Aims and objectives. To explore adolescents' memories about music therapy after spinal fusion surgery and their recommendations for future patients. Background. Spinal fusion for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis is one of the most painful surgeries performed. Music therapy is shown to decrease postoperative pain in children after minor surgery. In preparation for developing a preoperative information program, we interviewed adolescents who had spinal fusion and postoperative music therapy to find out what they remembered and what they recommended for future patients. Methods. Eight adolescents who had spinal fusion for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis were interviewed about their experiences. For this qualitative study, the investigators independently used thematic analysis techniques to formulate interpretive themes. Together they discussed their ideas and assigned overall meanings to the information. Results. The eight participants were 13-17 years of age and had surgery between 2-24 months previously. The overarching themes identified from the interviews were relaxation and pain perception, choice and control, therapist interaction and preoperative information. Participants stated that music therapy helped with mental relaxation and distraction from pain. It was important to be able to choose the type of music for the therapy and to use self-control to focus on the positive. Their recommendation was that future patients should be provided with information preoperatively about music therapy and pain management. Participants recommended a combination of auditory and visual information, especially the experiences of previous patients who had spinal fusion and music therapy. Conclusion. Music provided live at the bedside by a music therapist was remembered vividly and positively by most of the participants. Relevance to clinical practice. The presence of a music therapist providing patient-selected music at the bedside is important. Methods to introduce adolescents to music therapy and how to use music for relaxation should be developed and tested.

J Clin Nurs. 2012 Sep 18. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2702.2012.04248.x. Kleiber C, Adamek MS. Authors: Charmaine Kleiber, PhD, RN, FAAN, Associate Professor, University of Iowa College of Nursing, Iowa City, IA; Mary S Adamek, PhD, MT-BC, Clinical Professor and Director of Music Therapy, School of Music, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA.

Full Title: The importance of supportive care in optimizing treatment outcomes of patients with advanced prostate cancer.

Optimal oncologic care of older men with prostate cancer, including effective prevention and management of the disease and treatment side effects (so-called best supportive care measures) can prolong survival, improve quality of life, and reduce depressive symptoms. In addition, the proportion of treatment discontinuations can be reduced through early reporting and management of side effects. Pharmacologic care may be offered to manage the side effects of androgen-deprivation therapy and chemotherapy, which may include hot flashes, febrile neutropenia, fatigue, and diarrhea. Nonpharmacologic care (e.g., physical exercise, acupuncture, relaxation) has also been shown to benefit patients. At the Georges Pompidou European Hospital, the Program of Optimization of Chemotherapy Administration has demonstrated that improved outpatient follow-up by supportive care measures can reduce the occurrence of chemotherapy-related side effects, reduce cancellations and modifications of treatment, reduce chemotherapy wastage, and reduce the length of stay in the outpatient unit. The importance of supportive care measures to optimize management and outcomes of older men with advanced prostate cancer should not be overlooked.

Oncologist. 2012;17 Suppl 1:23-30. Scotté F. Oncologie Médicale et Unité Fonctionnelle de Soins de Support, Hôpital Européen Georges Pompidou, 20 Rue Leblanc, 75015 Paris, France. florian.scotte@egp.aphp.fr.

Robert Schowarz is the ACEP conference director. He has organized eleven conferences trauma, hypnosis and brief therapy, and is the author of Tools for Transforming Trauma. Bob is diagnostically trained in TFT and is the co-developer of Attractor Field Techniques. He has presented workshops internationally on Ericksonian and energy approaches to therapy and treating trauma, Energy Psychology, as well as numerous workshops for business. His current focus is on leading and marketing the integrity.

For more information, please visit http://www.doctor-bob.net.

by Tim Brunson, PhD

There are two major – yet substantially different – concepts regarding the implication of inhibition on the practice of clinical hypnotherapy. The first refers to a voluntary or involuntary diminishment of cerebral blood flow to one or more substrates. Through the use of hypnosis the inhibition of one or more substrates will precipitate an activation of other substrates. The result of such action serves to unleash the roles and capabilities of the activated substrate(s). Additionally, if such inhibition adversely affects the left prefrontal cortex, then the lessened influence tends to help intervention efforts.5 This is called the "substitution effect. "

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Abstract The aim of this study was to review published controlled trials of hypnotic treatments for chronic and cancer procedure-related pain in children. Trials were included if participants were 18 years of age or below, were randomized and had populations with chronic pain or cancer procedure-relatedctory patients. The published evidence for the efficacy of various treatments relies mostly upon case series or case reports.

Int J Clin Exp Hypn. 2012 Oct;60(4):432-57. Tomé-Pires C, Miró J. Unit for the Study and Treatment of Pain-ALGOS, Centre de Recerca en Avaluació i Mesura de la Conducta, and Institut d'Investigació Universitària Pere Virgili , Catalonia , Spain.

by Gayle Peterson, LCSW, PhD
The question may be raised... whether the improvement in medical management, in lessening the physical dangers of pregnancy, has contributed to a waning concern with the concomitant psychological changes." Greta Bibring (1959)

The biological processes of pregnancy and childbirth ready a woman for motherhood psychologically as well as physically. The birth of a baby is the birth of family. A myriad of births take place at once: women become mothers, husbands become fathers, and so on. One birth ripples through generations, creating subtle shifts and rearrangements in the family web.

Pregnancy and childbirth presents women with an opportunity for profound insight and self-understanding. Yet this stage of the family life cycle has gone unrecognized and unnamed. The perinatal stage has its own developmental tasks and unique characteristics. Forging an identity as a parent from past experience is one such task that a woman faces as she crosses the threshold to motherhood. The impact of the childbirth process significantly aids or hinders this process. This stage is indeed a critical period of the family life-cycle which deserves attention apart from the stages that follow: rearing young children, raising teenagers, and launching young adults. Pregnancy and giving birth form an extremely fertile time in the family's life cycle, providing an opportunity for needed adjustments in beliefs, attitudes, and family relationships to occur. As most family therapists are fully aware, transitions are periods of tremendous growth and activity, which can either result in new kinds of adjustment in healthy family systems, or in maladjustments that repeat, causing developmental delays and emotional pain.

