ABSTRACT Pain afflicts over 50 million people in the US, with 30.7% US adults suffering with chronic pain. Despite advances in therapies, many patients will continue to deal with ongoing symptoms that are not fully ad...ABSTRACT Pain afflicts over 50 million people in the US, with 30.7% US adults suffering with chronic pain. Despite advances in therapies, many patients will continue to deal with ongoing symptoms that are not fully addressed by the best conventional medicine has to offer them. The patients frequently turn to therapies outside the usual purview of conventional medicine （herbs, acupuncture, meditation, etc.） called complementary and alternative medicine （CAM）. Academic and governmental groups are also starting to incorporate CAM recommendations into chronic pain management strategies. Thus, for any physician who care for patients with chronic pain, having some familiarity with these therapies--including risks and benefits--will be key to helping guide patients in making evidence-based, well informed decisions about whether or not to use such therapies. On the other hand, if a CAM therapy has evidence of both safety and efficacy then not making it available to a patient who is suffering does not meet the need of the patient. We summarize the current evidence of a wide variety of CAM modalities that have potential for helping patients with chronic pain in this article. The triad of chronic pain symptoms, ready access to information on the internet, and growing patient empowerment suggest that CAM therapies will remain a consistent part of the healthcare of patients dealing with chronic pain.展开更多
Health wellness is a state of the homeostasis. Chinese medicine incorporate many concept including holistic medicine and individualized medicine to promote health wellness. Different domains of Chinese medicine were e...Health wellness is a state of the homeostasis. Chinese medicine incorporate many concept including holistic medicine and individualized medicine to promote health wellness. Different domains of Chinese medicine were exclusively adopted after the first introduction of acupuncture to USA. Mayo as one of the best USA hospital created a foundation for the more widespread introduction of Chinese medicine into the US especially on the health wellness promotion.展开更多
BACKGROUND： Fibromyalgia is a syndrome characterized by chronic pain, fatigue, depression, and sleep disturbances. Its primary cause is unclear. Several studies have reported decreased intracellular magnesium levels ...BACKGROUND： Fibromyalgia is a syndrome characterized by chronic pain, fatigue, depression, and sleep disturbances. Its primary cause is unclear. Several studies have reported decreased intracellular magnesium levels in patients with fibromyalgia and have found negative correlation between magnesium levels and fibromyalgia symptoms.OBJECTIVE： To gather preliminary data on whether transdermal magnesium can improve quality of life for women who have fibromyalgia. DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS AND INTERVENTIONS： This is a patient questionnaires and survey in a fibremyalgia clinic at a tertiary medical center. Forty female patients with the diagnosis of fibremyalgia were enrolled. Each participant was provided a spray bottle containing a transdermal magnesium chloride solution and asked to apply 4 sprays per limb twice daily for 4 weeks. Participants were asked to complete the Revised Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire, SF-36v2 Health Survey, and a quality-of-life analog scale at baseline, week 2, and week 4. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE： Questionnaire and survey scores, evaluated through intent-to-treat and per-protocol analyses. RESULTS： Twenty-four patients completed the study （mean [SD] age, 57.2 [7.6] years; white, 95%; mean body mass index, 31.3 kg/m2）. With intention-to-treat analysis, Revised Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire subscale and total scores were significantly improved at week 2 and week 4 （total score, P = 0.001）. Per-protocol analysis results were similar： all subscales of the Revised Fibremyalgia Impact Questionnaire were significantly improved at week 2 and week 4 （total score, P = 0.001）. CONCLUSION： This pilot study suggests that transdermal magnesium chloride applied on upper and lower limbs may be beneficial to patients with fibromyalgia.展开更多
OBJECTIVE： Integrative medicine （IM） combines complementary medical approaches into conventional medicine and considers the whole person. We implemented a longitudinal IM short-course curriculum into our medical sc...OBJECTIVE： Integrative medicine （IM） combines complementary medical approaches into conventional medicine and considers the whole person. We implemented a longitudinal IM short-course curriculum into our medical school education. This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of the curriculum via knowledge and attitude surveys regarding IM among students. METHODS： A mandatory short IM curriculum across all years of medical school was created and taught by IM professionals and physician faculty members with expertise in integrative therapies. Graduating classes of 2015 and 2016 completed the same survey in their first and third years of medical school. Paired data analysis was done, and only students who completed surveys at both time points were included in final analyses. RESULTS： Of 52 students in each class, 17 （33%） in the class of 2015 and 22 （42%） in the class of 2016 completed both surveys. After the IM curriculum, students＇ knowledge of and comfort with several IM therapies--biofeedback, mindfulness, and the use of St. John＇s wort--improved significantly. Students＇ personal health practices also improved, including better sleep, exercise, and stress management for the class of 2015. Students graduating in 2016 reported decreased alcohol use in their third year compared with their first year. CONCLUSION： It is feasible to incorporate IM education into undergraduate medical education, and this is associated with improvement in students＇ knowledge of IM and personal health practices.展开更多
