Thesis (M.Tech.: Homoeopathy)-Dept. of Homoeopathy, Durban Institute of Technology, 2007 iv, 126 leaves / The first formal Homeopathic education programme in South Africa began in 1989 and was instituted by Technikon Natal, now Durban University of Technology – DUT. The course offers a Master’s Degree in Technology in Homeopathy. Similarly Witwatersrand Technikon now University of Johannesburg began offering the course from 1993. Since the first (from DUT) intake there have been 13 years of graduates. Included in the course is excellent homeopathic training and a comprehensive medical training programme, consisting of anatomy, physiology, pathology, histology and diagnostics subjects. Although a statutory requirement no postgraduate internship training regarding graduates of this programme has been formalised. Thus this study was deemed valuable as it aimed to provide clarity on past internship received and a perception of what an internship ought to entail. The purpose of this retrospective survey was to determine the perceptions and opinions of M.Tech:Homeopathy graduates around the current non-implementation of statutory internship, in order to inform the formulation of an appropriate and effective homoeopathic internship, as required by Act 63 of 1982 (as amended). Other objectives included gathering data/perceptions regarding the contents and outcomes of a proposed Homeopathic internship as perceived by M.Tech:Homeopathy graduates. As well as assessing/determining the possible existence of associations between demographic factors and the perceptions around internship regarding its recommended contents and outcomes.

Dissertation submitted in partial compliance with the requirements of the Master’s Degree in Technology: Homoeopathy, Durban University of Technology, 2011. / The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between the understanding and utilization of Strychnos henningsii (umqalothi, Red bitterberry) by Zulu traditional healers and the signs and symptoms induced by the thirtieth centesimal potency (30CH) homoeopathic dilution of the crude substance in a previously conducted triple-blind placebo-controlled homoeopathic proving. Methodology The study was carried out in four dispersed areas of KZN (Harding, Durban, Weenen and Melmoth). From each area one isangoma and one inyanga were interviewed, resulting in eight interviews. All visits were conducted by the researcher, who acted as principal communicator and translator, and his supervisor, who assisted him by doing live video recording of all interviews. The methodology employed was that of qualitative interviewing using semi-structured interviews. Each video was transcribed into Zulu text and subsequently translated to English text by the researcher and his supervisor. The data obtained from the interviews was then compared to data obtained from the previously conducted homoeopathic proving of Strychnos henningsii 30CH in order to evaluate the overlap between the traditional and the homoeopathic approach to utilisation of the plant. Results After comparison, it was found that there was an overlap in the gastro-intestinal system, cardio-vascular system, respiratory system and female/male genito-urinary system and in some mental symptoms. v However, there were no overlaps found in traditional usage of the plant as an antisnake venom, and in the proving symptoms related to scalp, hair, eyes, ear, nose, face, mouth, teeth and throat. Conclusion After comparison between the understanding and utilization of Strychnos henningsii by Zulu traditional healers and the signs and symptoms induced by the proving of Strychnos henningssi 30CH, it was concluded that while there are certain overlaps, the homoeopathic proving produced a wider range of symptoms which may either serve to extend the traditional use, or overlap with existing traditional use not exposed within the scope of this study. Interviews with a greater number of traditional healers in a wider geographic area may reveal a closer correlation between homoeopathic proving symptoms and patterns of use by traditional healers.

