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Phytochemical and Pharmacological Aspects of Salvia mirzayanii Rech. f. & Esfand
Salvia mirzayanii Rech. f. & Esfand is an endemic herbaceous plant belonging to the Lamiaceae family. The plant grows in the center and south of Iran and is broadly used in folk medicine. This review focuses on phytochemical and pharmacological data of S mirzayanii. Databases such as PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Scientific Information Database (Iranian database involving English and Persian articles), and Google Scholar were searched for terms "Salvia mirzayanii," "Iranian sage," "Marv-e-Talkh," and "Moor-e-Talkh" in both Persian and English up to December 10, 2013. In line with the ethnopharmacological uses, antiox...
Source: Complementary Health Practice Review - December 10, 2014 Category: Complementary Medicine Authors: Zarshenas, M. M., Krenn, L. Tags: Topical Review Articles Source Type: research

Nutritional Aspects to Prevent Heart Diseases in Traditional Persian Medicine
Cardiovascular diseases are major health complications currently in various societies. Management of heart diseases as a prevention step or as treatment with low-cost procedures like lifestyle modifications including nutrition are important current trends. Although the term nutrition dates back to 2 past centuries, Persian physicians contributed to this term at least from 1000 years ago. Rhazes (865-925 AD) was one of the pioneers in this field. He preferred using foods in treating illnesses. "Foods and drinks" were 1 subject from 6 principles (Setteh Zarorieh) that Persian physicians believed can affect human health. In t...
Source: Complementary Health Practice Review - December 10, 2014 Category: Complementary Medicine Authors: Kordafshari, G., Kenari, H. M., Esfahani, M. M., Ardakani, M. R. S., Keshavarz, M., Nazem, E., Moghimi, M., Zargaran, A. Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research

Trachyspermum ammi (L.) Sprague: Chemical Composition of Essential Oil and Antimicrobial Activities of Respective Fractions
Resistance to antibacterial agents has become a serious problem for global health. The current study evaluated the antimicrobial activities of essential oil and respective fractions of Trachyspermum ammi (L.) Sprague. Seeds of the essential oil were extracted and fractionated using column chromatography. All fractions were then analyzed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Antifungal and antibacterial activities of the oil and its fractions were assessed using microdilution method. Compounds -terpinene (48.07%), -cymene (33.73%), and thymol (17.41%) were determined as major constituents. The effect of fraction II was b...
Source: Complementary Health Practice Review - December 10, 2014 Category: Complementary Medicine Authors: Moein, M. R., Zomorodian, K., Pakshir, K., Yavari, F., Motamedi, M., Zarshenas, M. M. Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research

Effects of a Classroom-Based Yoga Intervention on Cortisol and Behavior in Second- and Third-Grade Students: A Pilot Study
This uncontrolled pilot study examined the effects of a classroom-based yoga intervention on cortisol concentrations and perceived behavior in children. A 10-week Yoga 4 Classrooms intervention was implemented in one second-grade and one third-grade classroom. Students’ salivary cortisol responses were assessed at 3 time points. Classroom teachers also documented their perceptions of the effects of the intervention on students’ cognitive, social, and emotional skills. Second, but not third, graders showed a significant decrease in baseline cortisol from before to after the intervention. Second and third graders...
Source: Complementary Health Practice Review - December 10, 2014 Category: Complementary Medicine Authors: Butzer, B., Day, D., Potts, A., Ryan, C., Coulombe, S., Davies, B., Weidknecht, K., Ebert, M., Flynn, L., Khalsa, S. B. S. Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research

The Importance of Cultivating Mindfulness for Cognitive and Emotional Well-Being in Late Life
The cultivation of mindfulness has received increasing attention over the past 2 decades because of its association with increased psychological well-being and reduced stress-related health disorders. Given the robust positive association between perceived stress and cognitive impairment in late life, the current study evaluated the association between trait mindfulness, psychological well-being, and cognitive function in 73 healthy community-dwelling older adults. Controlling for a priori covariates, multivariate regression analyses showed a significant association between trait mindfulness and measures of psychological w...
Source: Complementary Health Practice Review - December 10, 2014 Category: Complementary Medicine Authors: Fiocco, A. J., Mallya, S. Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research

