Musculoskeletal

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Executive Summary

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Write an executive summary in the form of a blog article on the topic of "Research into Chinese medicine treatment for Musculoskeletal" summarising the research below and using language that can be easily understood by patients and avoiding medical jargon using a professional and caring tone of voice.

Write an executive summary in the form of a blog article on the topic of "Researched Chinese medicine treatments for Musculoskeletal" summarising the research below in an objective and easy to understand way, and using language that can be easily understood by patients. Group the article into Chinese medicine treatments first, followed by nutrition and other treatments. Avoid using medical jargon and use a professional and caring tone of voice.

Write me a concise but easy to understand executive summary on the topic of "Chinese medicine treatments for Musculoskeletal" based on the following research that I will give you. Your summary should be 2 paragraphs long in Australian English spelling and include references to the studies.

A Experimental Study published in 2023 in the journal Journal of Science and Technology - HaUI found that The compound (Z)-5’-Hydroxyjasmone 5’-O-β-D-Glucopyranoside from chrysanthemum flowers demonstrated superior antioxidant and anti-osteoporosis effects. The research involved isolating five compounds from Chrysanthemum indicum L flowers: Syringin, Dihydrosyringin, Benzyl-O-β-D- glucopyranoside, -Phenylethoxy-O--D-glucopyranoside, and (Z)-5’-Hydroxyjasmone 5’-O-β-D-Glucopyranoside. The identification and structure determination of these compounds were performed via the interpretation of their 1D - NMR spectra and comparison to established literature. The collected compounds were then assessed for their antioxidative and anti-osteoporosis activities. During the analysis of results, it was observed that the compound (Z)-5’-Hydroxyjasmone 5’-O-β-D-Glucopyranoside exhibited significantly higher antioxidant activity and anti-osteoporosis effects compared to the others. It showed a strong capacity for peroxyl radical scavenging, surpassing the protection offered by the standard Trolox. Dihydrosyringin also demonstrated a good reducing capacity, as indicated by its CUPRAC values. Furthermore, (Z)-5’-Hydroxyjasmone 5’-O-β-D-Glucopyranoside displayed strong inhibitory effects on osteoclast differentiation, indicating its potential as an anti-osteoporosis agent.

A Systematic Review published in 2023 in the journal Medicine found that Kidney tonic herbs may enhance bone density and reduce fracture risk in patients with primary osteoporosis. This research gathered and analyzed data from 43 randomized controlled trials involving 4349 participants, selected through extensive scrutiny conducted by two researchers. The aim was to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of Kidney tonic herbs in the treatment of primary osteoporosis. A comprehensive search of literature across eight electronic databases was performed up to September 30, 2022. The main focus of these trials was changes in bone mineral density of the lumbar area. The results, obtained through meta-analyses using RevMan 5.3 and Stata 16, indicated that kidney tonic herbs significantly increased bone mineral density in various anatomic sites. Examples of these are the lumbar area, femoral neck, and femoral trochanter. Moreover, the research found a decrease in fracture incidence, with no serious side effects reported. The herbs also showed superior pain relief potential. However, the impact of these herbs on fall incidence needs further exploration.

A Review Article published in 2023 in the journal PharmaNutrition found that Soy protein, bioactive peptides, and isoflavones are generally safe for consumption and may help reduce the risk of several significant health conditions. Methodology: This review followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. It began with a sophisticated multi-database search, featuring resources like Google Scholar, Scopus, and others. This search targeted articles published from 2017 to March 2023 and used specific keywords for accuracy. Forty-three articles were handpicked from this process after excluding reviews, conference reports, duplicates, inaccessible texts, and any non-English publications. Discussion of Results: A thorough examination of the chosen articles resulted in the conclusion that soy proteins, soy bioactive peptides, and soy isoflavones are typically safe for human consumption. Furthermore, it was found that the consumption of these compounds may have beneficial effects, potentially lowering risk factors for ailments such as osteoporosis, various cancers, hypertension, atherosclerosis, and more.

A Review Article published in 2023 in the journal Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology found that Soybean intake can potentially reduce risks of several cancers, type 2 diabetes, osteoporosis, and hot flashes, and it may negatively impact some drug treatments and cause allergies. This research primarily involves review and analysis of current clinical studies focusing on the benefits and risks of soybean ingredients. The method appears to be a systematic review of various epidemiological studies which were investigating the correlation between soybean consumption and the risk of developing multiple types of cancers including breast, prostate, colorectal, ovarian, and lung cancers. Besides cancer, other common diseases such as type 2 diabetes, osteoporosis, and menopausal symptoms like hot flashes were also investigated. Moreover, any potential adverse effects of soybean, including its possible detrimental impact on certain drug treatments and its allergenicity, were also factors of study in these clinical evidences. In the discussion of results, the researchers found a significant inverse association between soybean intake and cancer risks, wherein an increase in the consumption of soybean foods was associated with a reduced likelihood of cancer. Besides showing potential anticancer properties, soybean consumption was found inversely correlated with risks of type 2 diabetes. Soy isoflavones, compounds present in soybeans, also showed potential benefits in the management of osteoporosis and hot flashes. On the other hand, the adverse effects of soybean, including interference with certain drug therapies and causing allergies, were also duly noted. Therefore, the research concludes that while soybean promises several significant health benefits, caution should be exercised for individuals under specific drug treatments or with allergies to soy.

A Systematic Review published in 2023 in the journal Medicine found that Tuina therapy for chronic low back pain indicates potential pain relief and reduced disability but doesn't improve quality of life Tuina's efficacy and safety for chronic non-specific low back pain demonstrates its potential for reducing pain and physical disability but not improving quality of life; adverse events were mild and self-resolving, suggesting Tuina's relative safety.

A Systematic Review published in 2023 in the journal Medicine found that Tuina massage for chronic low back pain reveals promising results amid methodological considerations The study confirms the potential of Tuina in mitigating low back pain-related pain and physical disability, though not significantly impacting quality of life. Reported adverse events, such as localized bruising and pain, were transient and self-resolving, indicating Tuina's relatively safe nature.

A Clinical Study published in 2023 in the journal Antioxidants found that Preclinical studies related to osteoporosis have reported favorable effects of honey on cortical and trabecular bone microstructure, bone strength, and oxidative stress. Honey is able to protect the bone mainly due to antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, primarily through its content of polyphenols, which act on several signaling pathways, resulting in anabolic and antiresorptive effects. From the group of polyphenols, the anti-osteoporotic impact of quercetin, kaempferol, and luteolin was recorded. In addition, vitamin D3 and its hydroxyderivatives with antioxidant properties were also detected in honey. Vitamin D3 supplementation was found to have protective effects on the inhibition of bone loss and BMD in both experimental animals and postmenopausal women.

A Clinical Study published in 2023 in the journal Antioxidants found that Clinical studies related to breast cancer have revealed that honey is effective in increasing blood cell counts, interleukin-3 levels, and quality of life. In relation to breast cancer, in vitro experiments revealed the anti-proliferative and pro-apoptotic impact of honey on breast cancer cells, as well as their increased apoptosis. Animal studies have shown that honey reduces the number, growth rate, volume, and tumor weight. Findings from clinical trials reported its immunomodulatory properties showing that honey is effective in increasing leukocyte and platelet counts, IL-3 levels, and quality of life. In this context, the potential role of honey and its oligosaccharides as prebiotics for specific beneficial bacteria might be examined in future clinical studies.

A Systematic Review published in 2023 in the journal Frontiers in Neuroscience found that Acupuncture's effectiveness for carpal tunnel syndrome uncovers better pain relief compared to night splints and potential benefits when used alongside other treatments Acupuncture was found to be more effective than night splints for pain relief, but no differences were observed in symptom severity and functional status. When used alongside other treatments, acupuncture showed potential in improving various CTS factors. However, the evidence quality was generally low or very low.

A Meta-Analysis published in 2023 in the journal Quality Assurance and Safety of Crops & Foods found that The traditional Chinese herbal medicine Shaoyao Gancao Tang (SG-Tang) may be an effective and safe alternative treatment to relieve Restless Leg Syndrome. The methodology used for this study involved a systematic review and meta-analysis of Randomized Clinical Trials (RCTs) assessing the efficacy and safety of SG-Tang treatment for Restless Leg Syndrome. Databases such as the Cochrane Library, PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, Chinese Biological Medicine Database, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang Database, and VIP Information Database were searched. The primary and secondary outcome measurements looked at were the total effective rate, the International Restless Legs Syndrome Study Group Rating Scale for Severity of Restless Legs Syndrome, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, and the incidence of adverse events. The results of the study indicated that SG-Tang treatment led to significant improvements compared to conventional medications; it increased the total effective rate and lifted scores on the Severity of Restless Legs Syndrome and Sleep Quality Indices, while also lessening the incidence of adverse events. However, these conclusions should be interpreted with caution due to the limited data and the methodological quality of the included studies.

A Practice Guideline published in 2022 in the journal Perspectives on Integrative Medicine found that Acupuncture is safe and may be a cost-effective treatment for shoulder pain. There were 131 statements recommending the use of acupuncture for shoulder pain across 12 subtypes of shoulder pain. The most common statements were for non-specific ‘shoulder pain.’ There were 11 statements against the use of acupuncture for shoulder pain and three subtypes of shoulder pain. The level of evidence in studies of acupuncture treatment for shoulder pain is low, therefore, further research is needed. Recommendations for the use of acupuncture for shoulder pain are increasing but lag behind those for other pain problems such as low back pain.

A Systematic Review published in 2022 in the journal Frontiers in Medicine found that Electroacupuncture may be more effective than manual acupuncture for managing frozen shoulder, with larger effect sizes in terms of pain, function, and response rate. This review included thirteen studies involving 936 patients. The EA group exhibited improvements in FS pain, function, and response rates over the manual acupuncture (MA) group. As an adjunct treatment, EA improved FS pain compared to the control treatments. No adverse effects were reported. EA was found to be an efficacious method for treating FS in this review. The meta-analysis showed that EA led to a greater reduction of FS pain than MA did, although with a very low certainty of evidence. In comparison to MA, EA led to a superior degree of functional improvement in FS patients, with a very low certainty of evidence. In comparison to MA, EA enhanced the response rate of FS, again with a low certainty of evidence. Compared with WM used in isolation, EA plus WM reduced FS pain with a low certainty of evidence.

A Systematic Review published in 2022 in the journal Healthcare found that Acupuncture showed a significant effect in the management of fibromyalgia patients. It reduced pain, depression, and enhanced quality of life. There were 23 included RCTs. The total sample size was 1409 patients. Compared with the sham/placebo group, the network analysis showed the highest improvement in the quality of life in the acupuncture group standardized mean difference, and then in the physiotherapy group. For the pain, there was a significant reduction with acupuncture, compared with sham/placebo. Regarding depression, it showed a significant reduction with acupuncture compared with sham/placebo. Finally, for stiffness, it showed no significant differences in the stiffness between acupuncture, fluoxetine, and physiotherapy compared with sham/placebo.

A Systematic Review published in 2022 in the journal Pharmacological Research - Modern Chinese Medicine found that Guizhi Shaoyao Zhimu Decoction was more effective and had fewer adverse reactions compared to the control group in the treatment of gout and the combined use of modified GSZD with other treatments showed decreased levels of C-reactive protein and erythrocyte sedimentation rate. This meta-analysis of 22 randomized controlled trials showed that Guizhi Shaoyao Zhimu Decoction (GSZD) was more effective and had lower adverse reactions compared to the control group for gout, and the combined use of modified GSZD with other treatments showed significant decreases in C-reactive protein and erythrocyte sedimentation rate levels.

A Systematic Review published in 2022 in the journal Journal of Acupuncture Research found that Electroacupuncture treatment for carpal tunnel syndrome was reported to be effective and showed a significant difference from the control group. Although electroacupuncture treatment for carpal tunnel syndrome was reported to be effective and showed a significant difference from the control group, in some evaluation items no significant differences were observed. The quality and the number of studies included in this review was limiting, therefore an accurate evaluation of the efficacy of electroacupuncture treatment for CTS was not possible.

A published in 2022 in the journal Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology found that Traditional Chinese medicine exhibits fewer side effects while effectively controlling inflammation and serum uric acid in gout patients. In the methodology, the research used herbs as a primary resource, focusing on their phytochemicals. The study examined how these phytochemicals exert anti-inflammatory effects by inactivating the NF-κB and NLRP3 inflammasome, as well as lowering uric acid through the inhibition of xanthine oxidase activity and the up-regulation of URAT1 and GLUT9 expressions. Further, the study explored the relation of changes in intestinal flora and gout, with Chinese herbs acting like prebiotics to modify this flora. In terms of results, the study found an increase in the abundance of certain beneficial bacteria, such as Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus, Bacteroidetes, and Prevotella, and a decrease in Proteus and the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio post traditional Chinese medicine treatment. The alterations in the intestinal flora led to changes in its metabolites, which eventually impacted inflammatory signaling pathways, regulating gene expressions and suppressing xanthine oxidase activity. The study also observed the relation between the disruption of the intestinal barrier and the onset of gout.

