BACKGROUND: The use of herbal medicine has a long history in Sudan and is widely practiced among the general population. However, there is a lack of studies examining the prevalence, patterns, and predictors of herbal medicine usage in Sudan. Thus, this study was conducted to bridge this gap.
METHODS: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted between January and February 2021. It included Sudanese adults residing in Omdurman, Sudan, using systematic and simple random sampling methods. Data were collected using a structured, adapted questionnaire comprising: the socio-demographic characteristics and the knowledge of herbal medicine and its usage. Moreover, it investigated the commonly used herbal remedies and the participants\' sources of information and procurement of such products. Additionally, we examined the correlation between socio-demographic factors, cultural beliefs, and the use of herbal medicine. Data were analyzed using SPSS, and categorical data were presented as frequencies and percentages. Associations were assessed using chi-square, Fisher\'s exact tests, and binary logistic regression (p < 0.05).
RESULTS: This study included 381 participants, of which 48.1% were females and 31.4% were aged 20-30. The majority of participants were aware of the practice of herbal medicine and the prevalence of its usage was 85.9%. Peppermint, acacia, hibiscus, ginger, and fenugreek were the most commonly used remedies. Chi-square and Fisher\'s exact testing revealed that the participants\' gender and beliefs in the safety and effectiveness of herbal medicines were significantly associated with herbal medicine usage (p < 0.05). Binary logistic regression analysis showed that only the perception of herbal medicine\'s safety was an independent predictor of its usage (p-value 0.038).
CONCLUSIONS: This study reported a very high prevalence of herbal medicine usage, highlighting the acceptability of Sudanese adults towards herbal medicine usage. This prompts further studies to explore their safety, efficacy, and the possibility of their integration into mainstream healthcare practices and policies.

Phytomedicine as an alternative to conventional medications which become more interested for researcher. Moringa Oleifera (M. Oleifera) has been used for centuries to cure a range of illnesses. M. Oleifera, commonly known as the miracle tree, ben oil tree, and drumstick tree, is a Moringaceae family plant whose latin name is Moringa oleifera Lam. It has a high concentration of macro and micronutrients, as well as other bioactive components, all of which are necessary for the body\'s correct function and the prevention of different disorders. The plant\'s leaves, seeds, and blooms are all edible and offer a variety of medicinal benefits. Moringa is used to treat diabetes, bacterial, viral, and fungal infections, inflammation, heart disease, cancer, and joint pain. Numerous studies of Moringa oleifera have emphasised its phytochemical components, future possibilities, and usefulness in a variety of domains, including ethnomedicine, whereas this review is a collection of previous discoveries and an update on all previous work.

While research on complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) for the general population is expanding, there remains a scarcity of studies investigating the efficacy and utilisation of CAM practices, specifically in the paediatric population. In accordance with the World Health Organization (WHO), the prevalence of the parental utilisation of CAM in their dependents is estimated to reach up to 80%. This literature review identified broad, heterogeneous, and inconclusive evidence regarding CAM\'s applications and effectiveness, primarily attributed to variance in sociodemographic factors and differences in national healthcare systems. Additionally, the review identified a lack of consensus and polarised positions among mainstream professionals regarding the mechanisms of action, applications, and effectiveness of CAM. This narrative review presents varied results concerning the efficacy of most CAM therapies and their applications; however, some evidence suggests potential benefits for acupuncture, yoga, tai chi, and massage in improving physical and mental health. Moreover, the available evidence indicates that meditation may enhance mental health, while reiki may only influence patients\' perceptions of comfort. In light of the intricate and multifaceted nature of herbal medicine, it is imperative to assess its efficacy on a case-by-case basis, taking into account the specific compounds and procedures involved. This comprehensive review serves as a valuable resource for health professionals, offering guidance for personalised healthcare approaches that consider the values and beliefs of patients, thereby facilitating integrated, evidence-based practices aimed at enhancing the quality of healthcare services and patient satisfaction.