Effects of Active Hexose Correlated Compound on the Seasonal Variations of Immune Competence in Healthy Subjects
The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of active hexose correlated compound intake on the immune competence in healthy volunteers. Thirty-four subjects were randomized to receive placebo or active hexose correlated compound at 1.0 g/d for 4 weeks in early winter. Natural killer cell activity was significantly increased in both groups during the study period, the natural killer cell number, however, was not altered in the active hexose correlated compound group while placebo group showed remarkable decline. In addition, the score of immunological vigor, an index of total immune competence, was maintained in the a...
Source: Complementary Health Practice Review - December 10, 2014 Category: Complementary Medicine Authors: Takanari, J., Hirayama, Y., Homma, K., Miura, T., Nishioka, H., Maeda, T. Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research

The Effects of Reiki Therapy and Companionship on Quality of Life, Mood, and Symptom Distress During Chemotherapy
This pilot study examined the effects of Reiki therapy and companionship on improvements in quality of life, mood, and symptom distress during chemotherapy. Thirty-six breast cancer patients received usual care, Reiki, or a companion during chemotherapy. First, data were collected from patients receiving usual care. Second, patients were randomized to either receive Reiki or a companion during chemotherapy. Questionnaires assessing quality of life, mood, symptom distress, and Reiki acceptability were completed at baseline and chemotherapy sessions 1, 2, and 4. Reiki was rated relaxing with no side effects. Reiki and compan...
Source: Complementary Health Practice Review - December 10, 2014 Category: Complementary Medicine Authors: Orsak, G., Stevens, A. M., Brufsky, A., Kajumba, M., Dougall, A. L. Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research

Quality of Life and Treatment Satisfaction Observed Among Indians With Diabetes Foot Ulcers Undergoing Ayurvedic Adjunct Therapy
The purpose of the study was to assess the health-related quality of life and treatment satisfaction of diabetes patients (n = 36) with foot ulcers undergoing insulin and ayurvedic adjunct therapy. Retrospective hospital based cross-sectional design considered patients with diabetes foot ulcers undergoing 4-week treatment with insulin and ayurvedic combinatorial therapy. The Audit of Diabetes Dependent Quality of Life Questionnaire and Diabetes Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire were completed for the assessment. The mean duration of diabetes among participants was 9.32 ± 5.3 years. Assessment of Diabetes Treatmen...
Source: Complementary Health Practice Review - December 10, 2014 Category: Complementary Medicine Authors: Debnath, P., Prakash, A., Banerjee, S., Rao, P. N., Tripathy, T. B., Adhikari, A., Shivakumar, Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research

In Vitro Attenuation of Thermal-Induced Protein Denaturation by Aerial Parts of Artemisia scoparia
The goal of this study was to explore the aerial parts of Artemisia scoparia (crude extract, total flavonoid contents, and aqueous fraction) for protein denaturation potential. The crude extract provoked marked attenuation of thermal-induced denatured protein in a concentration-dependent manner with maximum inhibition of 54.05 μg/mL at 500 μg/mL and IC50 of 449.66 μg/mL. When total flavonoid contents were studied, it illustrated most dominant activity concentration dependently with maximum amelioration of 62.16 μg/mL at 500 μg/mL and IC50 of 378.35 μg/mL. The aqueous fraction also exhibited significant ac...
Source: Complementary Health Practice Review - December 10, 2014 Category: Complementary Medicine Authors: Khan, M. A., Khan, H., Tariq, S. A., Pervez, S. Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research

Antimycobacterial Efficacy of Andrographis paniculata Leaf Extracts Under Intracellular and Hypoxic Conditions
The inhibition of the growth of Mycobacterium tuberculosis by the extracts of Andrographis paniculata has been studied using intracellular and axenic hypoxic conditions. The inhibition (confirmed using the gold standard colony forming unit assay) was found to increase with "double stimuli" or higher concentration of the extract. Organic solvent extracts were found to inhibit bacterial growth more than the aqueous extracts under microaerophilic conditions mimicked through axenic and intracellular assays. This could be further explored to evaluate the potential of the plant to be used against nonreplicating/dormant bacilli. ...
Source: Complementary Health Practice Review - December 10, 2014 Category: Complementary Medicine Authors: Bhatter, P., Gupta, P., Daswani, P., Tetali, P., Birdi, T. Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research