A Review Article published in 2022 in the journal Journal of Medicinal Food found that Omega-3 fatty acids can help prevent and manage chronic inflammatory diseases, including ulcerative colitis and rheumatoid arthritis, through influencing gut microbiota. The study primarily encompasses a review of both experimental and clinical studies on the influence of omega-3 fatty acids on chronic inflammatory conditions, with the attention being specifically focused on those diseases with an autoimmune background. The study highlights the role of these fatty acids in maintaining bodily homeostasis, as well as the enzymatic processes they trigger within the body upon ingestion. Natural sources of omega-3 are also explored, emphasizing the importance of maintaining a healthy and balanced diet. In their exploration of omega-3's impact on inflammatory conditions, the researchers revisit the pathogenesis of ulcerative colitis and rheumatoid arthritis under the theoretical approach of gut microbiota dysbiosis. This approach emphasizes the role of the gut in maintaining health and identifies how imbalances can contribute to the development and persistence of these conditions. The researchers propose that omega-3 fatty acids are able to prevent and control these conditions, which are significant contributors to global chronic health burden and can lead to severe complications and disabilities if not treated. The potential of omega-3's to prevent severe illness in cases of COVID-19 infection through immune system modulation and control of the inflammatory process is also briefly explored.

A Review Article published in 2022 in the journal The American Journal of Chinese Medicine found that Acupuncture shows promising results in managing autoimmune diseases by potentially regulating immune responses. The methodology of the study involved a comprehensive review of how acupuncture, a form of traditional Chinese medicine, may be employed as a treatment method for autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, and inflammatory bowel disease. The research was based on existing knowledge and accumulating data, investigating the role of acupuncture in regulating immune responses during these conditions. The discussion of the results revealed that acupuncture showed promise in managing these diseases. It was noted that the positive outcomes observed might be linked to the potential of acupuncture to regulate abnormal immune responses which are characteristic of autoimmune diseases. Despite the fact that the precise mechanism through which this achieved is not fully understood, the findings indicate a promising alternative method of managing autoimmune conditions.

A Systematic Review published in 2022 in the journal Frontiers in Nutrition found that Higher consumption of coffee and specifically decaffeinated coffee raises the risk of rheumatoid arthritis, while caffeinated coffee, tea and caffeine intake doesn't. In the methodology, a dose-response meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies was carried out to evaluate the association between dietary caffeine, and different types of coffee and tea consumption with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Relevant research papers were identified through a database search in PubMed/Medline, Scopus and EMBASE until July 2021. The studies considered different types of coffee, caffeinated or decaffeinated, tea or caffeine exposure with RA as the main or one of the outcomes. Out of 742 publications, five studies were selected for inclusion in the meta-analysis. Pooled relative risks were calculated through a fixed-effects model. Both linear and non-linear dose-response analyses were conducted to inspect dose-response relations. The analysis of results revealed a significant association between the consumption of coffee, especially decaffeinated coffee and increased risk of RA, when comparing between extreme categories of consumption. For each additional cup of coffee consumed daily, there was a notable increase in the risk of RA. However, this study found no significant link between the intake of caffeinated coffee, tea or caffeine intake and the risk of RA.

A Systematic Review published in 2022 in the journal Medical Acupuncture found that Acupuncture may be effective and safe for short-term pain reduction and functional improvement in hand-and-wrist conditions. In the 10 included RCTs (622 participants), 6 had a low risk of bias. For cryotherapy-induced pain, 1 trial showed significant pain reduction post treatment. For rheumatoid arthritis, 1 trial shown significant pain reduction and function improvements post treatment and short-term. For carpal tunnel syndrome, 1 trial showed significant pain reduction and functional improvements intermediate-term, while 3 trials suggested no significant difference. For tenosynovitis, 1 trial showed significant pain reduction and function improvements short-term. For poststroke impairments, 1 trial showed significant function improvements post treatment and at short-term, while another trial suggested no significant difference. No significant improvements were noted for trapezio-metacarpal joint osteoarthritis. In 2 trials, adverse effects occurred in patients with carpal tunnel syndrome; yet acupuncture appeared to be relatively safe.

A Systematic Review published in 2022 in the journal Journal of Pain Research found that Acupuncture is more effective than control treatment in alleviating pain and improving well-being in both the short- and long-term in patients with fibromyalgia. This meta-analysis included 12 studies with 715 participants comparing the effects of real acupuncture with control intervention. The results indicated that acupuncture could effectively relieve pain and improve well-being in patients with FM, with both short - and long-term benefits. However, acupuncture had no effect on fatigue, sleep, physical function, and stiffness compared with control treatment. The subgroup analysis indicated that the real acupuncture group produced more analgesic effects than the control group, with different number of sessions, types of acupuncture, and stimulation. In addition, acupuncture was not associated with serious reactions and had a reliable safety profile.

A Experimental Study published in 2022 in the journal Frontiers in Pharmacology found that PIASCLEDINE-ExpASU®, a type of avocado/soybean unsaponifiable product, displays superior pharmacological activity due to its unique composition, including a high inhibitory effect on pro-inflammatory factors. The study began with the characterisation of the lipid content of seven different avocado/soybean unsaponifiable (ASU) products through gas chromatography analysis performed on a VARIAN 3400 chromatograph. In parallel, the effects of these products were tested on human osteoarthritis chondrocytes (cartilage cells) cultured in alginate beads. The researchers focused on the effects of these ASU products on aggrecan, key interleukins, and matrix metalloproteases. In terms of results, PIASCLEDINE-ExpASU® stood out due to a specific profile involving unique chromatographic peaks and the presence of specific compounds like alkyl furan fraction, alkyl triols, and squalene. Remarkably, this product showed heightened efficacy in inhibiting production of nitric oxide, interleukins, and catabolic factors. Meanwhile, excepting two products, the remaining ASUs showed varied capacity in increasing aggrecan production, a positive factor in the context of osteoarthritis treatment.

A Cohort Study published in 2022 in the journal Clinical Rheumatology found that Increased plasma omega-3 levels, which are associated with genetically higher intake of omega-3, contribute to a higher risk of rheumatoid arthritis among people of European ancestry. Methodology: The researchers have used an extensive set of data from the largest Genome-Wide Association Study (GWAS) which focuses on the correlation between omega-3 fatty acids and rheumatoid arthritis. They used information from a total of 114,999 individuals with European ancestry for the omega-3 study and 14,361 cases along with 43,923 controls of European ancestry for the rheumatoid arthritis study. By employing various methodological tests such as Mendelian randomization-egger_intercept, MR-PRESSO, and Cochran's Q test, they assessed the role of pleiotropy and heterogeneity in the relationship between omega-3 and rheumatoid arthritis. Discussion of Results: Results reveal no significant bias, pleiotropy, or heterogeneity among the omega-3 genetic instrumental variables in rheumatoid arthritis datasets. However, as the Mendelian randomization analysis indicated a causal link, the study provides the inference that with the genetic increase of omega-3 levels, the risk of rheumatoid arthritis also increases, particularly among individuals of European descent. Therefore, it suggests that the reduction in the intake of omega-3 could potentially reduce the risk of rheumatoid arthritis in this population.

A Systematic Review published in 2022 in the journal Journal of Ethnopharmacology found that Adding Du Huo Ji Sheng Decoction on bisphosphonate medications seems to be an effective and safe strategy in treating patients with osteoporosis. Seventeen RCTs (n = 1526) met eligibility criteria, and were included in this synthesis. Pooled estimates demonstrated that as compared with no DHJSD, DHJSD-B led to significantly higher efficacy rates, more lumbar BMD, lower pain score, and lower overall adverse event rates.

A Systematic Review published in 2021 in the journal Journal of Pharmacopuncture found that Acupuncture can be used for carpal tunnel syndrome treatment without serious adverse effects. In the selected papers, several measurement tools measured the post-treatment improvement of patients and, in most cases, a comparison of the acupuncture and control groups showed that acupuncture treatment was significantly more effective than the comparator intervention. Thus, acupuncture treatment was positively evaluated with regard to efficacy for mild-to-moderate carpal tunnel syndrome.

A Systematic Review published in 2021 in the journal Health Promotion Perspectives found that Pomegranate has been confirmed to improve clinical features and reduce inflammatory, oxidative stress, and apoptosis markers in osteoarthritis. In the methodology, a systematic review was conducted using established databases like Scopus, PubMed, Embase, WOS, ProQuest, and Google Scholar up until February 2021. Both MESH and non-MESH keyword searches were performed in the title, abstract, and keywords. The review considered full-text clinical, animal, and in vitro studies in all languages and specifically excluded review articles, book chapters, conference abstracts, and research related to pomegranate in health problems other than osteoarthritis. A manual search was performed to examine the references or citations of eligible papers as well as grey literature to discover potential researches. The results of the systematic review included twenty-three articles which all showed the beneficial impact of pomegranate across human, animal, and in vitro studies. These showed improvements in clinical presentations and reductions in inflammatory, oxidative stress, and apoptosis markers in osteoarthritis. This demonstrated the therapeutic potential of pomegranate for easing the effects of osteoarthritis.

A Systematic Review published in 2021 in the journal Medical Acupuncture found that Acupuncture displays potential as a safe and effective treatment for foot and ankle pain, providing pain relief and functional improvement. The researchers gathered Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs) from 6 major English databases, and relevant systematic reviews manually via Google Scholar. The selected RCTs studied the comparison of acupuncture with various types of sham acupuncture and nonactive or waitlist controls in terms of pain intensity, functional status, and general quality of life. All procedures including study screening, data extraction, risk of bias assessment, and quality assessment were conducted independently. Instead of performing a quantitative synthesis, the team opted for a narrative synthesis as quantitative pooling wasn't fit for the collected data. Four RCTs involving a total of 211 participants were included. Due to distinct clinical heterogeneity involving all the outcomes, the team did not conduct a quantitative analysis. Using a quality grading system, all outcomes were rated as supported by low or very low-quality evidence. Despite this, the study still showed acupuncture is potentially effective for treating participants with plantar fasciitis or Achilles tendinopathy, in terms of pain relief and functional status improvement, over short- and intermediate-term follow-ups. Notably, no adverse events linked to acupuncture use were reported.

A Cohort Study published in 2021 in the journal Journal of Multidisciplinary Healthcare found that Adding Chinese herbal medicines to routine treatment was found to be related to lower fracture risk in rheumatoid arthritis patients. This is the largest population-based cohort study based on Taiwan's national health database designed to determine the association between the use of CHMs and the risk of incident fracture in RA patients. Longer duration of incorporating CHMs into routine treatment for RA patients was found to significantly reduce the risk of fracture by 53%. Results of this study may serve as a reference to help healthcare providers when planning and implementing therapeutic interventions that seek to improve the overall health of patients with RA. Further prospective randomized trials are recommended to clarify whether the association revealed in this study supports a causal link.

A Systematic Review published in 2021 in the journal Complementary Therapies in Medicine found that Turmeric curcuminoids are associated with better pain relief than NSAIDs in knee osteoarthritis. The meta-analysis results showed that curcuminoids were significantly more effective than comparators regarding visual analogue scale (VAS) and Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index (WOMAC) pain scores. However, no significant difference in pain relief or AEs between the high-dose (daily dose ≥1000 mg or total dose ≥42 gm) and low-dose (daily dose <1000 mg or total dose <42 gm) curcuminoid treatments was observed. When comparing curcumininoids versus NSAIDs, a significant difference in VAS pain was found. For AE analysis, three of our included studies used NSAIDs as comparators, with all reporting higher AE rates in the NSAID group, though significance was reached in only one study.

A Systematic Review published in 2021 in the journal Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation found that Acupuncture appears to have positive effects in pain relief and functional recovery after rotator cuff surgery. The research method applied to this study involved a comprehensive search of key terms like 'rotator cuff surgery' and 'acupuncture' across ten databases. The focus was on finding suitable randomized controlled trials to study. Once these trials were identified, they were thoroughly analyzed to assess the therapeutic effects of acupuncture after rotator cuff surgery. The subsequent in-depth analysis of six select randomized controlled trials revealed the positive effect of acupuncture on patients who had undergone rotator cuff surgery. This acupuncture treatment seems beneficial in terms of providing pain relief and aiding in functional recovery of patients post-surgery. Notably, there's mention of a high overall risk of bias in these analyzed trials.

A Clinical Study published in 2021 in the journal Nutrients found that Consuming soymilk-honey fermented with a specific type of probiotic significantly reduces osteocalcin levels, which may impact bone health in postmenopausal women. The researchers conducted a 90-day pre-post quasi-experimental study with control design on 54 postmenopausal women who were divided into three groups. The first group consumed regular soymilk, the second group consumed soymilk-honey fermented with a specific sub species of probiotics, and the third group consumed soymilk-honey fermented with a different type of probiotics. Each participant consumed 100 mL of their respective drink per day for 90 days. Measurements of blood serum osteocalcin were taken at the start and end of the study, alongside assessments of each participant's overall health status, including total cholesterol, blood glucose, and uric acid levels. In terms of results, it was observed that the group consuming the soymilk-honey fermented with the particular probiotic showed a significant decrease in their osteocalcin levels after the 90-day period. This indicates that this specific fermented soymilk-honey beverage might have a positive impact on bone health in postmenopausal women.

