Thesis (M. Nursing)--Montana State University--Bozeman, 2004. / Typescript. Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Vonna Branam. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 67-71).

Thesis (M.S.)--West Virginia University, 2000. / Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains x, 73 p. Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references (p. 61-63).

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Cornell University, August, 2008. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 117-129).

Thesis (M.Arch)--University of Detroit Mercy, 2010. / "April 30 2009". Actually submitted in 2010. Includes bibliographical references (p. 86-87).

Thesis (M. Nursing)--Montana State University--Bozeman, 2007. / Typescript. Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Jean Shreffler-Grant. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 44-48).

<p> Holistic methods have increased in popularity in the American culture. Interventions such as yoga, aromatherapy, mindfulness and walking therapy have been shown to be beneficial for the treatment of both physical and mental illnesses. However, little research exists regarding the use of holistic interventions in the field of counseling. This phenomenological study explores the experience of counselors who integrate holistic interventions into their practice and seeks to determine the essence of their development of self-efficacy. Co-researchers in this study included eight holistic counselors from rural, suburban and urban areas across the United States. Through semi-structured interviews, the co-researchers revealed the significance of personal experience with holistic methods, the influence of client feedback and the experience of formal and informal training on their development of self-efficacy. The findings of this study prompted recommendations for counselors who desire to integrate holistic methods and for the field of counselor education, including increased training and areas for future research.</p><p>

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the leading cause of dementia accounting for between 60-80% of all dementia related cases. It is the 6th leading cause of death in the US and is the only one in the top 10 leading causes of death without a prevention or cure. As the life-expectancy across the world continues to increase, the number of AD cases are expected to likewise increase dramatically. AD is a multifaceted disease. There is no one pathway or genetic predisposition that researches can pinpoint as causing disease in all cases. Approximately 5-10% of cases are caused by an inherited genetic mutation, while 90-95% of cases are sporadic with determined underlying mechanism. This makes treatment for disease extremely difficult. In recent years focus has been given to modifiable risk factors to lower risk for AD, including exercise, diet, cardiovascular health, education, and smoking. This study reviews the possible protective effects of exercise on the development of AD. Randomized control trials (RCTs), longitudinal studies, and meta-analyses and studies in AD mouse models are scrutinized to determine whether there is an association between exercise and lower risk of AD, and to potentially pinpoint the molecular mechanisms behind this protective effect. The majority of studies concur that exercise does lower risk of AD, but the mechanisms still need to be elucidated. Although more research is needed, the results so far have been promising.

<p> Live music is a popular activity that many adults attend regularly. Qualitative research on live music from a listener&rsquo;s perspective and the meaning it brings to individuals&rsquo; lives is lacking. The purpose of this heuristic inquiry was to investigate the lived experience of attending live-music events from the perspective of adult concert-goers between the ages of 18 and 65 years. This phenomenon was explored through the primary research question, &ldquo;What is the experience of attending live-music events?&rdquo; </p><p> Eight co-researchers were selected to participate via a convenience sample recruitment strategy. Data was collected via open-ended interviews and analyzed through stages following the qualitative method of heuristic inquiry (Moustaskas, 1990). </p><p> Three main themes were found to be the core essence of the live music experience: (a) live music connects people deeply; (b) live music is a full body experience; and (c) live music can be transcendent. An increased energy or vitality was evident before, during, and after the live-music events. Co-researchers used these repeated experiences to release, renew, and recharge the positive emotions, and mental resources that they would in turn bring back to their everyday lives. </p><p> Findings from this research suggest that listening to live music is a mind-body-spirit practice that can be used by individuals to connect deeply to themselves, others, and something greater than what they know. As an inherently pleasurable activity, live music influenced people&rsquo;s ability to be open-minded and appreciative for what they have in life. The experience positively impacted the participants physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually, which may have implications on overall well-being. </p><p> This is the first qualitative study that demonstrated ways in which people can participate in live-music events as a method of self-care to enhance their sense of well-being through meaningful connections, mind-body awareness, and transcendent experiences. Future research studies should examine the effects of live music on overall health outcomes and components of well-being. Keywords: live music, well-being, transcendence, appreciation, mind-body-spirit practice</p><p>

