Jeffrey S. Meyers, MD, LAc is a Board Certified physician, acupuncturist, and educator with an extensive background in holistic/evolutionary biological approaches to medicine, the arts, and spirituality. He is currently the Medical Director of Delaware Curative Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Centers and has a private medical practice specializing in musculoskeletal medicine and pain management. For the past 25 years he has led seminars and classes that explore the interrelationship of biology and consciousness to the arts, sciences, and spirituality.

India has been recognized all over the world for spices and medicinal plants. Both exhibit a wide range of physiological and pharmacological properties. Current biomedical efforts are focused on their scientific merits, to provide science-based evidence for the traditional uses and to develop either functional foods or nutraceuticals. The Indian traditional medical systems use turmeric for wound healing, rheumatic disorders, gastrointestinal symptoms, deworming, rhinitis and as a cosmetic. Studies in India have explored its anti-inflammatory, cholekinetic and anti-oxidant potentials with the recent investigations focusing on its preventive effect on precarcinogenic, anti-inflammatory and anti atherosclerotic effects in biological systems both under in vitro and in vivo conditions in animals and humans. Both turmeric and curcumin were found to increase detoxifying enzymes, prevent DNA damage, improve DNA repair, decrease mutations and tumour formation and exhibit antioxidative potential in animals. Limited clinical studies suggest that turmeric can significantly impact excretion of mutagens in urine in smokers and regress precancerous palatal lesions. It reduces DNA adducts and micronuclei in oral epithelial cells. It prevents formation of nitroso compounds both in vivo and in vitro. It delays induced cataract in diabetes and reduces hyperlipidemia in obese rats. Recently several molecular targets have been identified for therapeutic / preventive effects of turmeric. Fenugreek seeds, a rich source of soluble fiber used in Indian cuisine reduces blood glucose and lipids and can be used as a food adjuvant in diabetes. Similarly garlic, onions, and ginger have been found to modulate favourably the process of carcinogenesis.

Krishnaswamy K. National Institute of Nutrition , Taranaka, Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India. sri21kk@hotmail.com Asia Pac J Clin Nutr. 2008;17 Suppl 1:265-8.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the cost-effectiveness of naturopathic care (acupuncture, relaxation exercises, exercise and dietary advice, and a back care booklet) compared to standardized physiotherapy education and a back care booklet (control treatment) for low back pain in a sample (N = 70) of warehouse workers. DESIGN: Economic evaluation based upon the results of a pragmatic randomized controlled trial to determine the cost-effectiveness of naturopathic care to society as a whole, to the employer, and to participants. RESULTS: Naturopathic care (as compared to the control treatment) significantly improved quality-adjusted life-years over the 6-month study period (3-month intervention period and 3-month follow-up period) by 0.0256 (95% CI: 0.0075, 0.0437)--roughly equivalent to 9.4 "perfect health" days. Naturopathic care also significantly reduced societal costs by $1212 per participant. From the perspective of the employer, the intervention cost $154 per absentee day avoided (compared to employer costs of lost productivity of $172 per day) and had a return on investment of 7.9% under the healthcare coverage limits set by this employer and assuming the employer paid the full cost of naturopathic care. Participants experienced savings in adjunctive care of $1096 per participant. CONCLUSIONS: This economic evaluation alongside a pragmatic randomized control trial shows naturopathic care to be more cost-effective than a standardized physiotherapy education regimen in the treatment of chronic low back pain. Further studies of the economic impact of naturopathic medicine are warranted.

Herman PM, Szczurko O, Cooley K, Mills EJ. Department of Psychology, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA. Altern Ther Health Med. 2008 Mar-Apr;14(2):32-9.

Henry Emmons, MD., is a consultant to seven Twin Cities area college counseling centers, as well as several other organizations, and is a popular workshop presenter. He is a past recipient of a Bush Medical Fellowship, which funded a sabbatical to study natural mindfulness therapies in the practice of psychiatry. He has created adult education programs through the University of Minnesota's Center for Spirituality and Healing, including "A Year of Living Mindfully" and "The Inner Life of Healers: Programs of Renewal for Health Professionals." Dr. Emmons developed the Resilience Training Program at the Institute for Health and Healing at Abbott Northwestern Hospital in January, 2007. This unique program integrates nutrition, exercise and an eight week group teaching skills in the "psychology of mindfulness" to improve outcomes in the treatment of depression.

His essay "Insights on the Inner Life of Healers" was included in the book Living the Questions: Essays Inspired by the Work and Life of Parker J. Palmer (Jossey-Bass, 2005). His first book, The Chemistry of Joy: A Three Step Program for Overcoming Depression through Western Science and Eastern Wisdom, was published by Simon and Schuster in January of 2006.