A Systematic Review published in 2021 in the journal Complementary Medicine Research found that Soy food intake, particularly fermented soy products, appear to have a protective effect on fracture risk among Asian women, especially in early menopause. The research team carried out a systematic review of prospective cohort studies investigating the link between soy food intake and fracture risk. The databases searched were PubMed, Scopus, and Embase up to June 2021, and the team narrowed down 695 records to include 5 high-quality cohort studies. These selected studies were mostly conducted in China, Singapore and Japan and varied in their focus on different types of fractures. The dietary intake of soy food was assessed across all studies through face-to-face interviews. In the analysis of the results, a promising relationship was found between the consumption of soy foods and a reduced risk of fractures among Asian women, notably for those in the early stages of menopause or those who consumed fermented soy products. In contrast, the association was not significant among men.

A Review Article published in 2021 in the journal Journal of Acupuncture Research found that Acupuncture has been shown to significantly improve pain, disability, and quality of life for patients with shoulder impingement syndrome. The research methodology involved a literature review of randomized controlled trials where acupuncture was used as an intervention for patients diagnosed with shoulder impingement syndrome. Relevant clinical studies were retrieved from several databases based on specific inclusion and exclusion criteria, and the interventions used, and results obtained were diligently analyzed. Six of these studies were chosen for an extensive review based on the stringent parameters defined. The results of these six studies testify to the apparent efficacy of acupuncture as a treatment for shoulder impingement syndrome. Upon analysis, the acupuncture treatment group consistently demonstrated significant positive changes in metrics evaluating pain, disability, and quality of life. There was an observed decrease in evaluative indicators such as Shoulder Pain and Disability Index, Numeric Rating Scale, Visual Analogue Scale, and others, and a considerable increase in the scores of the self-reported questionnaires like UCLA, AL-score, EuroQol 5 Dimension, and more. One study even reported acupuncture's effectiveness to be on par with corticosteroid injections in terms of improvements in pain and quality of life measures. Notably, no major side effects from acupuncture were reported across the studies.

A Systematic Review published in 2021 in the journal Acupuncture & Electro-Therapeutics Research found that Treatment of rheumatoid arthritis using acupuncture with Western medicine was associated with higher efficacy and lower risks than treatment with Western medicine alone. In total, 9 RCTs involving 698 patients were included for analysis. VAS, ESR, CRP, and RF were all shown to favor the combination of acupuncture with Western medicine compared to Western medicine alone. ST36 (Zusanli), EX-UE9 (Baxie), Ll11 (Quchi), GB34 (Yanglingquan), TE14 (Jianliao) and TE4 (Yangchi) were frequently used in 9 clinical trials.

A Review Article published in 2021 in the journal Orthopedic Reviews found that Increasing evidence supports the use of acupuncture as part of multimodal approaches to the treatment of fibromyalgia with additive efficacy to traditional therapy. Given the positive evidence in most studies examining the use of acupuncture as an adjunct to exercise, physical therapy, or pharmacological treatment, and in light of the safety and availability of the treatment, there seems to be increasing evidence supporting the incorporation of acupuncture as part of multi-modality treatment plans for fibromyalgia.

A Randomised Controlled Trial published in 2021 in the journal American Journal of Translational Research found that Massage combined with acupuncture can better improve the range of motion of joints and daily living ability of patients with frozen shoulder complicated with cervical spondylosis. A total of 164 patients with frozen shoulder treated in our hospital from June 2016 to April 2019 were recruited and divided into a control group and an observation group. There were 100 cases in the observation group, all of whom were treated with massage combined with acupuncture. Another 64 cases were enrolled in the control group, all of whom were treated with acupuncture alone. The recovery of myodynamia, rating scale of the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES), score of American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA), ROM score, vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM-1) and intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1), complication rate, total effective rate, and patient satisfaction were assessed. After treatment, patients in the observation group had better recovery of myodynamia than the control group. They also had lower VAS scores, higher life function score and total ASES scores, higher ASIA scores, higher ROM scores, lower VCAM-1 and ICAM-1 expression, lower complication rate, higher total effective rate, and higher patient satisfaction.

A Randomised Controlled Trial published in 2021 in the journal Journal of Complementary and Integrative Medicine found that Avocado/soy unsaponifiables effectively treat osteoarthritis by controlling the balance between oxidant and antioxidant molecular markers. The methodology used in this study was a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, cross-over trial. Forty osteoarthritis patients were classified into two groups: one received avocado/soy unsaponifiables (ASU) for three months followed by three months of placebo, and the other group received a placebo first for three months followed by three months of ASU. The patients' oxidant status was evaluated by measuring their serum malonldialdehyde (MDA). Other measures such as total antioxidant capacity, reduced glutathione, and antioxidant enzymes like superoxide dismutase and catalase were also assessed. After three months of treatment, all patients who were given avocado/soy unsaponifiables exhibited a significant decrease in their serum MDA levels, indicating lower oxidative stress. In comparison, these levels were higher at baseline and after placebo treatment. Furthermore, the treatment with avocado/soy unsaponifiables resulted in positive changes in the patients' antioxidant levels. Analysis also showed that the effect of avocado/soy unsaponifiables was consistent, regardless of the sequence in which the medication was received. These findings demonstrate that avocado/soy unsaponifiables can contribute effectively to the treatment of osteoarthritis by regulating the balance between oxidant and antioxidant molecular markers.

A Systematic Review published in 2021 in the journal International Journal of Molecular Sciences found that Isoflavones found in soybeans can reduce risks of certain cancers and alleviate menopause-related symptoms among women, such as vasomotor syndromes, spinal bone loss, and hypertension. The study overviewed soybeans' chemical composition and focused mainly on isoflavones. The research examined the processes of soybean preparation that includes cleaning, drying, crushing, and dehulling, and extraction methods to derive various soy products, particularly focusing on isoflavones - daidzein, genistein, and S-equol. Various soy products such as refined soy oil, soy lecithin, free fatty acids, glycerol, and soybean meal were discussed, along with the presence of the minor biological constituents in remaining components. The study explored the relationship between isoflavone consumption and disease prevention, particularly in relation to heart disease, cancer incidence—of the breast, bladder, and endometrial and colorectal—and menopause-related symptoms. The therapeutic effects of isoflavones were studied in the context of vasomotor syndromes, spinal bone loss, hypertension regulation, depressive symptoms during pregnancy, and in vitro glycemic control. In contrast, it failed to find definitive effects of isoflavones on cognition improvement and urogenital symptoms. The inconsistencies in defining the ingredients, doses, study durations, and outcomes of isoflavone studies proved challenging for the research.

A Review Article published in 2021 in the journal Journal of Acupuncture Research found that Acupuncture, in its various forms, shows significant potential in alleviating pain and improving shoulder function in patients with rotator cuff disorders. The participating researchers examined a multitude of sources, involving 12 electronic databases and 3 trial registries until November 2019, poring over any applicable randomized trial regardless of its language or date of publication. The research primarily focused on pain symptoms, the functionality of the shoulder, and the ratio of participants showing improvement within 12 weeks since the initiation of the trial. They adopted the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation approach to assess the certainty of evidence, while the included studies' bias risks were evaluated using the Cochrane risk of bias tool. Various types of acupuncture were evaluated, including manual acupuncture, dry needling, electroacupuncture, acupotomy, warm needle acupuncture and fire needle acupuncture, extracted from a total of 28 randomized trials involving 2,216 participants. The results gleaned from these trials suggest that acupuncture could indeed have a significant impact on the relief of pain and the enhancement of shoulder function for patients suffering from rotator cuff diseases. However, discrepancies between the trials resulted in considerable heterogeneity. Despite this, no significant harm was observed amongst the patients. However, due to the level of uncertainty associated with the data and the partialness of the reports, the safety of acupuncture is still up for debate.

A Systematic Review published in 2021 in the journal Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine found that Moderate-quality evidence revealed an association between acupressure and greater pain relief compared with physical therapy. The systematic review and meta-analysis included 23 RCTs with 2400 participants with low back pain. Consistent with previous systematic reviews, moderate-quality evidence revealed an association between acupressure and greater pain relief compared with physical therapy. Although rated as very-low to low, poor quality evidence suggested that acupressure, with or without combinative acupuncture therapy, contributed to a greater amelioration of pain and functional disability from low back pain compared with usual care, tuina massage, or acupuncture. Trial sequential analysis results revealed that adequate studies supported the significance of the clinical response rate of acupressure, with or without combinative acupuncture therapy, compared to other treatments.

A published in 2021 in the journal Frontiers in Medicine found that Adding acupuncture to conventional therapy may decrease the subsequent endometriosis risk in female rheumatoid arthritis patients. Between 1998 and 2010, female subjects with RA were recruited from a nationwide database (5,736 patients; age ≥20 years). Enrolled patients included 2,407 acupuncture users and 2,407 nonusers randomly selected using propensity scores. The occurrence of endometriosis was recorded through the end of 2012. Cox proportional hazards regression was used to estimate the adjusted hazard ratio (HR) associated with acupuncture use. Results: During the follow-up period, 35 acupuncture users and 94 non-users developed endometriosis, with incidence rates of 2.36 and 4.91 per 1,000 person-years, respectively. Acupuncture use was associated with a 55% lower endometriosis risk. Those who received high intensity acupuncture (≥15 packages) had the greatest benefit. The results of multivariable analysis demonstrated that the use of acupuncture was related to a significantly reduced risk of endometriosis. In the subgroup analysis, the medium- to high-level intensity acupuncture use was found to possibly lessen the risk of having endometriosis for more than 70%. We discovered that the post-rheumatoid arthritis acupuncture use would significantly reduce the risk of endometriosis in a dose-dependent manner.

A Review Article published in 2020 in the journal Frontiers in Neurology found that Acupuncture may be a clinically effective and safe treatment for Parkinson's disease. In this study, a thorough search was done in eight different databases to find systematic reviews and meta-analyses that investigated the potential benefits of acupuncture for treating Parkinson's disease. The methodological quality of these collected reviews was assessed using the Assessing the Methodological Quality of Systematic Reviews 2 checklist, and the quality of the evidence provided by the reviews was evaluated with the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation criteria. Of the 11 reviews analysed, all were regarded as very low-quality studies on the Assessing the Methodological Quality of Systematic Reviews 2 checklist. However, despite the limited quality, these reviews provide a narrative analysis that suggests acupuncture may offer a safe and effective treatment for Parkinson's disease. The Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation scale categorized the evidence quality as very low to moderate. Despite the overall low evidence and methodological quality, it is highlighted that acupuncture may still hold potential as a treatment option for Parkinson's disease. It's also noted that the results should be interpreted with caution due to the low quality of the studies included.

A Review Article published in 2020 in the journal Nutrients found that Isoflavones, mainly found in soy-derived products, show beneficial effects on bone health, potential cancer risk reduction, and alleviation of menopausal symptoms, but not on cardiovascular risk. The study examined the potential uses of isoflavones, phenolic compounds mostly found in soy-derived foods and several vegetables. Isoflavones are seen as potential alternative therapies for hormone-dependent disorders due to their near-identical chemical structure to estradiol. These disorders include certain cancers, cardiovascular diseases, and menopausal symptoms. The investigation involved reviewing existing scientific evidence to evaluate the potential effects of isoflavones on these diseases and health concerns. In assessing the results, the review found evidence suggesting that isoflavones could have a beneficial effect on postmenopausal women's bone health, contributing to osteoporosis prevention and treatment. However, observed study results were not entirely conclusive due to discrepancies among study designs. Contrarily, there appeared to be no significant protective effect against cardiovascular risk with soy isoflavones. In terms of cancer, preliminary observations suggested that isoflavones may reduce some types of cancer risks, such as breast and endometrial cancer. Lastly, isoflavones showed a potential role in reducing hot flushes associated with menopause. Concerning safety, most common adverse effects were mild and observed at the gastrointestinal level.

A Randomised Controlled Trial published in 2020 in the journal Nutrients found that DKB114, a mixture of Linn flower extract, effectively reduces serum uric acid level, suggesting its potential as a dietary supplement for hyperuricemia treatment. The research employed a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial conducted across a span of 12 weeks. A total of 80 asymptomatic hyperuricemic subjects (serum uric acid level between 7.0-9.0 mg/dL) were selected and equally split into two groups. One group was administered DKB114, the investigational mixture of extracts, while the other group received a placebo. After six weeks of administration, the levels of serum uric acid were evaluated, revealing no significant difference between the two groups. By the end of the 12th week, however, subjects in the DKB114 group exhibited a noticeably larger decrease in their serum uric acid levels when compared to the placebo group. Additionally, various other health indicators including C-reactive protein and apoprotein B levels showed significant trends favoring DKB114. Further evaluations during the trial included clinical pathological tests, weight measurements and vital signs, and electrocardiogram tests which confirmed the safety of DKB114. No significant harmful effects or differences were detected in comparison to the placebo group. This concludes the positive impact and safe use of DKB114 for patients with elevated serum uric acid levels.

A Network Pharmacology published in 2020 in the journal Computers in Biology and Medicine found that Ba Ji Tian may prevent osteoporosis through the ovarian steroidogenesis signaling pathway. The anti-osteoporosis targets of Ba Ji Tian mainly play a role in the response to steroid hormones. A total of 17 active compounds and 93 anti-osteoporosis targets of M. officinalis were selected for analysis. The GO enrichment analysis results indicated that the anti-osteoporosis targets of M. officinalis mainly play a role in the response to steroid hormone. The KEGG pathway enrichment analysis showed that M. officinalis prevents osteoporosis through the ovarian steroidogenesis signaling pathway. Moreover, the molecular docking results indicated that bioactive compounds (morindon, ohioensin A, and physcion) demonstrated a good binding ability with IGF1R, INSR, ESR1, and MMP9.