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Ayurvedic medicine plants continue to draw attention for the discovery of novel anticancer agents. Withaferin A (WA) is one such small-molecule constituent of the ayurvedic medicine plant Withania somnifera with efficacy against cultured and xenografted human breast cancer cells. However, the mechanism underlying anticancer effect of WA is not fully understood. This study was undertaken to determine the role of Notch signaling in anticancer effects of WA using human breast cancer cells as a model. Notably, Notch signaling is often hyperactive in human breast cancers. Exposure of MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 human breast cancer cells to pharmacological concentrations of WA resulted in cleavage (activation) of Notch2 as well as Notch4, which was accompanied by transcriptional activation of Notch as evidenced by RBP-Jk, HES-1A/B, and HEY-1 luciferase reporter assays. On the other hand, WA treatment caused a decrease in levels of both transmembrane and cleaved Notch1. The WA-mediated activation of Notch was associated with induction of ?-secretase complex components presenilin1 and/or nicastrin. Inhibition of MDA-MB-231 and MDA-MB-468 cell migration resulting from WA exposure was significantly augmented by knockdown of Notch2 as well as Notch4 protein. Activation of Notch2 was not observed in cells treated with withanone or withanolide A, which are structural analogs of WA. The results of this study indicate that WA treatment activates Notch2 and Notch4, which impede inhibitory effect of WA on breast cancer cell migration.

Breast Cancer Res Treat. 2012 Sep 11. Lee J, Sehrawat A, Singh SV. Department of Pharmacology & Chemical Biology, University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, 2.32A Hillman Cancer Center Research Pavilion, 5117 Centre Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA.

Full title: Altered anterior insula activation during anticipation and experience of painful stimuli in expert meditators.

Experientially opening oneself to pain rather than avoiding it is said to reduce the mind's tendency toward avoidance or anxiety which can further exacerbate the experience of pain. This is a central feature of mindfulness-based therapies. Little is known about the neural mechanisms of mindfulness on pain. During a meditation practice similar to mindfulness, functional magnetic resonance imaging was used in expert meditators (>10,000h of practice) to dissociate neural activation patterns associated with pain, its anticipation, and habituation. Compared to novices, expert meditators reported equal pain intensity, but less unpleasantness. This difference was associated with enhanced activity in the dorsal anterior insula (aI), and the anterior mid-cingulate (aMCC) the so-called 'salience network', for experts during pain. This enhanced activity during pain was associated with reduced baseline activity before pain in these regions and the amygdala for experts only. The reduced baseline activation in left aI correlated with lifetime meditation experience. This pattern of low baseline activity coupled with high response in aIns and aMCC was associated with enhanced neural habituation in amygdala and pain-related regions before painful stimulation and in the pain-related regions during painful stimulation. These findings suggest that cultivating experiential openness down-regulates anticipatory representation of aversive events, and increases the recruitment of attentional resources during pain, which is associated with faster neural habituation.

Neuroimage. 2012 Sep 19. pii: S1053-8119(12)00940-8. doi: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2012.09.030. Lutz A, McFarlin DR, Perlman DM, Salomons TV, Davidson RJ. Waisman Laboratory for Brain Imaging and Behavior, University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA; Center for Investigating Healthy Minds, University of Wisconsin-Madison, WI, USA. Electronic address: alutz@wisc.edu.

Full title: Living with pleasure in daily life at the end of life: Recommended care strategy for cancer patients from the perspective of physicians and nurses.

One of the most important goals of palliative care is achieving a good death. Most Japanese believe that "having some pleasure in daily life" is necessary at the end of life. The aim of this study was to identify, from the perspective of physicians and nurses, a care strategy that ensures that cancer patients have pleasure in daily life at the end of life. Method: We conducted semistructured interviews with experts in palliative care units. A total of 45 participants included 22 palliative care physicians and 23 nurses. Transcripts of the interviews were analyzed using a content analysis method. Results: Care for end-of-life cancer patients that ensures they have some pleasure in daily life was classified into five categories: "Pain assessment and pain easing" aimed to offer physical and psychological pain assessment and relief. "Maintenance of recuperative environment" aimed to offer care that arranged for assistive devices and equipment in the patient's room. "Support of daily life" aimed to offer care that eased accomplishment of daily activities. "Care that respects individuality" aimed to offer care that assessed sources of pleasure for the patient. "Events and complementary and alternative therapies" aimed to offer such care as aromatherapy and massage. Significance of results: The elements of care identified in this study are useful for all end-of-life cancer patients, even those who do not enter palliative care units. The next step of research is to test the efficacy of interventions that reflect the five identified categories of care for end-of life cancer patients.

Palliat Support Care. 2012 Jul 6:1-9. Nakano K, Sato K, Katayama H, Miyashita M. Saiseikai Central Hospital, Nursing Department, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan.

People can come to remember doing things they have never done. The question we asked in this study is whether people can systematically come to remember performing actions they never really did, in the absence of any suggestion from the experimenter. People built LEGO vehicles, performing some steps but not others. For half the people, all the pieces needed to assemble each vehicle were laid out in order in front of them while they did the building; for the other half, the pieces were hidden from view. The next day, everyone returned for a surprise recognition test. People falsely and confidently remembered having carried out steps they did not; those who saw all the pieces while they built each vehicle were more likely to correctly remember performing steps they did perform but equally likely to falsely remember performing steps they did not. We explain our results using the source monitoring framework: People used the relationships between actions to internally generate the missing, related actions, later mistaking that information for genuine experience.

Am J Psychol. 2012 Summer;125(2):225-32. Foster JL, Garry M. Victoria University of Wellington, School of Psychology, New Zealand.