BACKGROUND:Patients receiving complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) therapies often report shifts in well-being that go beyond resolution of the original presenting symptoms. We undertook a research program to develop and evaluate a patient-centered outcome measure to assess the multidimensional impacts of CAM therapies, utilizing a novel mixed methods approach that relied upon techniques from the fields of anthropology and psychometrics. This tool would have broad applicability, both for CAM practitioners to measure shifts in patients' states following treatments, and conventional clinical trial researchers needing validated outcome measures. The US Food and Drug Administration has highlighted the importance of valid and reliable measurement of patient-reported outcomes in the evaluation of conventional medical products. Here we describe Phase I of our research program, the iterative process of content identification, item development and refinement, and response format selection. Cognitive interviews and psychometric evaluation are reported separately.METHODS:From a database of patient interviews (n = 177) from six diverse CAM studies, 150 interviews were identified for secondary analysis in which individuals spontaneously discussed unexpected changes associated with CAM. Using ATLAS.ti, we identified common themes and language to inform questionnaire item content and wording. Respondents' language was often richly textured, but item development required a stripping down of language to extract essential meaning and minimize potential comprehension barriers across populations. Through an evocative card sort interview process, we identified those items most widely applicable and covering standard psychometric domains. We developed, pilot-tested, and refined the format, yielding a questionnaire for cognitive interviews and psychometric evaluation.RESULTS:The resulting questionnaire contained 18 items, in visual analog scale format, in which each line was anchored by the positive and negative extremes relevant to the experiential domain. Because of frequent informant allusions to response set shifts from before to after CAM therapies, we chose a retrospective pretest format. Items cover physical, emotional, cognitive, social, spiritual, and whole person domains.CONCLUSIONS:This paper reports the success of a novel approach to the development of outcome instruments, in which items are extracted from patients' words instead of being distilled from pre-existing theory. The resulting instrument, focused on measuring shifts in patients' perceptions of health and well-being along pre-specified axes, is undergoing continued testing, and is available for use by cooperating investigators.

Background: One in five households has a child with special health care needs (SHCN). Such parents report poorer mental health, greater depressive symptoms, and more restrictions in instrumental activities of daily living (IADL). The quality of mental and physical health of all family members' continuingly declines. Objectives: To evaluate the effects of the current ITK Healing Retreat Week program on familial well-being via introduction of CAM methods through assessment of 1) mood based on affect 2) self-efficacy 3) changes in coping skills 4) growth over time in parents/caregivers who have children with SHCN. Methods: A secondary analysis of data from sixteen parents/caregivers who participated in the ITK Healing Retreat Week July 13-19, 2014. Scores from Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS) with Serenity subscale, Post Traumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI), and Self-Efficacy Scale (SES) were analyzed using SPSS. Content analysis was performed on open-ended questions from post, three and six-month post retreat questionnaires. Results: Before to immediately after the retreat week there was a statistically significant decrease in negative emotions and increase in positive mood state, ability to feel calm/at peace, relate to others, see new possibilities, and confidence in ability to perform certain care needs (<.001). From post to three-month post retreat the families' confidence in ability to perform certain care needs did not change (<.001), but declined from three to six month post retreat in a statistically significant manner (.044). Content analysis indicated that the biggest benefit for the families was being in a supportive community and having an increase in positive emotional states. At six-months post retreat an increase in receptivity was additionally reported. Conclusion: The ITK Healing Retreat Week program positively impacted families who have children with SHCN in multiple positive ways: increased mood, more confidence, ability to relate better to others and ability to see new possibilities. In effort to make this program generalizable or even replicable, further research needs to be done on the mechanism of change, the structure that creates this change, and how to make such a change sustainable by investigating a new retreat format and alternative research tools, questions, and scales.

Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS) and Chronic Pain Syndrome (CPS) can be treated in many different ways. I found a problem in the balance of healing modalities surrounding diagnosis and care of illness and disease. This struggle is not singular to AS and CPS, but universal to physical and mental concerns. Some effective treatments and therapies are not recognized as such or are just beginning to become so. The scope of my work reflects on the course of my life. It was heavily influenced by the way my medical care was managed from an early age and how it evolved over the years. Through my educational program, I examined the necessity to bridge the gap between treatment paradigms and to expand on a broader, more inclusive, healing rubric. This rubric includes a broader emphasis on skill-based and complementary and alternative medicines. The viability to incorporate holistic health therapies earlier in life is explored through my use of the Scholarly Personal Narrative (SPN) qualitative research method. I chose this methodology because scientific fact could be argued either way for one therapeutic approach over another. By incorporating lived experience through SPN the union and cohesion necessary in all healing modalities, and their positive aspects, can be seen. The truth becomes self-evident. The results of this examination showed awareness earlier in life toward alternative and holistic treatments being paramount. Parents and educators lack information concerning modern therapeutic approaches. It also showed each situation will vary, but choice in treatment for ailments and illness of all kinds is not only viable, but highly recommended and researched. Access issues such as health insurance remain obstacles with some treatments and therapies, while others are a matter of cost prohibition, such as nutrition therapies. The implications of my work indicate a need for earlier incorporation of holistic healing programs and skill based therapies alongside perpetuated medical models in early childhood development and education. In conclusion, awareness towards medical concerns and how we as a society treat them can be improved upon by systemically incorporating less harmful therapies earlier in life. Fostering relations between medical providers, care providers and educators for students' wellbeing should be the foreground of any educational policy. Educators and parents alike should be made aware of and take advantage of effective skill-based treatments before a physical or mental condition surfaces or medication only approaches are authoritatively recommended. Integrating programs that build strong mental resilience and focus on youth development and education can reduce the necessity for more invasive treatments or medications should an ailment or illness develop.

Bakgrund: Arton procent av Sveriges befolkning lider av långvarig smärta, men hur stort mörkertalet är vet man inte. Av den äldre befolkningen har 54% kvinnor och 38% män långvarig smärta. Smärtan påverkar flera faktorer, allt från sämre välmående och fysisk trötthet, till påverkan på socialt liv och arbete. Kostnaderna för samhället beräknas varje år kosta 87.5 miljarder kronor i direkta och indirekta kostnader. Komplementär- och alternativmedicin är ett samlingsnamn för behandlingar som inte ingår i den traditionella medicinska behandlingen, bland annat massage, akupunktur, transkutan elektrisk nervstimulering (TENS), kognitiv beteendeterapi (KBT) och meditation/yoga. Syfte: Att beskriva patienters upplevelser och positiva effekter av alternativ- och komplementärmedicin vid långvarig smärta.  Metod: Studien genomfördes i form av en litteraturöversikt och baserades på 14 vetenskapliga artiklar med kvalitativ eller kvantitativ ansats. Sökningarna gjordes i databaserna CINAHL och PubMed.  Resultat: Tre huvudteman framkom i resultatet vilket var ökat välbefinnande, smärtlindring och ökad rörelseförmåga. Studierna visade att patienterna upplevde god smärtlindring och ökad livskvalité både fysiskt och psykiskt vid behandling med komplementär- och alternativmedicin. Patienter som inte uppnått smärtlindring genom den traditionella vården upplever god smärtlindring med hjälp komplementär- och alternativmedicin.  Slutsats: Komplementär- och alternativmedicin kan vara ett alternativ till traditionell behandling och ibland även ett första alternativ av flera anledningar, bland annat för att undvika biverkningar från läkemedel. / Background: Eighteen of Sweden's population suffers from long-term pain. The unmeasured data in the presence is not known. Among the older population, 54% of women and 38% prevalence of men, have long-term pain. The pain affects several factors, everything from inferior well-being and physical fatigue, to the impact on social life and work. The costs for society are estimated to cost SEK 87.5 billion annually in direct and indirect costs. Complementary and alternative medicine is a collective term for treatments that are not part of the traditional medical treatment. Examples of treatments include massage, acupuncture, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), cognitive behavioral therapy (KBT) and meditation/yoga. Aim: To describe patients' experiences and the positive effect of alternative and complementary medicine of long-term pain. Method: A literature review based on 14 scientific articles with qualitative or quantitative approach. Searches have been conducted in CINAHL and PubMed. Results: Three main themes emerged in the result, which was increased wellbeing, pain relief and increased mobility. The studies indicate that the patients experienced good pain relief and increased quality of life both physically and mentally during treatment with complementary and alternative medicine. Patients who have not achieved pain relief through traditional care, experienced good pain relief with complementary and alternative medicine. Conclusion:  Complementary and alternative medicine can be an alternative to traditional treatment and sometimes even a first alternative for several reasons, among other things to avoid side effects from drugs.

