Cross-Sectional Study

Monira Alwhaibi et al. (2017) · Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

This cross-sectional survey of 178 mothers of young children in the Central Appalachian Region of the United States explored how many use herbal remedies and which factors are linked to that use. Herbal remedies are plant-based products taken for health purposes, and they are the most common form of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM, health approaches used alongside or instead of conventional care) among American adults. The authors framed the work with the Comprehensive Model of Information Seeking, which holds that a person's background, past experiences, mood and beliefs shape where information is sought and, in turn, whether action follows, here the use of herbal remedies. The participants were women aged 18 or older with at least one child under three years of age, living in Central Appalachia and mostly in West Virginia, with a mean age of 31.3 years. They were recruited through social media groups, listserv emails, daycares and physician's offices, and completed an online survey. One item asked whether any herbal remedy had been used in the past six months, with follow-ups on which remedy and which condition. Two new five-point scales captured how often six information sources were used and how strongly herbal remedies were believed to be safe and effective. One-third of the women (33.5%) reported using herbal remedies in the past six months. Fenugreek was the most widely used remedy (35.1%), followed by honey (8.8%), chamomile (5.3%) and ginger (5.3%). The main reasons were stimulating or increasing breast milk production (38.6%) and treating cold or flu symptoms (26.3%). Women with the highest information seeking scores had 3.61 times the odds of using herbal remedies compared with those with the lowest (95% CI 1.433-9.77), meaning that more active information seeking went with more use. Women with the highest belief in herbal safety and efficacy had 4.02 times the odds (95% CI 1.468-9.57). Part-time or unemployed women had 2.98 times the odds of full-time employed women (95% CI 1.05-8.47), while education, income and Appalachian identity showed no association. The internet was the most frequently used information source (mean 3.2 out of 5). The authors conclude that herbal remedy use is common in this region and propose that public health efforts and communication from health care providers could raise awareness of the safety and efficacy of herbal remedies. The survey recorded use and beliefs only; it did not test whether any remedy worked, and safety was not assessed. Limitations include a sample drawn mostly from West Virginia, self-selection in an internet-based survey, self-reported answers open to recall bias, and no data on whether use was regular or occasional. The authors call for further research, including qualitative work, on what health information women seek.

Kiyoshi Suzuki et al. (2020) · Journal of alternative and complementary medicine (New York, N.Y.)

This study evaluated the effectiveness and safety of Okada Purifying Therapy (OPT), a biofield therapy, for symptom relief across diverse ethnicities and cultures. The research is significant as it addresses the unclear scientific understanding of biofield therapies and their potential benefits in improving physical and psychological well-being. The findings indicate that a majority of participants reported symptom improvement, particularly in Spanish/Portuguese speaking countries, while confirming the therapy's safety with low exacerbation rates. The study employed a cross-sectional design, involving 11,303 participants aged 16 and older from 14 countries, with no specific exclusion criteria. Participants received a single session of OPT, which lasted 30 minutes or longer, administered by certified practitioners. Outcomes were measured using self-reported questionnaires, including a demographic questionnaire, a 5-point Likert-type scale for symptom severity, and the MQL-10 questionnaire for quality of life assessment, all conducted before and after the OPT session. Results showed that 77.5% of participants reported overall symptom improvement (p < 0.0083), with the highest improvement rates observed in Chile/Peru (95.0%) and the lowest in Japan (72.3%). Secondary outcomes indicated that 75.6% reported improvement in physical pain, 78.4% in anxiety/depression, and 73.8% in dizziness/palpitation, all statistically significant (p < 0.0083). Non-significant findings included gender differences in symptom improvement (males 66.6% vs. females 78.3%, p = 0.051) and no significant age impact (p = 0.40). Adverse events were minimal, with 228 participants experiencing symptom exacerbation, none requiring emergency treatment. The authors suggest OPT may have a role as a noninvasive approach, particularly in culturally diverse settings. The authors note that cultural background appears to influence outcomes. Key limitations include the use of convenience sampling, potential biases in self-reported data, and the absence of a control group. Future research should aim to validate these findings with more rigorous methodologies and explore the underlying mechanisms of OPT's effectiveness.

Madhu Pandey et al. (2025) · Annals of neurosciences

This study explores the therapeutic benefits of 'Vancharya', a nature-based intervention, on the bio-field of young adults. The research involved 50 participants and aimed to assess the impact of this ancient practice on various subtle energy systems, revealing significant improvements in energy metrics and overall well-being. The findings suggest that 'Vancharya' could serve as a valuable therapeutic option for enhancing mental health among young adults. The study employed a non-experimental single-group pre- and post-research design with a sample size of 50 college students aged 17-19. Participants engaged in a seven-day intervention that included activities such as alternate nostril breathing, tree hugging, and listening to bird sounds, all conducted in a mango orchard setting. Outcomes were measured using a Biowell machine, which assessed parameters like aura field, chakra alignment, and stress levels before and after the intervention. Each session lasted one hour and occurred daily for seven consecutive days. Results indicated significant improvements in the aura field (AF: M pre = 36.94, M post = 44.82, t = −12.40, p < .001), overall chakra alignment (OCA: M pre = 63.52, M post = 79.72, t = −7.44, p < .001), and overall chakra energy (OCE: M pre = 4.16, M post = 5.07, t = −8.44, p < .001). However, stress levels (SL: M pre = 6.79, M post = 5.58, p = 1.000) and overall energy levels (OEL: M pre = 45.61, M post = 49.38, p = .133) did not show significant changes. Participants reported qualitative improvements such as enhanced emotional stability and clarity of thought, with no adverse events noted during the study. The findings suggest that 'Vancharya' may enhance emotional regulation and sleep quality among young adults, making it a potential addition to wellness programs aimed at addressing mental health issues. However, the study's limitations, including a small sample size and the lack of significant changes in stress levels, highlight the need for further research. The authors propose 'Vancharya' as a candidate component of mental health interventions, and call for longer intervention durations and more diverse populations to validate these results and understand the mechanisms involved.