For more information, visit: www.HenryEmmonsMD.com.

Past few decades have witnessed explosion of knowledge in almost every field. This has resulted not only in the advancement of the subjects in particular but also have influenced the growth of various allied subjects. The present paper explains about the advancement of science through efforts made in specific areas and also through discoveries in different allied fields having an indirect influence upon the subject in proper. In Naturopathy this seems that though nothing particular is added to the basic thoughts or fundamental principles of the subject yet the entire treatment understanding is revolutionised under the influence of scientific discoveries of past few decades. Advent of information technology has further added to the boom of knowledge and many times this seems impossible to utilize these informations for the good of human being because these are not logically arranged in our minds. In the above background, the author tries to define documentation stating that we have today ocean of information and knowledge about various things- living or dead, plants, animals or human beings; the geographical conditions or changing weather and environment. What required to be done is to extract the relevant knowledge and information required to enrich the subject. The author compares documentation with churning of milk to extract butter. Documentation, in fact, is churning of ocean of information to extract the specific, most appropriate, relevant and defined information and knowledge related to the particular subject . The paper besides discussing the definition of documentation, highlights the areas of Naturopathy requiring an urgent necessity to make proper documentations. Paper also discusses the present status of Naturopathy in India, proposes short-term and long-term goals to be achieved and plans the strategies for achieving them. The most important aspect of the paper is due understanding of the limitations of Naturopathy but a constant effort to improve the same with the growth made in various discipline of science so far.

Rastogi R. Central Council for Research in Yoga & Naturopathy, 61-65, Institutional Area, Janakpuri, New Delhi-110058. Bull Indian Inst Hist Med Hyderabad. 2006 Jan-Jun;36(1):75-82.

Ed Tick, Ph.D. has been working with veterans and survivors of war, violence and trauma since the late 1970s. He specializes in using psycho-spiritual, cross-cultural, and international reconciliation practices to help veterans and cultures heal. He directs Sanctuary: A Center for Mentoring the Soul, and Soldier's Heart: Veterans' Safe Return Programs, in Albany, N.Y. He has published 4 books: Sacred Mountain, Encounters with the Vietnam Beast (1989), The Practice of Dream Healing (2001), The Golden Tortoise: Vietnam Journeys (2005), and most recently War and the Soul, winner of ForeWord Magazine's Bronze Medal in Psychology.

Objective: To explore the supportive evidence for the use of Ayurvedic medicine in the management of existing and recurrent nephrolithiasis. Method: Nine Ayurvedic medicines commonly utilized in the management of nephrolithiasis were identified by discussions with Ayurvedic practitioners in India. Mechanistic and clinical studies evaluating the use of these agents were identified using the Medline database and bibliographies suggested by Ayurvedic practitioners. The articles were then critically reviewed and summarized. Results: Four in vitro mechanistic studies, eight animal studies, and seven human trials were identified. Phyllanthus niruri has undergone mechanistic in vitro, animal, and clinical trials that support its impact on calcium oxalate crystallization. Preliminary clinical trials have evaluated the role of Dolichos biflorus and Orthosiphon grandiflorus in the prevention of urolithiasis and fish stone as a method of stone expulsion, yet the treatment effect and mechanism of action remains to be elucidated. Conclusion: Ayurvedic medicine holds promise as a complementary approach to the management and prevention of nephrolithiasis. The best studied compound is P. niruri. Further controlled randomized clinical trials are justified to support or refute the potential benefits demonstrated in these initial studies.

Kieley S, Dwivedi R, Monga M. Department of Urologic Surgery, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455. J Endourol. 2008 Jul 11.

This paper presents, for the first time, a comprehensive scholarly examination of the history and principles of major traditions of esoteric healing. After a brief conceptual overview of esoteric religion and healing, summaries are provided of eight major esoteric traditions, including descriptions of beliefs and practices related to health, healing, and medicine. These include what are termed the kabbalistic tradition, the mystery school tradition, the gnostic tradition, the brotherhoods tradition, the Eastern mystical tradition, the Western mystical tradition, the shamanic tradition, and the new age tradition. Next, commonalities across these traditions are summarized with respect to beliefs and practices related to anatomy and physiology; nosology and etiology; pathophysiology; and therapeutic modalities. Finally, the implications of this survey of esoteric healing are discussed for clinicians, biomedical researchers, and medical educators.

Levin J. Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA. Explore (NY). 2008 Mar-Apr;4(2):101-12.

