Alternative & Integrative Medicine

Purpose: Pharmacognostical study of bark of Chirbilva Holoptelia integrifolia is done for identification in field and to avoid adulteration by standardization.

Methods: Drug is studied taxonomically and its macroscopic, microscopic features were studied including powder microscopy of bark with suitable instruments.

Results: Macroscopic study reveals dried bark from trunk of old branches was flat, somewhat curved in shape. Outer surface was grayish brown in color with blackish brown adherent patches of rhytidoma while inner surface was yellow in color. Outer surface was rough, warty due to rounded protuberances of the lenticels. Microscopic study reveals rhytidoma traversed with stone cells, followed by narrow zone of parenchymatous cortex with stone cells. Phloem was very wide, traversed with wavy medullary rays, tangential bands of fibers and stone cells. Uni-to triseriate medullary rays was observed. Powder microscopy reveals fragments of lignified cork with stone cells. Isolated or groups of thick-walled spherical to oblong shaped, pitted stone cells and septate fibres were present. Prismatic crystals of calcium oxalate and simple starch grains were scattered as such throughout or embedded in parenchymatous cells. Fragments of tangentially and radially-longitudinally cut medullary rays associated with fibres were seen.

Conclusion: Finding of this study will falicitate pharmacognostic standardization of plant material and become an aid for identification as well as preparation of herbal monographs for the species and to enjoy the ayuvedic classical claims.

It is risky to treat any pain with oral medications; acupuncture or topical medications should be used instead. The best and safest way to manage pain, which is felt in the skin, is using topical medications. The pain chemokine cycle makes chronic pain worse in the skin. Pain felt in the skin causes neurogenic inflammation, which spreads inflammation throughout the body. Pain and inflammation are reduced by blocking the pain receptors on skin sensory neurons.

This serves as an introduction to the traditional Korean acupuncture procedure for treating grief. In order to engage and guide the patient's mind in channelling sorrow, Saam Acupuncture/Meditation uses meditation on the acupuncture points prescribed by Saam's Lung channel. This has been proven by the author to be very helpful in treating pathological sorrow because it provides the patient the power to manage their grief by meditating on the acupuncture points both inside and outside of the clinic when it overwhelms them.

Background: Breast cancer (BC) is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in women and alternative methods (intake of dietary supplements and diet change) are commonly used in BC patients. The aim of this study was to investigate breast cancer or treatment-related adverse symptoms, dietary changes and micronutrient intake.

Methods: 153 BC survivors with prospectively recorded data were surveyed by a self-developed questionnaire. Data concerning tumor characteristics and treatment were obtained from the breast department’s registry.

Results: The most prevalent symptoms (> 50% of patients) during and after oncological therapy were chronic fatigue and pain. 42.5% (n=65) BC patients took micronutrients during and 48.4% (n=74) after therapy. There was a significant correlation between women taking micronutrients before diagnosis and cancer-related use after diagnosis (p <0.001). Furthermore, the percentage of women taking micronutrients increased with increasing tumor stages. Micronutrients most frequently (>25%) applied were vitamin C, D, zinc and calcium. The vast majority of applications were administered orally and were more often based on self-information (n=65, 42.5%) than on information received from the oncologist (n=29, 19%). Most patients would be willing to take micronutrients during (n=55, 75.4%) or after therapy (n=44, 67.8%), even if the expected adverse symptom relief was minor (<50%). About one third of BC patients (n=55, 35.9%) confirmed diet adjustments after BC diagnosis. They were on average 4.5 years younger than the remaining (p=0.015). Diet changes (p=0.011) occurred significantly more often in the last decade.

Conclusion: There is an increased demand for functional nutritional medicine in BC patients. Most applications occur without medical recommendation and prescription. Further data is needed to provide evidence-based recommendations.

TRN, date of registration: 2019-01952, 16.12.2019