BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine
August 8, 2017
R. Ho, Adrian H Y Wan, Jessie S. M. Chan et al.
4 citations
BackgroundColorectal cancer imposes threats to patients’ well-being. Although most physical symptoms can be managed by medication, psychosocial stressors may complicate survival and hamper quality of life. Mindfulness and Qigong, two kinds of mind-body exercise rooted in Eastern health philosophy, has been found effective in symptoms management, improving mental health, and reducing stress....
BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine
June 15, 2017
Adam Burke, Chun Nok Lam, Barbara Stussman et al.
Background: Despite a growing body of scientific literature exploring the nature of meditation there is limited information on the characteristics of individuals who use it. This is particularly true of comparative studies examining prevalence and predictors of use of various forms of meditation. Methods: A secondary analysis was conducted using data from the 2012 National Health Interview...
BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine
February 23, 2017
Kenji Sanada, Marta Alda Díez, Montserrat Salas Valero et al.
Only a small number of articles have investigated the relationship between mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) and biomarkers. The aim of this systematic review was to study the effect of MBIs on specific biomarkers (cytokines, neuropeptides and C-reactive protein (CRP)) in both healthy subjects and cancer patients. A search was conducted using PubMed, EMBASE, PsycINFO and the Cochrane...
BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine
August 18, 2016
Waleed O Twal, Amy E Wahlquist, Sundaravadivel Balasubramanian
Background: Self-report measures indicate that Yoga practices are perceived to reduce stress; however, molecular mechanisms through which YB affects stress are just beginning to be understood. While invasive sampling such as blood has been widely used to measure biological indicators such as pro-inflammatory biomarkers, the use of saliva to measure changes in various biomolecules has been...
BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine
May 31, 2016
Tegegne Bogale, Epherm Engidawork, E. Yisma
BackgroundChewing fresh leaves of the khat plant (Catha edulis forsk) is a deep rooted and widespread habit in East Africa and the Middle East. Although a body of knowledge exists about the adverse effects of khat on health, data are sparse with regard to the consequences of long-term khat chewing in resulting schizophrenic like symptoms.MethodsA crude extract of khat at different doses (100...
BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine
March 25, 2016
Kristoffer Jonsson, Anette Kjellgren
During Flotation-REST a person is floating inside a quiet and dark tank, filled with heated salt saturated water. Deep relaxation and beneficial effects on e.g. stress, sleep difficulties, anxiety and depression have been documented in earlier research. Despite that treatments for generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) are effective; it is till the least successfully treated anxiety disorder,...
BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine
February 27, 2016
Albert Feliu-Soler, Xavier Borràs, M. Peñarrubia-María et al.
BackgroundThe EUDAIMON study focuses on fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS), a prevalent chronic condition characterized by pain, fatigue, cognitive problems and distress. According to recent reviews and meta-analyses, Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) is a promising therapeutic approach for patients with FMS. The measurement of biomarkers as part of the analysis of MBSR effects would help to...
BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine
May 8, 2015
M. Leach, A. Francis, T. Ziaian
BackgroundDementia is a prevalent neurodegenerative disorder affecting an estimated 24.3 million people across the globe. The burden on those caring for people with dementia is substantial, with widespread implications for the caregiver, the care recipient and the community. Relaxation techniques, such as Transcendental Meditation® (TM), have been shown to reduce stress and anxiety in healthy...
BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine
March 29, 2015
James M. Davis, Alison R. Manley, Simon Benjamin Goldberg et al.
33 citations
BACKGROUND: Many smokers are unable to access effective behavioral smoking cessation therapies due to location, financial limitations, schedule, transportation issues or other reasons. We report results from a prospective observational study in which a promising novel behavioral intervention, Mindfulness Training for Smokers was provided via web-based video instruction with telephone-based...
BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine
February 14, 2015
Sara Wagner Robb, Kelsey Benson, Lauren Middleton et al.
Studies have demonstrated the potential of the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program to improve the condition of individuals with health outcomes such as hypertension, diabetes, and chronic pain; improve psychological well-being; reduce stress levels; and increase survival among cancer patients. To date, only one study has focused on the effect of long-term meditation on stress,...
BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine
November 15, 2014
Anupama Tyagi, Marc Cohen, John Reece et al.
Background: Stress places a metabolic burden on homeostasis and is linked to heightened sympathetic activity, increased energy expenditure and pathology. The yogic state is a hypometabolic state that corresponds with mind-body coherence and reduced stress. This study aimed to investigate metabolic responses to stress and different yoga practices in regular yoga practitioners (YP), non-yoga...
BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine
October 25, 2014
Anette Kjellgren, Jessica Westman
BackgroundSensory isolation in a flotation tank is a method known for inducing deep relaxation and subsequent positive health effects for patients suffering from e.g. stress or muscle tensions pains. Very few studies have investigated this method as a preventive health-care intervention. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects in healthy participants after receiving a series of...
BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine
August 19, 2014
Z. Amtul, Amanda Arena, H. Hirjee et al.
BackgroundThe prevalence and socioeconomic cost of late life depression (LLD) is on the rise, while the response rate to antidepressant trials remains poor. Various mind-body therapies are being embraced by patients as they are considered safe and potentially effective, yet little is known regarding the effectiveness of such therapies to improve LLD symptoms. Among the mind-body therapies...
BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine
March 11, 2014
Stuart J. Eisendrath, Erin P Gillung, Kevin L. Delucchi et al.
BackgroundMajor depressive disorder (MDD) is the leading cause of disability in the developed world, yet broadly effective treatments remain elusive. Up to 40% of patients with depression are unresponsive to at least two trials of antidepressant medication and thus have “treatment-resistant depression” (TRD). There is an urgent need for cost-effective, non-pharmacologic, evidence-based...
BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine
February 10, 2014
Amber Hubbling, Maryanne Reilly-Spong, Mary Jo Kreitzer et al.
Background: Chronic insomnia is a major public health problem affecting approximately 10% of adults. Use of meditation and yoga to develop mindful awareness ('mindfulness training') may be an effective approach to treat chronic insomnia, with sleep outcomes comparable to nightly use of prescription sedatives, but more durable and with minimal or no side effects. The purpose of this study was to...
BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine
September 3, 2013
James M. Davis, David M Mills, Kristin A Stankevitz et al.
BackgroundWe report results of a pilot study designed to test a novel smoking cessation intervention, Mindfulness Training for Smokers (MTS), in smokers age 18-29 years with regular episodes of binge drinking. Mindfulness is a cognitive skill of applying close moment-to-moment attention to experience with a mental posture of acceptance and non-reactivity. The MTS intervention consisted of six...
BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine
February 16, 2013
Kristin A. Zernicke, Tavis S. Campbell, Michael Speca et al.
Elevated stress can exacerbate cancer symptom severity, and after completion of primary cancer treatments, many individuals continue to have significant distress. Mindfulness-Based Cancer Recovery (MBCR) is an 8-week group psychosocial intervention consisting of training in mindfulness meditation and yoga designed to mitigate stress, pain, and chronic illness. Efficacy research shows...
BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine
September 25, 2012
Holger Cramer, Heidemarie Haller, Romy Lauche et al.
Background: Mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) is frequently used for pain conditions. While systematic reviews on MBSR for chronic pain have been conducted, there are no reviews for specific pain conditions. Therefore a systematic review of the effectiveness of MBSR in low back pain was performed. Methods: MEDLINE, the Cochrane Library, EMBASE, CAMBASE, and PsycInfo were screened...
BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine
June 12, 2012
Brenda Golianu, Lynn C Waelde
Purpose Although there is a substantial literature about the effectiveness of psychological therapies such as relaxation for pediatric chronic pain and about mindfulness meditation (MM) for health and mental health conditions, there has been little systematic attention to the use of MM for pediatric chronic pain. This presentation will address lessons learned from our ongoing clinical trial of...
BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine
June 1, 2012
Gaelle Desbordes, Riccardo Barbieri, Luca Citi et al.
We collected electrocardiogram recordings as part of a larger randomized controlled trial of the effects of an eight-week meditation training intervention on healthy adults without prior meditation experience. Here we report data from eight subjects before and after the “mindful-attention” meditation intervention and the control intervention. The recordings were performed while the subjects...
BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine
December 20, 2011
Kathi J Kemper, Hossam A Shaltout
Calm, compassionate clinicians comfort others. To evaluate the direct psychophysiologic benefits of non-verbal communication of compassion (NVCC), it is important to minimize the effect of subjects' expectation. This preliminary study was designed to a) test the feasibility of two strategies for maintaining subject blinding to non-verbal communication of compassion (NVCC), and b) determine...
BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine
May 31, 2011
Sarah L. Szanton, Jennifer M Wenzel, Amy B Connolly et al.
76 citations
BACKGROUND: Mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) programs are becoming increasingly common, but have not been studied in low income minority older populations. We sought to understand which parts of MBSR were most important to practicing MBSR members of this population, and to understand whether they apply their training to daily challenges. METHODS: We conducted three focus groups with 13...
BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine
April 11, 2011
Kathi J Kemper, Sally Bulla, Deborah Krueger et al.
Most research on the impact of mind-body training does not ask about participants' baseline experience, expectations, or preferences for training. To better plan participant-centered mind-body intervention trials for nurses to reduce occupational stress, such descriptive information would be valuable. We conducted an anonymous email survey between April and June, 2010 of North American nurses...
BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine
July 28, 2009
Susan A Gaylord, William E. Whitehead, Rebecca S Coble et al.
53 citations
BACKGROUND: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), a functional bowel disorder with symptoms of abdominal pain and disturbed defecation experienced by 10% of U.S. adults, results in significant disability, impaired quality of life, and health-care burden. Conventional medical care focusing on pharmacological approaches, diet, and lifestyle management has been partially effective in controlling...
BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine
December 19, 2007
Anette Kjellgren, Sven A Bood, Kajsa Axelsson et al.
Background: Increasing rates of psychosocial disturbances give rise to increased risks and vulnerability for a wide variety of stress-related chronic pain and other illnesses. Relaxation exercises aim at reducing stress and thereby help prevent these unwanted outcomes. One of the widely used relaxation practices is yoga and yogic breathing exercises. One specific form of these exercises is...