A Experimental Study published in 2020 in the journal Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine found that Chrysanthemum coronarium L. extract can both stimulate bone building cells and inhibit bone breaking cells, so has potential as a natural treatment for osteoporosis. The study examined the effects of Chrysanthemum coronarium L. extracts on in vitro cell cultures and animal models with bone loss. This was done by observing the increase and decrease of bone formation markers in different cell lines, specifically the murine preosteoblastic cell line MC3T3-E1, and the murine macrophage-like cell line RAW264.7 respectively. The results showed that the extract stimulated the differentiation of osteoblasts, cells responsible for bone formation, and inhibited osteoclast differentiation, cells that break down bone. In osteoporotic animal models, the extract prevented bone loss, preserved the structure of the small bones and improved serum bone turnover markers. This implies that the extract has promising potential as a natural therapy for osteoporotic bone loss.

A Review Article published in 2020 in the journal Antioxidants found that Catechins in green tea potentially counteract osteoporosis by negatively affecting bone loss processes and enhancing bone formation processes. The research paper explores the role of catechins, a key compound found in green tea, in combating osteoporosis. In an endeavour to understand the cellular processes, the research focuses on the two critical processes involved in the onset of osteoporosis: osteoblastogenesis, the process of bone formation, and osteoclastogenesis, the process of bone resorption. Specifically, the research emphasizes that inflammation and high reactive oxygen levels enhance osteoclastogenesis while concurrently reducing osteoblastogenesis. Green tea catechins, which have strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, are assumed to rebalance these two processes. The discussions revolve around the potential of green tea catechins to curb osteoclastogenesis by increasing the rate of osteoclast apoptosis, hampering osteoclastogenesis, and impeding bone resorption in a controlled environment. This is achieved directly through interactions with pre-osteoclasts/osteoclasts or indirectly through regulation of pre-osteoclasts via mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) or stromal cells. Furthermore, catechins are credited with boosting osteoblastogenesis by enhancing the osteogenic differentiation of MSCs and improving osteoblastic survival, proliferation, differentiation, and mineralization. The paper verifies the positive in-vitro effects of catechins on osteogenesis through various animal models and human observational studies.

A Review Article published in 2020 in the journal Antioxidants found that Green tea catechins potentially contribute to maintaining joint and skeletal muscle health, mitigating symptoms of osteoarthritis and sarcopenia. The research begins by providing an understanding of osteoarthritis, a degenerative inflammatory disorder of articular cartilage, and sarcopenia, a condition characterized by loss of muscle mass and strength. It explores their prevalence, causes such as excessive inflammation and oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, and diminished autophagy. It then delves into the role of green tea catechins in joint health, including their influence on inflammatory signaling agents, anabolic mediators, and miRNAs expression. This leads to a decrease in chondrocyte death and collagen degradation, thereby offering cartilage protection. The investigation also examines the effects of green tea catechins on skeletal muscle health. It highlights their role in maintaining an equilibrium between protein synthesis and degradation, and enhancing the synthesis of mitochondrial energy metabolism. The review thus suggests a positive impact of green tea catechins on joint and muscle health, helping to maintain favorable muscle homeostasis and reduce muscle atrophy associated with aging. It ends by pointing out the limitations of the current study and proposing future research directions.

A Systematic Review published in 2020 in the journal Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine found that Acupuncture could significantly relieve pain and increase cure rate for acute ankle sprain, even producing improved results when combined with other therapies. The researchers executed parallel-group randomized controlled trials without any language or publication date restraints. Participants suffering from acute ankle sprains were included irrespective of their demographic details, or the diagnostic criteria used to confirm their condition. Experimental interventions consisted of acupuncture alone or a combination of acupuncture and traditional therapies, while the control interventions were either no treatment, placebo, or traditional therapies only. The Kofoed ankle score was the main outcome, with secondary outcomes covering a range of parameters from pain scale to cure rate. Several databases were searched to find potentially eligible studies up to the date of September 10, 2020, with trial registry platforms and the reference lists of the eligible studies also being verified for any ongoing or unpublished studies. The study analysed seventeen eligible studies to study the effect of acupuncture on acute ankle sprains. No significant difference was found between the Kofoed ankle scores of the acupuncture and Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation (RICE) groups. However, acupuncture did show a significant impact on pain relief and an increased cure rate compared to the RICE group. The combination of acupuncture and RICE also resulted in a significant increase in pain relief and cure rate compared to just the RICE method. Acupuncture, when combined with massage, brought about a significant reduction in pain compared to just massage, while the combination with traditional Chinese medicine outperformed Chinese medicine alone in pain relief, duration of pain, and cure rate. There were almost no adverse reactions reported, with one mild drug-related allergic reaction which healed without any treatment.

A Review Article published in 2020 in the journal Nutrients found that Beverages, through their diverse nutritional contents, have notable effects on rheumatoid arthritis progression by interacting with immune signaling pathways and altering the microbiome. The researchers reviewed existing literature to assess the role of various beverages in the context of rheumatoid arthritis. The primary focus of their study was understanding how the molecular contents of beverages such as coffee, tea, and wine, are contributing to the development and progression of the disease by interfering with immune signaling pathways. Moreover, they examined how these beverages affect the microbiome, leading to downstream effects on inflammatory pathways. The outcomes of the analysis indicate that beverages indeed play a pivotal role in the autoimmunity of rheumatoid arthritis. They found evidence that certain components present in beverages could either benefit the disease progression or negatively contribute to it. The researchers also discovered that considering beverages in the wider context of dietary patterns can help to better understand their role in disease management.

A Systematic Review published in 2020 in the journal Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine found that Acupuncture could be safe and effective for pain reduction, restoring shoulder function, and restoring flexion range of motion for frozen shoulder patients in the short term and midterm. In this systematic review and a meta-analysis, acupuncture had shown to be a safe treatment with a significant effect in regard to reducing pain, improving shoulder function, and flexion ROM in the short term and midterm. However, due to the small number of included studies and methodological limitations in these studies, more large-scale high-quality RCTs are warranted in order to give a robust conclusion. Future studies should compare acupuncture to other treatments and sham acupuncture. Additionally, longer follow-up time is needed for investigating the effect of acupuncture in the mid- and long term, and the duration of future FS studies follow-up should be increased to one year.

A Systematic Review published in 2020 in the journal Current Rheumatology Reports found that The majority of studies concluded the superiority of short-term analgesic effects over various controls and suggested that acupuncture may be efficacious for chronic musculoskeletal pain. We examined 16 review articles and 11 randomized controlled trials published in the last 5 years on the clinical efficacy of acupuncture in adults with CMP conditions. The available evidence suggests that acupuncture does have short-term pain relief benefits for patients with symptomatic knee osteoarthritis and chronic low back pain and is a safe and reasonable referral option. Acupuncture may also have a beneficial role for fibromyalgia. However, the available evidence does not support the use of acupuncture for treating hip osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.

A Systematic Review published in 2020 in the journal Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine found that Du Huo Ji Sheng Decoction monotherapy or combined with antiosteoporosis drugs may have beneficial effects for postmenopausal osteoporosis. Eight studies were enrolled with 650 participants. DHJSD alone or with other interventions had a significant effect on bone mineral density of the lumbar spine, E2, and clinical effectiveness. However, no effect at bone Gla protein was seen.

A Review Article published in 2020 in the journal Longhua Chinese Medicine found that Green tea and its compounds, especially catechins, may potentially prevent and treat osteoarthritis due to their potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. The researchers performed an extensive review exploring the potential impact of green tea and its bioactive compounds, chiefly catechins, on osteoarthritis management. Their focus was on the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant abilities of these compounds. Based on the review, such compounds can quell inflammation by blocking various signaling pathways interconnected with inflammatory processes. Specifically, they have the potential to suppress the expression of several cytokines and enzymes related to inflammation. In addition, green tea was noted for its property to neutralize free radicals, thus averting the formation of harmful reactive oxygen species and countering oxidative stress. While many conventional, non-surgical osteoarthritis therapies can lead to numerous adverse effects, the current review suggests that green tea could serve as a safer alternative. It may be a promising direction in the prevention and management of this chronic, painful, and inflammatory condition, which touches a significant number of people globally.

A Systematic Review published in 2020 in the journal Neuropediatrics found that Acupuncture and electroacupuncture are a therapeutic option for mild to moderate carpal tunnel syndrome with a medium level of scientific evidence, tending towards a high level, and with a medium level of recommendation. The search retrieved 698 articles in total. After applying the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 21 articles were included. The level of evidence of all the articles was medium-high. The level of recommendation was medium, and the risk of bias was neutral, with a tendency towards low bias. The articles included revealed symptomatic and neurophysiological improvements, both peripheral as well as central, due to the cerebral response that occurs associated with the function of the median nerve.

A Review Article published in 2020 in the journal Phytotherapy Research found that Ginger, through various methods, exhibits promising pain reduction effects for conditions such as dysmenorrhea, muscle soreness, osteoarthritis, low back pain, and migraines. The review incorporates a vast range of randomized controlled trials conducted over the past decade, where ginger was mainly used for pain relief in distinct conditions. The conditions included dysmenorrhea, delayed onset muscle soreness, osteoarthritis, chronic low back pain, and migraines. The variety of methods used included oral administration, topical application, and aromatic oil massages. In the analysed trials, for dysmenorrhea and muscle soreness, the considered studies suggested a promising effect after both oral and topical administration of ginger. As for osteoarthritis, most trials demonstrated pain reduction following topical and oral use of ginger, one focused on the beneficial effects of ginger in relieving migraine pain. Last but not least, a trial involving massages with aromatic ginger oil highlighted its potential in reducing chronic low back pain.

A Cohort Study published in 2020 in the journal The Journals of Gerontology: Series A found that Certain oxylipins, which are bioactive lipids derived from omega-6 and omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, are potential key influencers in arthritis in older adults. The research method involved an observational prospective study of 64 patients over the age of 60 with newly diagnosed arthritis, which was categorized as Elderly-onset rheumatoid arthritis and polymyalgia rheumatica. Patients' blood samples were taken at the start of the study and 3 months post-treatment, with results compared to 18 control samples. A thorough clinical examination was conducted for each patient. Serum oxylipins (bioactive lipids derived from omega-6 and omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids) were determined through mass spectrometry, and data analysis was performed. In the discussion, it was found that the levels of certain oxylipin species were significantly different between control subjects and arthritis patients. Interestingly, the ratio of omega-3 to omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids was significantly downregulated in elderly-onset rheumatoid arthritis patients compared to controls. Two oxylipins, namely hydroxydocosahexaenoic acid and dihydroxy-eicosatrienoic acid, were identified as top candidates for differentiating polymyalgia rheumatica from elderly-onset rheumatoid arthritis. Following treatment, the levels of omega-3 derived anti-inflammatory species increased in elderly-onset rheumatoid arthritis patients.

A Systematic Review published in 2020 in the journal Pain Research and Management found that Acupuncture appears to be superior to drug or blocking therapy or sham acupuncture therapy for lateral epicondylitis. In conclusion, despite the limitations of the methodology, the results of this meta-analysis indicated that acupuncture therapy might be more effective than drugs and blocking therapy in improving the clinical efficacy rate and decreasing the VAS score. Well-designed RCTs with larger sample sizes and long-term follow-up on these topics are still needed to supply reliable evidence on the efficacy of acupuncture for treating lateral epicondylitis.

A Systematic Review published in 2020 in the journal Complementary Therapies in Medicine found that Acupuncture appears to be an effective and safe method to alleviate persistent myofascial head and neck pain. To investigate the impact of acupuncture on persistent myofascial head and neck pain, only randomized controlled clinical trials were considered. These studies were hunted in a variety of databases, including PubMed, Ovid Medline, Embase, Google Scholar, and the Cochrane Library, in addition to a manual search. The main metric used for outcome measurement was the comparison of the mean pain intensity score on the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) between the acupuncture and sham-needling/no intervention groups. Additionally, safety data and adherence rate were looked into. The key findings from the gathered randomized controlled clinical trials showed a decrease in the Visual Analogue Scale pain intensity scores in the acupuncture group when compared with the sham-needling/no intervention group. Only four trials were included in the concluding meta-analysis, which showed a substantial difference in pain intensity between the acupuncture and sham-needling/no intervention groups. Overall, the results demonstrated promising safety levels, evidenced by low side effects/withdrawal rates. However, the studies were inconsistent in the way they reported outcomes.

A Randomised Controlled Trial published in 2020 in the journal Journal of General Internal Medicine found that Both individual and group acupuncture therapy delivered in primary care settings reduced chronic pain and improved physical function at 12 weeks. Our results demonstrate that individual and group acupuncture can be offered safely in the community health center setting, that acceptability to patients and clinicians is very high, and that a substantial proportion of patients with chronic pain will have clinically significant improvement in both pain and overall physical health. Based on these results, acupuncture therapy should be offered as part of pain care to underserved populations in the primary care setting. Non-inferiority of group treatment was not demonstrated, suggesting that further research is needed on the optimal strategy for delivering group acupuncture in this context to consider it as effective as individual treatment.

