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• Research Summary

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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 Massage" 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 Massage" 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 Massage" 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 Randomised Controlled Trial published in 2022 in the journal Babali Nursing Research found that Oxytocin massage using lavender aromatherapy oil can significantly boost breast milk production in postpartum mothers. In this study, a quasi-experimental design was employed which involved pre-testing and post-testing with a control group. The participant mothers were divided into two groups. The intervention group received oxytocin massages using lavender aromatherapy oil, beginning on the second postpartum day. Contrarily, the control group got breastfeeding assistance without the massage intervention. In both groups, breast milk production was evaluated on the sixth day through the usage of a breast pump. The collected results indicated a notable effect of oxytocin massage with the application of lavender aromatherapy oil on maternal milk production. It was hence surmised that this combined approach could effectively enhance breast milk production in women after giving birth.

A Systematic Review published in 2022 in the journal Computational Intelligence and Neuroscience found that Meta-analysis of TCM non-drug treatments like acupuncture and massage improved primary insomnia, reducing PSQI scores, and easing anxiety and depression. The effectiveness of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) non-drug therapies (acupuncture, moxibustion, massage, and auricular point pressing) were evaluated in treating primary insomnia. Results showed that TCM non-drug therapies significantly improved the PSQI score in insomnia patients, with a higher effective rate compared to the control groups. These therapies also demonstrated improvements in anxiety and depression.

A Randomised Controlled Trial published in 2022 in the journal Explore: The Journal of Science & Healing found that Inhalation and massage therapy with lavender essential oil significantly mitigates perceived labour pain in women. The study was implemented using a random controlled trial on pregnant women divided into three groups – a control group, a group for lavender essence inhalation and a third group for lavender essence massage. After being divided into their respective groups, the first stage of labour was divided into three phases – early, active and transition – during which the interventions were applied. In the massage group, sacral compression and lower back massage were given, incorporating 2 drops of lavender oil in each labour phase. For the inhalation group, 2 drops of lavender oil were dripped onto the palms of the participants, who were then asked to inhale it for 3 minutes. Individual information was gathered through formats like the Personal Information Form, Visual Analogue Scale and Postpartum Assessment of Women Survey. The results showed that women who underwent inhalation and massage therapies with lavender essential oil experienced less severe labour pain as compared to the control group. It was also discovered that the lavender oil inhalation was notably beneficial during the latent phase of labour whilst massage therapy demonstrated greater effectiveness during the active and transition periods. Therefore, incorporating lavender oil via massage therapy and inhalation methods during labour and delivery is highly recommended as a supplementary method to manage labour pain.

A Systematic Review published in 2022 in the journal Integrative Medicine Research found that Some complementary approaches, such as massage and herbal ointments, show promise in reducing postpartum pain. This passage discusses a systematic review aimed at examining the effectiveness and safety of non-pharmacological methods for managing postpartum pain in women. The review included 30 trials involving both first-time and experienced mothers who experienced pain in the two weeks following childbirth. The primary focus was on pain reduction. The review found that massage showed a reduction in pain for women who had undergone caesarean births within the first 24 hours postpartum and at seven days postpartum. Additionally, herbal ointments were found to reduce perineal pain for women who had received an episiotomy within the first 24 hours and at 14 days postpartum. However, the number of trials reporting on safety was limited, and the overall quality of evidence was deemed very low. The conclusion emphasizes the need for further high-quality trials to assess the safety and effectiveness of herbal ointment and massage during the early postpartum period.