The aims of the present meta-analysis were to investigate the short- and long-term efficacy, multidimensional outcome, and treatment moderators of biofeedback as a behavioral treatment option for tension-type headache. A literature search identified 74 outcome studies, of which 53 were selected according to predefined inclusion criteria. Meta-analytic integration resulted in a significant medium-to-large effect size (d = 0.73; 95% confidence interval = 0.61, 0.84) that proved stable over an average follow-up phase of 15 months. Biofeedback was more effective than headache monitoring, placebo, and relaxation therapies. The strongest improvements resulted for frequency of headache episodes. Further significant effects were observed for muscle tension, self-efficacy, symptoms of anxiety, depression, and analgesic medication. Moderator analyses revealed biofeedback in combination with relaxation to be the most effective treatment modality; effects were particularly large in children and adolescents. In intention-to-treat and publication-bias analyses, the consistency of these findings was demonstrated. It is concluded that biofeedback constitutes an evidence-based treatment option for tension-type headache. (c) 2008 APA, all rights reserved

J Consult Clin Psychol. 2008 Jun;76(3) Nestoriuc Y, Rief W, Martin A. Section for Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Philipps-University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany. yvonne.nestoriuc@staff.uni-marburg.de

Complementary and alternative medical (CAM) therapies are commonly used by parents for their children who have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or autism spectrum disorders. The use of these therapies is well documented, yet the evidence of the safety and efficacy of these treatments in children is limited. This article describes the current evidence-based CAM therapies for ADHD and autism, focusing on nutritional interventions; natural health products, including essential fatty acids, vitamins, minerals, and other health supplements; biofeedback; and reducing environmental toxins. The CAM evidence in ADHD is addressed, as is the CAM literature in autism.

Weber W, Newmark S. School of Naturopathic Medicine, Bastyr University, 14500 Juanita Drive NE, Kenmore, WA 98021, USA. wendyw@bastyr.edu Pediatr Clin North Am. 2007 Dec;54(6):983-1006; xii.

Julie Ryder has worked as a physiotherapist in the NHS and private sector for 30 years. She specializes in postural advice and soft tissue massage. Julie is also a fully trained Hypnotherapist and Psychotherapist, who utilizes her years of experience within the medical profession to provide a practical and efficient approach.

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OBJECTIVE: High suggestibility is widely regarded as an important feature of patients with medically unexplained symptoms (MUS), particularly those with multiple MUS [i.e. somatization disorder (SD)], although there are few empirical data attesting to this assumption. A study was therefore conducted to compare levels of non-hypnotic suggestibility in patients with SD and medical controls. METHOD: A modified version of the Barber Suggestibility Scale was administered to 19 patients with SD and 17 controls with an established organic dystonia. RESULTS: Patients with SD were no more suggestible than control patients. Dystonia controls were more likely to deliberately comply with suggestions than the SD patients. CONCLUSION: Contrary to popular belief, high suggestibility is not necessarily a feature of SD.

Brown RJ, Schrag A, Krishnamoorthy E, Trimble MR. Academic Division of Clinical Psychology, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK. richard.james.brown@manchester.ac.uk Acta Psychiatr Scand. 2008 Mar;117(3):232-5.

The onset of cognitive rehabilitation brought with it a hope for an effective treatment for the traumatic brain injured subject. This paper reviews the empirical reports of changes in cognitive functioning after treatment and compares the relative effectiveness of several treatments including computer interventions, cognitive strategies, EEG biofeedback, and medications. The cognitive functions that are reviewed include auditory memory, attention and problem solving. The significance of the change in cognitive function is assessed in two ways that include effect size and longevity of effect. These analyses complement the previously published meta-reviews by adding these two criteria and include reports of EEG biofeedback, which is shown to be an effective intervention for auditory memory.

Appl Psychophysiol Biofeedback. 2008 Jun;33(2) Thornton KE, Carmody DP. The Brain Foundation, Ste. 2a, 2509 Park Avenue, South Plainfield, NJ, 07080, USA, ket@chp-neurotherapy.com.

Kathleen A. Brehony holds a Ph.D. in clinical psychology and has been in private practice for twelve years. She has been published widely in academic journals and has been on the faculty at Virginia Tech. She is the author of Awakening at Midlife: Realizing Your Potential for Growth and Change, which was a finalist for the "Books for a Better Life" award. Dr. Brehony divides her time between Virginia and Los Angeles.

