UNASSIGNED: Cancer often causes reduced resilience, quality of life (QoL) and poorer overall well-being. To mitigate these problems, complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is widely used among patients with cancer. This study aimed to evaluate the long-term effects of an interdisciplinary integrative oncology group-based program (IO-GP) on the resilience and use of CAM in patients with cancer.
UNASSIGNED: This was a prospective, observational, single-center study. Resilience (RS-13), CAM usage (I-CAM-G), QoL (SF-12) and health-related lifestyle factor (nutrition, smoking, alcohol consumption and physical exercise) data were collected for 70 patients who participated in a 10-week IO-GP between January 2019 and June 2022 due to cancer. The IO-GP is offered at the setting of a university hospital and is open to adult patients with cancer. It contains elements from mind-body medicine and positive psychology, as well as recommendations on healthy diet, exercise and CAM approaches. Patients who completed the IO-GP at least 12 months prior (1-4.5 years ago) were included in this study. Statistical analysis included descriptive analysis and parametric and nonparametric tests to identify significant differences (P < .05).
UNASSIGNED: Resilience increased significantly ≥12 months after participation in the IO-GP (n = 44, P = .006, F = 8.274) and had a medium effect size (r = .410). The time since the IO-GP was completed (\"12-24 months,\" \"24-36 months,\" and \">36 months\") showed no statistically significant interaction with changes in resilience (P = .226, F = 1.544). The most frequently used CAM modalities within the past 12 months were vitamins/minerals (85.7%), relaxation techniques (54.3%), herbs and plant medicine (41.1%), yoga (41.4%) and meditation (41.4%). The IO-GP was the most common source informing study participants about relaxation techniques (n = 24, 64.9%), meditation (n = 21, 72.4%) and taking vitamin D (n = 16, 40.0%). Significantly greater levels of resilience were found in those practicing meditation (P = .010, d = -.642) or visualization (P = .003, d = -.805) compared to non-practitioners.
UNASSIGNED: IO-GPs have the potential to empower patients with cancer to continue using CAM practices-especially from mind-body medicine-even 1 to 4.5 years after completing the program. Additionally, resilience levels increased. These findings provide notable insight into the long-term effects of integrative oncology interventions on resilience and the use of CAM, especially in patients with breast cancer.

Advancements in medical science and digital access made it easier for individuals to seek appropriate treatment. Despite living in the current information era, the practice of quackery has continued worldwide. The current scoping review was planned to explore different definitions and laws related to quackery, and the acceptance of allied healthcare services in traditional, cultural and legal contexts. The review examined a total of 3,327 published studies and 400 pieces of grey literature, including existing laws, regulatory authority websites, news articles and reports. A total of 56 studies and 21 excerpts were shortlisted for analysis. The definitions of quackery varied significantly across regions, but a general consensus is that unauthorised healthcare practices constitute quackery. Legal perspectives differed worldwide, with Europe, North America and Oceania discouraging allied healthcare services, such as homeopathy, naturopathy and traditional methods, considering them quackery. In contrast, Asian and African regions endorsed allied healthcare and established provider registration and licensing systems.

Lumbar Disc Herniation (LDH) is a common condition, and contemporary pain research emphasizes the importance of adopting a comprehensive biopsychosocial perspective in pain treatment for positive clinical outcomes. Integrated Naturopathy and Yoga (INY) is a non-invasive medical system that takes a holistic and patient-centric approach to healing diseases. However, there is limited evidence on the effectiveness of INY, particularly in managing Sequestered LDH. We present two cases of patients experiencing radicular low back pain, lower limb weakness, and neuro-claudication who opted for conservative naturopathic management with INY. Following the INY treatments, both patients reported gradual relief from lower back pain, radicular pain, and neurological deficits. These findings are significant and contribute valuable evidence, suggesting that INY could be a viable therapeutic approach for managing sequestered LDH. This represents the first report on a non-invasive method for resolving sequestered LDH by utilizing INY.