文摘ABSTRACT Pain afflicts over 50 million people in the US, with 30.7% US adults suffering with chronic pain. Despite advances in therapies, many patients will continue to deal with ongoing symptoms that are not fully addressed by the best conventional medicine has to offer them. The patients frequently turn to therapies outside the usual purview of conventional medicine （herbs, acupuncture, meditation, etc.） called complementary and alternative medicine （CAM）. Academic and governmental groups are also starting to incorporate CAM recommendations into chronic pain management strategies. Thus, for any physician who care for patients with chronic pain, having some familiarity with these therapies--including risks and benefits--will be key to helping guide patients in making evidence-based, well informed decisions about whether or not to use such therapies. On the other hand, if a CAM therapy has evidence of both safety and efficacy then not making it available to a patient who is suffering does not meet the need of the patient. We summarize the current evidence of a wide variety of CAM modalities that have potential for helping patients with chronic pain in this article. The triad of chronic pain symptoms, ready access to information on the internet, and growing patient empowerment suggest that CAM therapies will remain a consistent part of the healthcare of patients dealing with chronic pain.
文摘Health wellness is a state of the homeostasis. Chinese medicine incorporate many concept including holistic medicine and individualized medicine to promote health wellness. Different domains of Chinese medicine were exclusively adopted after the first introduction of acupuncture to USA. Mayo as one of the best USA hospital created a foundation for the more widespread introduction of Chinese medicine into the US especially on the health wellness promotion.
文摘BACKGROUND： Fibromyalgia is a syndrome characterized by chronic pain, fatigue, depression, and sleep disturbances. Its primary cause is unclear. Several studies have reported decreased intracellular magnesium levels in patients with fibromyalgia and have found negative correlation between magnesium levels and fibromyalgia symptoms.OBJECTIVE： To gather preliminary data on whether transdermal magnesium can improve quality of life for women who have fibromyalgia. DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS AND INTERVENTIONS： This is a patient questionnaires and survey in a fibremyalgia clinic at a tertiary medical center. Forty female patients with the diagnosis of fibremyalgia were enrolled. Each participant was provided a spray bottle containing a transdermal magnesium chloride solution and asked to apply 4 sprays per limb twice daily for 4 weeks. Participants were asked to complete the Revised Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire, SF-36v2 Health Survey, and a quality-of-life analog scale at baseline, week 2, and week 4. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE： Questionnaire and survey scores, evaluated through intent-to-treat and per-protocol analyses. RESULTS： Twenty-four patients completed the study （mean [SD] age, 57.2 [7.6] years; white, 95%; mean body mass index, 31.3 kg/m2）. With intention-to-treat analysis, Revised Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire subscale and total scores were significantly improved at week 2 and week 4 （total score, P = 0.001）. Per-protocol analysis results were similar： all subscales of the Revised Fibremyalgia Impact Questionnaire were significantly improved at week 2 and week 4 （total score, P = 0.001）. CONCLUSION： This pilot study suggests that transdermal magnesium chloride applied on upper and lower limbs may be beneficial to patients with fibromyalgia.
文摘OBJECTIVE： Integrative medicine （IM） combines complementary medical approaches into conventional medicine and considers the whole person. We implemented a longitudinal IM short-course curriculum into our medical school education. This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of the curriculum via knowledge and attitude surveys regarding IM among students. METHODS： A mandatory short IM curriculum across all years of medical school was created and taught by IM professionals and physician faculty members with expertise in integrative therapies. Graduating classes of 2015 and 2016 completed the same survey in their first and third years of medical school. Paired data analysis was done, and only students who completed surveys at both time points were included in final analyses. RESULTS： Of 52 students in each class, 17 （33%） in the class of 2015 and 22 （42%） in the class of 2016 completed both surveys. After the IM curriculum, students＇ knowledge of and comfort with several IM therapies--biofeedback, mindfulness, and the use of St. John＇s wort--improved significantly. Students＇ personal health practices also improved, including better sleep, exercise, and stress management for the class of 2015. Students graduating in 2016 reported decreased alcohol use in their third year compared with their first year. CONCLUSION： It is feasible to incorporate IM education into undergraduate medical education, and this is associated with improvement in students＇ knowledge of IM and personal health practices.
