Alternative & Integrative Medicine

Abstract Traditional and Non-Conventional Medicines (TM/NCM) are slowly gaining ground in Italy despite the opposition of biomedicine which dominates the health and education system. The latest research indicates that: more than 50% of general practitioners recommend homeopathic medicines to their patients; 14.5% of the Italian population has recourse to Non Conventional Medicines; 16.2% of the sample has recourse to homeopathic medicines. Given this trend, this first-ever survey/census investigates the actual role of the Italian University in promoting an academic education in Traditional and Non-Conventional Medicines. Although in 2004 and in 2011 the Italian Permanent Conference of the Presidents of MD Schools of Medicine assumed an official position of stigmatisation of TM/NCM, many Italian Schools of Medicine have activated various types of courses. The authors analyse the TM/NCM training schemes offered on the websites of private and public Italian Schools of Medicine in the academic year 2011-2012. An ad-hoc questionnaire was likewise mailed to all the Italian Schools of Medicine, consisting of eight questions concerning the quality and quantity of both undergraduate and postgraduate education programmes in Traditional and Non-Conventional Medicine (Elective Courses (undergraduate), High Education Courses (post-graduate), eventual Specializations, Masters Courses, Doctorates and other kinds, such as CME, etc.). The authors have also reconstructed a geographical map of the different types education programme in Traditional and Non-Conventional Medicine, highlighting the more virtuous Italian University Centres and Regions in this connection.

As compared to the studies with hot water extracts of plants, those with alkaline extracts were limited. Both alkaline and hot water extracts from green tea leaf, oolong tea leaf and orange flower were compared for their biological activities. Plant materials were successively extracted first with hot-water and then alkaline solution, or extracted directly with alkaline solution. Viable cell number of HIV-infected and UV-irradiated cells was determined by MTT method. Antibacterial activity against Porphyromonas gingivalis 381 was determined by turbidity assay. Cytochrome P-450 (CYP)3A4 activity was measured by β-hydroxylation of testosterone using human recombinant CYP3A4 (Figure 5). Radical intensity of superoxide and hydroxyl radical was determined by ESR spectroscopy. alkaline extraction recovered twice as much as dried materials as compared with water extraction. Water extracts showed higher anti-bacterial, CYP3A4 inhibitory and superoxide scavenging activities, whereas alkaline extract showed higher anti-HIV and hydroxyl radical scavenging activity. Both water and alkaline extracts showed comparable anti-UV activity. The present study suggests the usefulness of alkaline extraction for the efficient utilization of the natural resources.

Pain assessment and management is an inevitable part of the nursing care of patients. Incomplete relief of pain remains widespread despite decades of research. Studies indicate that lack of knowledge, skills, and inattentive attitudes toward patients are barriers to effective pain management. Non-pharmacological methods are one possibility and should be offered as an adjunct alternative to pharmacological pain relief in nursing practice. For example, listening to music is inexpensive, safe, and does not require extra resources. We need systematic and continuous training in pain management.

The objective of this study was to examine Chinese attitudes to Complementary and Orthodox Medicine. Three groups of participants (N=199): complementary medicine (CM) users, orthodox medicine (OM) users, and “neutral” users completed a questionnaire on attitudes towards and behaviours concerning the use of CM and OM. The results indicated that the three groups did not differ in health locus of control, health awareness, perceived importance of psychological factors, and satisfaction with General Practitionerss. All users preferred using OM for H1N1 flu (swine flu) despite a higher perceived disease knowledge in CM group. OM users had more positive attitudes to science than CM users. Participants had higher general efficacy expectation for the type of medicine they used more frequently and the three groups had different perceived OM and CM efficacy for different types of illnesses; CM was considered by all groups to be better for disease prevention and chronic illnesses whereas OM was thought to be more effective in curing acute diseases. Limitations are considered.