Debbie Mandel, M.A is a stress-management specialist, radio show host, mind/body lecturer, creator of an educational website, and the author of three self-help books: Addicted to Stress:A Woman's 7 Step Program to Reclaim Joy and Spontaneity in Life, Turn On Your Inner Light: Fitness for Body, Mind and Soul and Changing Habits: The Caregivers' Total Workout.

Debbie is frequently quoted on prominent websites such as: WebMD, Beliefnet.com, FoxNews.com, MSN.com, LifetimeTV.com, Yahoo.com, e.diets.com, Weightwatchers.com and Smartmoney.com about stress-management and relationships. Her articles have been republished on over 50 web sites such as: Beliefnet.com, SheKnows.com, Bellaonline.com (where she is the Stress Management and Alzheimer's site editor), SelfGrowth.com and SolveYourProblem.com. She was invited by Yahoo.com to present her prediction for "What's Ahead for Romance and Relationships in 2007."

Debbie has a BA from Brooklyn College, Phi Beta Kappa, Summa Cum Laude and an MA from New York University Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. She was a high school English teacher and a college professor and and has since utilized her educational experience to help "you read life to get a sense of who you are."

For more information visit www.turnonyourinnerlight.com.

The "Heidelberg Model of Music Therapy for Chronic Tinnitus" is a manualized short term treatment (nine 50-minutes sessions of individualized therapy on five consecutive days). It has proven to be efficient in reducing tinnitus symptoms in the short run. Now the long-term impact of the treatment after up to 5.4 years should be explored. 206 patients who had attended the neuro-music therapy were addressed in a structured follow-up questionnaire survey. 107 complete questionnaires entered analysis. Follow-up time was 2.65 (SD 1.1) years. 76% of the patients achieved a reliable reduction in their tinnitus scores, the overall tinnitus distress as measured by the Mini-TQ diminished from 11.9 (SD = 4.9) to 7.4 (SD = 5.2) points, 87% of the patients were satisfied by the way they were treated during therapy, and 71% of the patients did not undergo any further treatment after. Evaluation of therapeutic elements displays, that only music therapy specific interventions were rated helpful by the patients. Tinnitus related factors (such as tinnitus pitch or loudness, time since onset) did not influence therapy outcome but female gender, positive therapeutic relationship, and higher initial Mini-TQ scores became apparent as factors predicting better chances for greater therapy success. The "Heidelberg Model of Music Therapy for Chronic Tinnitus" seems to be effective in the long run. The outcome effect size of d' = 0.89, can be accounted for as "large" effect and falls into the upper range value compared to established treatments.

Int J Clin Exp Med. 2012;5(4):273-88. Epub 2012 Aug 22. Argstatter H, Grapp M, Hutter E, Plinkert P, Bolay HV. German Center for Music Therapy Research (Deutsches Zentrum für Musiktherapieforschung (Viktor Dulger Institut) DZM e.V.) Heidelberg, Germany.

Full title: Acupuncture for Chronic Low Back Pain: A Multicenter, Randomized, Patient-Assessor Blind, Sham-Controlled Clinical Trial.

Study Design. Multicenter, Randomized, Patient-Assessor Blind, Sham-Controlled Clinical Trial.Objective. To investigate the efficacy of acupuncture treatment with individualized setting for reduction of bothersomeness in participants with chronic low back pain (cLBP).Summary of Background Data. Low back pain is one of the main reasons of disability among adults of working age. Acupuncture is known as an effective treatment for chronic low back pain, but it remains still unclear whether acupuncture is superior to placebo.Methods. One hundred thirty adults aged 18-65 with non-specific LBP of lasting for at least the last 3 months was participated in the three Korean medical hospitals in Korea. Participants got individualized real acupuncture treatments or sham acupuncture treatments over 6 weeks (twice a week) from Korean medicine doctors. Primary outcome was change of Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) score for bothersomeness of cLBP. Secondary outcomes included VAS for pain intensity and questionnaires including Oswestry disability index (ODI), General health status (SF-36), and Beck's depression inventory (BDI).Results. There were no baseline differences observed between two groups except ODI. One hundred sixteen participants finished the treatments and 3-, 6-month follow ups with fourteen subjects' drop-out. Significant difference of VAS for bothersomeness and pain intensity of cLBP have been found between two groups (p<0.05) at the primary end point (8 week). In addition, those two scores have been improved continuously until 3-month follow up (p = 0.011, p = 0.005, respectively). ODI, BDI and SF-36 scores were also improved in both groups without group difference.Conclusion. This randomized sham-controlled trial suggests that acupuncture treatment show the better effects on the reduction of the bothersomeness and pain intensity than sham-control in participants with cLBP.

Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2012 Sep 28. Cho YJ, Song YK, Cha YY, Shin BC, Shin IH, Park HJ, Lee HS, Kim KW, Cho JH, Chung WS, Lee JH, Song MY. 1Department of Oriental Rehabilitation Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Korea 2Department of Oriental Rehabilitation Medicine, Kyung Won University, Sungnam, Korea 3Department of Oriental Rehabilitation Medicine, Sang Ji University, Wonju, Korea 4Division of Clinical Medicine, School of Korean Medicine, Pusan National University, Yangsan, Korea 5Department of Biomedical Statistics, Catholic University of Daegu, Daegu, Korea 6Department of Meridian and Acupoints, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Korea.

Mary T. Sise is a licensed Clinical Social Worker who has a private practice in the Albany, NY, area specializing in the treatment of trauma. In addition to being traditionally trained, and an adjunct professor at Siena College, she integrates Energy Psychology methods into her practice and has trained hundreds of clinicians in these methods. She is the President of the Board of Directors for the Association for Comprehensive Energy Psychology (ACEP) and has presented both nationally and internationally on using Energy Therapy for trauma. She started the Center for Integrative Psychotherapy Inc.. to sponsor conferences and trainings in mind/body/spirit methodologies. She has produced two videos for professionals: Transforming Trauma Using Thought Field Therapy and Transforming the Trauma of the World Trade Center. She also produced a video for the general public: Thought Filed Therapy for Stress Management and Peak Performance.