Submitted by Filipe dos Santos (fsantos@pucsp.br) on 2017-10-03T12:32:27Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Ana Luisa Prosperi Leite.pdf: 1501975 bytes, checksum: 94973ebed0560a979918f1bdc93e70b7 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-10-03T12:32:27Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Ana Luisa Prosperi Leite.pdf: 1501975 bytes, checksum: 94973ebed0560a979918f1bdc93e70b7 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-09-18 / Conselho Nacional de Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico - CNPq / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES / Fundação São Paulo - FUNDASP / Substantiated on counterculture claims and the amalgam between religious and scientific knowledges which are the foundation of New Era Movement, Naturology is instituted as an academic course on medical field by the end of the 1990’s in Brazil. A few years later initiates a path of academical production attempting to reach academical legitimacy. Its New Era foundations make Naturology to move in a pendular movement: although legitimation sought by the field and the activity regulation demand of its practices and researches a strict relation with official science, elements originated from religious traditions are inseparable of the therapeutics proposal offered by Naturology. Starting from this premise, the present study aims to reason how religious practices in Naturology communicate with scientific axiom on academic productions of the field. For such, were investigated the religious and secular world views on which the health concept used by Naturology were based on, differentiating what is in fact religious on the health practices used by the field. The academic productions considered as representative of the protagonists of the field were analyzed seeking to verify how these religious knowledge are correlated to Naturology, and under which terms were elaborated by its collocutor on the construction of an area own statement. It was observed that the religious aspects of Naturology are not mentioned on the area speech, which denies its practices as a continuation to esoteric knowledges. On the other way, as Naturology matures academically speaking, it is noticed the narrowing of the field with statements and research methodologies inherent to science and to official medicine, as well as the appropriation of scientific premises used to explain concepts protected by religious cosmologies. In this way, concludes that in its epistemological construction, Naturology is searching to be associated to a scientific speech that may explain the area assumptions, especially those controversial for been considered mystics or esoteric by common sense / Fundamentada nas reinvindicações contraculturais e na amálgama entre saberes religiosos e científicos que são a base do Movimento Nova Era, a Naturologia se institui como curso acadêmico na área da saúde no Brasil no final da década de 1990. Alguns anos depois se inicia um processo de produção e tentativa de legitimação acadêmica. Suas bases novaeristas provocam um movimento pendular: conquanto a legitimação buscada pelo campo e a regulamentação da profissão demandam a correspondência de suas práticas e pesquisas com aquela instituída pela ciência oficial, elementos oriundos de tradições religiosas são também indissociáveis da proposta terapêutica oferecida pela Naturologia. O presente estudo objetiva debater a interface religiosa das práticas em Naturologia, perscrutando como estão sendo dialogadas com os axiomas científicos nas produções acadêmicas do campo. Foram investigadas as visões de mundo religiosas e seculares que embasaram a noção de saúde utilizada pela Naturologia. As produções acadêmicas tidas como representativas dos protagonistas do campo foram analisadas buscando verificar como estes saberes religiosos estão correlacionados à Naturologia e sob quais termos são elaborados por seus interlocutores na construção de um enunciado próprio à área. Observou-se que a interface religiosa das práticas em Naturologia não são contempladas no discurso da área, que nega que sua prática dê continuidade à saberes esotéricos. Por outro lado, à medida que a Naturologia amadurece academicamente, percebe-se o estreitamento do campo com enunciados e metodologias de pesquisa próprios à ciência e à medicina oficial, assim como a apropriação de premissas cientificas utilizadas para explicar conceitos amparados em cosmologias religiosas. Desta maneira, infere-se que em sua construção epistemológica a Naturologia tem buscado associarse a um discurso cientifico que possa dar sentido aos pressupostos da área