OBJECTIVES: Naturopathic physicians' interest in participating in pediatric observational studies or clinical trials is unknown. Complementary and alternative medicine research may need to be conducted in the settings where these therapies are commonly used to fully understand their effects. Optimally, naturopathic physicians will participate in the research of naturopathic medical practice. A survey was conducted to ascertain naturopathic physicians' interest in participating in pediatric research studies and characteristics of those most interested. DESIGN, SETTING, AND SUBJECTS: In July 2004, a survey designed to assess pediatric research interests and a one-dollar incentive was mailed to all Washington state-licensed naturopathic physicians with in-state mailing addresses (n = 513). A second survey and one-dollar incentive were sent to nonresponders in November 2004. Surveys were collected through January 2005. RESULTS: From the 499 surveys delivered as addressed, 251 completed surveys were returned (50.3%). Of the 204 naturopathic physicians in current practice who completed surveys, 59 (28.9%) indicated they would not recommend or advertise an observational, open-label, or placebo-controlled trial to their pediatric patients, and 85 (41.7%) indicated they had no interest in being involved with research studies themselves. Of the 204 respondents in practice, 83 (40.7%) would recommend placebo-controlled trials to their pediatric patients, and 52 (25.5%) were willing to recruit for such a trial in the office. CONCLUSIONS: Characteristics of naturopathic physicians most interested in active pediatric research involvement included fewer years in practice, greater number of pediatric patients treated per week, and having shared office space.

Weber W, McCarty RL. School of Naturopathic Medicine, Bastyr University, Kenmore, WA 98028-4966, USA. J Altern Complement Med. 2008 May;14(4):445-8.

Biofeedback is a form of treatment that has no adverse effects and can be provided by physician extenders. The therapy relies on patients' ability to learn how to influence their bodily functions through dedicated machinery and teaching. This Review provides a comprehensive overview of all potential therapeutic applications of biofeedback for functional constipation, fecal incontinence, functional anorectal pain, IBS, functional dyspepsia, and aerophagia. Practical clinical applications of biofeedback therapy supported by randomized, controlled trials (RCTs) are limited to fecal incontinence and dyssynergic defecation. For fecal incontinence, RCTs suggest that biofeedback combining strength training and sensory discrimination training is effective in approximately 75% of patients and is more effective than placebo. However, verbal feedback provided by a therapist during extended digital examination may be equally effective, and children whose fecal incontinence is associated with constipation plus fecal impaction do no better with biofeedback than medical management. For dyssynergic defecation, RCTs show that biofeedback combining pelvic floor muscle relaxation training, practice in defecating a water-filled balloon, and instruction in effective straining is effective in approximately 70% of patients who have failed to respond to laxative treatment. For both incontinence and dyssynergic defecation, the benefits of biofeedback last at least 12 months.

Nat Clin Pract Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2008 Jun 3. Chiarioni G, Whitehead WE. G Chiarioni is Deputy Chief of the Division of Gastrointestinal Rehabilitation of the University of Verona, Valeggio sul Mincio, Italy.

AIM: The Gudjonsson Suggestibility Scale (GSS) assesses suggestibility by asking respondents to recall a short story, followed by exposure to leading questions and pressure to change their responses. Suggestibility, as assessed by the GSS, appears to be elevated in people with intellectual disabilities (ID). This has been shown to reflect to some extent the fact that people with ID have poor recall of the story; however, there are discrepancies in this relationship. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether a closer match between memory and suggestibility would be found using a measure of recognition memory rather than free recall. METHOD: Three modifications to the procedure were presented to users of a learning disabilities day service. In all three experiments, a measure of forced-choice recognition memory was built into the suggestibility test. In experiments 1 and 2, the GSS was presented using either divided presentation (splitting the story into two halves, with memory and suggestibility tests after each half) or multiple presentation (the story was presented three times before presentation of the memory and suggestibility tests). Participants were tested twice, once with the standard version of the test and once with one of the modified versions. In experiment 3, an alternative suggestibility scale (ASS3) was created, based on real events in a learning disabilities day service. The ASS3 was presented to one group of participants who had been present at the events, and a second group who attended a different day service, to whom the events were unfamiliar. RESULTS: As observed previously, suggestibility was not closely related to free recall performance: recall was increased equally by all three manipulations, but they produced, respectively, no effect, a modest effect and a large effect on suggestibility. However, the effects on suggestibility were closely related to performance on the forced-choice recognition memory task: divided presentation of the GSS2 had no effect on either of these measures; multiple presentation of the GSS2 produced a modest increase in recognition memory and a modest decrease in suggestibility; and replacing the GSS with the ASS3 produced a large increase in recognition memory and a large decrease in suggestibility. IMPLICATIONS: The results support earlier findings that the GSS is likely to overestimate how suggestible a person will be in relation to a personally significant event. This reflects poor recognition memory for the material being tested, rather than increased suggestibility per se. People with ID may in fact be relatively non-suggestible for well-remembered events, which would include personally significant events, particularly those witnessed recently.