M.Tech .(Homoeopathy) / The aim of this study was to evaluate the growth rate of germinating Zea Mays seeds subject to the administration of homoeopathically potentised Carbo vegetabilis in the potencies 12CH, 13CH and 14CH. The purpose of the study is to help disprove the popular "placebo effect" explanation as to why homoeopathy works by showing that homoeopathic medicine can have a fundamental effect on a living organism and thereby lend credibility to homoeopathy as a science. This study is of value as previous botanical studies have not attempted to provide an explanation as to how homoeopathic potencies may be acting and have mostly merely demonstrated their effects on cleoptile growth. Six hundred Zea Mays seeds were selected and planted in rolls of germination paper. There were 150 seeds in each of the three test groups as well as in the control group. The control group received distilled water only and the test groups their respective liquid potencies of Carbo vegetabilis, which were prepared using distilled water. The germination rolls were incubated at 24°C in darkness for a total of 135 hours. After 39 hours the germinating seeds were replanted into fresh germination rolls. The process was repeated at 87 hours after the first measurements were taken. The final measurements were taken at 135 hours. Shoot lengths and root lengths were recorded and overall lengths calculated. Mean shoot, root and overall lengths were expressed as percentages ofthe control using bar graphs. At 87 hours the potency that consistently decreased the growth of Zea Mays was the 13CH. The 12CH potency only decreased the shoot growth, whereas the 14CH improved root growth. At 135 hours overall growth was significantly decreased in all the test groups, but most markedly in the 12CH groups where root growth was drastically inhibited. When compared with the 87th hour measurement, the 13CH group showed a 13% increase in shoot growth. Carbo vegetabilis potencies 12CH, 13CH and 14CH were found to significantly influence the growth of germinating Zea Mays seeds.

<p> Back problems continue to be a leading cause for disability in all of medicine and are the number one symptom disorder for consulting integrative medicine practitioners. Feldenkrais&reg; practitioners aim to clarify new functional interrelationships towards an improved <i>neuroplasticity-based </i> change in the cognitive construct of one&rsquo;s own background body schema. These phenomena have been found to clinically correlate to chronic pain through concurrent distortions in the reorganization of usual sensory-motor cortical representations in the brain &ndash; being further associated with altered body perception (Wand, et al. 2016). The <i>Feldenkrais Method </i>&reg; (FM) is a comprehensive approach being manifested through manual sensory contact (FI&reg;) techniques and movement experiences (ATM&reg;) and has been anecdotally purported to improve symptoms and functions in Chronic Non-specific Low Back Pain (CNSLBP). However, there is little scientific evidence to support superior treatment efficacy.</p><p> A Randomized Controlled Trial compared a novel <i>Virtual Reality Bones&trade; / Feldenkrais&reg; Movement</i> (VRB³/FM) intervention against more conventional protocols for <i>Core Stabilization Biofeedback / Motor Control Exercises</i> (CSB/MCE). The (VRB³)&trade; treatment component consisted of full-scale skeletal models, kinematic avatars, skeletal density imagery, temporal bone-vestibular system relationships, and haptic self-touch techniques being aimed to re-conceptualize participant&rsquo;s prior notions and beliefs regarding body schema and low back pain (LBP). N=30 participating patients with CNSLBP were assigned to either the experimental group (VRB³/FM @ N=15) or the control group (CSB/MCE @ N=15). Known confounding biopsychosocial variables were controlled via stratified-random assignment on the FABQ. Treatment Outcome measures included VAS-PAIN, RMDQ, PSFS, and Timed Position Endurances Tests &ndash; including Flexion / Extension Ratios at baseline, 2-weeks, 4-weeks and 8-weeks. Statistical Analysis was conducted using Wilcoxon Rank Sum and paired, two-tailed t-test. Results showed that the VRB³/FM group demonstrated greater improvement in all treatment outcome measures as compared to the matched CSB/MCE control group.</p><p> This is the first RCT study to demonstrate that a <i>Feldenkrais Method</i>&reg; based approach being combined with <i>Virtual Reality Bones</i>&trade; can be more efficacious for the treatment of CNSLBP than the current and accepted physical medicine standard of isolated Core Stabilization Biofeedback / Training and Motor Control Exercises. Future multi-site RCT studies with larger sample sizes are therefore recommended.</p>