A Clinical Study published in 2022 in the journal Journal of Acupuncture and Tuina Science found that The combination of Tuina (Chinese therapeutic massage) and Shen Ling Bai Zhu San is more effective in treating pediatric diarrhea due to spleen deficiency than Shen Ling Bai Zhu San alone. Methodology: The paper reports on a clinical trial involving a total of 105 children diagnosed with diarrhea due to spleen deficiency. These children were randomly allocated into two separate groups: a control group and an observation group. The control group, consisting of 52 children, were exclusively treated with Shen Ling Bai Zhu San orally. The observation group, on the other hand, consisted of 53 children who received an additional Tuina treatment along with Shen Ling Bai Zhu San. Results: After implementing the treatments, it was found that every child in the observation group showed improvement, compared to 90% improvement rate in the control group. This correlated to a decrease in scores of primary and secondary symptoms of traditional Chinese medicine in both groups post-treatment. Furthermore, the children in the observation group who received both treatments had even lower symptom scores than the control group who only received Shen Ling Bai Zhu San. The treatments were also well-tolerated with no significant adverse reactions reported.

A Randomised Controlled Trial published in 2021 in the journal Journal of Trauma Nursing found that Auricular acupressure may be a safe and effective technique for reducing burnout and secondary traumatic stress in healthcare workers. In this prospective randomized trial with an open, parallel-group design, participants were randomized to receive one of three interventions: auricular acupuncture, auricular seed acupressure, or auricular massage. Interventions took place over a period of 3 weeks at a 334-bed Level II pediatric trauma center. Using a pre-/posttest design, the researchers analyzed self-reported scores from the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, the Professional Quality of Life scale, and the Caring Ability Inventory. The study found that auricular seed acupressure was associated with a reduction in burnout and secondary traumatic stress. Importantly, this effect remained even after adjusting for individual pretest scores. Attempts at achieving significant effects on anxiety levels, professional quality of life, and caring ability, however, did not yield any significant improvement. Overall, the data suggest that auricular acupressure is a very effective strategy for reducing work-related stress among health care staff.

A Systematic Review published in 2021 in the journal Frontiers in Public Health found that Traditional Chinese medicine infant massage can reduce the symptoms of constipation in children suffering from functional constipation. A review of 23 studies involving 2,005 patients found that traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) infant massage was more effective than drug therapy alone for treating infant functional constipation. The massage showed significant improvements in overall effectiveness, frequency of bowel movements, and constipation symptoms. However, there was no significant difference between the massage and drug therapy when it came to stool form and difficulty of defecation. The variations in results may be due to factors like patient conditions, different massage techniques, the effectiveness of drugs used in the control group, and variations in criteria for measuring effectiveness. The study did not detect any publication bias.

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 Systematic Review published in 2020 in the journal Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews found that Gua sha therapy may be more effective than hot packs with massage for reducing breast pain. In this version of the review, 21 studies involving 2170 breastfeeding women were analysed. A range of interventions for the treatment of breast engorgement were tested. These included: cabbage leaves, various compresses (ginger, cactus/aloe, hollyhock), massage plus cactus and aloe compress, acupuncture, ultrasound, acupressure, scraping therapy (Gua Sha), cold breast‐packs, electromechanical massage, Oketani breast massage, and medical treatments (serrapeptase, protease, oxytocin). Six studies used individual breasts as the unit of analysis making it difficult to evaluate the true effect of the studied intervention. Due to the heterogeneous interventions, we were unable to pool results in meta‐analysis; hence, a qualitative analysis resulted in the following findings.

A Systematic Review published in 2020 in the journal International Urogynecology Journal found that Antenatal perineal massage reduces severe perineal trauma and postpartum complications. This meta-analysis of 11 randomized controlled trials involving 3467 patients found that antenatal perineal massage significantly reduces the risk of perineal tears and episiotomy, especially severe tears. Additionally, it leads to shorter second-stage labor, less postpartum perineal pain, and improved wound healing. While some heterogeneity and publication bias were noted, this study supports the routine recommendation of antenatal perineal massage for labor preparation, emphasizing its benefits in reducing perineal trauma and improving obstetric outcomes. Further research with larger sample sizes is encouraged to confirm these findings and explore additional benefits, such as postpartum sexual satisfaction and incontinence reduction.

