Background: Stress can impact student performance. Yet few medical schools provide students with a consistent opportunity to develop and regularly practice stress reduction techniques to aid them academically. Description: A curriculum component designed to assist 64 postbaccalaureate minority students in developing and practicing a stress-management technique was implemented on a regular basis from June 2004 to April 2006. Students participated in Deep Breathing Meditation exercises in two classes and completed pre-, post-, and follow-up surveys each academic year. Evaluation: Students reported having perceptions of decreased test anxiety, nervousness, self-doubt, and concentration loss, using the technique outside of the two classes, and believing it helped them academically and would help them as a physician. Conclusions: The Deep Breathing Meditation technique was successfully implemented each academic year, and it provided students with a promising solution for meeting challenging academic and professional situations.

Teach Learn Med. 2007 Summer;19(3):287-92.

Paul G, Elam B, Verhulst SJ.

Medical/Dental Preparatory Program, Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, Carbondale, Illinois, USA.

The aim of this study was to develop a comprehensive annotated public-domain bibliography of the literature on spirituality and addictions to facilitate future research and scholarship. A search was conducted of all citations listed in the MEDLINE, PsychINFO and ALTA Religion databases covering a period from 1941 to 2004 using the following search terms: substance abuse, substance dependence, addiction, religion, spirituality. A group of experts in the field then classified each citation according to empirically derived categories. A total of 1353 papers met the search parameters and were classified into 10 non-exclusive categories: (1) attitudes toward spirituality and substance use, (2) commentaries, (3) spiritual practices and development in recovery, (4) spiritual and religion variables in the epidemiology of substance abuse, (5) psychoactive substances and spiritual experiences, (6) religious and spiritual interventions, (7) literature reviews, (8) measurement of spirituality and addictions, (9) 12-Step spirituality and (10) youth and development. The literature is voluminous, but has focused primarily in a few areas. Common findings included an inverse relationship between religiosity and substance use/abuse, reduced use among those practising meditation and protective effects of 12-Step group involvement during recovery. Although sound instruments are available for measuring spirituality, studies have tended to use simplistic, often single-item measures. [Geppert C, Bogenschutz MP, Miller WR. Development of a bibliography on religion, spirituality and addictions. Drug Alcohol Rev 2007;26:389 - 395].

Drug Alcohol Rev. 2007 Jul;26(4):389-95.

Geppert C, Bogenschutz MP, Miller WR.

New Mexico Veterans Affairs Health Care System, Department of Psychiatry, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Religious Studies Program, University of New Mexico. USA.

Shaun Brookhouse is an award winning hypnotherapist and trainer (in both in the UK and US). He earned Graduateship (First Degree Equivalent) in Counseling and Hypnotherapy, a Masters Degree in Education Studies (Researching the development of training in Hypnotherapy 1971-1998), a Doctorate in Clinical Hypnotherapy, a CertEd (Teaching Credential) in which the assessment was based in part on the course he designed in clinical hypnosis, an Associateship Diploma from the College of Teachers and Licenciateship in Training and Development. It should be noted that Shaun Brookhouse 's Doctoral Qualification is academic and professional, it is NOT a medical qualification. For full details of his credentials go to CV.

Shaun is a Certified Master Instructor with the National Guild of Hypnotists, the oldest and largest hypnotherapy society in the world. Shaun is also a past Chairman of the National Council for Hypnotherapy, one of the UK's premier hypnotherapy societies. Additionally, he is a NLP Master Trainer.

Shaun was one of the first hypnotherapists in the UK to earn US Board Certification, as well as being one of the first two hypnotherapists to earn the externally accredited Hypnotherapy Practitioner Diploma. He is Principal of the Washington School of Clinical and Advanced Hypnosis and lectures on the subjects of Hypnosis and Neuro Linguistics internationally. Shaun is also the co-author of Motivational Hypnotism and Hypnotic Coaching and co-founder of the Motivational Hypnotism Model of Therapy.

For more information visit www.hypno-nlp.com

Meditation refers to a family of mental training practices that are designed to familiarize the practitioner with specific types of mental processes. One of the most basic forms of meditation is concentration meditation, in which sustained attention is focused on an object such as a small visual stimulus or the breath. In age-matched participants, using functional MRI, we found that activation in a network of brain regions typically involved in sustained attention showed an inverted u-shaped curve in which expert meditators (EMs) with an average of 19,000 h of practice had more activation than novices, but EMs with an average of 44,000 h had less activation. In response to distracter sounds used to probe the meditation, EMs vs. novices had less brain activation in regions related to discursive thoughts and emotions and more activation in regions related to response inhibition and attention. Correlation with hours of practice suggests possible plasticity in these mechanisms.

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2007 Jul 3;104(27):11483-8. Epub 2007 Jun 27.

Brefczynski-Lewis JA, Lutz A, Schaefer HS, Levinson DB, Davidson RJ.

*W.M. Keck Laboratory for Functional Brain Imaging and Behavior, Medical College of Wisconsin, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53226.

Patients with schizophrenia are at high risk of suicide. Cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) has been shown to reduce symptoms in schizophrenia. This study examines whether CBT also changes the level of suicidal ideation in patients with schizophrenia compared to a control group. Ninety ambulatory patients with symptoms of schizophrenia resistant to conventional antipsychotic medication were randomized to CBT or befriending. They were assessed using the Comprehensive Psychopathological Rating Scale, including a rating of suicidal ideation at baseline, post intervention, and after 9 months. Post-hoc analysis revealed that CBT provided significant reductions in suicidal ideation at the end of therapy, and sustained at the follow-up. Further research is required to substantiate these findings and determine the process and mechanisms through which this reduction is achieved.

Suicide Life Threat Behav. 2007 Jun;37(3):284-90.

Bateman K, Hansen L, Turkington D, Kingdon D.

University of Newcastle, UK.

GOAL OF WORK: To determine whether the impact of "laying on of hands" on the well-being of patients with advanced cancer is more efficient when performed by a person with self-declared "healing powers" as compared to an actor mimicking the healer in close detail. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 80 patients were registered to participate in a randomized, single-blind phase III trial to evaluate the difference in efficacy of "laying on of hands" by either a "healer" or an actor. Each group consisted of 40 patients, scheduled to receive treatment for 5 min, three times a week. The effect of treatment was measured using a "Well-Being scale", with the difference of the average score of the "Well-Being scale" on day 10 being defined as primary and that on day 5 as secondary endpoint. MAIN RESULTS: There was no significant difference in average score values between the "healer" and the actor with regard to the primary (p = 0.34) or the secondary endpoint (p = 0.94), but the comparison was limited due to major protocol violations by the "healer" who unblinded his status after the first run and quit the study. The study was completed by the actor as a descriptive, explorative study on the impact of "laying on of hands". A significant improvement in symptoms after treatment was found on day 5 (p < 0.001) and on day 10 (p = 0.0002). CONCLUSION: "Laying on of hands" resulted in a significant improvement of cancer- or cancer-therapy-associated symptoms. The magnitude of improvement obtained was similar whether on a self-declared-healer- or an actor-provided "treatment".