A Review Article published in 2020 in the journal Nutrients found that Omega 3 fatty acids can counter muscle lipotoxicity and prevent comorbidities in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, supporting muscle health and reducing cardiometabolic disease risk. The research explores the connection between Rheumatoid arthritis, a chronic inflammatory disease, and a set of comorbidities such as cardiovascular disorders, insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome, and sarcopenia, hypothesizing that these could possibly be associated with alterations in lipid metabolism. Patients with rheumatoid arthritis are observed to have lower cholesterol levels paradoxically coupled with an increased risk of cardiovascular disorders. The study also discusses the accumulation of toxic lipid mediators in skeletal muscles which can lead to mitochondrial dysfunctions and insulin resistance, both key factors of cardiovascular disorders and sarcopenia. Through multiple research studies, it was observed that Omega 3 fatty acids could potentially inhibit the development of rheumatoid arthritis and improve muscle metabolism, consequently reducing muscle atrophy in patients with obesity and insulin resistance. Thus, dietary supplementation with Omega 3 fatty acids was suggested as a promising strategy to limit the lipotoxicity in muscles and prevent associated health risks in patients dealing with rheumatoid arthritis.

A Review Article published in 2020 in the journal Biomolecules found that Avocado and soybean unsaponifiables may effectively reduce inflammation and symptoms related to osteoarthritis, autoimmune diseases, and menopause. The research involves summarizing various studies on the biological effects of the avocado-soybean unsaponifiables (ASU), highlighting its potent anti-inflammatory properties. The extracted ASU are a combination of elements derived from the fruits and seeds of avocados and soybeans. To understand its impact, the researchers categorized the applications of ASU in treating different conditions such as osteoarthritic pain, hip and knee osteoarthritis, autoimmune diseases, and menopause-related symptoms amongst postmenopausal women. The discussion revealed significant links between avocado and soybean unsaponifiables and symptom improvement in areas of osteoarthritic pain, autoimmune conditions, and postmenopause. Particularly notable is the ASU mixture's potential role as an adjunct treatment, meaning it’s meant to supplement primary treatments for such conditions. Its benefits were not only limited to physical reduction of inflammation and associated pain, but also improved mood and quality of life for postmenopausal women by significantly reducing menopause-related symptoms. The study also delves into the safety, toxicological considerations, and regulatory practices related to the use of ASU.

A Systematic Review published in 2019 in the journal Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine found that Gout patients regularly ingesting cherry extract/juice reported fewer gout flare ups than those patients who did not supplement their diets with cherry products. The six studies included in this systematic review reported decreases in the incidence and severity of gout following the ingestion of cherries. Gout patients regularly ingesting cherry extract/juice reported fewer gout flare ups than those patients who did not supplement their diets with cherry products. Overall, we observed a positive correlation between the consumption of tart cherry juice and a decrease in serum uric acid concentration.

A Systematic Review published in 2019 in the journal Clinical Rehabilitation found that For both symptom relief and function improvement, manual acupuncture is superior to ibuprofen for carpal tunnel syndrome. Result of this systematic review has shown that acupuncture and related therapies appear to be effective in improving symptoms, function and pain in carpal tunnel syndrome. However, validity of such conclusion is limited as majority of the included trials are at high risk of bias from lack of blinding. Associated adverse events were minimal.

A Review Article published in 2019 in the journal Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine found that Honey can protect the bone via its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, primarily through its polyphenol content that acts upon several signalling pathways, leading to bone anabolic and antiresorptive effects. This review aims to summarize the current evidence on the effects of honey on bone health. The evidence reported so far indicates a skeletal-beneficial effect of honey in animal models of osteoporosis. However, the number of studies on humans is limited. The literature shows that honey has promising skeletal-beneficial effects in preventing osteoporosis. Many types of honey have been shown to prevent bone loss in various animal models via its high antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Nevertheless, the efficacy of honey seems to be dose-dependent, whereby very high or low dosage will not produce desirable results on the skeleton.

A Systematic Review published in 2019 in the journal Timisoara Physical Education and Rehabilitation Journal found that The results of manual, traditional and non-invasive therapies are similar to those of surgical treatments, and even better in a very large number of cases. In the current context of medicine and therapy, statistics indicate a tendency to approach the carpal tunnel syndrome by surgical treatment, to the detriment of approaching the pathology through a non-invasive technique. The relevant specialized articles selected for this study, and published in the past 10 years, prove that alternative medicine, physical therapy, electrotherapy, and the natural evolution of untreated patients or of patients exposed to the placebo effect, may significantly improve the symptoms of the carpal tunnel syndrome.

A Systematic Review published in 2019 in the journal International Journal of Rheumatic Diseases found that Avocado-soybean unsaponifiables treatment is effective in reducing knee osteoarthritis symptoms without increasing adverse events, contrary to those with hip osteoarthritis. To assess avocado-soybean unsaponifiables (ASU) effectiveness and safety, a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials involving patients with hip or knee osteoarthritis was conducted. Various scientific databases, including Medline, SCOPUS, Web of Science, and Google Scholar, were thoroughly searched for suitable trials. Selection criteria consisted of randomized placebo-controlled trials wherein the effect of orally administered ASU on knee or hip osteoarthritis symptoms were evaluated, primarily using the Lequesne index, visual analog scale, and joint space width. The meta-analysis revealed a significant reduction in pain as assessed by the visual analog scale for those under Avocado-soybean unsaponifiables therapy, particularly for patients with knee osteoarthritis, indicated by a decrease in both the visual analogue scale and Lequesne index. However, no such significant effect was found for patients with hip osteoarthritis. In terms of safety, there were no significant differences in adverse events between patients receiving ASU and those given a placebo, confirming ASU's relative safety as a treatment option.

A Systematic Review published in 2019 in the journal Brazilian Journal of Pain found that Gua-sha has proved to be a relevant alternative for painful conditions involving the spine and the surroundings. Gua sha is a simple, inexpensive alternative with short-term effects for the treatment of conditions involving the spine and surrounding areas, such as a single intervention or in combination. The analyzed studies, for the most part, showed superior results with Gua-sha compared to the counter-intervention group (control).

A Animal Study published in 2019 in the journal Journal of Food Biochemistry found that Pomegranate rind extract has been found to decrease pain and inflammation, suggesting it could contribute to treating rheumatoid arthritis. The researchers tested the effects of various doses of pomegranate rind extract on Wistar rats within established models of pain and inflammation, such as eddy's hot plate-induced algesia, carrageenan, and Complete Freund's adjuvant-induced models. Indomethacin was also evaluated for comparison. Researchers used bioactive compounds such as phenolics and flavanoids, both of which are known for their potent antioxidant activity. The results observed showed that a dose of 200 mg/kg of pomegranate led to a clear reduction in paw swelling in the rats in both inflammation models. The data further revealed an increase in pain threshold. Through these results, it was determined that pomegranate extract acts to reduce pain and inflammation by inhibiting the activation of a number of inflammatory markers. Furthermore, this study presents the first report on the inhibitory mechanism of these markers by pomegranate rind extract, which is enriched with tannins and flavanoids.

A Randomised Controlled Trial published in 2019 in the journal International Journal of Basic & Clinical Pharmacology found that Avocado oil supplement combined with exercise improves joint function in osteoarthritis over traditional treatments like NSAIDS and multivitamins with exercise. In this study, 90 osteoarthritis patients were randomly sorted into three groups for different treatments: one group took multivitamins associated with exercise, the second group took NSAIDS, and the third, avocado oil combined with strengthening exercises. The pain and knee functionality of each participant were measured using the Visual Analogue Scale and Oxford Knee score respectively. Throughout the three-month treatment course, the group that used avocado oil alongside exercises outperformed the others. They had the highest Oxford Knee scores, indicating better knee functionality, and also had higher average Pain Threshold scores from the Visual Analogue Scale. Hence, this study postulates that avocado oil, coupled with muscle exercises, offers a more effective solution for managing osteoarthritis over NSAIDS and multivitamins.

A Systematic Review published in 2019 in the journal Frontiers in Neurology found that Acupuncture therapy seems effective for motor function, pain relief and activities of daily living in stroke patients with mild Shoulder-Hand Syndrome, when it is used in combination with rehabilitation. This systematic review shows that adding acupuncture to routine rehabilitation can improve clinical outcomes (pain and motor function) for people with mild post-stroke SHS. However, the evidence was assessed as “low” by GRADE due to the methodological limitations and heterogeneity of included studies, which made our certainty in recommending acupuncture for this condition in clinical practice as “low.” Well-designed placebo-controlled RCTs with a long treatment duration and follow up, as well as standardized reporting, are needed to support acupuncture's safe and effective use in the management of post-stroke SHS.

A Experimental Study published in 2019 in the journal Phytotherapy Research found that Extract of pumpkin seeds displays estrogenic properties, potentially offering a solution to alleviate symptoms of menopausal syndromes resulting from estrogen deficiency. In the study, scientists conduct in vitro analysis using a colorimetric-based assay on kidney cells derived from Chinese hamsters. Furthermore, they perform in vivo experiments involving 7-week old female rats that were specially prepared to model menopausal conditions. These rats are split into differing groups, each receiving a different dosage of pumpkin seed extract. Other observable parameters include uterine weight, condition of mammary glands, serum lipid levels, and bone density measured after a period of 30 days. The researchers also utilize a computer-based technique called molecular docking to investigate how certain active compounds in the pumpkin seed extract respond to estrogen receptors. Separately, this study indicates the pumpkin seed extract's positive impact on uterine weight and mammary gland health in rats, demonstrating properties similar to the hormone 17β-estradiol. Additionally, consumption of the extract led to improved lipid profile - with increased levels of good cholesterol and decreased bad cholesterol- and improved bone density. The study suggests that these beneficial results align with the growth of bone-building cells and decrease in bone-resorbing cells. The digital validation confirms the strength of interactions between active compounds found in the extract and the estrogen receptors.

A Theoretical Article published in 2019 in the journal Applied Ecology and Environmental Research found that Chrysanthemum, a plant primarily grown in China and Japan, offers significant health benefits including stress reduction, cardiovascular improvement, and lowering osteoporosis risk. The study focused on Chrysanthemum, a notable plant in the ornamental industry and traditional Chinese medicine, mainly grown in China and Japan. The researchers identified its crucial chemical extracts such as flavonoids, betaine, choline, and vitamin B1. They additionally pinpointed thirteen significant compounds of chrysanthemum flowers, including acacetin-7-0-beta- D-glucopyranoside, luteolin, acaciin, and boscialin, among others. The findings revealed that chrysanthemum tea exhibits considerable health advantages. It eases stress and anxiety, enhances cardiovascular health, protects against oxidative damage, inhibits inflammation, supports healthy immune function, ameliorates eye health, and decreases the risk for osteoporosis. In traditional Chinese medicine, chrysanthemum is considered a cold herb that dispels pathogenic heat, aids the liver, improves eyesight, and promotes detoxification. The study, therefore, endorsed the treatment with natural Chinese herbal medicine, especially chrysanthemum, over synthetic drugs for a more organic life.

A Systematic Review published in 2018 in the journal Revista Latino-Americana de Enfermagem found that Cupping therapy has demonstrated notable effects in reducing chronic back pain in adults. The systematic review and meta-analysis involved two independent researchers who examined national and international databases. They also explored the reference lists of additional systematic reviews. The quality of the studies was evaluated using the Jadad scale, a globally recognized tool assessing the methodological quality of clinical trials. Extracting 16 studies for qualitative review and 10 for quantitative analysis, the research found positive impacts of cupping therapy on chronic back pain in adults. It was noted that there isn't a standardized protocol for treatment with this therapy. The study mainly evaluated outcomes based on factors such as pain intensity, physical incapacity, the quality of life, and the nociceptive threshold before the application of mechanical stimulus. A noteworthy reduction in pain intensity was seen through the use of cupping therapy.

A Experimental Study published in 2018 in the journal Journal of Molecular Endocrinology found that Higher iron levels after menopause appear to be risk factors for osteoporosis, and hormone hepcidin, which regulates iron, might be a potential therapeutic target for this condition. In the study, researchers applied genetic modification techniques to alter the production of endogenous hormone hepcidin in a mouse model, aiming to affect the iron levels in the body. Making use of both knockout and overexpression murine models, researchers focused specifically on the correlational aspects of hepcidin levels and bone loss. Further to that, the impact of iron overload on reactive oxygen species (ROS) activity was tested, as well as its effect on the slowed down work of primary osteoblasts. On the other hand, the effect of iron depletion was observed, presented as the reversed phenomenon through inhibiting the functions of the primary osteoclasts. Through this work, researchers investigated how iron accumulation interferes with general bone health in postmenopausal conditions. They further verified the 'Huang's hypothesis' - proposed in previous studies - about the potential therapeutic value of hepcidin for postmenopausal osteoporosis.

A Systematic Review published in 2018 in the journal Journal of Advanced Nursing found that Skin-patches of Chinese herbal medicine combined with Western medicine seemed to be more effective than Western medicine alone to reduce the pain scores of patients with acute gouty arthritis. Nineteen studies met our inclusion criteria. After synthesizing the data, the results showed that skin-patches of CHM combined with Western medicine seemed to be more effective than Western medicine alone for pain relief in patients with acute gouty arthritis and had fewer adverse events. Due to the quality of the data, larger and more rigorously designed clinical trials with proper outcome measures are necessary.

