data and estimate individualized treatment effects; and (4) a constrained reinforcement learning policy optimized with risk-sensitive objectives (Conditional Value-at-Risk) and a mixed-integer pro-gramming post-processor to enforce clinical safety and feasibility constraints. To ensure reproducibility, we provide a comprehensive evaluation suite based on synthetic and semi-synthetic data, including all source code. Our experi-ments demonstrate that MeridianFM surpasses baseline models in optimizing treatment policies, accurately estimating causal effects, and adhering to safety constraints. While this study establishes methodological feasibility and superior performance in simulated environments, it also lays the groundwork for future clinical validation, representing a significant step toward AI-driven precision in traditional medicine.