Support Care Cancer. 2007 Feb;15(2):143-51. Epub 2006 Oct 13. Related Articles, Links

Pohl G, Seemann H, Zojer N, Ochsner C, Luhan C, Schemper M, Ludwig H.

Department of Internal Medicine I, Center for Oncology and Hematology, Wilhelminenspital, Montleartstr 37, 1171, Vienna, Austria.

We describe the development of a cognitive therapy intervention for chronic insomnia. The therapy is based on a cognitive model which suggests that the processes that maintain insomnia include: (1) worry and rumination, (2) attentional bias and monitoring for sleep-related threat, (3) unhelpful beliefs about sleep, (4) misperception of sleep and daytime deficits and (5) the use of safety behaviors that maintain unhelpful beliefs. The aim of cognitive therapy for insomnia is to reverse all five maintaining processes during both the night and the day. In an open trial 19 patients meeting diagnostic criteria for primary insomnia were treated with cognitive therapy for insomnia. Assessments were completed pretreatment, posttreatment and at 3-, 6- and 12-month followup. The significant improvement in both nighttime and daytime impairment evident at the posttreatment assessment was retained up to the 12 month followup. Behav Res Ther. 2007 Apr 22; [Epub ahead of print]

Harvey AG, Sharpley AL, Ree MJ, Stinson K, Clark DM.

Department of Psychology, Sleep and Psychological Disorders Lab, University of California, 3210 Tolman Hall #1650, Berkeley, CA 94720-1650, USA.

Although several efficacious treatments for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) exist, these treatments are currently underutilized in clinical practice. To address this issue, research must better identify barriers to dissemination of these treatments. This study investigated patient preferences for PTSD treatment given a wide range of treatment options in an analog sample. One hundred and sixty individuals, with varying degrees of trauma history, were asked to imagine themselves undergoing a trauma, developing PTSD, and seeking treatment. Participants evaluated seven different treatment descriptions, which depicted treatment options that they might encounter in a clinical setting. Participants rated their most and least preferred treatments along with their personal reactions to and the perceived credibility of each treatment. Participants also completed a critical thinking skills questionnaire. Participants predominantly chose exposure or another variant of cognitive-behavioral therapy as their most preferred therapy, and those who chose exclusively empirically supported treatments evidenced higher critical thinking skills. The present study contributes to a growing literature indicating that patients may be more interested in these therapies than indicated by utilization rates. The problem of underutilization of empirically supported treatments for PTSD in clinical practice may be due to therapist factors.

Behav Res Ther. 2007 May 31; [Epub ahead of print] Becker CB, Darius E, Schaumberg K.

Department of Psychology, Trinity University, One Trinity Place, San Antonio, TX 78212-7200, USA.

This case study examines the benefits and effectiveness of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and a female-specific unit for a woman with Bipolar Disorder. For this case study, the patient, Sonia, is a pseudonym for reasons of confidentiality. Sonia has been persistently non-compliant with her psychotropic medications since being diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder. Throughout her life, she has maintained the distortion that she does not need her prescribed psychotropic medications. This thinking has served as a catalyst for Sonia to stop taking her prescribed psychotropic medications and ultimately relapse, which has resulted in approximately 20 psychiatric hospitalizations. Another intervention, in addition to psychotropic medications, was desperately needed to stop this vicious cycle, in order to address her negative conceptualization of her illness. During her last hospitalization on a specialized psychiatric inpatient program for women, Sonia received Cognitive Behavioral Therapy from a therapist in training at the Beck Institute for Cognitive Therapy. The combination of CBT, re-stabilization on psychotropic medications, and a female-specific unit led to an excellent outcome for Sonia.

Issues Ment Health Nurs. 2007 May;28(5):533-42.

Rodriguez LJ.

NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital. New York, NY. USA.

Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is a rapidly growing specialty within the healthcare field. One concept that appears central to the notion of CAM therapies is the concept of self-healing. Although "self-healing" is addressed within several bodies of literature, the concept is ill-defined within the context of CAM therapies, specifically energy-based healing modalities such as reiki therapy. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the concept of self-healing through a concept analysis using Walker and Avant's technique (1995). The resultant operational definition of self-healing was the result of 6 weeks of study and is not considered to be a final product, but merely a beginning step to understanding this unique phenomenon.

Nurs Forum. 2006 Apr-Jun;41(2):60-77. Related Articles, Links

Robb WJ.

Department of Nursing, Cedar Crest College, Allentown, PA, USA. wjrobb@cedarcrest.edu

Tactile touch is a complementary therapy that is rarely undertaken in intensive care units (ICUs) in Sweden. This study was a part of a larger project that examines whether tactile touch can relieve the suffering of patients in the ICU. The aim of this study was to describe nurses' lived experience of preparation before giving tactile touch in an ICU. Four assistant nurses and one registered nurse, each with diplomas in tactile touch working at three different ICUs in Sweden, participated in the study. A phenomenological approach was chosen to achieve experience-based and person-centred descriptions. Data were collected through interviews and analysed following Giorgi's method. The main finding was that before providing tactile touch, the nurses needed to add the new role as touch therapists, to their professional one. The essential aspect being the transition from nurse to touch therapist. Findings included a general structure, with four constituents; a sense of inner balance, an unconditional respect for the patients' integrity, a relationship with the patient characterised by reciprocal trust, and a supportive environment. Furthermore, the study underlines the difficulties to integrate a complementary caring act, such as tactile touch, in a highly technological environment.

Intensive Crit Care Nurs. 2006 Aug;22(4):239-45. Epub 2006 Mar 15. Related Articles, Links

Henricson M, Berglund AL, Määttä S, Segesten K.

University College of Borås, School of Health Science, Allegatan, SE-501 90 Borås, Sweden. maria.henricson@hb.se

The study purpose was to examine dissociation in body therapy for women receiving psychotherapy for childhood sexual abuse. An initial intervention study provided an opportunity to examine dissociation; the sample of 24 women received eight, 1-h body therapy sessions. The Dissociative Experiences Scale served as the predictor variable, and the outcome measures reflected psychological and physical health, and body connection. Repeated measures analysis of variance was used to examine dissociation reduction across time. Pearson correlations were used to describe associations between the relative change in dissociation and outcomes. The results demonstrated that the greatest change was the reduction of dissociation; there was an incremental effect across time and a strong association between change in dissociation and health outcomes. High dissociation at baseline (moderate levels) predicted positive outcomes. The results demonstrated the importance of moderate dissociation as an indicator of distress, and the central role of dissociation reduction in health and healing.