BACKGROUND: The learning objectives in the current cross-sectional subject \"Rehabilitation, Physical Medicine, Naturopathic Medicine\" have been revised as part of the further development of the National Competency-Based Catalogue of Learning Objectives for Medicine (NKLM) to its new version 2.0. Since the NKLM is designed as an interdisciplinary catalogue, a subject assignment seemed necessary from the point of view of various stakeholders. Thus, the German Association of Scientific Medical Societies (AWMF) and the German medical faculties initiated a subject assignment process. The assignment process for the subject \"Physical and Rehabilitative Medicine, Naturopathic Medicine\" (PRM-NHV; according to the subject list of the first draft of the planned novel medical license regulations from 2020) is presented in this paper.
METHODS: The AWMF invited its member societies to participate in the assignment of learning objectives of chapters VI, VII, and VIII of the NKLM 2.0 to the individual subjects to which they consider to contribute in teaching. For \"PRM-NHV\", representatives of the societies for rehabilitation sciences (DGRW), physical and rehabilitation medicine (DGPRM), orthopaedics and traumatology (DGOU), as well as for naturopathy (DGNHK) participated. In a structured consensus process according to the DELPHI methodology, the learning objectives were selected and consented. Subsequently, subject recommendations were made by the AWMF for each learning objective.
RESULTS: From the NKLM 2.0, a total of 100 competency-based learning objectives of chapters VII and VIII for the subject \"PRM-NHV\" were consented by the representatives of the involved societies for presentation on the NKLM 2.0 online platform.
CONCLUSIONS: In the context of the revision process of medical studies in Germany and under the umbrella of the AWMF and the German medical faculties, a broad consensus of competency-based learning objectives in the subject \"PRM-NHV\" could be achieved. This provides an important orientation for all medical faculties both for the further development of teaching in the cross-sectional subject \"Rehabilitation, Physical Medicine, Naturopathic Medicine\" according to the 9th revision of the medical license regulations, which has been valid for twenty years, and for the preparation of the corresponding subjects in the draft bill of the novel license regulations.
UNASSIGNED: Im Rahmen der Weiterentwicklung des Nationalen Kompetenzbasierten Lernzielkatalogs (NKLM) zur Version 2.0 erfolgte auch eine Überarbeitung der Lernziele im bisherigen Querschnittsfach „Rehabilitation, Physikalische Medizin, Naturheilverfahren“. Da der NKLM grundsätzlich fächerübergreifend angelegt ist, von verschiedenen Seiten aber eine Fächerzuordnung notwendig schien, initiierten die Arbeitsgemeinschaft wissenschaftlich-medizinischer Fachgesellschaften (AWMF) und der Medizinische Fakultätentag einen Fächerzuordnungsprozess. Der Zuordnungsprozess für das Fach „Physikalische und Rehabilitative Medizin, Naturheilverfahren“ (PRM-NHV; laut Fächerliste des ersten Referentenentwurfes der geplanten Approbationsordnung aus dem Jahr 2020) wird in dieser Arbeit dargestellt.
UNASSIGNED: Die AWMF lud ihre Mitgliedsgesellschaften ein, sich an der Zuordnung von Lernzielen der Kapitel VI, VII und VIII des NKLM 2.0 zu den einzelnen Fächern zu beteiligen, zu denen sie nach eigener Einschätzung einen Beitrag in der Lehre leisten. Für „PRM-NHV“ beteiligten sich Vertreter*innen der DGRW, DGPRM, DGOU sowie der DGNHK. In einem strukturierten Konsensprozess nach der DELPHI-Methodik erfolgten Auswahl und Konsentierung der Lernziele. Anschließend erfolgte durch die AWMF eine Fächerempfehlung.
UNASSIGNED: Aus dem NKLM 2.0 wurden insgesamt 100 kompetenzbasierte Lernziele der Kapitel VII und VIII für das Fach „PRM-NHV“ von den Vertreter*innen der beteiligten Fachgesellschaften zur Darstellung auf der NKLM 2.0-Online-Plattform konsentiert.
UNASSIGNED: Im Rahmen des grundlegend geplanten Reformprozesses des Medizinstudiums und unter dem Dach der AWMF und des Medizinischen Fakultätentags gelang die breite Konsentierung von Lernzielen des NKLM 2.0 für die kompetenzbasierte Lehre im Fach „PRM-NHV“ durch die beteiligten Fachgesellschaften. Damit wird eine für alle medizinischen Fakultäten wichtige Orientierung sowohl für die Weiterentwicklung der Lehre im Querschnittsbereich „Rehabilitation, Physikalische Medizin, Naturheilverfahren“ gemäß der seit zwanzig Jahren gültigen 9. Revision der ÄApprO als auch für die Vorbereitung der entsprechenden Fächer im Referentenentwurf der neuen ÄApprO gegeben.