A Systematic Review published in 2020 in the journal Ethiopian Journal of Health Sciences found that Aromatherapy, specifically with lavender essential oil, can effectively alleviate maternal anxiety and labor pain. The methodology involved a systematic review of five databases - PubMed, SCOPUS, Web of Science, Google Scholar and Scientific Information Database - for studies on the use of aromatherapy for pain and anxiety management during labor. Search keywords included variations of aromatherapy, essential oil, aroma, pain, anxiety, labor, and delivery. The quality, bias, and reliability of the identified studies were assessed using the Cochrane Collaboration's 'Risk of bias' protocol. 33 studies met the inclusion criteria, with various methods of aromatherapy application utilized, such as inhalation, massage, footbaths, birthing pools, acupressure, and compresses. The most commonly used essential oil was lavender, used individually or mixed with other essential oils. These studies, predominantly conducted in Iran, formed the basis for our analysis and provided evidence to assess the positive impact of aromatherapy on labor pain and anxiety.

A Systematic Review published in 2019 in the journal JBI Database of Systematic Reviews and Implementation Reports found that Breast massage eases pain and symptoms in breastfeeding problems. This systematic review assesses the effectiveness of breast massage as a treatment for breastfeeding problems. It focuses on outcomes like pain reduction, increased milk supply, and resolution of issues like blocked ducts and mastitis. While breastfeeding is crucial for infant health, rates drop, and complications like mastitis contribute. The review covers studies from 1980 to 2017, including six diverse studies. Although outcomes varied due to different interventions and small sample sizes, all reported reduced pain. However, lack of detailed technique explanation and training hinder replicability. This research is valuable for healthcare professionals, suggesting a need for standardized measurement tools and more robust trials.

A Systematic Review published in 2019 in the journal Journal of Integrative Nursing found that Acupoint massage enhances acute mastitis treatment. Acupoint massage proves effective in treating acute mastitis, as per a systematic review of 16 randomized controlled trials involving 2056 patients. The analysis indicates that acupoint massage enhances clinical treatment efficiency, shortens onset time, reduces lump size, and alleviates symptoms. However, it shows no significant impact on recurrence or cure rates. While this evidence supports acupoint massage as a beneficial adjunct therapy for acute mastitis, the need for higher-quality studies is emphasized to further validate these findings.

A Meta-Analysis published in 2019 in the journal Complementary Therapies in Medicine found that Massage therapy proves more beneficial in improving ADHD symptoms in children and adolescents than traditional Ritalin treatment. This study used a systematic review incorporating eight randomized controlled trials and three case series studies. Out of these trials, a meta-analysis of four was conducted. The pooled analysis revealed massage therapy brought about a significant improvement in ADHD symptoms. Individual trials indicated massage was significantly different from waiting, showing great improvement specifically in conditions related to anxious-passive behaviour and antisocial behaviour.

A Systematic Review published in 2018 in the journal Journal of Clinical Medicine found that Aromatherapy (via inhalation, massage, or oral use) appears to be more effective than a placebo for pain reduction in primary dysmenorrhea. The methodology of the study involved a comprehensive search for relevant data in eleven international databases, including some dedicated to Korean medical literature, until August 2018, with no restrictions on the language of publication. The focus was directed on randomized controlled trials holding aromatherapy as a potential treatment for pain reduction in primary dysmenorrhea, a common condition characterized by menstrual pain. Data mining and the evaluation of potential biases were handled by two independent reviewers. The results indicated a consistent trend across trials: aromatherapy, whether applied through inhalation, massage, or oral intake, tended to have a positive effect on pain reduction when compared to a placebo control. It was also observed that the efficacy remained noticeable across different modes of implementation (inhalation, massage, or oral), suggesting that the therapeutic potential of essential oils was not necessarily restricted to one specific form of application. It is important to state that individual results varied; nevertheless, the general direction of the results remained consistent.