Complement Ther Clin Pract. 2007 May;13(2):116-28. Epub 2006 Nov 22.

Price C.

University of Washington, Box 357263, Seattle, WA 98105, USA. cynthiap@u.washington.edu

BACKGROUND: Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is an increasingly common therapy used to treat chronic pain syndromes. However; there is limited information on the utilization and efficacy of CAM therapy in primary care patients receiving long-term opioid therapy. METHOD: A survey of CAM therapy was conducted with a systematic sample of 908 primary care patients receiving opioids as a primary treatment method for chronic pain. Subjects completed a questionnaire designed to assess utilization, efficacy and costs of CAM therapies in this population. RESULTS: Patients were treated for a variety of pain problems including low back pain (38.4%), headaches (9.9%), and knee pain (6.5%); the average duration of pain was 16 years. The median morphine equivalent opioid dose was 41 mg/day, and the mean dose was 92 mg/day. Forty-four percent of the sample reported CAM therapy use in the past 12 months. Therapies utilized included massage therapy (27.3%, n = 248), chiropractic treatment (17.8%, n = 162), acupuncture (7.6%, n = 69), yoga (6.1%, n = 55), herbs and supplements (6.8%, n = 62), and prolotherapy (5.9%, n = 54). CAM utilization was significantly related to age female gender, pain severity income pain diagnosis of neck and upper back pain, and illicit drug use. Medical insurance covered chiropractic treatment (81.8%) and prolotherapy (87.7%), whereas patients primarily paid for other CAM therapies. Over half the sample reported that one or more of the CAM therapies were helpful. CONCLUSION: This study suggests CAM therapy is widely used by patients receiving opioids for chronic pain. Whether opioids can be reduced by introducing such therapies remains to be studied.

BMC Complement Altern Med. 2007 May 16;7:15.

Fleming S, Rabago DP, Mundt MP, Fleming MF.

Bastyr University, Seattle, Washington 98122, USA. sara.fleming@bastyr.edu

Reiki is a healing practice, rised in Japan in the mid XI'th century. The philosophy of this art of cure assumes that human health depends on the level and harmonious flow of the vital energy, called "ki". Therefore the main aim of this practice is to remove all energetic blockades in individual's body. Owing to that process the natural, in the practicioners' opinion, human's ability of healing by transfer the ki is restored. Certain steps of initiations increase practitioners skills. In the contemporary euroamerican culture, Reiki has begun to unfold since the beginning of 1970's. Expanding in those days New Age philosophy has supported its adaptation in our society. In Poland this method appeard in the late 1980's and is still rather unknown as a culture occurrence. Author's research, conducted among practicioners' from Olsztyn and Poznan, was to broaden the knowledge about the method and people, who are involved in it. The results show that Reiki is one of the holistic treatment's practices but it has also its unique character. For instance, it assumes the particular role of healer, who is a guide for his patient, helping him to understand and cure himself. According to the practitioners Reiki is the way of comprehensive development, identified with the drift towards holistic health.

Med Nowozytna. 2005;12(1-2):67-84. Related Articles, Links

Kosakowska A.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether Reiki, a process of transmission of healing energy, can significantly reduce microvascular leakage caused by exposure to excessive noise using an animal model. RATIONALE: Reiki is beginning to be used in hospitals to accelerate recovery. Despite many anecdotes describing Reiki's success, few scientific studies are reported and none of those use animals. Animal models have the advantage over human subjects in that they provide well-controlled, easily interpretable experiments. The use of noise is relevant to hospital patients because of the excessive ambient noise in hospitals in the United Kingdom and United States. Loud noise can lead to several nonauditory disorders in humans and animals that impair recovery. In the rat, stress from noise damages the mesenteric microvasculature, leading to leakage of plasma into the surrounding tissue. DESIGN: One group of four rats simultaneously received daily noise and Reiki, while two other groups received "sham" Reiki or noise alone. A fourth group did not receive noise or additional treatment. The experiment was performed three times to test for reproducibility. OUTCOME MEASURES: Average number and area of microvascular leaks to fluorescent albumin per unit length of venule. RESULTS: In all three experiments, Reiki significantly reduced the outcome measures compared to the other noise groups (sham Reiki and noise alone) (p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Application of Reiki significantly reduces noise-induced microvascular leakage in an animal model. Whether or not these effects are caused by Reiki itself, or the relaxing effect of the Reiki practitioner, this procedure could be useful for minimizing effects of environmental stress on research animals and hospital patients.

J Altern Complement Med. 2006 Jan-Feb;12(1):15-22. Related Articles, Links

Baldwin AL, Schwartz GE.

Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85724-5051, USA. abaldwin@u.arizona.edu

Previous reviews of massage therapy for chronic, non-malignant pain have focused on discrete pain conditions. This article aims to provide a broad overview of the literature on the effectiveness of massage for a variety of chronic, non-malignant pain complaints to identify gaps in the research and to inform future clinical trials. Computerized databases were searched for relevant studies including prior reviews and primary trials of massage therapy for chronic, non-malignant pain. Existing research provides fairly robust support for the analgesic effects of massage for non-specific low back pain, but only moderate support for such effects on shoulder pain and headache pain. There is only modest, preliminary support for massage in the treatment of fibromyalgia, mixed chronic pain conditions, neck pain and carpal tunnel syndrome. Thus, research to date provides varying levels of evidence for the benefits of massage therapy for different chronic pain conditions. Future studies should employ rigorous study designs and include follow-up assessments for additional quantification of the longer-term effects of massage on chronic pain.

Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2007 Jun;4(2):165-79. Epub 2007 Feb 5.

Tsao JC.

Pediatric Pain Program, Department of Pediatrics, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, USA.