Background The rapid advancements in natural language processing have brought about the widespread use of large language models (LLMs) across various medical domains. However, their effectiveness in specialized fields, such as naturopathy, remains relatively unexplored. Objective The study aimed to assess the capability of freely available LLM chatbots in providing naturopathy consultations for various types of diseases and disorders. Methods Five free LLMs (viz., Gemini, Copilot, ChatGPT, Claude, and Perplexity) were used to converse with 20 clinical cases (simulation of real-world scenarios). Each case had the case details and questions pertinent to naturopathy. The responses were presented to three naturopathy doctors with > 5 years of practice. The answers were rated by them on a five-point Likert-like scale for language fluency, coherence, accuracy, and relevancy. The average of these four attributes is termed perfection in his study. Results The overall score of the LLMs were Gemini 3.81±0.23, Copilot 4.34±0.28, ChatGPT 4.43±0.2, Claude 3.8±0.26, and Perplexity 3.91±0.28 (ANOVA F [3.034, 57.64] = 33.47, P <0.0001. Together, they showed overall ~80% perfection in consultation. The average measure intraclass correlation coefficient among the LLMs for the overall score was 0.463 (95% CI = -0.028 to 0.76), P = 0.03. Conclusion Although the LLM chatbots could help in providing naturopathy and yoga treatment consultation with approximately an overall fair level of perfection, their solution to the user varies across different chatbots and there was very low reliability among them.

BACKGROUND: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic, systemic, polyarticular autoimmune inflammatory disease that destroys the capsule and synovial lining of joints. Antirheumatic treatment reduces disease activity and inflammation, but not all patients respond to treatment. Naturopathy, a research-based complementary and alternative medicine, may be useful in these patients, but there is little data on the effect of Naturopathy interventions on inflammation and disease activity in RA.
OBJECTIVE: To explore the effect of 12 weeks of integrated naturopathy interventions on disease-specific inflammatory markers and quality of life in RA patients.
METHODS: A total of 100 RA patients were randomized into two groups: the naturopathy group (integrated naturopathy interventions with routine medical therapy) and the control group (only with routine medical therapy). Blood samples were collected pre- and post-intervention for primary outcome measurements of systemic inflammatory markers (ESR, CRP, and IL-6). Disease activity score (DAS-28) and quality of life were used to assess disease activity and functional status using SF-36, respectively, at pre- and post-intervention time points.
RESULTS:  The results of the present study show a notable decrease in disease activity after 12 weeks of naturopathy intervention. As such, a significant decrease was found in levels of systemic inflammatory markers such as ESR (p = 0.003) and IL-6 (p < 0.001), RA disease activity score (DAS-28) (p = 0.02), and most of the components of health-related quality of life (SF 36 scores) (p < 0.05) except in vitality (p = 0.06).  Conclusions: The findings of the present study suggest that integrated naturopathy treatments may have the ability to control persistent inflammation, maintain immune homeostasis, and lower disease activity.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate the use of integrated yoga and naturopathy intervention to modify functional disability and improve independence in patients with spinal cord injury.
METHODS: In this randomized controlled trial, 48 spinal cord injury patients receiving residential rehabilitation, aged between 23 and 57 years (37.9±11.8) of both genders, were randomly allocated to two groups: (i) experimental group (naturopathy and yoga) and (ii) control group (waitlist with routine care). Subjects were assessed on day 1 (baseline), day 30 (intense phase), and day 90 (follow-up). Assessments were done using the Spinal Cord Independence Measure (SCIM), handheld myometry (HHM), time up and go (TUG), Berg Balance Scale (BBS), and 10-meter walk test (10MWT).
RESULTS: There were no significant differences at baseline between groups for all the variables (p>0.05) through one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). Repeated measures ANOVAs (RM-ANOVAs) were performed to compare between assessments and the groups (p<0.05). Post hoc shows that there is significant SCIM (p<0.001), HHM (p<0.001), TUG (p<0.001), BBS (p<0.001), and 10MWT (p<0.001).
CONCLUSIONS: The present study shows that there is significant improvement in the functions of both yoga and naturopathy and the control group. So, yoga and naturopathy can be considered as adjuvant along with routine care of physical therapy in spinal cord injury rehabilitation programs.