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

Full title: Precompetition manipulative treatment and performance among virginia tech athletes during 2 consecutive football seasons: a preliminary, retrospective report.

One of the goals of providing manipulative treatment such as osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) is to restore maximal, pain-free movement of the musculoskeletal system and to enhance neuromuscular function. Anecdotally, some athletes have reported that their athletic performance improves after manipulative treatment. To develop preliminary data to gain more understanding about the association between precompetition manipulative treatments provided to Division I football players and their athletic performance during each game for 2 consecutive football seasons. The study design was a retrospective cohort study. Participants were football athletes at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech). Board-certified osteopathic physicians who were trained in osteopathic manipulative medicine and sports medicine performed OMT and determined the type of OMT techniques used and the spinal segments treated. One chiropractor provided chiropractic manipulative therapy. Prior to each game, the athletes who elected to receive precompetition manipulative treatment (ie, OMT or chiropractic manipulative therapy) underwent a focused physical examination and received manipulative treatment on the basis of clinical findings. After each game, the coaching staff "graded" the players by using a standard coaching algorithm. Offensive players received a percentile score (0 to 100) and defensive players received a numeric score (>30 was considered "very good"). A total of 1976 manipulative treatments were provided to 115 football players in 2 consecutive football seasons. Sixty-two offensive players received 985 manipulative treatments, and 53 defensive players received 991 manipulative treatments. Treatments were applied to the affected regions of the spine: cervical, thoracic, lumbar, and sacral sections. Mean (standard deviation) performance scores were 67.8% (22.8%) and 11.1 (9.9) points among offensive and defensive players, respectively. The correlation coefficients between the numbers of the manipulative treatments and the performance scores were 0.107 (P=.407) among the offensive players and 0.218 (P=.117) among the defensive players. Precompetition manipulative treatment was positively associated with improved performance among both offensive and defensive Virginia Tech football players. Although the associations between these 2 factors were relatively small and not statistically significant, we found positive correlations in performance of the offensive and defensive players.

J Am Osteopath Assoc. 2012 Sep;112(9):607-15. Brolinson PG, Smolka M, Rogers M, Sukpraprut S, Goforth MW, Tilley G, Doolan KP. Associate Dean for Clinical Research, VCOM, 2265 Kraft Dr, Blacksburg, VA 24060-6360. pbrolins@vcom.vt.edu.

Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is increasingly used for treating myriad health conditions and for maintaining general health. The present article provides an overview of current CAM use with a specific focus on mind-body CAM and its efficacy in treating health conditions. Characteristics of CAM users are presented, and then evidence regarding the efficacy of mind-body treatments (biofeedback, meditation, guided imagery, progressive muscle relaxation, deep breathing, hypnosis, yoga, tai chi, and qi gong) is reviewed. Demographics associated with CAM use are fairly well-established, but less is known about their psychological characteristics. Although the efficacy of mind-body CAM modalities for health conditions is receiving a great deal of research attention, studies have thus far produced a weak base of evidence. Methodological limitations of current research are reviewed. Suggestions are made for future research that will provide more conclusive knowledge regarding efficacy and, ultimately, effectiveness of mind-body CAM. Considerations for clinical applications, including training and competence, ethics, treatment tailoring, prevention efforts, and diversity, conclude the article. Integration of CAM modalities into clinical health psychology can be useful for researchers taking a broader perspective on stress and coping processes, illness behaviors, and culture; for practitioners seeking to incorporate CAM perspectives into their work; and for policy makers in directing healthcare resources wisely.

J Clin Psychol. 2012 Aug 30. doi: 10.1002/jclp.21910. [Epub ahead of print] Park C. University of Connecticut.

Full title: Effects of Therapeutic Touch on Anxiety, Vital Signs, and Cardiac Dysrhythmia in a Sample of Iranian Women Undergoing Cardiac Catheterization: A Quasi-Experimental Study.

Purpose of the study: To investigate the effects of Therapeutic Touch (TT) on anxiety, vital signs, and cardiac dysrhythmia in women undergoing cardiac catheterization. Design: It was a quasi-experimental study. The participants had no history of hallucination, anxiety, or other psychological problems. Participants had to be conscious and have attained at least sixth-grade literacy level. Participants were randomly assigned into an intervention group (n = 23; received 10-15 minutes TT), a placebo group (n = 23; received 10-15 minutes simulated touch), and a control group (n = 23; did not receive any therapy). Data were collected using Spielberger's anxiety test, cardiac dysrhythmia checklist, and vital signs recording sheet. Statistical analyses were considered to be significant at a = .05 levels. Findings: Sixty-nine women ranging in age from 35 to 65 years participated. TT significantly decreased state anxiety p < 0.0001 but not trait anxiety (p = .88), decreased the incidence of all cardiac dysrhythmias p < 0.0001 except premature ventricular contraction (p = .01), and regulated vital signs p < 0.0001 in the intervention group versus placebo and control group. Conclusions: TT is an effective approach for managing state anxiety, regulating vital signs, and decreasing the incidence of cardiac dysrhythmia during stressful situations, such as cardiac catheterization, in Iranian cardiac patients.

J Holist Nurs. 2012 Jul 24. Zolfaghari M, Eybpoosh S, Hazrati M.

Full title: Toxicity of a novel herbomineral preparation las01 on human cancer cell lines and its safety profile in humans and animals.

Polyhedral formulations based on Rasayana therapy described in Charaka Samhita showed remarkable improvement in quality of life of various cancer patients who have been found to be refractory or poor responders to modern chemotherapy and radiation treatment. One of the most recent novel herbomineral preparation, Las01 prepared absolutely as per the instruction given in the ancient Ayurvedic literature has been found to be effective as a potent anticancer drug in the human cell lines, the MCF-7 and Hela cancer cell lines. This novel preparation of Las01 is also found to be devoid of toxicity both in animals as well as in human subjects, which is the main drawback of chemotherapeutic agents used in modern system of medicine. Our results warrant multicentric clinical trials on a large scale which seems to be a future promising drug to cure incurables cancer patients.

Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2012;2012:948375. Epub 2012 Aug 30. Sheikh S, Srivastava A, Tripathi R, Tripathi S, Trivedi VP, Saxena RC. R & D Division Lavanya Ayurveda Biotech Park, Lavanya Ayurvedic Hospital and Cancer Research Centre, Chinhat, Dewa Road, Lucknow 226016, India.

Full title: Precompetition manipulative treatment and performance among virginia tech athletes during 2 consecutive football seasons: a preliminary, retrospective report.

One of the goals of providing manipulative treatment such as osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) is to restore maximal, pain-free movement of the musculoskeletal system and to enhance neuromuscular function. Anecdotally, some athletes have reported that their athletic performance improves after manipulative treatment. To develop preliminary data to gain more understanding about the association between precompetition manipulative treatments provided to Division I football players and their athletic performance during each game for 2 consecutive football seasons. The study design was a retrospective cohort study. Participants were football athletes at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech). Board-certified osteopathic physicians who were trained in osteopathic manipulative medicine and sports medicine performed OMT and determined the type of OMT techniques used and the spinal segments treated. One chiropractor provided chiropractic manipulative therapy. Prior to each game, the athletes who elected to receive precompetition manipulative treatment (ie, OMT or chiropractic manipulative therapy) underwent a focused physical examination and received manipulative treatment on the basis of clinical findings. After each game, the coaching staff "graded" the players by using a standard coaching algorithm. Offensive players received a percentile score (0 to 100) and defensive players received a numeric score (>30 was considered "very good"). A total of 1976 manipulative treatments were provided to 115 football players in 2 consecutive football seasons. Sixty-two offensive players received 985 manipulative treatments, and 53 defensive players received 991 manipulative treatments. Treatments were applied to the affected regions of the spine: cervical, thoracic, lumbar, and sacral sections. Mean (standard deviation) performance scores were 67.8% (22.8%) and 11.1 (9.9) points among offensive and defensive players, respectively. The correlation coefficients between the numbers of the manipulative treatments and the performance scores were 0.107 (P=.407) among the offensive players and 0.218 (P=.117) among the defensive players. Precompetition manipulative treatment was positively associated with improved performance among both offensive and defensive Virginia Tech football players. Although the associations between these 2 factors were relatively small and not statistically significant, we found positive correlations in performance of the offensive and defensive players.

J Am Osteopath Assoc. 2012 Sep;112(9):607-15. Brolinson PG, Smolka M, Rogers M, Sukpraprut S, Goforth MW, Tilley G, Doolan KP. Associate Dean for Clinical Research, VCOM, 2265 Kraft Dr, Blacksburg, VA 24060-6360. pbrolins@vcom.vt.edu.

Full title: Aromatherapy and Massage Intrapartum Service Impact on Use of Analgesia and Anaesthesia in Women in Labor: A Retrospective Case Note

Abstract Background: Over the past decade, interest in complementary therapies and alternative medicine has escalated among midwives and the general public in response to increased demand from expectant mothers for more choice, control, and continuity in labor. Objective: The aim of this study was to explore if an aromatherapy and massage intrapartum service (AMIS) reduced the need for analgesia during labor. This article reports results related to the effects of an AMIS on type of analgesia chosen by women in labor, and on rates of anesthesia-one aspect of the full study. Setting/location: The study was conducted in a general maternity unit in southwest England, UK. Design: A quantitative research approach was taken, whereby contemporaneously completed service evaluation forms of 1079 women (601 nulliparous women and 478 multiparous women; AMIS group) were retrospectively analyzed in comparison with the birth records of an equal number of similar women (comparison group). Data analysis was achieved by entering data from the forms and comparison sample into an SPSS package and running statistical tests. Results: In the AMIS group, overall analgesia usage was higher for transcutaneous electrical stimulation at 34%, compared with 15.9% (p<0.001 allowing for parity), and for nitrous oxide and oxygen at 87.6%, compared with 80.8% (p<0.001). Pethidine use did not differ after adjustment for parity at 30.1%, compared with 24.2% (p=0.27) in the AMIS and comparison groups, respectively. Rates were lower in the AMIS group for epidural anaesthesia at 29.7%, compared with 33.8% (p=0.004 allowing for parity) in the comparison group; spinal anesthesia at 6%; compared with 12.1% (p<0.001) in the comparison group; and general anesthesia at 0.8%, compared with 2.3% (p=0.033) in the comparison group. Conclusions: Having an AMIS appears to have a positive impact on reducing rates of all types of intrapartum anaesthesia. The Service is a beneficial addition to conventional midwifery practice that may influence mode of delivery and reduce general anesthesia rates.

J Altern Complement Med. 2012 Aug 16. Dhany AL, Mitchell T, Foy C. 1 The Birthing Unit, Gloucestershire Royal Hospital , Gloucester, Gloucestershire, United Kingdom

Jamie Smart is a leading trainer, thinker & entrepreneur who has been teaching people how their minds work and how to lead happy, successful lives since 1999. After reaching the top of his field in the early 2000s (acknowledged by his peers as one of the world's finest NLP trainers), Jamie announced his intention to stop teaching NLP in order to teach a new paradigm, Innate Thinking^TM.

Sometimes referred to as an "Inside-out" understanding of reality, the Innate ThinkingTM paradigm represents a complete explanatory model for human psychological functioning and holds enormous promise for the future of humanity.

One of Jamie's favourite quotes is from the ancient Chinese philosopher Lao-Tse: "If you want to awaken all of humanity, awaken all of yourself." Jamie is committed to his personal transformation, and to supporting others in their own awakening.

For more information visit www.Saladltd.co.uk.