A Systematic Review published in 2018 in the journal Acupuncture in Medicine found that Acupuncture showed a more favourable effect in the treatment of lumbar disc herniation than lumbar traction, ibuprofen, diclofenac sodium and meloxicam. Thirty RCTs involving 3503 participants were included in the study. Meta-analysis showed that acupuncture had a higher total effective rate than lumbar traction, ibuprofen, diclofenac sodium and meloxicam. Acupuncture was also better than lumbar traction and diclofenac sodium in terms of visual analogue scale (VAS) scores, and better than lumbar traction with respect to Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) scores. In addition, the total effective rate in five individual trials was greater for acupuncture than for mannitol plus dexamethasone and mecobalamin, ibuprofen plus fugui gutong capsule, loxoprofen, mannitol plus dexamethasone and huoxue zhitong decoction, respectively. Additionally, two individual trials showed a superior effect of acupuncture in VAS scores comparedwith ibuprofen or mannitol plus dexamethasone, respectively.

A Systematic Review published in 2018 in the journal Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine found that Acupuncture alone or combined with other treatment modalities is beneficial to the clinical conditions of rheumatoid arthritis without adverse effects reported and can improve function and quality of life and is worth trying. Several important possible mechanisms were summarized including anti-inflammatory effect, antioxidative effect, and regulation of immune system function. However, there is still inconsistency regarding the clinical efficacy and lack of well-designed human/animal double-blinded RCTs. Future discussion for further agreement on taking traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) theory into consideration as much as possible is a top priority.

A Systematic Review published in 2018 in the journal Clinical Rehabilitation found that Current evidence suggests that traditional manual acupuncture integrated with rehabilitation therapy is more effective in alleviating pain, improving limb movement and activities of daily living. A total of 20 studies involving 1918 participants were included in this study. Compared to rehabilitation therapy alone, the combined therapy significantly reduced pain on the visual analogue scale and improved limb movement on the Fugl–Meyer Assessment scale and the performance of activities of daily living (ADL) on the Barthel Index scale or Modified Barthel Index scale. Of these, the visual analogue scale score changes were significantly higher favoring the combined therapy after treatment, with severe heterogeneity.

A Systematic Review published in 2018 in the journal Disability and Rehabilitation found that Standard acupuncture was significantly more effective for restless legs syndrome severity than control conditions. The current management of restless leg syndrome is primarily pharmacological, and medications can have unwanted side effects. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation, exercise, compression devices, counterstrain manipulation, infrared therapy, and standard acupuncture may reduce restless leg syndrome severity. Vibration pads, cryotherapy, yoga, compression devices, and acupuncture may improve some sleep-related outcomes in restless leg syndrome. Non-pharmacological interventions for RLS may cause placebo effects and rehabilitation professionals should control for this possibility in future investigations.

A Systematic Review published in 2017 in the journal Physiotherapy found that Acupuncture combined with physiotherapy or exercise was found to be more effective for frozen shoulder than physiotherapy or exercise alone in the short and long term. Shoulder pain is a leading musculoskeletal pain complaint, and is responsible for high morbidity with marked impact on quality of life. Acupuncture is a modality commonly employed in the treatment of shoulder conditions; however, past systematic reviews investigating its effectiveness have been inconclusive, noting a paucity of good quality research. A new body of research has since been published, and is included within this review. The objective of this systematic review was therefore to investigate the current evidence base for the effectiveness of acupuncture in the treatment of shoulder pain.

A Systematic Review published in 2017 in the journal Acupuncture in Medicine found that Acupuncture may be effective at relieving chronic knee pain 12 weeks after acupuncture administration. Nineteen trials were included in this systematic review. Of these, data from 17 studies were available for analysis. Regarding the effectiveness of acupuncture alone or combined with other treatment, the results of the meta-analysis showed that acupuncture was associated with significantly reduced CKP at 12 weeks on WOMAC pain subscale and VAS. As for safety, no difference was found between the acupuncture and control groups.

A Systematic Review published in 2017 in the journal The Journal of Pain found that Acupuncture has a clinically relevant effect on chronic pain that persists over time. Referral for acupuncture treatment is a reasonable option for chronic pain patients. We included randomized trials of acupuncture needling versus either sham acupuncture or no acupuncture control for nonspecific musculoskeletal pain, osteoarthritis, chronic headache, or shoulder pain. Trials were only included if allocation concealment was unambiguously determined to be adequate. Raw data were obtained from study authors and entered into an individual patient data meta-analysis. The main outcome measures were pain and function. An additional 13 trials were identified, with data received for a total of 20,827 patients from 39 trials. Acupuncture was superior to sham as well as no acupuncture control for each pain condition (all P < .001) with differences between groups close to .5 SDs compared with no acupuncture control and close to .2 SDs compared with sham. We also found clear evidence that the effects of acupuncture persist over time with only a small decrease, approximately 15%, in treatment effect at 1 year. Acupuncture is effective for the treatment of chronic musculoskeletal, headache, and osteoarthritis pain. Treatment effects of acupuncture persist over time and cannot be explained solely in terms of placebo effects. Referral for a course of acupuncture treatment is a reasonable option for a patient with chronic pain.

A Randomised Controlled Trial published in 2017 in the journal Journal of Acupuncture and Meridian Studies found that The combination of acupuncture and a low dose of gabapentin (300 mg/d) is clinically effective in treating restless legs syndrome and has an additional therapeutic benefit compared to gabapentin alone. The study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of medical acupuncture as an additional treatment to gabapentin for controlling restless legs syndrome (RLS) symptoms. Forty-six RLS patients were randomly assigned to either receive 10 sessions of acupuncture plus gabapentin or gabapentin alone over four weeks, with their symptoms assessed before, immediately after, and eight weeks after treatment. Results showed that the experimental group had significantly better improvements in VAS, IRLSRS, and PSQI compared to the control group. After the treatment, both groups had significant improvements in VAS and IRLSRS, while only the experimental group had a significant improvement in PSQI.

A Systematic Review published in 2017 in the journal Physical Therapy & Rehabilitation Journal found that Our findings support the use of tai chi as a treatment for people with arthritis and potentially for low back pain. Our findings support the use of tai chi as a treatment for people with arthritis and potentially for low back pain. However, we have only very low-quality or no evidence to suggest that it is as effective as, or more effective than, any other treatment for these populations. With no direct comparison of tai chi to other treatments, we can only speculate that, as our findings appear to be within a similar range to those reported for other commonly used exercise regimens for musculoskeletal conditions, tai chi could produce similar effects when compared. Thus, we cannot provide useful or confirmatory evidence to recommend this approach over others used in clinical practice settings until a robust, direct comparison study has been conducted.

A Systematic Review published in 2017 in the journal Sleep Medicine Reviews found that The severity of primary restless legs syndrome symptoms can be significantly ameliorated by acupuncture. Complementary and alternative therapies have been found to be effective in both primary and secondary restless legs syndrome (RLS). The severity of primary RLS symptoms can be significantly ameliorated by exercise training, transcutaneous spinal direct current stimulation, pneumatic compression devices, light therapy, repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation, and acupuncture. Pneumatic compression devices and yoga also improve RLS-related disorders. Exercise training is highly efficacious in the reduction of symptom severity in uremic RLS and related effects such as poor quality of life. Endovenous laser ablation may be a good choice for patients with concurrent RLS and superficial venous insufficiency.

A Animal Study published in 2017 in the journal Nutrients found that Dried plums potentially prevent and reverse bone loss in postmenopausal women facing osteoporosis, offering a promising functional food therapy solution with long-lasting effects. The methodology focused on examining the influence of dried plum in preventing and reversing bone loss related to osteoporosis. Two populations were studied: an ovariectomized rat model, which simulates the condition in postmenopausal women, and actual osteopenic postmenopausal women. The subjects were given measured servings of dried plums and their bone mass and structure were analyzed over a certain period. The researchers also attempted to understand the possible mechanisms through which dried plum exerts its bone-protective effects. In terms of results, evidence suggested that dried plum effectively retarded bone loss in both the rat model and human subjects. An intriguing observation was from a follow-up study of the one-year clinical trial conducted five years earlier. Women who had been in the trial consuming 100 g dried plum per day were found to have retained bone mineral density more efficiently than comparative controls. Dried plum's beneficial effect was hypothesised to originate from its bioactive compounds. The overall findings strongly advocate dried plum as a functional food therapy for preventing osteoporosis in postmenopausal women.

A Review Article published in 2017 in the journal Nutrients found that Dried plums, or prunes, have potential to exert beneficial effects on bone health and may help in combating osteoporosis in postmenopausal women, if consumed as part of their recommended fruit intake. The research process involved a comprehensive review of scientific literature available in the PubMed database up until January 24, 2017. This literature included cell studies, animal studies, population and clinical studies that examined effects of dried plums or their extracts on markers of bone health. In total, 24 research papers were reviewed and their findings are summarized. Discussing the results, animal, cell, and clinical studies suggest that dried plums or their extracts positively impact bone formation and limit bone breakdown. This is likely due to the influence of dried plums on cell signaling pathways that dictate osteoblast (bone-building cells) and osteoclast (bone-destroying cells) differentiation. Clinical studies also indicate that consumption of dried plums could have beneficial effects on bone mineral density, particularly in postmenopausal women. There were no adverse effects reported in these studies, further suggesting that they could safely be included in regular dietary routines.

A Randomised Controlled Trial published in 2017 in the journal Pain Medicine found that Our study provides evidence that acupuncture has a specific impact on frozen shoulder beyond the placebo effects that may not only be beneficial in reducing short-term pain perception, but may also have a positive long-term influence on the time course of recovery. Primary adhesive capsulitis ("frozen shoulder") is a common disorder associated with pain and significant morbidity in humans worldwide. This first double-blinded (patient- and observer-blinded) study in patients with AC showed the efficiency of our special distal needling protocol by systematic combination of acupoints for immediate pain reduction. The study also confirmed the suitability of press tack needles and press tack placebos as an effective option for double-blind studies in acupuncture. The follow-up clinical observation with classical needle acupuncture confirmed that results obtained with the press tack placebos/press tack needles design can be transferred to classical needle acupuncture. Furthermore, conservative therapy that included acupuncture represented a superior effectiveness on the time course of recovery in AC patients compared with patients treated with conservative therapy alone in a standard clinical setting.

A Network Pharmacology published in 2017 in the journal Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine found that A mixture of Chrysanthemum indicum Linne flower and Cinnamomum cassia significantly mitigates hyperuricemia in rats by inhibiting xanthine oxidase activity and enhancing uric acid excretion. In this experiment, the authors evaluated the impact of a combined extract from Chrysanthemum indicum Linne flower (CF) and Cinnamomum cassia (CB) on hyperuricemia, a condition associated with excessive uric acid in the bloodstream. The study was conducted on both normal and hyperuricemic rats induced by potassium oxonate. Uric acid levels and renal excretion were primarily measured to analyse the potential antihyperuricemic properties of the CF and CB mix. From the experiment, it was found that the CF and CB blend led to a significant reduction in uric acid levels in both normal and hyperuricemic rats, with the effect being stronger compared to either CF or CB in isolation. Additionally, the mixture caused an increase in uric acid elimination through the kidneys in the hyperuricemic rats, pointing to its potential antihyperuricemic action. It was also discovered that the mixture and its primary components, namely, chlorogenic acid, isochlorogenic acid, coumarin, cinnamaldehyde, trans-cinnamic acid, and o-methoxycinnamaldehyde, mitigated the action of xanthine oxidase (an enzyme that accelerates uric acid production) in vitro. This partial xanthine oxidase inhibition sheds light on the underlying mechanism of the antihyperuricemic effect by the CF and CB mixture.

A Randomised Controlled Trial published in 2017 in the journal Integrative Molecular Medicine found that Luteolin, found in chrysanthemum flower extract, can potentially reduce serum uric acid levels, suggesting it may help prevent gout. The research involved two double-blind placebo-controlled studies examining the impacts of chrysanthemum flower extract enriched with luteolin on serum uric acid levels. In a single-dose study, fasting participants consumed a capsule loaded with the luteolin-rich extract before partaking in a high purine meal, with uric acid levels evaluated over time. The second study involved repeated consumption of the capsule over a 4-week period, with fasting serum uric acid measured before and after consumption. The research found that although luteolin did not significantly affect uric acid levels immediately after consumption, there was an observed decrease in these levels following four weeks of continued ingestion. Most notably, subjects with a baseline uric acid level between 5.5 to 7.0 mg/dL saw a significant reduction after they consumed chrysanthemum flower extract. The trial also established that no adverse effects resulted from the ingestion of the extract.

A Systematic Review published in 2017 in the journal Clinical Interventions in Aging found that The Chinese herbal formula Erxian decoction appears to be more effective than basic supplements in treating osteoporosis. A systematic review of six databases was conducted, looking for randomized controlled trials using Erxian decoction in osteoporosis treatment. The trials measured a variety of outcomes, including fracture incidents, changes in bone mineral density, improvements in pain symptoms, alterations in bone biochemical markers, quality of life, and adverse reactions. The timeline encompassed all trials conducted up until September 17, 2016, with no restriction on language. The results from the eight trials involving a total of 644 patients were analysed. Two separate meta-analyses were conducted. The first compared the effectiveness of the decoction to caltrate tablets in improving bone density in the spine and femoral great trochanter. The second meta-analysis evaluated the decoction plus caltrate tablets and calcitriol in improving the bone density of the femoral neck, and the levels of calcium and phosphorus, when compared to calcitriol and caltrate tablets. The most common side effect was minor cases of gastrointestinal symptoms.