Gait Changes Following Myofascial Structural Integration (Rolfing) Observed in 2 Children With Cerebral Palsy
This study aimed to document (1) gait characteristics of 2 children with cerebral palsy and (2) effects of myofascial structural integration on their gait. Children received 3 months of weekly therapy sessions by an experienced practitioner. Gait parameters were recorded at baseline and after treatment using an electronic walkway. Children with cerebral palsy demonstrated abnormal velocity and cadence, decreased step length and single support times, and increased double support time. After treatment, both children demonstrated improvement for 3 months in cadence and double support time. The objective gait analyses demonstr...
Source: Complementary Health Practice Review - September 14, 2014 Category: Complementary Medicine Authors: Hansen, A. B., Price, K. S., Loi, E. C., Buysse, C. A., Jaramillo, T. M., Pico, E. L., Feldman, H. M. Tags: Brief Communications Source Type: research

Factors Associated With Well-being and Confidence in Providing Compassionate Care
We explored the relationships between potentially modifiable factors (mindfulness and self-compassion), intermediate factors (resilience and stress), and outcomes of interest in a cross-sectional study of medical trainees (compassionate care and clinician well-being). Among the 12 participants, the average age was 27.6 years. Mindfulness and self-compassion were positively associated with confidence in providing calm, compassionate care (r = 0.91 and 0.81, respectively; P < .01); they were also positively correlated with clinician resilience (P < .01), which was correlated with clinician mental health (r = 0.83; P &l...
Source: Complementary Health Practice Review - September 14, 2014 Category: Complementary Medicine Authors: Olson, K., Kemper, K. J. Tags: Brief Communications Source Type: research

Standpoints of Traditional Persian Physicians on Geriatric Nutrition
The present article aimed to compile information on the nutritional management for geriatric people. Popular textbooks of Persian medicine from 10th to 18th century were studied to derive relative viewpoints and considerations. The temperament, which is defined as the combination of 4 main elements (fire, air, water, and soil) and 4 humors made subsequently (black bile, yellow bile, phlegm, and blood), changes during age periods. Imbalance in proportional amounts of humors in elderly should be corrected with food and medicaments having opposite nature to the current condition. Traditional foods included mostly well-cooked ...
Source: Complementary Health Practice Review - September 14, 2014 Category: Complementary Medicine Authors: Emami, M., Nazarinia, M. A., Rezaeizadeh, H., Zarshenas, M. M. Tags: Topical Review Articles Source Type: research

Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction as a Stress Management Intervention for Healthy Individuals: A Systematic Review
Stress is a global public health problem with several negative health consequences, including anxiety, depression, cardiovascular disease, and suicide. Mindfulness-based stress reduction offers an effective way of reducing stress by combining mindfulness meditation and yoga in an 8-week training program. The purpose of this study was to look at studies from January 2009 to January 2014 and examine whether mindfulness-based stress reduction is a potentially viable method for managing stress. A systematic search from Medline, CINAHL, and Alt HealthWatch databases was conducted for all types of quantitative articles involving...
Source: Complementary Health Practice Review - September 14, 2014 Category: Complementary Medicine Authors: Sharma, M., Rush, S. E. Tags: Topical Review Articles Source Type: research

Principles of Nutrition in Islamic and Traditional Persian Medicine
Nutrition has a crucial role in maintaining body health. Eating and drinking has a special place in Islamic doctrine and traditional Persian medicine. Traditional Persian medicine is a holistic medicine and provides great attention to the spiritual aspects of life as well as somatic aspects to maintain human health. In this view, people are not going to eat and drink for pleasure but to maintain a good life and physical health, due to daily tasks, as well as observing moral aspects of a human life and spiritual satisfaction. (Source: Complementary Health Practice Review)
Source: Complementary Health Practice Review - September 14, 2014 Category: Complementary Medicine Authors: Nimrouzi, M., Zare, M. Tags: Topical Review Articles Source Type: research