Willner P. Learning Disability Services, Bro Morgannwg NHS Trust, Neath, UK. p.willner@swansea.ac.uk J Intellect Disabil Res. 2008 Apr;52(Pt 4):318-26.

by Annette Janover

Your subconscious mind speaks to you through a phenomenon called Reverse Speech, enabling you to unravel the obstacles to your progress.

Have you ever felt like giving up? Are you experiencing being held back by a pattern that keeps repeating in your life or some sort of block or obstacle? Is success and happiness still passing you by even after years of effort reading various books on self growth and attending many mind/body workshops?

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Damian Hamill was certified as a Master Hypnotist by the Proudfoot School of Clinical Hypnosis & Psychotherapy in 1997 and subsequently obtained his Diploma in Clinical Hypnosis, with Distinction, from the Brief Strategic Therapy Foundation. He also holds the Foundation's Advanced Practitioner Certificate and is a member of the Foundation's Teaching Faculty.

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INTRODUCTION: The treatment of the fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) is not standardized and often ineffective, and the course of disease progression is unpredictable. OBJECTIVES: To highlight the efficacy of the pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic treatments administered to FMS patients. METHODS: Medline search for articles published between 1983 and 2007, using the keywords fibromyalgia, pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic treatment, and multidisciplinary modalities. RESULTS: Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) indicate that FMS has been treated by a wide range of drugs including antidepressants, opioids, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, sedatives, muscle relaxants, and antiepileptic agents. Although the syndrome is now more widely recognized and understood, its treatment remains challenging and some physicians believe that no effective treatment exists. Only a few drugs have been shown to have clear-cut benefits in RCTs. FMS sufferers benefit from exercise and a number of the tested programs have involved more than 1 type of exercise. Two other major approaches are psychophysiologically based therapy, such as electromyography biofeedback, and interventions based on cognitive-behavioral therapy. Twelve controlled clinical studies have provided evidence supporting the efficacy of treatments administered to people with FMS by multidisciplinary teams using multicomponent strategies. CONCLUSIONS: It is difficult to draw definite conclusions concerning the most appropriate approach to managing FMS because of the methodological limitations of the available studies and the fact that the heterogeneity and nonstandardized nature of their therapeutic programs make them difficult to compare. An individually tailored multidisciplinary pharmacologic, rehabilitative, and cognitive-behavioral approach currently seems to be the most effective.

Semin Arthritis Rheum. 2008 Jun;37(6) Sarzi-Puttini P, Buskila D, Carrabba M, Doria A, Atzeni F. Clinical Research Scientist, Rheumatology Unit, L. Sacco University Hospital, Milan, Italy. sarzi@tiscali.it

The effects of implementation intentions and posthypnotic suggestion were investigated in 2 studies. In Experiment 1, participants with high levels of hypnotic suggestibility were instructed to take placebo pills as part of an investigation of how to best enhance compliance with medical instruction. In Experiment 2, participants with high, medium, and low levels of hypnotic suggestibility were asked to run in place, take their pulse rate before, and send an e-mail report to the experimenter each day. Experiment 1 revealed enhanced adherence as a function of both implementation intentions and posthypnotic suggestion. Experiment 2 failed to find any significant main effects but found a significant interaction between suggestibility and the effects of posthypnotic suggestion. Posthypnotic suggestion enhanced adherence among high suggestible participants but lowered it among low suggestibles.

Carvalho C, Mazzoni G, Kirsch I, Meo M, Santandrea M. Higher Institute of Applied Psychology, Lisbon, Portugal. Claudia.carvalho@ispa.pt Int J Clin Exp Hypn. 2008 Apr;56(2):143-55.

Danie Beaulieu, Ph.D, is a psychologist, an international therapy trainer and prolific author based in Québec City, Canada. She is co-developer of Impact Therapy and Eye Movement Integration Therapy, authoring 17 books in French and three in English on these topics. She is founder and president of Académie Impact, a training institute, publishing house and developer of concrete therapeutic aids.