Objective. To examine the effects of clinical hypnosis versus NLP intervention on the success rate of ECV procedures in comparison to a control group. Methods. A prospective off-centre randomised trial of a clinical hypnosis intervention against NLP of women with a singleton breech fetus at or after 37(0/7) (259 days) weeks of gestation and normal amniotic fluid index. All 80 participants heard a 20-minute recorded intervention via head phones. Main outcome assessed was success rate of ECV. The intervention groups were compared with a control group with standard medical care alone (n = 122). Results. A total of 42 women, who received a hypnosis intervention prior to ECV, had a 40.5% (n = 17), successful ECV, whereas 38 women, who received NLP, had a 44.7% (n = 17) successful ECV (P > 0.05). The control group had similar patient characteristics compared to the intervention groups (P > 0.05). In the control group (n = 122) 27.3% (n = 33) had a statistically significant lower successful ECV procedure than NLP (P = 0.05) and hypnosis and NLP (P = 0.03). Conclusions. These findings suggest that prior clinical hypnosis and NLP have similar success rates of ECV procedures and are both superior to standard medical care alone.

Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2012;2012:626740. Epub 2012 Jun 21. Reinhard J, Peiffer S, Sänger N, Herrmann E, Yuan J, Louwen F. Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Medicine, Johann Wolfgang Goethe University of Frankfurt am Main, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, 60590 Frankfurt am Main, Germany.

Treatment of pain in palliative care patients is challenging. Adjunctive methods of pain management are desirable. Music therapy offers a nonpharmacologic and safe alternative. To determine the efficacy of a single music therapy session to reduce pain in palliative care patients. Two hundred inpatients at University Hospitals Case Medical Center were enrolled in the study from 2009 to 2011. Patients were randomly assigned to one of two groups: standard care alone (medical and nursing care that included scheduled analgesics) or standard care with music therapy. A clinical nurse specialist administered pre- and post-tests to assess the level of pain using a Numeric Rating Scale as the primary outcome, and the Face, Legs, Activity, Cry, Consolability Scale and the Functional Pain Scale as secondary outcomes. The intervention incorporated music therapist-guided autogenic relaxation and live music. A significantly greater decrease in Numeric Rating Scale pain scores was seen in the music therapy group (difference in means [95% CI] -1.4 [-2.0, -0.8]; P<0.0001). Mean changes in Face, Legs, Activity, Cry, Consolability scores did not differ between study groups (mean difference -0.3, [95% CI] -0.8, 0.1; P>0.05). Mean change in Functional Pain Scale scores was significantly greater in the music therapy group (difference in means -0.5 ([95% CI] -0.8, 0.3; P<0.0001). A single music therapy intervention incorporating therapist-guided autogenic relaxation and live music was effective in lowering pain in palliative care patients.

J Pain Symptom Manage. 2012 Sep 24. pii: S0885-3924(12)00330-2. doi: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2012.05.008. Gutgsell KJ, Schluchter M, Margevicius S, Degolia PA, McLaughlin B, Harris M, Mecklenburg J, Wiencek C. University Hospitals Case Medical Center, Cleveland, Ohio, USA. Electronic address: kathy.gutgsell@uhhospitals.org.

Modification of the motor system in assessing and treating as well as understanding one of the causes of musculoskeletal dysfunctions is a topic of growing importance in healthcare. Applied kinesiology (AK) addresses this interest in that it is a system which attempts to evaluate numerous aspects of health (structural, chemical, and mental) by the manual testing of muscles combined with other standard methods of diagnosis. It leads to a variety of conservative, non-invasive treatments which involve joint manipulations or mobilizations, myofascial therapies, cranial techniques, meridian and acupuncture skills, clinical nutrition and dietary management, counseling skills, evaluating environmental irritants, and various reflex techniques. The effectiveness of these ancillary treatments is believed to be consistent with the expanded construct validity of the manual muscle test (MMT), as described, although this assertion has primarily been tested in outcome studies. AK and its adjunctive procedures (challenge and therapy localization) are highlighted in this review providing details of its implementation as prescribed by an International College of Applied Kinesiology's Board of Examiners, cited for its scholarly and scientific activities. Because these procedures are believed to identify specific articular, soft tissue, biochemical, or emotional issues underlying muscle function, the applicability of this diagnostic method for all clinicians treating muscle imbalance disorders is described. As of yet, MMT efficacy in therapy localization and challenge techniques has not been established in published, peer-reviewed research. A variety of challenges likewise remain for professional AK to establish itself as an emerging science, with numerous gaps in the literature and testable hypotheses enumerated. Of particular concern are a multiplicity of derivatives of AK that have been described in the literature, which should be greeted with caution in light of the fact that they lack one or more of the essential attributes of AK as described in this report. The validity of these studies which have been critical of applied kinesiology appears in many instances to be no greater than several of the randomized controlled trials, cohort studies, case control studies, and case studies found in this communication to support various aspects of applied kinesiology.

J Bodyw Mov Ther. 2012 Oct;16(4):464-87. doi: 10.1016/j.jbmt.2012.04.008. Epub 2012 May 11. Rosner AL, Cuthbert SC. 1330 Beacon Street, Suite #315, Brookline, MA 02446-3202, USA. Electronic address: arosner66@aol.com.

Andrew Hahn, Psy.D. is a licensed clinical psychologist. He received his B.A. in Social Studies/Psychology from Harvard University and his doctorate in Clinical Psychology from Hahnemann University. He is certified by Helen Palmer to teach the Enneagram and has also been a faculty member in the graduate counseling program at Leslie College and Northeastern University. Dr. Hahn developed Guided Self Healing in 1994, and the training program for those who want to facilitate or teach this process in 1997.

Dr. Hahn has a private practice in Lexington, MA and speaks, teaches and leads healing groups internationally.

For more information, please visit http://www.guidedselfhealing.org.