OBJECTIVE: To measure effects of Reiki treatments on growth of heat-shocked bacteria, and to determine the influence of healing context and practitioner well-being. METHODS: Overnight cultures of Escherichia coli K12 in fresh medium were used. Culture samples were paired with controls to minimize any ordering effects. Samples were heat-shocked prior to Reiki treatment, which was performed by Reiki practitioners for up to 15 minutes, with untreated controls. Plate-count assay using an automated colony counter determined the number of viable bacteria. Fourteen Reiki practitioners each completed 3 runs (n = 42 runs) without healing context, and another 2 runs (n = 28 runs) in which they first treated a pain patient for 30 minutes (healing context). Well-being questionnaires were administered to practitioners pre-post all sessions. RESULTS: No overall difference was found between the Reiki and control plates in the nonhealing context. In the healing context, the Reiki treated cultures overall exhibited significantly more bacteria than controls (p < 0.05). Practitioner social (p < 0.013) and emotional well-being (p < 0.021) correlated with Reiki treatment outcome on bacterial cultures in the nonhealing context. Practitioner social (p < 0.031), physical (p < 0.030), and emotional (p < 0.026) well-being correlated with Reiki treatment outcome on the bacterial cultures in the healing context. For practitioners starting with diminished well-being, control counts were likely to be higher than Reiki-treated bacterial counts. For practitioners starting with a higher level of well-being, Reiki counts were likely to be higher than control counts. CONCLUSIONS: Reiki improved growth of heat-shocked bacterial cultures in a healing context. The initial level of well-being of the Reiki practitioners correlates with the outcome of Reiki on bacterial culture growth and is key to the results obtained.

J Altern Complement Med. 2006 Jan-Feb;12(1):7-13. Related Articles, Links

Rubik B, Brooks AJ, Schwartz GE.

Institute for Frontier Science, Oakland, CA 94611, USA. brubik@earthlink.net

Non-pharmacological treatment for patients with chronic widespread pain (CWP) and fibromyalgia (FM) aims to enhance overall health. This chapter reviews studies of exercise, education, movement therapies and sensory stimulation. Based on a systematic review of randomized controlled trials (RCTs), we suggest that aerobic exercise of low to moderate intensity, such as walking and pool exercise, can improve symptoms and distress in patients with CWP and FM, and it may improve physical capacity in sedentary patients. Aerobic exercise of moderate to high intensity has been shown to improve aerobic capacity and tender-point status. Educational programmes have been shown to enhance self-efficacy and health perception. There is no conclusive evidence about the type of educational programme that works best, but a small-group format and interactive discussions appear to be important components. Exercise combined with education appears to produce synergies. Studies of movement therapies (such as qigong) and sensory treatments (such as acupuncture and massage) are few in number. There is today no conclusive evidence about the effects of these treatments in CWP, although positive effects have been reported in a few studies.

Best Pract Res Clin Rheumatol. 2007 Jun;21(3):513-34.

Mannerkorpi K, Henriksson C.

Department of Rheumatology and Inflammation Research, Sahlgrenska Academy, Göteborg University, Guldhedsgatan 10, SE-413 46 Göteborg, Sweden.

by Michelle Beaudry, CHt

Make The Change Happen How are you going to do it, my friend? You're all done feeling wretched all the time, you know forgive does not mean forget, you are soooo ready, but you need a plan. Read on, my friend, and find out how to get the benefits of forgiveness for yourself. Right now.

Guilt and Hatred Are Killers Ask any doctor. Stress is a killer. This is because your body and mind are a continuum. In other words, although they are not entirely the same, a great overlap exists that unites them. Relieve your mental stress and your body will be happier too. Nothing relieves mental stress like forgiveness. Guilt and hatred resolve nothing; they just sustain the negativity that continues to obstruct you from your goals. Forgiveness, on the other hand, undoes the stickiness that binds you to an unhappy past.

Does It Work? Absolutely - for you. Since the forgiveness experience will happen only for you, only you will receive its benefits. Your forgiveness may not influence a change in the behavior of others one bit. But it's not about them. It's about you. Forgiveness is about generating your own healing. You are the only player in your life over whom you have all the power. It's time to exercise your personal power, your right to choose to feel better about who you are, your right to process your past and move on with your life.

It's a Private Thing Since forgiving is all about you getting your own heart clear, it's best done in the privacy of your own mind. Afterwards you'll have the choice of telling others, if you like, but initially the process works best in solitude. Tell no one, just do the work. And watch how easy it is to feel better all day every day. Contrast this to the fact that all the pity parties in the world with your friends and relatives never made you feel better one bit. Those tactics don't work because they don't process emotions, they merely create a feedback loop that deepens the groove of the pain. Since you know that what you used to do didn't work, it's time to do what does.

Forgive in Steps Like a pyramid, forgiveness may seem overwhelming at first, but it's easily accomplished step by step. So begin by recognizing that there are three sections:

.forgiveness of others .self-forgiveness .receiving forgiveness from others

And these can be further broken down into nicely manageable chunks.

Forgiveness of Others When you forgive others in categories, it proceeds more easily. For example, you could choose to use the categories of Strangers, Friends, Family, The People who Hurt You The Most, and Anybody Else. You may include additional categories like Exlovers, Neighbors, Coworkers, Employees, etc., and some forgivers need to add the category of Humanity Itself. And you can start with the categories you find easiest. Once you notice how good it feels to forgive, this will inspire you to forgive everyone as much as possible, as fully as you can.

Self Forgiveness In this step, start with your earliest years and ascend: Newborn, three year old, five year old, ten year old, teenager, 20s, etc., and on up to your current age, forgiving yourself thoroughly for absolutely everything as you go. Once you get to your current age, forgive yourself for your whole life. Remember, all humans are flawed. No one is a perfect son or daughter, man or woman, husband or wife, student or teacher, worker or boss. You are allowed to make mistakes and learn from them. Forgiveness is an optimal method to process your learnings.

Receiving Forgiveness from Others In the privacy of your own mind, visualize then apologize to folks you've wronged, and let them accept your apology. It may surprise you to learn that others really want to forgive you. They do. So let them forgive you and receive the cleansing of that forgiveness. Afterwards, with some people, you may elect to actually apologize to them in person, but proceed carefully. There are a few folks in the world who can not accept apologies in real life, and this is why you process all of your apologies in your mind's eye thoroughly first, so that you get the emotional benefit of having apologized whether those apologies get accepted in real life or not.

Forgive by Percentages in Repeated Attempts Can you forgive the people who hurt you the most 10%? 20%? 80%? 99.9%? It's not all or nothing. Ease on up to higher and higher percentages, always aiming for 100% forgiveness, but being real with yourself. If the people who hurt you the most are not 100% forgiveable on your first attempt, continue forgiving them bit by bit till you get as close to full forgiveness as possible. Start with a realistic percentage, then increase your forgiveness on subsequent attempts, always aiming for 100%. Just do your best.

Forgiving People Versus Events It can be one thing to forgive individual people, and can yet be quite another thing to forgive the things those people did. What to do? Forgive the events and actions as they come to mind. As you think of instance after instance, forgive everyone involved as best you can for everything that happened.