We report on 34 patients with abnormal body movements (AMs; 11 females, 23 males; mean age 10 y 1 mo, range 3 y 6 mo-15 y 11 mo). Twenty-three of the 34 patients had an organic movement disorder (OMD), five patients fulfilled the diagnostic criteria of documented psychogenic movement disorder (PMD), and six patients displayed probable or possible PMD. Diagnosis of children with OMD included essential tremor (n=7), Tourette syndrome (n=5), primary dystonia (n=2), chronic motor tics (n=2), viral cerebellar ataxia (n=2), drug-induced ataxia (n=1), thyrotoxicosis related tremor (n=1), autosomal inherited dystonia (n=1), poststreptococcal chorea (n=1), and benign head tremor (n=1). Consistent findings among patients with PMD included disappearance of AMs when the patients thought they were not being observed and satisfactory recovery from the AMs after psychotherapy or suggestion. Reduction of the movements when the patient was distracted and variability of AMs during full relaxation, sleep, and stress were reported among patients with both PMD and OMD.

Ahmed MA, Martinez A, Yee A, Cahill D, Besag FM. Dev Med Child Neurol. 2008 Apr;50(4):300-4. Paediatric Department, King George Hospital, Goodmayes, Ilford, Essex, UK. mas.ahmed@bhrhospitals.nhs.uk

This cross-sectional study assessed the sociodemographic characteristics of families whose children used naturopathic medicine, the reasons for use, and whether naturopathic and conventional medicine were combined in treating children's conditions. Data were collected in British Columbia, Alberta and Ontario, Canada. Ninety-eight completed questionnaires were analyzed. The results showed that participants (parents) were most likely to be females, university educated, had household income >$60,000, and also saw a naturopathic doctor for themselves. The most common conditions for which children saw a naturopathic doctor included allergies, digestive problems and skin problems, and the most important reasons for use included using all possible options and having a more holistic approach to care. Most parents reported combining naturopathic and conventional care for their children. Study limitations, in particular, selection bias, were discussed.

Leung B, Verhoef M. Department of Community Health Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada. bleun@ucalgary.ca Complement Ther Clin Pract. 2008 May;14(2):98-104.

Objective: To explore the laws of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) syndromes in unstable angina, and to establish the preliminary diagnostic criteria for TCM syndromes.Methods: Multi-center prospective research on TCM syndromes in 815 cases of unstable angina was done with the nonlinear dimension reduction by factor analysis.Results: There were five extracted factors in factor analysis: F1, F2, F3, F4 and F5. F1 was yin deficiency of heart and kidney, F2 was deficiency of both heart and spleen, F3 was intermingled phlegm and blood stasis, F4 was qi deficiency and blood stasis, and F5 was yang deficiency and coagulated cold. Qi deficiency and blood stasis (F4) syndrome accounted for the maximum proportion. The diagnostic criteria for TCM syndromes were preliminarily and respectively established.Conclusion: Qi deficiency and blood stasis is the key factor of pathogenesis. The factor analysis can help us classify traditional Chinese medicine syndromes and establish the preliminary diagnostic criteria.

Wang J, He QY, Li HX, Fang YT. Department of Cardiology, Guang'anmen Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100053, China; E-mail: heqingyongg@sohu.com. Zhong Xi Yi Jie He Xue Bao. 2008 Aug;6(8):788-92.

OBJECTIVE: Half of the adults in the United States use complementary and alternative medicine with mind-body therapy being the most commonly used form. Neurology patients often turn to their physicians for insight into the effectiveness of the therapies and resources to integrate them into their care. The objective of this article is to give a clinical overview of mind-body interventions and their applications in neurology. METHODS: Medline and PsychInfo were searched on mind-body therapies and neurologic disease search terms for clinical trials and reviews and published evidence was graded. RESULTS: Meditation, relaxation, and breathing techniques, yoga, tai chi, and qigong, hypnosis, and biofeedback are described. Mind-body therapy application to general pain, back and neck pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, headaches, fibromyalgia, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, muscular dysfunction, stroke, aging, Parkinson disease, stroke, and attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder are reviewed. CONCLUSIONS: There are several conditions where the evidence for mind-body therapies is quite strong such as migraine headache. Mind-body therapies for other neurology applications have limited evidence due mostly to small clinical trials and inadequate control groups.

Neurology. 2008 Jun 10;70(24) Wahbeh H, Elsas SM, Oken BS. Department of Neurology, Oregon Health & Science University, 3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Road, Mail Code CR120, Portland, OR 97239, USA.