A Randomised Controlled Trial published in 2017 in the journal Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine found that Acupuncture therapy can lead to both clinical and morphological improvements in patients with carpal tunnel syndrome. In this study, 27 female patients suffering from carpal tunnel syndrome were divided into two groups: one that used only a night wrist splint and another that received additional acupuncture therapy. The measurements were taken from 45 limbs and included a visual analogue scale, the Duruöz Hand Index, and the Quick Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand questionnaire scores. In addition, electrophysiological measurements and observation of the median nerve's cross-sectional area were taken before and after the treatment. Following the treatment, improvements were observed in both groups according to the visual analogue scale, the Duruöz Hand Index and Quick Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand questionnaire scores, and the electrophysiological measurements. However, a significant decrease was noted solely in the cross-sectional area of the median nerve in the acupuncture group, while the control group that only used the wrist splint showed no changes. Thus, it was concluded that acupuncture therapy provided both clinical and morphological benefits to patients with carpal tunnel syndrome.

A Systematic Review published in 2016 in the journal Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews found that Acupuncture relieves neck pain better than sham acupuncture and those who received acupuncture report less pain and disability at short‐term follow‐up than those on a wait‐list. For mechanical neck pain, we found that acupuncture is beneficial immediately following treatment and at short‐term follow‐up compared with sham treatments for pain intensity; at short‐term follow‐up compared with sham treatments for disability (NPQ); at short‐term follow‐up compared with inactive treatments for pain intensity; and at short‐term follow‐up compared with wait‐list control for pain intensity and neck disability improvement. Effects do not seem sustainable over the long term. Acupuncture treatments appear to be relatively safe.

A Systematic Review published in 2016 in the journal Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine found that Acupuncture, in combination with regular rehabilitation, may effectively alleviate poststroke shoulder pain more than rehabilitation alone. The study utilized seven databases to find existing research studies concerning the use of acupuncture in relieving poststroke shoulder pain, with no language limitations imposed on the search. The primary focus was on randomized controlled trials that compared the impact of acupuncture with conventional controls. The Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA) were primarily used to measure the extent of the pain and effectiveness of the treatments. The results of the analysis of these studies suggested a definitive trend indicating the adoption of acupuncture alongside regular rehabilitation treatment enhanced the remedial effect on poststroke shoulder pain. The reduction in pain as reported by the VAS, improvements in the FMA, and overall efficacy rates showed a marked improvement when acupuncture was incorporated with the standard rehabilitation treatments when compared to those treatments on their own. However, the study does acknowledge that while the results point towards the effectiveness of acupuncture, the results should be interpreted with caution.

A Systematic Review published in 2016 in the journal Scientific Reports found that Our meta-analysis found that, overall, acupuncture was superior to sham acupuncture in terms of pain relief and disability reduction for patients with musculoskeletal disorders. Consistent with our current report, some previous systematic reviews have also found real acupuncture to be superior to sham acupuncture for neck pain, low back pain, osteoarthritis and myofascial pain. Two newly published meta-analyses found that real acupuncture had a more favorable effect than sham acupuncture for low back pain. Our finding that real acupuncture was more effective than sham acupuncture for neck pain and low back pain was also verified by a more recent systematic review.

A Systematic Review published in 2016 in the journal Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy found that Acupuncture, specifically needle-based and electroacupuncture, can potentially provide therapeutic benefits for carpal tunnel syndrome, Achilles tendinopathy, and shoulder injuries. Methodology: The researchers executed a systematic review on multiple databases such as MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, PsycINFO, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials covering a period from 1990 to 2015. Their search was focused on identifying responsive randomized controlled trials, cohort studies, and case-control studies which focused on the effectiveness and safety of acupuncture therapies for musculoskeletal disorders. The Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network criteria was used to evaluate the eligible studies. Furthermore, best-evidence synthesis was performed to sum up results from studies with low bias risk. A sensitivity analysis was also performed to comprehend the potential impact of excluding studies with high bias risk. Results: The comprehensive review identified 5180 articles, from which 15 were selected for final analysis (10 had a low risk of bias and 5 with a high risk of bias). Among other findings, the results showed that traditional needle acupuncture may outperform oral steroids and vitamin B1/B6 supplements for carpal tunnel syndrome and exercises for Achilles tendinopathy. Moreover, electroacupuncture might be superior than placebo for shoulder injuries. The extent of benefits offered by dry needling for plantar fasciitis remained equivocal. Traditional needle acupuncture didn't show significant advantage over placebo for upper extremity pain, or no intervention for patellofemoral pain, and findings for shoulder pain were inconclusive.

A Systematic Review published in 2016 in the journal Complementary Medicine Research found that Acupuncture therapy is more effective than NSAID in improving clinical efficacy rates and pain scores for treatment of chrondomalacia patellae. To our knowledge, this is the first meta-analysis of acupuncture therapy in the treatment of CMP. Seven RCT involving 707 patients with CMP were selected for this meta-analysis. Based on the findings of the present systematic review, acupuncture therapy can further improve the clinical effect and pain scores when compared with NSAID controls. However, the potential beneficial effect of acupuncture is possibly overstated owing to the low general methodological quality of the included RCT. Conclusions regarding the safety of acupuncture therapy cannot be drawn since the eligible trials provide no evidence on this aspect.

A Experimental Study published in 2016 in the journal Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine found that The ethanol extract of FCI potentially counters bone loss in mice by enhancing osteoblast proliferation and differentiation, facilitated by multiple bioactive compounds. In this study, the researchers scrutinized the antiosteoporosis potential of the ethanol extract of FCI in mice experiencing bone loss due to ovariectomy, a process likened to human menopause. In the process, the antiosteoporosis fraction derived from FCI was isolated and cleansed using a technique known as high-speed countercurrent chromatography, which resulted in the successful isolation of the principle bioactive compounds. The researchers found that, among the separations, the ethyl acetate fraction exhibited remarkable antiosteoporosis activity. Upon further analysis, the foremost compounds were identified as acacetin, apigenin, luteolin, and linarin. Furthermore, these compounds were found to stimulate the proliferation and differentiation of osteoblasts - the cells responsible for bone formation. The process was potentially mediated by the activation of the AKT signaling pathway and the upregulation of certain genes such as Runx2, OCN, OPN, and COL I. The collective efforts of these bioactive compounds played a crucial role in the observed antiosteoporosis effects, suggesting that the effectiveness of FCI is not reliant on a single component, but an ensemble of elements working in tandem.

A Systematic Review published in 2015 in the journal Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine found that Acupuncture may be effective in treating the pain associated with sciatica. A total of 12 studies (involving 1842 participants) were included. Results showed that acupuncture was more effective than conventional Western medicine (CWM) in outcomes effectiveness, pain intensity, and pain threshold. Subgroup and sensitivity analysis found that the results did not change in different treatment method and drug categories substantially. The reported adverse effects were acceptable.

A Systematic Review published in 2015 in the journal Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine found that The use of acupuncture may be more effective than drugs and may enhance the effect of drugs for patients with sciatica. The results of this systematic review suggest that the use of acupuncture may more effectively relieve leg pain/lumbago and improve global assessment of sciatica when compared with NSAID (ibuprofen, meloxicam, and diclofenac) treatment. Moreover, adjuvant acupuncture may enhance the effect of medications in leg pain/lumbago relief. To patients, acupuncture points appear more effective than nonacupoints. Acupuncture is relatively safe and is rarely associated with serious adverse events in patients with sciatica. However, this meta-analysis was lacking in relevant and rigorous RCTs. Because the evidence was limited, higher quality and more rigorously designed clinical trials with larger sample sizes will be needed to further confirm our findings.

A Randomised Controlled Trial published in 2015 in the journal Nutrafoods found that Chrysanthemum flower oil significantly reduces diet-induced elevation of serum uric acid in Japanese males with high baseline levels. In the study, a randomised, double-blind, cross-over comparison method was employed. Twenty male individuals from Japan were selected and segregated into two groups, one of which received the chrysanthemum flower oil, while the other group was given a placebo. Blood and urine samples were systematically collected from these individuals and meticulously analyzed with a focus on levels of serum uric acid. The analysis of these samples divulged some noteworthy findings. There was no observed suppression of the diet-induced serum uric acid elevation in those subjects whose baseline serum uric acid values ranged betwixt 5.5 and 8.0 mg/dl when given the chrysanthemum flower oil. However, for those subjects with a baseline serum uric acid level of 7.1 mg/dl or greater, the application of this oil significantly reduced this elevation. Based on these findings, it was concluded that chrysanthemum flower oil indeed has an effective role in reducing uric acid elevation, specifically for Japanese male subjects belonging to the higher baseline bracket.

A Systematic Review published in 2015 in the journal Neurology found that The majority of trials demonstrate a positive effect of acupuncture over control condition in the treatment of neuropathy. The majority of RCTs reviewed showed clear benefit for acupuncture over control in the treatment of diabetic neuropathy, Bell’s palsy and carpal tunnel syndrome. Acupuncture is probably effective in the treatment of HIV-related neuropathy and there is insufficient evidence for its benefits in idiopathic neuropathy. Meta-analyses of all diabetic neuropathy and bell’s palsy data using a summary estimate random effects model showed combined Odds Ratio (OR) of 4.23, p<0.001 favoring acupuncture over control for pain outcomes. The majority of trials demonstrate a positive effect of acupuncture over control condition in the treatment of neuropathy. Further more rigorously designed studies are needed to better characterize this effect.

A Systematic Review published in 2015 in the journal Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine found that Acupuncture, either used in isolation or as an adjunct to conventional therapy, provides short-term improvements in pain and function for chronic low back pain. Sixteen systematic reviews were appraised. Overall, the methodological quality was low and external validity weak. For acute LBP, evidence that acupuncture has a more favorable effect than sham acupuncture in relieving pain was inconsistent; it had a similar effect on improving function. For chronic LBP, evidence consistently demonstrated that acupuncture provides short-term clinically relevant benefits for pain relief and functional improvement compared with no treatment or acupuncture plus another conventional intervention.

A Experimental Study published in 2015 in the journal Phytotherapy Research found that Two new compounds found in Chrysanthemum indicum flowers have strong antioxidant qualities and are potent in anti-osteoporosis activity. The research involved the isolation of two new compounds from Chrysanthemum indicum flowers, alongside 17 known compounds. Each compound was then measured for total phenolic and flavonoid content. The research demonstrated the highest concentration of these beneficial compounds within the Ethyl Acetate (EtOAc) fraction of the sample. An assessment of the antioxidative potential of each compound was conducted next, mainly focusing on their peroxyl radical-scavenging capacity and their ability to reduce copper ions. The results confirmed that the two new compounds discovered displayed strong antioxidative effects. These compounds also showed promising activity against tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase in receptor activator of the nuclear factor in osteoclastic cells, suggesting potential efficacy as agents in combatting osteoporosis. Beyond these new compounds, several other compounds isolated from the Chrysanthemum indicum also demonstrated strong antioxidative and anti-osteoporotic activity.

A Review Article published in 2014 in the journal CARTILAGE found that A dietary supplement Avocado/Soybean Unsaponifiables aids in treating Osteoarthritis by preventing cartilage degradation and promoting cartilage repair, thereby reducing pain and enhancing joint functionality. Avocado/Soybean Unsaponifiables was studied for its effects on Osteoarthritis. The methodology highlighted its functions, which include inhibiting the release and activity of molecules and pathways that are implicated in OA, as well as those that prevent cartilage degradation. These functions are principally through the prohibition of matrix metalloproteinases and the increase of tissue inhibitors of the catabolic enzymes in question. Additionally, ASU was found to inhibit fibrinolysis by stimulating the expression of plasminogen activator inhibitor. Moreover, its anabolic properties were credited with promoting cartilage repair by stimulating collagen and aggrecan synthesis while inhibiting inflammatory cytokines. ASU's chondroprotective effects were noted as well; these effects are brought about by correcting growth factor abnormalities, and by simultaneously increasing Transforming Growth Factor-Beta in synovial fluid while decreasing vascular endothelial growth factor. Additionally, it was observed to inhibit cholesterol absorption and biosynthesis, which further contribute to its beneficial role by moderating reactive oxygen species pathology in chondrocytes. Results indicated that the dietary supplement has significant therapeutic value for those suffering from Osteoarthritis. It reduces pain and stiffness while improving joint function, resulting in less dependency on painkillers. It was found that ASU's preventative measures towards cartilage degradation and its promotion of cartilage repair play essential roles in its efficiency as a treatment for OA.

A Systematic Review published in 2014 in the journal BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies found that The use of acupuncture for osteoarthritis is associated with significant reductions in pain intensity, improvement in functional mobility and quality of life. In this systematic review, we found acupuncture administered to adults with osteoarthritis to be associated with a statistically significant reduction in pain intensity, improved functional mobility and improved health-related quality of life. Reductions in pain were greater in trials with longer intervention periods. Though under-reported and inconsistently described, major adverse events with acupuncture were not reported. Subgroup analyses suggest that acupuncture is most effective for reducing osteoarthritic pain when administered for more than four weeks. Outcome assessment for the majority of trials occurred immediately following the intervention period and thus the durability of treatment effects are unknown.