For more information visit: www.BeaudryHypnosis.com

Preterm infants residing in an NICU were randomly assigned to a massage therapy or to a control group. The preterm infants in the massage therapy group received three 15-min massages each day for 5 consecutive days, with the massages consisting of moderate pressure stroking to the head, shoulders, back, arms and legs and kinesthetic exercises consisting of flexion and extension of the limbs. Infant stress behaviors and activity were recorded on the first and last day of the study. Preterm infants receiving massage therapy showed fewer stress behaviors and less activity from the first to the last day of the study. The findings suggest that massage has pacifying or stress reducing effects on preterm infants, which is noteworthy given that they experience numerous stressors during their hospitalization.

Infant Behav Dev. 2007 Jun 2; [Epub ahead of print]

Hernandez-Reif M, Diego M, Field T.

Touch Research Institute, University of Miami School of Medicine, United States.

A pilot study was conducted to investigate the effects of Healing Touch (HT) on agitation in persons with dementia. Because of the restricted availability of patients, the main purpose of the study was to investigate the effectiveness of HT on dementia patients who demonstrated similar high levels of agitation as measured by the Cohen-Mansfield Agitation Inventory. Results indicated that agitation levels were significantly lowered and that HT is worthy of further study.

Geriatr Nurs. 2006 Jan-Feb;27(1):34-40. Related Articles, Links

Wang KL, Hermann C.

Northern Arizona Healthcare System, Department of Veterans Affairs, Prescott, USA.

Seventy-five dogs that showed a fear response to fireworks participated in a double-blinded, placebo-controlled clinical trial to assess the efficacy of a homeopathic remedy for the alleviation of their behavioural signs. Dogs were randomly assigned to one of two treatments; the homeopathic treatment or the placebo treatment. At the baseline assessments the owners identified the behavioural signs of fear that their dogs normally displayed in response to fireworks, rated their frequency and intensity, and assessed the global severity of their dog's responses. These measures were repeated at the final assessment and owners also completed weekly diaries for the length of the trial. There were significant improvements in the owners' rating of 14/15 behavioural signs of fear in the placebo treatment group and all 15 behavioural signs in the homeopathic treatment group. Both treatment groups also showed significant improvement in the owners' rating of the global severity of their dog's responses. However, there was no significant difference in the response seen between the two treatment groups.

Vet J. 2007 Jun 13;

Cracknell NR, Mills DS.

Animal Behaviour, Cognition and Welfare Group, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Lincoln, Riseholme Park, Lincoln LN2 2LG, UK.

BACKGROUND: Therapeutic Touch (TT) is a widely used complementary therapy. This study investigated the effects of TT on hemoglobin and hematocrit level in students who were basically healthy. METHOD: The volunteers with a hemoglobin level less than 12 grams per deciliter (g/dl) were randomly assigned to three groups of TT, mimic therapeutic touch (MT), and control. Blood samples were collected before the first treatment and again a week after the last one and measurements were taken. RESULTS: TT increased the level of hemoglobin (.99 .13 g/dl) and hematocrit (2.82 .43%) significantly. MT also increased the level of hemoglobin (.55 .11 g/dl) and hematocrit (2.75 .44%) significantly. No significant changes were found in the control group. TT increased hemoglobin more effectively than MT (p< .05). CONCLUSIONS: Significant changes of both variables in TT and MTgroups suggest that more careful precision might be needed while selecting individuals as sham therapists in further experiments.

J Holist Nurs. 2006 Mar;24(1):49-50.

Movaffaghi Z, Hasanpoor M, Farsi M, Hooshmand P, Abrishami F.

Mashad University of Medical Sciences.

Complementary therapies are often cited as a possible alternative to the management of symptoms in palliative care, as another element in the armoury for coping with unmanageable problems. But how efficacious are these therapies, and what is the evidence to support their use in symptom management? Patients who are in the terminal stages of illness or require palliative care are in a very vulnerable position, so are they being exploited or are there real benefits from using complementary therapies? This article review some of the evidence currently available.

Br J Community Nurs. 2005 Oct;10(10):448-52. Related Articles, Links

Hemming L, Maher D.

Department of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Hertfordshire. l.j.hemming@herts.ac.uk

Throughout history our understanding of energy has evolved in spurts characterized by dogmatic resistance and sudden revelations. Sir Isaac Newton's contributions to our understanding of light were significantly altered by James Clerk Maxwell (1831-1879), who recognized that electricity and magnetism are essentially the same. And, by the time that Albert Einstein, a 3rd grade patent clerk (who couldn't get a university job), wrote his famous essays, there was a clear recognition that any definition of energy must include light, magnetism, and electricity. So, if even one accepts the frizzy haired doctor's famous formulation that energy is equivalent to mass times the square of velocity, we are only just discovering how energy is used by the human body. Then add to this the role of the brain and thoughts in the regulation of energy.

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BACKGROUND: Many individuals who appear to suffer from incurable chronic skin disease use complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). Homeopathy has recently increased in popularity among patients with skin disease. The effects of homeopathic treatment have yet to be fully investigated in patients for whom conventional dermatological treatment is not sufficiently effective. OBJECTIVES: To describe patient-reported and clinically observed effects of individualized homeopathic treatment of chronic skin disease. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The effectiveness of individualized homeopathic treatment was measured using the patients' own assessments of seven elements (overall impression, improvement of skin condition, reduction of itchiness, reduction of sleep disturbance, satisfaction in daily life, fulfillment at work and satisfaction in human relations) using a nine-point scale similar to the Glasgow Homeopathic Hospital Outcome Scale (GHHOS). Sixty patients with chronic skin disease were included in the study: atopic dermatitis (AD) (n=25), eczema other than AD (n=20), severe acne (n=6), chronic urticaria (n=6), psoriasis vulgaris (n=2) and alopecia universalis (n=1). These patients received individualized homeopathic treatments in addition to conventional dermatological treatments for a period of from 3 months to 2 years 7 months. RESULTS: Six patients reported a score of 4 (complete recovery), 23 patients a score of 3 (75% improvement), 24 patients a score of 2 (50% improvement) and 7 patients a score of 1 (25% improvement). A total of 88.3% of patients reported over 50% improvement. Around one-half the patients with AD and eczema reported greater satisfaction in daily life, greater fulfillment at work and greater satisfaction in human relations. CONCLUSIONS: The psychological, physical and psychosomatic symptoms and effects of chronic skin diseases are inextricable. Individualized homeopathic treatment can provoke a good response in patients with chronic skin disease; therefore, the holistic approach used in homeopathy may be a useful strategy alongside conventional treatment.

Itamura R.

Department of Dermatology, Obitsu Sankei Hospital, 1-4 Namikinishi-machi, Kawagoe-city, Saitama-ken 350-0025, Japan.

