Alternative & Integrative Medicine

Ancient myths always had a special role in people’s life helping them to deal with pre/perinatal traumatic experiences, which might lead to somato- and psychopathological symptoms. For healing the diseases stemming from this period of human life a new method has been developed by the authors. Tandem is an acronym meaning the Touch of Ancient and New Generations with a Dialogue Experiencing Oneness of Minds (TANDEM). Tandem Hypnotherapy designates a group of hypnotic methods that can be effectively applied in the case of psychosomatic and mental disorders stemming from trans- poly- and inter-generationally mediated traumas. Techniques of Tandem Hypnotherapy have been developed by the authors for the following settings: joint rebirth trance of mother and child; joint con-generational trance of natural or virtual twins; twin hypnosis and certain forms of inter-generational and trans-generational group-Hypnotherapy. In the case of all these methods, Tandem Hypnotherapy takes place with the participation of two or more clients with whom the therapists agree to go into hypnosis with the aim of re-living intrauterine experiences and the subsequent birth. In the therapeutic setting touches have a crucial role as they help to resolve the psychopathological outcomes of early relational traumas. This case study demonstrates the healing process of three members of a family with hetero-zygote twins among them. In the discussion some ideas are raised about how implicit somatic memories of pre/perinatal traumas are built into the stress-coping regulation system of the developing personality with a possibility to be repeated again when facing new stress situations.

Objectives: Although Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) use is common among healthy individuals and patients with chronic diseases, there is paucity in data regarding the use of Energy Medicines (EM), Manipulative Body Based Therapies (MBBT) and therapies from Whole Medical Systems (WMS) among Malaysian oncology patients. The study aimed to examine the use of EM, MBBT therapies from WMS and the Health Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) in a group of Malaysian cancer patients. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among 393 cancer patients at the oncology clinic of Penang General Hospital, Malaysia, using a self- administered questionnaire while the HRQoL of the participants was assessed by using the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC QLQC30). Results: Out of 393 respondents, 46.8% (n=184) had used CAM for their condition. A total of 73 (39.6%) reported to use different types of EM, MBBT and therapies from WMS. The majority of the EM, MBBT, WMS users were female 52 (71.2%), aged between 48 and 67 years 42 (57.5%), and were Buddhist 35 (49.3%, p=0.007) from Chinese ethnicity 37 (52%, p-0.011). Therapies from WMS such as Traditional Chinese medicines 39 (53.4%), traditional Malay medicines 16 (21.9%), Homeopathy 7 (9.5%), Ayurveda 6 (8.2%) were most commonly used by the participants. Only 18 (24.6%) reported to spend between 101-500 Ringgit Malaysia (MYR). Friend and family members 58 (76.7%) were the most important source of information. No significant difference was found in Global health status/quality of life scores between EM, MBBT, WMS users and non users (p=0.763). Conclusion: Therapies from WMS is somewhat common among M

Wet cupping therapy (WCT) is a simple and economic treatment that still needs scientific interpretation. It treated effectively diseases with different etiologies and pathogeneses e.g. rheumatoid arthritis (RA), hypertension, migraine, carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), fibromyalgia, cellulitis and others. Here, we review medical and scientific bases underlying cupping therapy and introduce Taibah theory as a novel evidence-based scientific mechanism to explain it. Briefly, in Taibah theory, WCT is a minor surgical excretory procedure related scientifically to the principles of renal glomerular filtration and abscess evacuation, where a pressure-dependent excretion of causative pathological substances (CPS) occurs. CPS include disease-causing substances and disease-related substances (that result during disease pathogenesis). Negative pressure applied to skin surface causes local collection of filtered and interstitial fluids containing CPS at skin upliftings inside cups. Scarifying skin upliftings followed by cupping causes a pressure gradient and a traction force across the skin and capillaries to excrete collected fluids with CPS and cause bleeding at puncture sites. This increases filtration at both capillary ends and causes clearance of blood and interstitial spaces from CPS. WCT benefits from the suction pressure, phenomenon of reactive hyperemia, nitric oxide production and skin scarifications (openings in skin barrier) in enhancing natural excretory skin functions, improving lymphatic and capillary circulations and restoring homeostasis. Reported CPS of RA include autoantibodies, immune complexes, soluble interleukin-2 receptors, inflammatory mediators, certain cytokines, prostaglandins, toxic cellular products and rheumatoid factor, while CPS of CTS include malondialdehyde, interleukin 6, prostaglandin PGE- 2 and progressive edema (causing pain). WCT-induced filtration pressure may excrete those CPS in cupped blood. prophetic medicine (related to Prophet Mohammad peace be upon him) recommends WCT: “The best among what you use in therapy is Al-hijamah (prophetic method of WCT)”. In conclusion, WCT has scientific bases in treating different diseases being the only treatment that clears blood and interstitial fluid from CPS.Therapeutic benefits of WCT is related to the amount of excreted CPS not the amount of letted blood.

Background: Evidence suggests that intradialytic exercise benefits end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients. We examined the feasibility of intradialytic modified Tai Chi (IMTC) among ESRD undergoing hemodialysis and assessed IMTC’s impact on risk of falls, bone metabolism, oxidative stress damage, and quality of life in ESRD patients. Methods: Forty-five ESRD patients were randomized to either non-exercising control group (CON, n=25) or IMTC group (n=20) who performed IMTC exercise 3/week, 45 min/session while sitting in a recliner with one arm connected to the dialysis machine for 12 weeks. At baseline and 12 weeks, we measured risk-of-falls related parameters (balance, gait, and functioning strength), biomarker of bone metabolism and oxidative stress damage, and quality of life. Results: Thirty-four participants completed the study. The feedback from participants suggests that IMTC exercise is easy to learn and feasible. After 12 weeks, IMTC tended to lower tartrate- resistant acid phosphatase (bone resorption biomarker) and improved quality of life (role physical and vitality) compared to CON. There was no significant difference in balance, gait, and functional strength, possibly due to a ceiling effect. There was no significant difference in serum bone-specific alkaline phosphatase, calcium, phosphorus and intact parathyroid hormone levels, plasma 8-hydroxy-2’-deoxyguanosine levels, and other domains of quality of life. The CON group experienced a 20% decrease in 25-hydroxy vitamin D at the end of study. Conclusions: IMTC exercise was safe and well accepted by ESRD patients. It improved quality of life, tended to suppress bone resorption, and helped maintain 25-hydroxy vitamin D levels in ESRD patients. These findings need to be confirmed in a larger, more sufficiently powered efficacy study.