Alternative und integrative Medizin

Water for Health, for Healing, for Life is a new approach to many health problems identified by modern medicine as diseases of unknown origin. It argues that chronic dehydration is the root cause of many health problems but unfortunately we have become accustomed to drinking less water than our bodies need. It calls for increasing water intake on a regular basis. It believes that there must be a paradigm change in modern medicine from solute to solvent in analyzing and understanding the functions of our bodies. The book has attracted strong criticisms as well.

Homeopathy is used in the treatment of acute as well as chronic diseases all over the world. The potencies remedies are mostly taken orally, so that the mucous membrane of the mouth serves as receptor for the remedial action. However diluted remedies might also be used locally on the skin. For medical and cosmetically purposes the use of Microneedling has gained increased interest in the application of remedial agents or beauty products in the past years. Fine needles, affixed on rollers or stamps, penetrate the upper layers of the skin to break the skin barrier and improve the absorption of the ingredients. A similar effect can be reached with a dermal needle, an instrument known from Traditional Chinese Medicine. A case study was conducted to investigate the effect of a local application of a homeopathic remedy after the use of a dermal needle.

Background: Alveolar Macrophages (AMs) play important role in preservation of lungs from infectious diseases development through a series of activities including phagocytosis. The present study examined the effects of aqueous extract of Aframomum danielli rhizomes on the AMs functions.

Methods: Extract was investigated for microbe’s ingestion, bacteria killing and reactive oxygen and nitrogen species production in alveolar macrophages. Extract was investigated for repository, suppressive and curative treatments of S. aureus infection in mice.

Results: The extract of Aframomum danielli augmented (approximately threefold) the ingestion of Candida albicans by phagocytes. Furthermore, extract concentrationdependently increased the killing ability of S. aureus of mice AMs. Moreover, the extract significantly stimulated the production of O₂, H₂O₂ and nitric oxide (NO) by mice AMs. In addition, extract make mice to become more resistant to S. aureus infection. Finally, aqueous extract of A. danielli dose dependently increased reduced the bacteremia density in Dex-mice in suppressive, curative and repository treatments.

Conclusion: Together the results showed that aqueous extract of A. dalnielli promotes the phagocytosis of microbes by alveolar macrophages and thereby may contribute to respiratory tract prevention from bacterial colonization.

Studies have revealed that Dentists across the globe are widely involved in the inappropriate prescription of broad spectrum antibiotics, a practice that is believed to
contribute significantly to the current problem of antimicrobial resistance. The factors responsible for the inappropriate prescription of antibiotics by Dentists vary from
country to country but the aim of such prescriptions appears to be universal-prevention of possible post-operative infections and complications. In developing countries,
Dentists face some unique challenges that make such inappropriate prescription of antibiotics almost inevitable. Some of such challenges include an epileptic power
supply and lack of potable water, both of which facilitate the poor infection control practices prevalent in these countries. The invasive nature of minor procedures such as
simple tooth extractions and frequent use of poorly sterilized metal-based reusable equipment contribute to an increased risk of transmission of infections in dental
practice. In the search for alternative antimicrobial drugs, medicinal plants have been observed to be potential sources of safer and cheaper agents, when compared to
synthetic antibiotics. Interestingly, extracts from medicinal plants have long been applied for the treatment of oral infections and maintenance of oral health in many parts
of the world, including developing countries, where they are widely distributed. Surprisingly, a very limited number of these extracts, if any, have found their way into the
clinics as refined agents such as tablets, for the prophylactic control of post-operative infections in dentistry, especially in developing countries. This is largely due to lack
of confidence on the part of Dentists and poor co-ordination among research institutions, pharmaceutical companies and regulatory bodies in these nations. This review
therefore seeks to reawaken the interest of all parties concerned, on the need to harness the potentials of medicinal plants in solving the problem of inappropriate
antibiotics prescription in dentistry.

Introduction: Fibromyalgia (FM) is a prevalent disease and often presents symptoms of anxiety and depression. Bach florals (BF) are widely used  to treat such manifestations. No studies on the use of BF in FM were found. 

Objective: To evaluate the effects of BF (Rescue) in FM patients. 

Patients and methods: 6 patients and 6 healthy controls were included. They were evaluated at pre-intervention and after 60 days of BF using. Demographic data, anxiety and depression were evaluated by Beck inventories; sleep quality by the Pittsburgh scale and symptoms of dysbiosis  by symptoms form. 

Results: The median age was 60 years old (22-77) in patients and 41 (40-43) years old in controls. The disease duration was 3 years (4 months  -10 years old). Caucasian race was 33% in the patient group and 66% in the controls. There was a statistically significant reduction between the Beck Anxiety Questionnaire before and after 60 days [16 (6-42) vs. 10 (2-27), p=0.05), Beck Depression Questionnaire before and after 60 days [16 (8-52) vs. 10 (6-35), p=0.02) and dysbiosis questionnaire before and after 60 days [18 (10-27) vs. 15 .5 (7-27), p=0.03). Regarding the sleep form, no significant differences were observed before and after BF. 

Conclusion: Treatment with Bach flower in patients with fibromyalgia seems promising, as it reduces tender points, symptoms of depression and anxiety, as well as improvement of symptoms of dysbiosis.