HYPOTHESIS/OBJECTIVE: The use of complementary or alternative medicine (CAM) is growing among cancer patients. A Medline search failed to reveal any dedicated report of CAM use specifically in patients with head and neck cancer (HNC). STUDY DESIGN: Use of CAM was evaluated in a cohort of treated HNC patients. METHODS: Patients treated for HNC were asked if they had used CAM since their diagnosis. Demographic data and data pertaining to mode of CAM, duration of treatment and effects were obtained. RESULTS: One hundred forty-three patients (mean age 61 years) were included. Only nine patients (6.3%) reported using disease related CAM. This included acupuncture (4), Reiki (2), naturopathy (2), hypnosis (1), shiatsu (1), chiropractic treatment (1), homeopathy (1), and selenium (1). CONCLUSION: Contrary to the reported use, few of our HNC patients used CAM. Although this could be related to good caregiver-patient relationship, further studies in comparable populations are warranted to evaluate if this is a local or a pervading finding in head and neck cancer patients.

Laryngoscope. 2006 Mar;116(3):506-7.

Talmi YP, Yakirevitch A, Migirov L, Horowitz Z, Bedrin L, Simon Z, Pfeffer MR.

Departments of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Israel. yoav.talmi@sheba.health.gov.il

by Michelle Beaudry CHt

The past cannot be undone. What you change is how you feel about it.

How Are You Going To Do It? You're tired of being negative. You're ready to change. You need a plan. Read on, my friend, for this is the process of releasing negativity and restoring your spirit. Change is good.

Fear and Anger Are Killers Ask any doctor. The stress of feeling badly all the times can easily lead to medical disorders. Your body and mind are a continuum. In other words, although they are not exactly the same, a great overlap exists between your mind and body, uniting them. Relieve your mental stress and your body will be happier, too. It's time to unburden yourself of everything that has been blocking progress in your life by keeping you attached to an unhappy past.

Feeling Better Is a Process Negativity accumulates in our lives, in our souls, over time. The process of removing it optimally happens in layers. It's best to release as much of each stored neagtive emotion as you can during each sucessive attempt. And of course, you want a safe, private means of release that is as quiet and effective as possible. You can jettison all that old negativity easily and thoroughly by following simple instructions.

Visualization Sports teams have used visualization to improve their level of excellence for decades, visualizing themselves winning trophies, for example. This same technique that so wonderfully installs positive expectation can also be used to eliminate negativity. This means that you can literally let go of old stored feelings of anger, fear, abandonment, embarrassment, and so on, that have been accumulating inside of you all of your life.

Let a Higher Power Help You Do you prefer the word God, Source, Universe, Goddess, Higher Self, or do you have yet another name for that which is all that is? Let your choice reflect your tastes, and let your Higher Power help you. For once you release negative energy, your Higher Power can then transform it into something positive elsewhere in the Universe.

Humans Store Emotions Physically Your body is made of cells, the cells are made of molecules, the molecules are made of atoms, and those are made up of whirling bits of energy; ergo, your body is pure energy. We humans store old memories and emotions in our bodies. That's why the releasing of negativity is a physical, visceral feeling of expelling energy, because energy is what it is, what it all is, what we all are. Ask Einstein.

Examples of What To Release Fear, anger, rage, abandonment, rejection, guilt, shame, worry, blame, numbness, hurt, hatred, jealousy, and disgust are good places to begin. Your unique soul will know which feelings most need releasing, and in which order to do them. You may need to release some of the deepest ones several times to remove ever deeper layers.

What Does It Feel Like? Expelling negativity is not a negative experience, it is a relief. For example, when you let go of a deep layer of fear, you do not feel afraid, you feel relieved of fear. Letting go of rage does not mean that you'll be shouting and thrashing about. Rather, your feelings of rage simply pass out of you, and it is a relief. The old negative feelings are fully released and expelled outwards. Releasing negative emotions needn't involve experiencing the pain inherent in any individual emotion. You've already experienced way too much of that. Getting rid of them feels like what it is: a release. It's like taking a gorilla off of your back. It's removing old baggage that does not serve you anymore. It actually feels good. And you will feel progressively better afterwards each time.

Follow Instructions Through the Steps Get quiet and close your eyes. Be in a quiet, comfortable place without distractions. Vizualize that you are standing in a beautiful place with your arms up, way up, looking up at your Higher Power. Select the negative emotion you first wish to release, and make that happen. Feel it physically leaving your body, sailing up your arms, and then being jettisoned out into space, gone for good, released permanently. Repeat with all the rest of the stored emotions you wish to release. Another approach is to phrase it like this: "I release whatever is obstructing me from my goals," and let the stored emotions let you know what they are as they leave.

Then Restore Your Spirit Once the bad layers are released, it's best to fill up the spaces they left with something wonderfully positive. May I suggest that you begin the restoration of your spirit with Personal Power, Love, Acceptance, and Inner Peace. Personal Power restores your boundaries to normal settings, Love returns you to harmony with all that is, Acceptance assures you that you are wanted and welcomed in the world, and Inner Peace encloses you in a wonderful blanket of secure and peaceful feelings. Simply visualize each of these in turn, whatever they look like to you, and bring each inside of you, merging and bonding with it, soaking in its individual positive energy, then radiating its clarity and serenity everywhere throughout your person. Think of these as permanent upgrades to your soul.

For more information visit: www.BeaudryHypnosis.com

In the last decade, there has been dramatic changes in all areas of integrative patient care. None has been more dramatic than those in the field of cancer care, which has gone from alternative and complementary treatments delivered outside the conventional setting to the integration of many of these approaches into the care of the cancer patient. In many cases, these changes have been driven by patient demand and supported by private funding and out-of-pocket payments by patients themselves. Virtually all major medical centers have departments devoted to integrative patient care--whether true stand-alone centers or departments with a research interest in this area. This is particularly true of the major cancer centers, many of which-including Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York; M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Tex; Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Md; Duke University, Durham, NC; and the Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Mass--have developed integrative cancer programs. In addition, programs such as the Cancer Treatment Centers of America have inpatient and outpatient programs with teams of practitioners, including medical oncologists, surgeons, and radiation therapists, as well as credentialed naturopathic doctors, nutritionists, mind-body specialists and other integrative practitioners. Despite the increased interest in developing integrative approaches to cancer, many medical oncologists remain skeptical about the value of these modalities.

Altern Ther Health Med. 2007 Jan-Feb;13(1):56-64.

Boyd DB.

Program in Integrative Medicine, Greenwich Hospital-Yale, New Haven Health System, USA.