INTRODUCTION: Although family violence has been identified as a major public health issue, it has received little attention in the chiropractic literature. Accordingly, this article provides a conceptual overview on family violence, discusses the role of chiropractors in its detection, and raises several issues germane to chiropractic education that deserve further attention in future chiropractic publications. METHODS: A selective review of the empirical literature on family violence was conducted with a focus on issues relevant to chiropractic training and professional identity. RESULTS: Extrapolating from the research, several models for medical training and continuing education have been proposed that emphasize a multidisciplinary, developmental approach to infusing knowledge, skill building, and mentored practice experiences into professional education experiences. CONCLUSION: As chiropractors become more mainstream portal-of-entry providers, there is a clear need to translate the didactics of family violence into the clinical setting. Clinical education may provide students the opportunity to master basic competencies for managing challenging family violence problems. The clinical environment may be appropriate for inculcating skills commensurate with those of other primary care providers. Yet, the extent to which training priorities and approaches extrapolated from other health care disciplines should be accepted wholesale by the chiropractic profession merits further discussion, including issues around the professional identity of chiropractic, the impact of accreditation standards and practice guidelines on actual professional practice behaviors, and the possible limits and unintended consequences associated with expanding the traditional chiropractic scope of practice from a specialty to a primary care profession.

Terre L, Globe G, Pfefer MT. University of Missouri-Kansas City. J Chiropr Educ. 2006 Fall;20(2):128-37.

by Dennis K. Chong and Jennifer K. Smith Chong

In this article, the male pronoun is to apply to either gender

It is written that: As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he.

If a perceptive student of hypnotism accepts this as a first principle, his initial and implicit unconstrained interest would logically be:

How doth a man thinketh?

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BACKGROUND: Chronic pain is a prevalent and costly problem that eludes adequate treatment. Persistent pain affects all domains of people's lives and in the absence of cure, success will greatly depend on adaptation to symptoms and self-management. METHOD: We reviewed the psychological models that have been used to conceptualize chronic pain-psychodynamic, behavioural (respondent and operant), and cognitive-behavioural. Treatments based on these models, including insight, external reinforcement, motivational interviewing, relaxation, meditation, biofeedback, guided imagery, and hypnosis are described. RESULTS: The cognitive-behavioural perspective has the greatest amount of research supports the effectiveness of this approach with chronic pain patients. Importantly, we differentiate the cognitive-behavioural perspective from cognitive and behavioural techniques and suggest that the perspective on the role of patients' beliefs, attitudes, and expectations in the maintenance and exacerbation of symptoms are more important than the specific techniques. The techniques are all geared to fostering self-control and self-management that will encourage a patient to replace their feelings of passivity, dependence, and hopelessness with activity, independence, and resourcefulness. CONCLUSIONS: Psychosocial and behavioural factors play a significant role in the experience, maintenance, and exacerbation of pain. Self-management is an important complement to biomedical approaches. Cognitive-behavioural therapy alone or within the context of an interdisciplinary pain rehabilitation program has the greatest empirical evidence for success. As none of the most commonly prescribed treatment regimens are sufficient to eliminate pain, a more realistic approach will likely combine pharmacological, physical, and psychological components tailored to each patient's needs.

Turk DC, Swanson KS, Tunks ER. University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA 98195-6540, USA. turkdc@u.washington.edu Can J Psychiatry. 2008 Apr;53(4):213-23.

Herbal drugs constitute a major share of all the officially recognised systems of health in India viz. Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha, Homeopathy and Naturopathy, except Allopathy. More than 70% of India's 1.1 billion population still use these non-allopathic systems of medicine. Currently, there is no separate category of herbal drugs or dietary supplements, as per the Indian Drugs Act. However, there is a vast experiential-evidence base for many of the natural drugs. This offers immense opportunities for Observational Therapeutics and Reverse Pharmacology. Evidence-based herbals are widely used in the diverse systems and manufactured, as per the pharmacopoeial guidelines, by a well-organised industry. Significant basic and clinical research has been carried out on the medicinal plants and their formulations, with the state-of-the-art methods in a number of Institutes/Universities. There are some good examples. Indian medicinal plants also provide a rich source for antioxidants that are known to prevent/delay different diseased states. The antioxidant protection is observed at different levels. The medicinal plants also contain other beneficial compounds like ingredients for functional foods. Hence, the global knowledge about Ayurveda and Indian herbals will hopefully be enhanced by information on the evidence-base of these plants. This will yield rich dividends in the coming years.

Vaidya AD, Devasagayam TP. Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan's Swami Prakashananda Ayurveda Research Centre, University of Mumbai, 13th North-South Road, Vithalnagar, Juhu Scheme, Mumbai 400 049, India. J Clin Biochem Nutr. 2007 Jul;41(1):1-11.