To describe two patients with lumbar facet synovial cysts causing sciatica and progressive neurological deficit. A 52-year-old female with bilateral sciatica and a neurological deficit that progressed to a foot drop; and a 54-year-old female with worsening sciatica and progressive calf weakness were seen at a major tertiary care centre. Diagnostic imaging studies revealed the presence of spinal nerve root impingement by large facet synovial cysts. Activity modification, gabapentinoid and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications were unsuccessful in ameliorating either patient's symptoms. One patient had been receiving ongoing lumbar chiropractic spinal manipulative therapy despite the onset of a progressive neurological deficit. Both patients eventually required surgery to remove the cyst and decompress the affected spinal nerve roots. Patients with acute sciatica who develop a progressive neurological deficit while under care, require prompt referral for axial imaging and surgical consultation. Primary care spine clinicians need to be aware of lumbar facet synovial cysts as a possible cause of acute sciatica and the associated increased risk of the patient developing a progressive neurological deficit.

J Can Chiropr Assoc. 2012 Sep;56(3):173-8. Arthur B, Lewkonia P, Quon JA, Street J, Bishop PB. Combined Neurosurgical and Orthopaedic Spine Program, Vancouver General Hospital, Division of Spine, Department of Orthopaedics & I.C.O.R.D. (International Collaboration on Repair Discoveries), University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.

by Joyce-Anne Locking

This is the time of your life whether or not you find ways to enjoy each minute of the day or take the time to express the direction of your dearest dreams. Today is the day you begin again to solve whatever problems are holding you back from doing the things you were meant to do. Plan your life in a way that expects you to succeed. Things happen to work out for the better when you focus on goals that encourage progress by offering you rewards at the end. When you keep your mind set to the intention of achieving your goal, you will find it much easier to enjoy the moment.

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Careful study of the posttraumatic stress disorder and hypnosis literatures reveals some parallels between posttraumatic flashbacks and responses to posthypnotic suggestions. Highly susceptible subjects can slip into hypnosis spontaneously and accept and respond to implied or inadvertent suggestions, some of which may operate in a manner equivalent to posthypnotic suggestions. Later, exposure to appropriate cues may trigger an intrusive revivification of the hypnotic state in which the suggestion occurred. This sequence of events closely resembles the sequence of reactions that some individuals have to trauma that ultimately leads to flashbacks. Thus, flashbacks may be conceived of as intrusive posttraumatic revivifications of trauma-induced hypnosis-like states that are reactivated by trauma-reminiscent cues operating similarly to posthypnotic signals. Implications of viewing flashbacks in this way, especially if this view is supported by future research, could include significant changes in how posttraumatic stress disorder is conceptualized and treated.

J Trauma Dissociation. 2012 Oct;13(5):568-81. Lovern J. Department of Applied Social Sciences , Allan Hancock College , Santa Maria , California , USA.

by Tim Brunson, PhD

In March 2009 I published Debunking the Subconscious Mind Fallacy. My seemingly heretical comments resulted in immediate requests for permission for redistribution of the article in newsletters circulated in North America and Europe. Additionally, a few of my close friends and highly respected colleagues have responded by writing rebuttals – some of which have appeared on this blog and in our weekly newsletter. Nevertheless, despite the notoriety, my ideas will continue to meet resistance and need further exposure if they are to move from relative obscurity and attain the level of debate warranted. Indeed, I still read and hear prominent medical, psychological, and hypnotherapy authorities touting the miraculous power of the subconscious mind without having any clue as to where the concept originated or realizing that it is totally bereft of any scientific rationale. This article is meant to continue exposing my conclusions, to clarify my original thoughts, and to at least partially assuage some of the misgivings of my detractors.

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Full title: The implementation and evaluation of therapeutic touch in burn patients: An instructive experience of conducting a scientific study within a non-academic nursing setting.

Evaluation of therapeutic touch (TT) in the nursing of burn patients; post hoc evaluation of the research process in a non-academic nursing setting. 38 burn patients received either TT or nursing presence. On admission, days 2, 5 and 10 of hospitalization, data were collected on anxiety for pain, salivary cortisol, and pain medication. Interviews with nurses were held concerning research in a non-academic setting. Anxiety for pain was more reduced on day 10 in the TT-group. The TT-group was prescribed less morphine on day 1 and 2. On day 2 cortisol level before dressing changes was higher in the TT-group. The situational challenges of this study led to inconsistencies in data collection and a high patient attrition rate, weakening its statistical power. Conducting an effect study within daily nursing practice should not be done with a nursing staff inexperienced in research. Analysis of the remaining data justifies further research on TT for burn patients with pain, anxiety for pain, and cortisol levels as outcomes. Administering and evaluating TT during daily care requires nurses experienced both in TT and research, thus leading to less attrition and missing data, increasing the power of future studies.

Patient Educ Couns. 2012 Sep 17. pii: S0738-3991(12)00340-0. doi: 10.1016/j.pec.2012.08.012. Busch M, Visser A, Eybrechts M, van Komen R, Oen I, Olff M, Dokter J, Boxma H. Van Praag Instituut, Utrecht, The Netherlands. Electronic address: mbusch@vanpraaginstituut.nl.

Herbal medicine which involves the use of plants for their medicinal value, dates as far back as the origin of mankind and demonstrates an array of applications including cardiovascular protection and anti-cancer activities, via antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and metabolic activities. Even today the popularity of medicinal herbs is still growing like in traditional medicines such as the Indian medicine, Ayurveda. One of the Ayurvedic medicinal plants is Withania somnifera Dunal, of which the important constituents are the withanolides. Among them, Withaferin A is one of the most bioactive compounds, exerting anti-inflammatory, pro-apoptotic but also anti-invasive and anti-angiogenic effects. In the context of modern pharmacology, a better insight in the underlying mechanism of the broad range of bioactivities exerted by Withaferin A is compulsory. Therefore, a lot of effort was made to explore the intracellular effects of Withaferin A and to characterize its target proteins. This review provides a decisive insight on the molecular basis of the health-promoting potential of Withaferin A.