UNASSIGNED: Electroacupuncture (EA) is commonly employed for carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), whereas laser acupuncture (LA) seems to offer a safer and more convenient alternative. Nevertheless, transitioning from EA to LA requires evidence. This study aims to compare their clinical efficacy and safety.
UNASSIGNED: A randomized single-blind controlled trial was conducted on 76 CTS patients, with 38 patients assigned to receive EA (EA group) and 38 assigned to receive LA (LA group). Acupoints selected for both groups included PC4, PC6, PC7, PC8, LI4, LI10, LI11, HT3, HT7, and LU10. The intervention consisted of 20 sessions over 4 weeks. Symptom Severity Scale (SSS) and Functional Status Scale (FSS) scores, patients\' satisfaction, and adverse events (AEs) were recorded.
UNASSIGNED: The LA group demonstrated significantly greater reductions in SSS and FSS scores than the EA group, with mean differences (MDs) and 95% confidence interval (95% CI) of -4.29 (-5.40 to -3.18) and -0.73 (-1.24 to -0.24), respectively, after 4 weeks of treatment. Complete symptom, functional recovery, and both were also significantly better in the LA group (relative risks [RR] [95% CI]: 14.00 [1.94 to 101.22], 1.58 [1.24 to 2.02], and 14.00 [1.94 to 101.22], respectively). Overall treatment effectiveness and satisfaction levels were notably higher in the LA group. Six patients experienced AEs in the EA group, whereas no AEs were reported in the LA group.
UNASSIGNED: In this study, the findings indicate that LA may offer a safer and more effective alternative to EA. Further studies with longer follow-up periods and assessment of electrodiagnostic changes after intervention are needed.

Considering the high consumption of and preference for traditional treatments among people and the lack of enough studies on the effectiveness of these treatments, we aimed to review articles on the use of traditional and complementary medicine, focusing on how they affect healing, debridement, and hypertrophic scars. In this study, we conducted the literature search in international databases Pubmed, Google scholar, Ovid, Scopus, web of science, and Cochrane library, as well as Persian databases SID, Magiran, Iranmedex, and Irandoc. Retrieved hits were reviewed by three authors for screening based on inclusion and exclusion criteria and the screening process is expressed as PRISMA framework flow chart. Twenty-two studies were included. The evaluated outcomes were wound healing in 19, pain control in 5, itching in 4, and scar appearance in 2 studies. All of the studies showed equal or improved effects compared to common treatments. Aloe vera, Centella asiatica, and Arnebia euchroma were the most common plants. We revealed that traditional medicine is beneficial in burn wound treatment, the diversity in ingredients that are used in traditional medicine brings up the need for further controlled prospective studies to evaluate the precise superiority of these treatments compared to the standard care.

Introduction: Plants have formed the basis of traditional medicine (TM) systems, which have been used for thousands of years. According to reports, one-quarter of the commonly used medicines contain compounds isolated from plants. This study aims to identify and document the plants for ethno-pharmacological use by the indigenous communities of West Shoa Zone, Oromia region, Ethiopia. Methods: The cross-sectional study was conducted from November 2020 to November 2021 in West Shewa Zone, Oromia Region, Ethiopia. The ethnobotanical data was collected from Ejere District, Ada Berga District, Dandi District, Ambo District, Ambo Town, Toke Kutaye District, and Bako Tibe District. A descriptive statistical method (percentage and/or frequency) was employed to summarize ethnobotanical data. Moreover, the informant consensus factor was computed. Microsoft Excel spreadsheet software (Microsoft Corporation, 2016) and SPSS (version 25) were used to organize and analyze the data. Result: In the study area, a total of 51 families of medicinal plants with 108 Species were identified. Fabaceae 8 species, Asteraceae, Solanaceae and Lamiaceae each with 6 species and Cucurubitacieae 5 species were the frequently reported medicinal plants. The leaf (57.2%) was the most widely used medicinal plant parts, and oral administration (56.5%) was the most cited route of administration. In the present study, most of the medicinal plants were used fresh, which was (75%) and the most common disease the healers treated was gastrointestinal disease, followed by skin disease and febrile illness. The major threat to medicinal plants in the study area was agricultural expansion, which was reported by 30.6% of the respondents. The study area was rich in medicinal plants, Fabaceae which commonly used family. Conclusion: Most of the medication prepared by the traditional healers was taken orally and derived from the leaf part of the medicinal plant. Since this research is a preliminary study which will be used as a base for further study. The efficacy and safety of the medicinal plant claim should be studied in the future.