This thesis focuses on the socio-cultural and anthropological aspects of Tibetan medicine in contemporary Russia and investigates how Tibetan medicine is practised, consumed and represented in two major Russian cities, Moscow and St Petersburg. It is the first case-study of such kind in the context of Russian culture, as the anthropological aspects of Tibetan medicine in contemporary Russia have not yet been the subject of a systematic research. Up till now, scholarly publications on Tibetan medicine in Russia have dealt either with the translation and textual analysis of ancient Tibetan medical treatises or with the history of the first appearance of Tibetan medicine in Buriatia, the traditionally Buddhist region of Russia, and St Petersburg / Petrograd, paying little attention to contemporary developments and, most importantly, ignoring how Tibetan practitioners and their patients are making sense of Tibetan medicine. Based on twenty four interviews with practitioners and consumers of Tibetan medicine in the two Russian capitals, my research fills in this lacuna by looking at personal experiences, perceptions and accounts of my interviewees and exploring how they adapt Tibetan medicine to their skills, beliefs and ideas. My approach to sources is informed by Iurii Lotman's theory of intercultural communication. Although this theory was developed by Lotman for the analyses of the processes of cultural reception of literary texts, it is also relevant, with some modifications, for the analysis of the process of reception of non-textual cultural forms. The analysis of data collected from interviews with doctors and patients and the textual analysis of media, cinematic and literary sources has revealed two dominant trends and representational techniques. The first trend amounts to representing Tibetan medicine as unique and exotic, while the second trend amounts to the conceiving of Tibetan medicine as Russia's indigenous tradition, a part of Russian history, which had been subverted and suppressed in the Soviet period, yet rediscovered post-1991. Thus, we see here a co-existence of the inter-cultural dialogue between Russian culture and an exotic 'other' and the intra-cultural dialogue with a recently rediscovered part of 'self'. Both trends, which, at first glance, might appear to stand in contradiction to each other, sometimes coexist within a single explanatory narrative. The thesis also focuses on inter-cultural interactions between doctors and patients. It is argued that these interactions take place in the context of a noteworthy sociological and cultural phenomenon that the thesis calls 'mutual counter-adaptation'. Mutual counter-adaptation is the key mechanism used, consciously or spontaneously, by Tibetan doctors and their patients in order to facilitate the process of understanding between the parties involved in an inter-cultural dialogue around Tibetan medicine. The thesis finally reveals how this mutual counter-adaption takes place within a wider Russian cultural and media environment which exploits a set of specific symbols and images in order to make Tibetan medicine comprehensible and attractive to the wider Russian public.

Submitted by Rosivalda Pereira (mrs.pereira@ufma.br) on 2017-06-14T17:28:23Z No. of bitstreams: 1 CarolineVale.pdf: 4135607 bytes, checksum: d26bf0afb2078fe97033389d010e9282 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-06-14T17:28:23Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 CarolineVale.pdf: 4135607 bytes, checksum: d26bf0afb2078fe97033389d010e9282 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-12-13 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPQ) / Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa e ao Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico do Maranhão (FAPEMA) / Metabolic syndrome (MS) is defined as a set of interrelated risk factors that contribute to type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and cardiovascular disease (CVD). SM also causes harmful effects on the reproductive system, especially for women, as it reducies ovulatory rates, increasies the number of abortions and late pregnancy complications, which increase the risk of infertility. As a form of treatment approaches are adopted both non-pharmacologic and pharmacologic. In