Complementary and alternative therapies continue to grow in popularity among healthcare consumers. Among those modalities is energy healing (EH) (Eisenberg et al., 1998). EH is an adjunctive treatment that is noninvasive and poses little downside risk to patients. Well more than 50 major hospitals and clinics throughout the United States offer EH to patients (DiNucci, research table on healthcare facilities that offer Reiki, unpublished data, 2002). The National Institutes of Health is funding numerous EH studies that are examining its effects on a variety of conditions, including temporomandibular joint disorders, wrist fractures, cardiovascular health, cancer, wound healing, neonatal stress, pain, fibromyalgia, and AIDS (National Institutes of Health, 2004a). Several well-designed studies to date show significant outcomes for such conditions as wound healing (Grad, 1965) and advanced AIDS (Sicher, Targ, Moore, & Smith, 1998), and positive results for pain and anxiety (Aetna IntelliHealth, 2003a; Wardell, Weymouth, 2004), among others (Gallob, 2003). It is also suggested that EH may have positive effects on various orthopaedic conditions, including fracture healing, arthritis, and muscle and connective tissue (Prestwood, 2003). Because negative outcomes risk is at or near zero throughout the literature, EH is a candidate for use on many medical conditions.

Orthop Nurs. 2005 Jul-Aug;24(4):259-69. Related Articles, Links

DiNucci EM.

Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.

Music, imagery, touch, and prayer as adjuncts to interventional cardiac care: the Monitoring and Actualisation of Noetic Trainings (MANTRA) II randomised study.

BACKGROUND: Data from a pilot study suggested that noetic therapies-healing practices that are not mediated by tangible elements-can reduce preprocedural distress and might affect outcomes in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention. We undertook a multicentre, prospective trial of two such practices: intercessory prayer and music, imagery, and touch (MIT) therapy. METHODS: 748 patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention or elective catheterisation in nine USA centres were assigned in a 2x2 factorial randomisation either off-site prayer by established congregations of various religions or no off-site prayer (double-blinded) and MIT therapy or none (unmasked). The primary endpoint was combined in-hospital major adverse cardiovascular events and 6-month readmission or death. Prespecified secondary endpoints were 6-month major adverse cardiovascular events, 6 month death or readmission, and 6-month mortality. FINDINGS: 371 patients were assigned prayer and 377 no prayer; 374 were assigned MIT therapy and 374 no MIT therapy. The factorial distribution was: standard care only, 192; prayer only, 182; MIT therapy only, 185; and both prayer and MIT therapy, 189. No significant difference was found for the primary composite endpoint in any treatment comparison. Mortality at 6 months was lower with MIT therapy than with no MIT therapy (hazard ratio 0.35 (95% CI 0.15-0.82, p=0.016). INTERPRETATION: Neither masked prayer nor MIT therapy significantly improved clinical outcome after elective catheterisation or percutaneous coronary intervention.

Krucoff MW, Crater SW, Gallup D, Blankenship JC, Cuffe M, Guarneri M, Krieger RA, Kshettry VR, Morris K, Oz M, Pichard A, Sketch MH, Koenig HG, Mark D, Lee KL.

Duke Clinical Research Institute, Durham, NC 27705, USA. kruco001@mc.duke.edu

A Book Review by Tim Brunson DCH

When the next shift in conventional medical science occurs within just a few decades, we will recognize many intellectual giants who contributed radically new paradigms. If historians create a "Mount Rushmore" to commemorate the four pivotal thinkers who dared to postulate new ideas, they would surely include C. Norm Shealy, MD, Ph.D., Ernest Rossi, Ph.D., Bruce Lipton, Ph.D. and Dawson Church, Ph.D. While fewer people are familiar with the last character, I assure you that he is destined to become recognized when the medical and psychological sciences full embrace the proper role of energy as a healing phenomenon. Although his latest book, The Genie in Your Genes: Epigenetic Medicine and the New Biology of Intention sat on my bookshelf since he autographed it a couple of months ago, upon completing it I must attest that this is a book not to read, but to devour. Yesterday, I was glued to my seat for hours.

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Content on integrative healthcare and complementary and alternative medicine is being taught in hundreds of educational programs across the country. Nursing, medical, osteopathic, chiropractic, acupuncture, naturopathic, and other programs are finding creative and innovative ways to include these approaches in new models of education and practice. This column spotlights such innovations in integrative healthcare and CAM education and presents readers with specific educational interventions they can adapt into new or ongoing educational efforts at their institution or programs. We invite readers to submit brief descriptions of efforts in their institutions that reflect the creativity, diversity, and interdisciplinary nature of the field. Please submit to Dr Sierpina at vssierpi@utmb.edu or Dr Kreitzer at kreit003@umn.edu. Submissions should be no more than 700 to 800 words. Please include any Web site or other resource that is relevant, as well as contact information.

Explore (NY). 2007 Mar-Apr;3(2):174-6.

Sierpina VS, Kreitzer MJ, Burke A, Verhoef M, Brundin-Mather R.

University of Texas Medical Branch, TX, USA. vssierpi@utmb.edu

The aims of this study were (1) to explore the experience of touch between parents and children with autism before, during, and after a Training and Support Programme (TSP), and (2) to develop a model of the process of touch therapy for this group of parents and children. Fourteen parents and their children agreed to take part in the study. Five of these parents withdrew. Reasons for withdrawal included personal circumstances and ill health. Data were collected by semi-structured interviews with parents before attending the TSP and Home Record Sheets completed by parents during the TSP. Results indicate that before the TSP touch was experienced as out of parents' control. During the TSP, the experience of touch appeared to change. A key benefit gained by parents was the feeling of closeness to children. The key benefits gained by children were perceived by the parents as improved sleep patterns, children were more relaxed after receiving the massage and appeared more amenable to touch. Of interest was children's request for massage at home. At 16-week follow-up both parents and children continue to enjoy giving and receiving touch therapy, respectively.

Complement Ther Clin Pract. 2005 Aug;11(3):182-9.

Cullen LA, Barlow JH, Cushway D.

School of Health and Social Science, Interdisciplinary Research Centre in Health, Coventry University, Priory Street, Coventry CV1 5FB, UK. l.powell@coventry.ac.uk

Saunas can be used very effectively for certain cardiovascular problems and as a means to enhance the mobilization of fat-soluble xenobiotics. When saunas are used to reduce blood pressure and enhance blood flow and cardiac functioning, only short sauna sessions (15 minutes) are necessary. When one wants to enhance the mobilization of heavy metals and chemical xenobiotics, longer sessions are needed and those should be medically monitored. But, for either use, saunas are safe and effective and should be used more frequently to benefit the health of our patients and ourselves.

Altern Ther Health Med. 2007 Mar-Apr;13(2):S154-6.

Crinnion W.

Environmental Medicine Center of Excellence, Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine in Tempe, Arizona, USA.