A Systematic Review published in 2018 in the journal Journal of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Cancer Research found that Aromatherapy with lavender demonstrated effectiveness in reducing labor pain during childbirth. In the methodology for this systematic review and meta-analysis, researchers independently conducted searches across international databases such as MEDLINE/PubMed, Cochrane Library, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and Scopus. The search utilized specific symbols and terms to locate relevant randomized clinical trials. Data was then statistically analyzed using Comprehensive Meta-analysis (CMA) software. In the discussion of results, a total of 244 primary studies were initially found, and ultimately 5 studies, which included 541 participants, were analyzed in the review. It was found that aromatherapy with lavender reduced labor pain in the active phase of childbirth. Overall, the clinical trials were of moderate quality and combinatory. Importantly, the use of lavender in aromatherapy led to a notable difference in labor pain between the aromatherapy groups and control groups. This finding suggests the potential of lavender aromatherapy as a useful tool for pain relief during labor.

A Cohort Study published in 2017 in the journal Belitung Nursing Journal found that Combining effleurage massage and green coconut water is more effective than massage alone in reducing menstrual pain and anxiety, and boosting ß-endorphin levels in teenage girls. This research employed a quasi-experimental design, using pretest-posttest approach, with a control group. A total of 36 participants were recruited through purposive sampling, and divided into three groups: massage therapy, combination therapy (massage and green coconut water), and a control group. Levels of menstrual pain were gauged using the Numeric Rating Scale, while anxiety was measured via the Zung Self rating Anxiety Scale, and ß-endorphin levels were determined through the ELISA test. One-way ANOVA test and repeated ANOVA were applied for a bivariate analysis, while MANCOVA and post hoc ANOVA were utilised for the multivariate analysis. Discussion of the results revealed that the combination therapy of effleurage massage and green coconut water was more successful than massage therapy alone in combating the symptoms of dysmenorrhea. Specifically, the combination therapy was found to offer a superior reduction in pain and anxiety levels, plus a more noticeable increase in ß-endorphin levels. This suggests that these two methods, when combined, can offer significant benefits to women suffering from menstrual pain.

A Systematic Review published in 2017 in the journal Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine found that Traditional Chinese massage therapy can effectively treat asthma and significantly improve pulmonary function in children. In this meta-analysis, we evaluated the effects of massage on treatment of children asthma. The findings produced by the fixed-effects model indicate that massage therapy can significantly increase the efficacy of the treatment on children asthma and improve pulmonary function index FEV1 and PEF. However, we could not conclude the favorable mechanism of massage in the overall meta-analysis due to the small number of articles. All studies have shown that massage therapy has a significantly positive effect on children with asthma, improves the pulmonary function parameters of large airway, reduces the plasma concentrations of PAF and prostaglandin, and increases the levels of PAF-AH and DP1; therefore, it greatly improves pulmonary function. However, the limited research designs of included studies lead to high risk of bias. More randomized controlled trials with better methodological quality are needed to further confirm the effectiveness of massage.

A Randomised Controlled Trial published in 2012 in the journal Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Research found that Blended essential oils, including lavender, sage, and marjoram, show potential in relieving menstrual cramps and reducing pain duration in women with primary dysmenorrhea. For the methodology, the researchers conducted a randomized, double-blind clinical trial involving 48 outpatients suffering from primary dysmenorrhea. These patients’ discomfort was rated above five on a 10-point numeric scale. Participants were divided evenly into two groups: one was treated with a cream blending lavender, clary sage, and marjoram essential oils, while the other received a synthetic fragrance. All participants massaged the cream onto their lower abdomen daily, from the end of one menstrual cycle to the start of the next. In the discussion of results, it was found that the treatment provided relief and decreased pain duration for patients in the essential oils group following a single menstrual cycle. Among the blended oils, four key analgesic components—linalyl acetate, linalool, eucalyptol, and β-caryophyllene—were principally credited for pain reduction, constituting up to 79.29% of the blend. Thus, these findings propose that this mixed formula might be a valid alternative and complementary medicine approach for primary dysmenorrhea.

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