this context, the use of alternative therapies with natural products has emerged as a safer and less associated with worsening of MS risk factors. Syzygium cumini (jambolan) is a species of Asian origin, but cultivated and used throughout the world for its anti-hyperglycemic, anti-hiperlipemiantes and antioxidants. Through these actions, we sought to investigate whether the hydroalcoholic extract of the leaves of S. cumini (EHSyz) improves the metabolic changes and consequently, changes in reproductive function in rats with induced obesity L-monosodium glutamate (MSG) a dose 4g/Kg/day. Wistar female rats were divided into the following groups: CTRL group (treated with NaCl 0.9% 0.1 ml / 100g / day v.o,); MSG group (treated with NaCl 0.9% 0.1 ml / 100g / day V.O.); EHSyz obese group (treated with EHSyz at a dose of 500mg / kg / day, V.O.), each for 60 days. The administration EHSyz promoted with retention of weight gain, reduction Lee index and improved glycolipid profile, with reduced serum triglyceride levels by 60.7% and 29.7% compared to cholesterol total.O EHSyz even avoided introduction resistance table in the treated rats. However, despite the improvement in oligociclicidade, the extract was not able to improve reproductive impairment of the treated rats. Thus, we conclude that treatment with EHSyz produced marked effects on metabolic parameters in obese rats without interfering with the reproductive capacity of the same. / A síndrome metabólica (SM) é definida como um conjunto de fatores de risco interrelacionados que contribuem para o diabetes mellitus tipo 2 (DM2) e doenças cardiovasculares (DCV). A SM também provoca efeitos deletérios sobre o sistema reprodutor, especialmente feminino, com redução de taxas ovulatórias, aumento do número de abortos, complicações tardias da gravidez, que elevam o risco de infertilidade. Como forma de tratamento, são adotadas abordagens tanto não farmacológicos quanto farmacológicas. Nesse contexto, o uso de terapias alternativas com produtos naturais tem se destacado como uma forma menos associada ao agravamento dos fatores de risco da SM. Syzygium cumini (jambolão) é uma espécie vegetal de origem asiática, porém cultivada e utilizada em todo o mundo por suas propriedades anti-hiperglicemiantes, anti-hiperlipemiantes e antioxidantes. Mediante tais ações, buscamos investigar se o extrato hidroalcoólico das folhas de S. cumini (EHSyz) melhora as alterações metabólicas e, consequentemente, as alterações da função reprodutiva de ratas com obesidade induzida por L-glutamato monossódico (MSG) na dose 4g/Kg/dia. Fêmeas Wistar foram divididas nos seguintes grupos: grupo CTRL (tratado com NaCl 0,9% 0,1mL/100g/dia v.o,); grupo MSG (tratado com NaCl 0,9% 0,1mL/100g/dia v.o.); grupo obeso EHSyz (tratado com EHSyz na dose de 500mg/kg/dia, v.o.), todos durante 60 dias. A administração com EHSyz promoveu manutenção do ganho de peso, redução do índice de Lee e melhora do perfil glicolipídico, com redução dos níveis séricos de triglicérides em 60,7 % e 29,7 % em relação ao colesterol total. O EHSyz evitou ainda a instauração do quadro de resistência nas ratas tratadas. Entretanto apesar da melhora na oligociclicidade, o extrato não foi capaz de melhorar o comprometimento reprodutivo das ratas tratadas. Desta forma, concluímos que o tratamento com EHSyz produziu efeitos acentuados sobre parâmetros metabólicos de ratas obesas sem interferir na capacidade reprodutiva das mesmas.

Objective: From a patient-centered perspective, this study sought to explore cancer patient experiences using integrative health techniques, while undergoing or after having completed conventional cancer therapy. Methods: Recruitment and data collection both occurred within the Supportive Care Medicine Department of a comprehensive cancer center in the southeastern United States. The primary collection method was semi-structured interviews, of which 13 were conducted. Results: Patients using integrative therapies experienced a variety of physical and mental/emotional benefits from their chosen therapy, such as management of lymphedema and nerve damage, increased mobility, and improved self-confidence. Conclusion: Integrative therapies can provide many benefits to patients in mitigating treatment side effects and other cancer related symptoms. CAM practitioners themselves played an important role in post-treatment cancer support; both by acting as a health educator and by administrating the therapy itself.