Blake H. Tearnan, Ph.D. graduated from the University of Georgia's Clinical Psychology Program with a specialization in clinical and medical psychology. He has held positions at the University of Wisconsin, University of Nevada Medical School and the V.A.M.C. in Reno. He also was Clinical Coordinator at the Sierra Pain Institute, Director of Sonora Pain Center, and currently is Director of Behavioral Medicine for the Functional Restoration Program at the Northern Nevada Functional Restoration Program in Reno, Nevada. Dr. Tearnan also is a founding partner of the Reno Spine Center, President of www.HealthNetSolutions.com and a consultant to various groups including Innovative Health Solutions and the American Academy of Pain Management. Dr. Tearnan has published widely in the areas of medical rehabilitation, health, pain, and anxiety disorders. He is the author of numerous psychometric instruments on general health, pain, and disability including the Pain Disability Report, Behavioral Assessment of Pain, and the Life Assessment Questionnaire. Dr. Tearnan is also the author of 10 Simple Steps to Managing Chronic Pain which was published by New Harbinger Publications in the spring of 2007.

This study examined potential psychosocial stressors of 30 children with headaches (mean age, 15 years), and the role of insight generation in the outcome of hypnosis therapy. The mean duration of headache occurrence was 3 years. All of the patients were instructed in how to use hypnosis-induced relaxation and headache-related imagery to improve their symptoms. Thirty-seven percent reported their headaches were associated with fixed stressors, defined as caused by events over which patients had no control, while 63% reported variable stressors, defined as modifiable by the patients' actions. Four patients were lost to follow-up. Overall, 96% (25/26) reported a decrease in headache frequency and/or intensity following use of hypnosis. However, prior to insight generation patients reporting fixed stressors were significantly less likely to improve than those reporting variable stressors (p = 0.018). Thus, insight generation may be more important for achievement of improvement in children whose headaches are associated with fixed stressors.

Anbar RD, Zoughbi GG. Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital, State University of New York Upstate Medical University Syracuse, NY 13110, USA. anbarr@upstate.edu Am J Clin Hypn. 2008 Apr;50(4):335-41.

With over 20 years of clinical experience, Michael Cohen brings a wealth of knowledge to his practice. Originally a Samaritan, he went on to train in Counselling and clinical hypnotherapy. He sees clients for one-to-one therapy and runs workshops on such topics as stress management, developing a positive attitude and self-hypnosis. He has served as Chair of The Association of Professional Therapists, and edited their journal 'Suggestions.' He is a registered member of the National Council for Hypnotherapy.

His corporate clients have included:

Dixon's Store Groups PLC Reed Business Publications The Home Office B.U.P.A. psychological services.

For more information visit: www.HypnosisAndHealing.co.uk

STUDY DESIGN: Prospective, multicenter, cohort study. OBJECTIVE: To examine which clinical and sociodemographic baseline variables can predict a favorable outcome in subjects with neck pain treated by chiropractors. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Relatively little is known on predictors of neck pain, particularly for those subjects undergoing chiropractic care. No previous study has examined predictors of outcome for subjects with neck pain by modeling the trajectories of subjects in a longitudinal design. METHODS: All new, consecutive patients, between 18 and 65 years of age with neck pain of any duration, who had not undergone chiropractic or manual therapy in the prior 3 months, were recruited. Questionnaires were administered at the first 3 visits, and at 3 and 12 months. In all, 29 putative prognostic baseline variables were evaluated. Multivariate multilevel longitudinal regression analyses were conducted using neck pain, neck disability, and perceived recovery as outcomes. RESULTS: In total, 529 patients fulfilled the inclusion criteria. The response rate at 12-months was 92%. In the multivariate analyses, 14 (48%) of the prognostic variables examined were retained in at least one of the models. Shorter duration of neck pain at the first visit was the only variable retained in all 3 final regression models. The following were predictive of a favorable outcome for any 2 of the 3 outcome measures examined: intermittent neck pain, those not on sick-leave or receiving workers compensation at baseline, a higher level of education, less tiredness, higher expectations that the treatment would be beneficial, lack of morning pain, and worse perceived general health. CONCLUSION: On the basis of the patient's history, the clinician can identify a number of determinants, which are predictive of a favorable outcome. Shorter duration of neck pain at the first visit was the only variable consistently found to be predictive of a favorable outcome for all 3 outcome measures examined.

Rubinstein SM, Knol DL, Leboeuf-Yde C, de Koekkoek TE, Pfeifle CE, van Tulder MW. Institute for Research in Extramural Medicine (EMGO-Institute), VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. SM.Rubinstein@vumc.nl Spine. 2008 Jun 1;33(13):1451-8.