BACKGROUND: Moringa oleifera (Moringaceae family), commonly known as horseradish or tree of life, is traditionally used for various diseases, such as diabetes, hypercholesterolemia, neurological disorders, among others.
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the toxicological profile of the oral use of an aqueous extract of Moringa oleifera leaves for 13 weeks in mice.
METHODS: Initially, a factorial design (23) was carried out to optimize aqueous extraction using as variables; the extraction method and proportion of drug. The 13-week repeated-dose toxicity trial used female and male mice, with oral administration of aqueous extract of Moringa oleifera leaves at doses of 250, 500, and 1000 mg/kg. The animals were evaluated for body weight, water and feed intake, biochemical and hematological parameters, urinalysis, ophthalmology and histopathology of the liver, spleen and kidneys.
RESULTS: The extraction efficiency was evidenced by the extraction by maceration at 5%, obtaining the optimized extract of Moringa oleifera (OEMo). The oral administration of OEMo did not promote significant difference (p > 0.05) in the weight gain, food and water consumption of the control animals and those treated with 250 and 500 mg/kg. However, treatment with 1000 mg/kg promoted a reduction (p < 0.05) in food intake and body weight from the 7th week onwards in male and female mice. No alterations were detected in the hematological and histological parameters in the concentrations tested for both sexes. The highest concentration treatment (1000 mg/kg) promoted an increase in transaminases in males and females. All concentrations promoted a significant decrease (p < 0.05) in the serum lipid profile of mice.
CONCLUSIONS: This study developed an optimized extract of Moringa oleifera leaves, which should be used with caution in preparations above 500 mg/kg for the long term because it leads to significant changes in liver enzymes. On the other hand, the extract proved to be a promising plant preparation for hyperlipidemia in mice.

The study of traditional medicine has garnered significant interest, resulting in various research areas including chemical composition analysis, pharmacological research, clinical application, and quality control. The abundance of available data has made databases increasingly essential for researchers to manage the vast amount of information and explore new drugs. In this article we provide a comprehensive overview and summary of 182 databases that are relevant to traditional medicine research, including 73 databases for chemical component analysis, 70 for pharmacology research, and 39 for clinical application and quality control from published literature (2000-2023). The review categorizes the databases by functionality, offering detailed information on websites and capacities to facilitate easier access. Moreover, this article outlines the primary function of each database, supplemented by case studies to aid in database selection. A practical test was conducted on 68 frequently used databases using keywords and functionalities, resulting in the identification of highlighted databases. This review serves as a reference for traditional medicine researchers to choose appropriate databases and also provides insights and considerations for the function and content design of future databases.

Objectives: In holistic medicine, developing personalized treatment plans is challenging due to the multitude of possible therapy combinations. This study introduces the use of a statistical approach to identify the most effective herbal medicines prescribed in Persian medicine (PM) in a small-scale sample of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Methods: This prospective observational cohort study was conducted with 47 patients with T2DM referred to Behesht Clinic in Tehran, Iran. A physician prescribed individualized PM treatment for T2DM and related systemic issues. The fasting blood sugar (FBS) level of each patient was recorded at initial and two follow-up visits, with visit intervals and treatment modifications determined by patient health status. Patients who completed two follow-up visits were included in the final analysis (n = 27). Data were analyzed using R software. A general linear model was assumed for the mean response, along with an exponential covariance pattern model, to manage irregularly timed measurements. Results: Two fitted models showed that, after adjusting for confounders, the use of the \"Diabetes Capsule\" significantly reduced the average FBS by 17.14 mmol/L (p = 0.046). For each unit increase in the consumption of \"Diabetes Capsule\" or \"Hab-e-Amber Momiai,\" the average FBS decreased by 15.22 mmol/L (p = 0.015) and 14.14 mmol/L (p = 0.047), respectively. Conclusion: It is possible to observe which medications are most effective, even when treatments are applied in a holistic and personalized fashion. Preliminary studies such as these may identify promising products for testing in clinical trials conducted under standardized conditions, to inform initial choices for future personalized treatments.

OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to determine the use of traditional and complementary treatment in wound care and the opinions of individuals in Turkey.
METHODS: The descriptive study was completed with 536 adult individuals. The research data were collected using the \"Personal Information Form\", \"Questionnaire on Traditional and Complementary Treatment Methods Used in Wound Care\" and \"Questionnaire on Opinions Regarding the Use of Traditional and Complementary Treatment in Wound Care\" prepared in line with the literature. Descriptive statistics were used in the evaluation of the data.
RESULTS: When a wound occurs on the body, 31 % of the participants reported that they first applied traditional and complementary treatment. It was determined that the participants experienced surgical wounds (55.7 %) and burn wounds (46.1 %) the most. The first three biological-based approaches used by individuals in wound care were hypericum perforatum (60.8 %), aloe vera (39.6 %), and honey (36.8 %). In other approaches used by individuals in wound care, the first three methods are prayer (54.1 %), vaseline application (47.1 %), and massage (37.8 %), respectively. In addition, 64.7 % of the individuals reported that they thought these methods were useful in wound care, 60.1 % reported that they accelerated healing, and 46.8 % reported that they prevented scarring.
CONCLUSIONS: It was determined that individuals commonly used various traditional and complementary treatment methods in wound care. It is also noteworthy that these methods are highly accepted by individuals. Therefore, it is important for nurses, who play a key role in wound care, to know the methods commonly used in society and to follow the developments in this field.