A Review Article published in 2014 in the journal Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine found that Despite methodological shortcomings, existing studies suggest acupuncture may improve symptoms related to Multiple Sclerosis including quality of life, fatigue, spasticity, and pain. The study methodology includes a comprehensive literature search, locating twelve peer-reviewed articles that explored the use of acupuncture as a treatment for Multiple Sclerosis-related symptoms like quality of life, fatigue, spasticity, and pain. However, the majority of these studies had flaws in their design, including lack of control groups, randomization, or blinding procedures. In relation to the discussion of results, although the retrieved studies indicated promising outcomes suggesting acupuncture's potential in enhancing Multiple Sclerosis-related symptoms, the lack of statistical rigor and poor design of these studies put a limitation on the conclusions that can be made about the effectiveness of this form of intervention.

A Randomised Controlled Trial published in 2014 in the journal Journal of Acupuncture and Meridian Studies found that Acupuncture can be considered as an alternative option for treatment of De Quervain's tenosynovitis. Although injection has been considered the mainstay of management for tendinopathy, the exact mechanism of its therapeutic effect is unknown. Furthermore, a number of studies have provided strong evidence that corticosteroid injection is beneficial in the short term but may be worse than other conservative interventions in the intermediate and long terms. According to this study, acupuncture improved not only pain intensity, but also disability status of the patients with De Quervain's tenosynovitis. Although we noted a higher improvement rate in patient's symptoms in the injection group, the difference between the two groups was small when the overall effects were evaluated over time and, therefore, the efficacy of acupuncture is likewise remarkable.

A Network Pharmacology published in 2014 in the journal Bioscience, Biotechnology, and Biochemistry found that Chrysanthemum flower oil can effectively decrease uric acid levels in rats, by reducing production in the liver and enhancing excretion from the kidney. In this study, the researchers developed a hyperuricemia model by feeding rats a specific chrysanthemum flower oil enriched diet. Hyperuricemia is a condition of elevated uric acid levels which the team sought to decrease. Chrysanthemum flower oil was chosen due to its polyphenol content, substances known to have positive health benefits. By administering this oil orally to rats on this diet, they were able to monitor its impact on the rats' serum uric acid levels. The results showed that the chrysanthemum oil had a significant impact on controlling and reducing uric acid levels. This was achieved through two primary mechanisms. Firstly, there was a demonstrated inhibition of xanthine oxidase activities in the liver. This enzyme plays a crucial role in the conversion process that leads to the creation of uric acid. Secondly, the oil increased uric acid levels in the urine, suggesting greater excretion of it. This was further confirmed by the up-regulation of uric acid transporter genes in the rats' kidneys, which enhances the excretion process.

A Systematic Review published in 2014 in the journal Journal of Advanced Nursing found that Acupuncture showed both clinically important changes and statistically significant results for management of low back and/or pelvic pain (LBPP) in pregnancy. Eight studies were selected for full review. Two acupuncture studies with low risk of bias showed both clinically important changes and statistically significant results. There was evidence of effectiveness for osteopathy and chiropractic. However, osteopathy and chiropractic studies scored high for risk of bias. Strength of the evidence across studies was very low.

A Randomised Controlled Trial published in 2014 in the journal The American Journal of Chinese Medicine found that Acupuncture and electroacupuncture treatments can alleviate Carpal Tunnel Syndrome symptoms, enhance nerve repair and improve sensory and motor functions. The conducted research involved treating 26 confirmed Carpal Tunnel Syndrome patients using acupuncture and electroacupuncture. These patients were divided into two treatment groups based on a neurophysiological grading scale. Fifteen patients were treated with acupuncture and eleven with electroacupuncture, which was administered on both upper limbs at acupoints PC-7 (Daling) and PC-6 (Neiguan) along the pericardial meridian. Each patient underwent a total of 24 treatment sessions lasting 15 minutes each, spread over a period of six weeks. Evaluation of the results saw improvements in symptom severity after the electroacupuncture treatments. This was based on the short clinical questionnaire by Lo and Chiang, an evaluation method used to gauge symptom severity. Post acupuncture treatment, the patients reported a significant increase in grip strength, particularly on the side more affected by Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. The electrophysiology evaluation also saw a significant improvement in the motor amplitude of the palm-wrist segment. There was also a notable decrease in Tinel's sign on the side more affected by symptoms. This points to both acupuncture and electroacupuncture having clear therapeutic benefits for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome patients.

A Systematic Review published in 2013 in the journal Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews found that Compared with no treatment and standard therapy, acupuncture improves pain and stiffness in people with fibromyalgia. There is low to moderate-level evidence that compared with no treatment and standard therapy, acupuncture improves pain and stiffness in people with fibromyalgia. There is moderate-level evidence that the effect of acupuncture does not differ from sham acupuncture in reducing pain or fatigue, or improving sleep or global well-being. EA is probably better than MA for pain and stiffness reduction and improvement of global well-being, sleep and fatigue. The effect lasts up to one month, but is not maintained at six months follow-up. MA probably does not improve pain or physical functioning. Acupuncture appears safe. People with fibromyalgia may consider using EA alone or with exercise and medication. The small sample size, scarcity of studies for each comparison, lack of an ideal sham acupuncture weaken the level of evidence and its clinical implications. Larger studies are warranted.

A Systematic Review published in 2013 in the journal Clinical Rheumatology found that Chinese herbal medicine may help in functional recovery in gout patients, while safely controlling serum uric acid level and inflammation severity. This systematic review evaluated a total of 57 randomized clinical trials on Chinese herbal medicine for gout up to December 2012, involving 4,527 patients. The methodology employed the Cochrane risk of bias tool to assess the quality of these trials and used RevMan 5.2 software to synthesize results. However, the overall quality of these trials was generally poor and none reported on health-related quality of life in patients. Through the trials evaluated, it was found that Chinese herbal medicine may not be significantly more effective than conventional medicines in terms of pain relief. However, when combined with conventional medicines, herbal medicine may exhibit better effectiveness. In trials that reported relief from function limitations, herbal remedies showed improved efficacy over standard treatments. However, there was no evidence to suggest that herbal medicine could prevent recurrence of gout. In closing, the review noted that 25 trials out of 41 found significance in lowering serum uric acid levels through the use of Chinese herbal medicine. Further, herbal medicine seemed more effective in inflammation relief when compared to conventional therapies. Importantly, data suggested the herbal treatments resulted in fewer side reactions as compared to conventional treatment methods.

A Animal Study published in 2013 in the journal PLOS One found that Dried plum intake uniquely improves bone density, promotes growth of vertebral trabecular bone, prevents bone loss in tibia, and positively adjusts bone metabolism. Adult osteopenic mice were subjected to a diet supplemented with 25% of various dried fruits such as dried plum, apple, apricot, grape, and mango for a period of 8 weeks. Body and spine bone mineral density improvement was monitored in these mice, with particular focus on the anabolic effect on trabecular bone in the vertebra and prevention of bone loss in the tibia. The osteoclast differentiation and osteoblast and glutathione activity were also assessed, to better understand the potential mechanisms through which dried plum may exert its osteoprotective effects. The results of the study showed that while dried plum, apricot and grape diets led to improvements in bone mineral density, dried plum was the only fruit that resulted in an anabolic effect on trabecular bone in the vertebra and helped prevent bone loss in the tibia. Biomechanical properties showed restoration, aligning with the changes observed in the spine's trabecular bone. Examining the difference in effects between the various fruits, it was found that dried plum was unique in its ability to balance the down-regulation of osteoclast differentiation and up-regulation of osteoblast and glutathione activity. The alterations in bone metabolism and antioxidant status and their transformative impact on bone health were unique to dried plum when compared with other dried fruits.

A Systematic Review published in 2013 in the journal BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies found that Acupuncture has shown potential in alleviating symptoms and improving overall quality of life for patients suffering from ankle sprains. To evaluate the effectiveness of acupuncture in treating ankle sprains, the researchers performed a systematic review, sourcing data from 15 databases and two trial registries up until February 2012. Only randomized controlled trials of acupuncture that involved patients with ankle sprains and reported improvements of symptoms, particularly pain, were included. Different aspects such as the type of acupuncture, the grade of sprain, and the type of control were considered. The risk of bias and sample size were assessed using a Cochrane risk of bias tool, and sensitivity analyses were performed regarding these factors and reported outcomes. In relation to the results, they incorporated 17 trials with a total of 1820 participants. It was found that overall quality of the trials was lacking, with only three properly describing their randomization methods, and just one detailing a method for obscuring allocation. More participants who received acupuncture reported a global improvement of symptoms compared to those who did not undergo acupuncture. Additionally, acupuncture as an auxiliary treatment also enhanced global symptoms compared to other treatments alone, without significant changes in results. The advantages of acupuncture remained notable even after limiting the analysis to the two trials with the lowest risk of bias. Acupuncture proved to be more efficient than other control methods in reducing pain, enabling return to normal activities, and enhancing quality of life. However, these analyses relied on a small range of studies. Acupuncture did not seem to be connected with any detrimental events.

A Systematic Review published in 2012 in the journal Acupuncture in Medicine found that There is evidence supporting the effectiveness of acupuncture for plantar heel pain comparable to that available for conventionally used interventions, such as stretching, night splints or dexamethasone. Five randomised controlled trials and three non-randomised comparative studies were included. High quality studies report significant benefits. In one, acupuncture was associated with significant improvement in pain and function when combined with standard treatment (including non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs). In another, acupuncture point PC7 improved pain and pressure pain threshold significantly more than LI4. Other papers were of lower quality but suggest benefits from other acupuncture approaches.

A Systematic Review published in 2012 in the journal The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine found that Acupuncture combined with exercise is effective for shoulder pain after stroke. It was found in this review of reported RCTs that acupuncture is an effective treatment for shoulder pain after stroke. Acupuncture can be considered as an adjuvant therapy in combination with exercise for rehabilitation of the stroke patients who are suffering from shoulder pain. Further trials concerning this topic should be conducted according to the highest methodological standards for certainty.

A Systematic Review published in 2011 in the journal Pain Medicine found that Ginger can reduce the direct activation of type 3 and 4 afferent nerve fibers by substances such as bradykinin and sensitization of afferent fibers by prostaglandins and cytokines. Due to a paucity of well-conducted trials, evidence of the efficacy of Z. officinale to treat pain remains insufficient. However, the available data provide tentative support for the anti-inflammatory role of Z. officinale constituents, which may reduce the subjective experience of pain in some conditions such as osteoarthritis. Further rigorous trials therefore seem to be warranted.

A Randomised Controlled Trial published in 2011 in the journal British Journal of Nutrition found that Dried plum consumption enhances bone mineral density in postmenopausal women, primarily by reducing the rate of bone turnover. The research studied 160 osteopenic postmenopausal women from 1 to 10 years postmenopause, who were not receiving any hormone replacement therapy or medication affecting bone metabolism. Participants were randomly divided into two treatment groups, one consuming dried plums and the other eating dried apples, with both groups also receiving daily dosages of calcium and vitamin D. Bone mineral density was measured at the beginning and end of the study using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Blood samples were taken at the start, then every 3 months to evaluate bone biomarkers. Physical activity and dietary factors were monitored as potential covariates throughout the study. Dried plums significantly boosted the bone mineral density in the ulna (one of the two bones in the forearm) and spine compared to dried apples. This tendency could only be seen in dried plums - they drastically reduced serum levels of bone turnover markers, specifically bone-specific alkaline phosphatase and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase-5b. This confirms that dried plums can indeed improve the bone mineral density in postmenopausal women, in part by suppressing the rate of bone turnover.

A Systematic Review published in 2010 in the journal The Journal of Pain found that A meta-analysis of acupuncture versus steroid block therapy favored acupuncture in terms of responder rate. Our systematic review and meta-analysis demonstrate that the evidence for acupuncture as a symptomatic therapy of carpal tunnel syndrome is encouraging but not convincing. The total number of included RCTs and their methodological quality were low. Further rigorous studies are required to establish whether acupuncture has therapeutic value for this indication.

A Experimental Study published in 2008 in the journal The Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry found that Blueberry consumption can prevent bone loss and positively impact bone metabolism in ovariectomized rats. The research involved thirty 6-month-old female Sprague-Dawley rats. Some rats were ovariectomized to simulate post-menopausal conditions and then divided into three groups: Sham-operated, control (ovariectomized but no intervention), and a group that was ovariectomized and given a 5% blueberry diet. After being on this diet for 100 days, the effects of the blueberries on bone health were evaluated through the assessment of Bone Mineral Density (BMD) and content in the whole body, right tibia, right femur, and fourth lumbar vertebra through dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. In terms of the results, the ovariectomy caused a loss of BMD in the whole body, tibia, femora, and lumbar region, whereas the blueberry diet prevented this loss in the whole body. It also somewhat reduced the loss in the tibia and femur. The bone-protective effects of the blueberries were attributed to them suppressing the ovariectomy-induced increase in bone turnover. This was shown by reduced levels of various cellular components linked to bone metabolism in the femoral bone and serum of rats on the blueberry diet, compared to the ovariectomized control group.

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