UNASSIGNED: There are numerous reports of remarkable recoveries from diseases through drugless healing systems. In an effort to enhance the understanding of naturopathic therapies, the author, a renowned BNYS doctor specializing in naturopathy, yoga, nutrition, and wellness, aims to explain the importance of drugless therapies in various disease conditions.
UNASSIGNED: To provide a comprehensive overview of the relevance and efficacy of naturopathy as a therapeutic tool in modern healthcare. Drawing on a literature review and the author\'s expertise, it aims to explore the benefits of drugless healing systems.
UNASSIGNED: This study adopts a narrative review methodology to synthesize existing literature on the efficacy of naturopathy as a therapeutic tool in modern healthcare settings. A comprehensive search strategy was employed, utilizing databases such as PubMed, with keywords including \"naturopathy,\" \"drugless healing,\" \"alternative medicine,\" \"therapeutic modalities,\" and specific interventions such as \"hydrotherapy\" and \"acupuncture.\" Boolean operators were used to combine terms to ensure the inclusivity of relevant literature. The intervention under investigation involved the effects of naturopathy, fasting, hydrotherapy, chiropractic, acupuncture, acupressure, magnet therapy, therapeutic manipulation, color healing, and other drugless ‎therapies. The primary focus of the reviewed studies was to evaluate the efficacy of naturopathic interventions in improving health outcomes across diverse disease conditions, including cardiac health, skin diseases, cancers, immunity, and metabolic syndrome.
UNASSIGNED: The review identified a significant body of literature supporting the efficacy of naturopathic interventions in improving health outcomes across various disease conditions. Studies consistently reported positive effects of drugless healing modalities, including improvements in cardiac health, skin diseases, cancers, immunity, and metabolic syndrome.
UNASSIGNED: The findings highlight the relevance and effectiveness of naturopathy as a therapeutic approach in modern healthcare. With its emphasis on lifestyle modifications and non-invasive treatments, naturopathy offers a holistic and cost-effective alternative for addressing lifestyle disorders and enhancing overall well-being.

OBJECTIVE: Is conducting a randomized control trial (RCT) to assess the effectiveness of whole-system naturopathy in improving pregnancy rates among women with diminished ovarian reserve (DOR) feasible?
METHODS: A two-arm, parallel group, assessor-blinded feasibility RCT was conducted. Women with DOR, trying to conceive naturally or by ART, were randomly assigned to naturopathy plus usual care, or usual care alone for 16 weeks. Primary outcomes were feasibility (recruitment, adherence, retention rates), acceptability and safety. Secondary outcomes included ongoing pregnancy rates, live birth rates and health-related outcomes (mental health, quality of life, diet, exercise, sleep and weight). Statistical significance of the differences between the two groups (P-values) were exploratory.
RESULTS: One hundred and fifteen women completed the screening survey between March and November 2022. Of these, 66 women were assessed for eligibility and 41 (62%) consented. Recruitment resulted in seven enrolments each month. All 41 participants (100%) adhered to the intervention, 38 (93%) completed end-point questionnaires, 32 (78%) found study participation to be acceptable and 18 out of 21 (86%) from the intervention group would recommend a naturopathic intervention to other women with DOR. The naturopathic treatment was associated with only mild and temporary adverse events. No between-group differences were observed for pregnancy and live birth rates.
CONCLUSIONS: The evaluation of whole-system naturopathy through a RCT was feasible and the treatment was acceptable and well tolerated according to women with DOR. Outcomes from this study will help inform sample size calculations powered for fertility outcomes for future RCTs on this topic.

BACKGROUND: Low back pain (LBP) is a musculoskeletal condition that affects many individuals. While physiotherapy and acupuncture are frequently used treatments, determining their specific contributions when used alongside integrated yoga and naturopathy (IYN) therapy for relieving chronic LBP symptoms and enhancing quality of life is important.
METHODS: In the present prospective randomized comparative trial, a total of 60 participants were divided into the following two groups: physiotherapy with IYN and acupuncture with IYN. The treatment duration was 10 days, and assessments were conducted both before (baseline) and after the intervention. Various assessment tools, such as the visual analog scale (VAS), Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), fingertip-to-floor test (FTF), State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), and Short Form 36 (SF-36), were utilized. The statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 21.0 (Armonk, NY: IBM Corp).
RESULTS: The results revealed significant differences in VAS score, ODI, FTF score, STAI score, and SF-36 score between the physiotherapy and acupuncture groups (p<0.001). A t-test for the equality of means and a Mann-Whitney U test were used to compare the two groups; these tests revealed a significant difference in disability levels, range of motion, and state of anxiety. The acupuncture group showed a significant difference in the ODI (15.9 {12.6, 19.3}; p <0.001) and state anxiety (23.0 {20.0, 26.0}; p<0.001) compared to the physiotherapy ODI (22.4 {18.5, 26.4}) and state anxiety (27.5 {25.0, 30.0}). The physiotherapy group showed a significant difference in range of motion (7.7 {5.7, 9.7}; p<0.001) compared to the acupuncture group (11.6 {9.8, 13.5}).
CONCLUSIONS: The present study findings revealed that both physiotherapy and acupuncture, as interventions along with integrated yoga and naturopathy may be considered an effective treatment strategy for chronic LBP.