Biochem Pharmacol. 2012 Sep 6. pii: S0006-2952(12)00583-7. doi: 10.1016/j.bcp.2012.08.027. Vanden Berghe W, Sabbe L, Kaileh M, Haegeman G, Heyninck K. Laboratory of Eukaryotic Gene Expression and Signal Transduction (LEGEST), Department of Physiology, Ghent University, Proeftuinstraat 86, Gent, Belgium; Laboratory of Protein Science, Proteomics and Epigenetic Signalling (PPES), Department of Biomedical Sciences, University Antwerp, Campus Drie Eiken, Universiteitsplein 1, Wilrijk, Belgium.

Recent reports suggest meditation practice improves attentional performance and emotional regulation. The process of meditation apparently increases activation in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) and stimulates the reticular nucleus of the thalamus, implicating the production and delivery of the inhibitory neurotransmitter gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). GABAergic inhibitory interneurons have a central role in cortical inhibition (CI), modulating cortical excitability and neural plasticity. Changes in CI, after completion of a single meditation session, were investigated and compared to a non-meditating control activity. Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), a non-invasive method of examining CI, was used to evaluate changes before and after a 60 min meditation session. Seventy right-handed healthy subjects (n = 35 meditators, n = 35 non-meditators) were assessed using TMS related measures of cortical silent period (CSP) and short intra cortical inhibition (SICI), with stimulation of the motor cortex coordinated with EMG recording of peripheral hand muscles. For the meditators, CSP and SICI were measured before and after meditation sessions while age-sex matched healthy control subjects were identically assessed after a non-meditating activity (television watching). The meditators showed a statistically significant increase in CSP after meditation compared to non-meditators after an equivalent period of television watching (P = 0.02) while no significant between-group differences were observed in the SICI. These findings indicate meditation processes are linked to GABAergic cortical inhibition, a mechanism previously implicated in improved cognitive performance and enhanced emotional regulation.

Brain Stimul. 2012 Sep 7. pii: S1935-861X(12)00153-2. doi: 10.1016/j.brs.2012.08.005. Guglietti CL, Daskalakis ZJ, Radhu N, Fitzgerald PB, Ritvo P. York University, Department of Kinesiology and Health Science, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

To describe two patients with lumbar facet synovial cysts causing sciatica and progressive neurological deficit. A 52-year-old female with bilateral sciatica and a neurological deficit that progressed to a foot drop; and a 54-year-old female with worsening sciatica and progressive calf weakness were seen at a major tertiary care centre. Diagnostic imaging studies revealed the presence of spinal nerve root impingement by large facet synovial cysts. Activity modification, gabapentinoid and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications were unsuccessful in ameliorating either patient's symptoms. One patient had been receiving ongoing lumbar chiropractic spinal manipulative therapy despite the onset of a progressive neurological deficit. Both patients eventually required surgery to remove the cyst and decompress the affected spinal nerve roots. Patients with acute sciatica who develop a progressive neurological deficit while under care, require prompt referral for axial imaging and surgical consultation. Primary care spine clinicians need to be aware of lumbar facet synovial cysts as a possible cause of acute sciatica and the associated increased risk of the patient developing a progressive neurological deficit.

J Can Chiropr Assoc. 2012 Sep;56(3):173-8. Arthur B, Lewkonia P, Quon JA, Street J, Bishop PB. Combined Neurosurgical and Orthopaedic Spine Program, Vancouver General Hospital, Division of Spine, Department of Orthopaedics & I.C.O.R.D. (International Collaboration on Repair Discoveries), University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.

Full title: Anxiolytic-like activity and GC-MS analysis of (R)-(+)-limonene fragrance, a natural compound found in foods and plants.

Aim: This systematic review was aimed at critically evaluating the evidence regarding the adverse effects associated with aromatherapy. Method: Five electronic databases were searched to identify all relevant case reports and case series. Results: Forty two primary reports met our inclusion criteria. In total, 71 patients experienced adverse effects of aromatherapy. Adverse effects ranged from mild to severe and included one fatality. The most common adverse effect was dermatitis. Lavender, peppermint, tea tree oil and ylang-ylang were the most common essential oils responsible for adverse effects. Conclusion: Aromatherapy has the potential to cause adverse effects some of which are serious. Their frequency remains unknown. Lack of sufficiently convincing evidence regarding the effectiveness of aromatherapy combined with its potential to cause adverse effects questions the usefulness of this modality in any condition.

Int J Risk Saf Med. 2012 Jan 1;24(3):147-61. Posadzki P, Alotaibi A, Ernst E. Complementary Medicine, Peninsula Medical School, Exeter, UK.

Two of hypnotherapy's stellar practitioners, Roy Hunter and Bruce Eimer, have pooled their expertise to produce a book on regression hypnotherapy so comprehensive, it is the only guide to regression hypnosis a hypnotherapist will ever need. In The Art of Hypnotic Regression Therapy, the authors have drawn from their mentors, David Cheek, Charles Tebbetts, and Dabney Ewin, as well as other hypnotherapists whose work established major milestones in hypnotherapy practice.

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by Coach Cary Bayer

About a year ago, a friend of mine, who's a hypnotherapist who never tried to build a business after receiving her training and license to practice, was fed up with the job she was doing to pick up a paycheck. About half a year earlier, she had read the book, Do What You Love, the Money will Follow, by Marsha Sinetar, and decided it was high time she finally quit and pursue her passion--to build a healing business once and for all. But after six months of not getting enough clients to get her practice off the ground, the money wasn't following. She did a lot of waiting and complaining, but little else. She did little to proactively make the money follow, something I've observed often in many of the three hundred-plus alternative healer clients I've coached the past 10 years. She was living off her savings, which were running low. Panicked, she asked me what to do.

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by Tim Brunson PhD

Almost always when I see a person in a clinical situation, the obvious conclusion is that the presenting problem or issues involves prior decisions. However, while the wisdom of their choices – to include their awareness of relevant options – may indeed be part of the problem, I have increasingly come to the determination that the true nature of their concerns is not which decisions are being made but rather how they are made.

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