OBJECTIVES: To (1) describe the integration of massage and energy-based therapies with psychotherapy in a community mental health center, (2) to present qualitative feedback on the service, and (3) to present pilot data from a sample of long-term clients with persistent mental health concerns. DESIGN: A noncontrolled pilot study was conducted using interview data before and self-report instruments after completing a brief program of complementary therapy accompanying ongoing psychotherapy. SETTINGS/LOCATION: The program took place at a comprehensive community mental health center in southern Maine and in the private offices of massage therapists and energy healing practitioners who contracted with the program. SUBJECTS: Subjects were 20 women and 5 men, with mean age of 42 years and a mean history of 7.4 years of mental health treatment. All had histories that included trauma, 10 of which involved sexual abuse. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders IV Axis I diagnoses were PTSD (10), major depression (nine), anxiety disorder (three), and dual diagnosis (three). INTERVENTIONS: Clients receiving ongoing psychotherapy were assigned to one modality of complementary therapy based on clinical judgment, availability of practitioners, and client interest. Modalities used were massage, acupuncture, Reiki, and Healing Touch. The mean number of sessions was five. OUTCOME MEASURES: Clients completed an investigator-generated instrument with Likert-scaled ratings of satisfaction and perceived changes in four dimensions of trauma recovery: perceived interpersonal safety, interpersonal boundary setting, bodily sensation, and bodily shame. RESULTS: Clients reported high levels of satisfaction with the service and significant levels of perceived (self-rated) change on each outcome measure. Qualitative results included enhanced psychotherapeutic outcomes reported by mental health clinicians. CONCLUSIONS: The integration of complementary therapies into community mental health practice may hold promise of enhancing mental health outcomes and improving quality of life for long-term users of mental health services.

J Altern Complement Med. 2005 Jun;11(3):569-74.

Collinge W, Wentworth R, Sabo S.

Collinge and Associates, Kittery Point, ME 03905, USA. wcollinge@comcast.net

A Book Review by Tim Brunson DCH

Rarely do I see a book that contributes so dramatically to a field of study that truly moves thought in a significantly new direction. When I received a copy of Six Blind Elephants: Understanding Ourselves and Each Other my initial interest was sparked by the credibility of the author. Steve Andreas is one of the two true giants (the other being Robert Dilts, Ph.D.) in the field of Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP). This is probably the most important contribution to the world of NLP since Bandler and Grinder coined the term.

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INTRODUCTION: The National Institutes of Health provided grants to the Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) and 14 other allopathic academic health centers for the development of curricula in complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). A key component of the curriculum evaluation for OHSU was provided by a survey assessing attitudes toward CAM and selected personality characteristics of entering students in chiropractic, naturopathic, Oriental, and allopathic medicine in the Pacific Northwest and Upper Midwest. METHODS: A survey containing a variety of assessments of attitudes toward CAM and the personality traits of adventurousness and tolerance to ambiguity was administered to students entering four Portland, Oregon doctoral-level health professional schools and an allopathic medical school in the Upper Midwest (University of Nebraska College of Medicine) during the 2004-2005 academic year. RESULTS: Students of naturopathy (n = 63) and Oriental Medicine (n = 71) were the most "CAM positive," adventurous and tolerant of ambiguity, and Midwestern allopathic medical students (n = 58) the least. In general, chiropractic students (n = 89) and allopathic medical students from the Pacific Northwest (n = 95) were intermediate in CAM attitudes between these two groups (all p < 0.05). Female students were more "CAM positive" in all schools compared to male students. CONCLUSIONS: Students have high levels of interest in CAM upon entrance to their schools. Health professional discipline, geographic location, personality qualities, and gender appear to influence CAM attitudes in entering students.

J Altern Complement Med. 2007 Apr;13(3):381-6.

Nedrow AR, Istvan J, Haas M, Barrett R, Salveson C, Moore G, Hammerschlag R, Keenan E.

Oregon Health & Science University School of Medicine, Portland, OR 97239, USA.

Michael Smithwick earned his M.A. in Counseling from St. Joseph's College in West Hartford, Connecticut. He is licensed by the State of Connecticut as a Licensed Professional Counselor and is certified by the National Board for Counselor Certification. He is a Diplomate of the National Board for Certified Clinical Hypnotherapists and is a Clinical Member of the American Psychotherapy and Medical Hypnosis Association. Mike is a Certified Practitioner of Neuro Linguistic Psychology (NLP), and is also certified in Complementary Medical Hypnosis, Painless Childbirth, and as a Hypnotherapy Instructor. Since 1995, he has maintained a full-time private practice in which Hypnosis is a specialty, not a sideline.

Mike is an experienced lecturer who has been the keynote speaker at conferences and workshops, and who has presented numerous programs to civic and professional organizations as well as to the general public. He has been the subject of many newspaper articles, and several articles which he has written have appeared in local and national publications. He has particular interest in medical hypnosis and performance psychology. Mike teaches adult education classes locally and has appeared on radio and television. In addition, he is a consultant for the Connecticut State Department of Health.

For more information, please visit http://www.michaelsmithwick.com/.

Brain Topogr. 2007 Jun 21; [Epub ahead of print] Links

Katayama H, Gianotti LR, Isotani T, Faber PL, Sasada K, Kinoshita T, Lehmann D. The KEY Institute for Brain-Mind Research, University Hospital of Psychiatry, Lenggstrasse 31, CH-8032, Zurich, Switzerland, lgianott@key.unizh.ch.

The study assessed the brain electric mechanisms of light and deep hypnotic conditions in the framework of EEG temporal microstates. Multichannel EEG of healthy volunteers during initial resting, light hypnosis, deep hypnosis, and eventual recovery was analyzed into temporal EEG microstates of four classes. Microstates are defined by the spatial configuration of their potential distribution maps ([Symbol: see text]potential landscapes') on the head surface. Because different potential landscapes must have been generated by different active neural assemblies, it is reasonable to assume that they also incorporate different brain functions. The observed four microstate classes were very similar to the four standard microstate classes A, B, C, D [Koenig, T. et al. Neuroimage, 2002;16: 41-8] and were labeled correspondingly. We expected a progression of microstate characteristics from initial resting to light to deep hypnosis. But, all three microstate parameters (duration, occurrence/second and %time coverage) yielded values for initial resting and final recovery that were between those of the two hypnotic conditions of light and deep hypnosis. Microstates of the classes B and D showed decreased duration, occurrence/second and %time coverage in deep hypnosis compared to light hypnosis; this was contrary to microstates of classes A and C which showed increased values of all three parameters. Reviewing the available information about microstates in other conditions, the changes from resting to light hypnosis in certain respects are reminiscent of changes to meditation states, and changes to deep hypnosis of those in schizophrenic states.