1
|
Mohanty P, Kishore J, Acharya GC, Mohanty I, Patnaik L, Bhowmik B, Sahoo M, Satpathy N, Sahoo PK, Jena PK. Utilization of Ayurveda, Yoga, Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, and Homoeopathy (AYUSH) Practitioners' Services Among Older Adults: Results From the Longitudinal Aging Study in India. Cureus 2024; 16:e62192. [PMID: 39006656 PMCID: PMC11239359 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.62192] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/11/2024] [Indexed: 07/16/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Ayurveda, yoga, naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, and homeopathy (AYUSH) form an alternative system of medicine in India. Understanding the utilization of AYUSH practitioners' services is crucial to substantiating the current government initiatives to mainstream AYUSH in the Indian health system. The utilization of AYUSH practitioners' services among different sub-populations, including older adults, for various health conditions is underexplored. The present study explores the utilization of AYUSH practitioners' service among older Indian adults and its correlates. METHODS During 2017-2018, the Longitudinal Aging Study in India (LASI) conducted a nationally representative study among adults aged 45 years or more and their spouses. The study leveraged this data from publicly available LASI. Descriptive analysis and cross-tabulation were performed using a subset of older adults (age ≥ 60 years, n = 31,464). The utilization of AYUSH practitioners' services was taken as the outcome variable. A logistic regression model was employed to understand the independent effect of various explorative variables on the use of AYUSH practitioners' services. RESULTS One in 14 older adults utilized the services of AYUSH practitioners. The socio-demographic factors that were looked at, including religion, residence, and caste were significant independent factors for AYUSH consultation. Among chronic conditions, hypertension (use-5.6%, AOR: 1.24, CI: 1.09-1.40), diabetes (use-4.2%, AOR: 1.31, CI: 1.09-1.57), and arthritis (use-9.1%, AOR: 0.59, CI: 0.52-0.67) were independent determinants of AYUSH practitioners' service utilization. In the fully adjusted model, the effect of explanatory variables is almost similar to that in the minimally adjusted model. Only the effect of the female gender was accentuated in magnitude, whereas the effect of diabetes was partially attenuated. CONCLUSION The preference for AYUSH practitioners' service among older adults is determined by the complex interplay between socio-demographic factors and disease conditions. Though utilization of AYUSH practitioners' service was high among certain underprivileged sections, it is assuring that education and income do not affect older populations' preference for AYUSH practitioners' service.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Parimala Mohanty
- Public Health, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Guwahati, IND
| | - Jugal Kishore
- Community Medicine, Vardhman Mahavir Medical College and Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi, IND
| | - Geeta C Acharya
- Community Medicine, Kalinga Institute of Medical Sciences, Bhubaneswar, IND
| | - Itishree Mohanty
- Hospital Administration, Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT), Bhubaneswar, IND
| | - Lipilekha Patnaik
- Community Medicine, Institute of Medical Sciences and SUM Hospital, Siksha 'O' Anusandhan deemed to be University, Bhubaneswar, IND
| | - Bratati Bhowmik
- Public Health, Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT), Bhubaneswar, IND
| | - Monalisha Sahoo
- Public Health, Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT), Bhubaneswar, IND
| | - Nancy Satpathy
- Public Health, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), New Delhi, IND
- Community Medicine, Institute of Medical Sciences and SUM Hospital, Siksha 'O' Anusandhan deemed to be University, Bhubaneswar, IND
| | - Prasanta K Sahoo
- Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, and Homeopathy (AYUSH), All India Institute of Medical Sciences Bhubaneswar, Bhubaneshwar, IND
| | - Pratap K Jena
- Healthcare Management, Swiss School of Business and Management (SSBM) Geneva, Geneva, CHE
- Public Health, Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT), Bhubaneswar, IND
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Martín-Riobóo E, Turégano-Yedro M, Banegas JR. Evidence on the use of alternative substances and therapies in hypertension. HIPERTENSION Y RIESGO VASCULAR 2024; 41:40-57. [PMID: 38123388 DOI: 10.1016/j.hipert.2023.11.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2023] [Accepted: 11/10/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Review of some of the best-known biological and non-biological complementary/alternative therapies/medicines (CAM) and their relationship with blood pressure (BP) and hypertension (HT). SEARCH STRATEGY Narrative review assessing a recent series of systematic reviews, meta-analyses, and clinical trials published in recent years, focusing on the effects of CAM on BP and HT. SELECTION OF STUDIES We searched EMBASE, MEDLINE, Cochrane Library and Google Scholar, obtaining a total of 4336 articles, finally limiting the search to 181 after applying filters. SYNTHESIS OF RESULTS Some studies on biological therapies show some usefulness in BP reduction with an adequate benefit-risk balance, although there is a scarcity of high-quality trials that support these results. Some mind-body therapies have shown hypothetical benefit; in contrast, others lack robust evidence. CONCLUSIONS Although some therapies present a reasonable risk-benefit ratio, they should in no case replace pharmacological treatment when indicated.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- E Martín-Riobóo
- Especialista en Medicina Familiar y Comunitaria, UGC Poniente, Distrito Sanitario Córdoba-Guadalquivir, Córdoba, IMIBIC, Hospital Reina Sofía Córdoba, Spain.
| | - M Turégano-Yedro
- Especialista en Medicina Familiar y Comunitaria, Centro de Salud Casar de Cáceres, Cáceres, Spain
| | - J R Banegas
- Especialista en Medicina Preventiva y Salud Pública, Departamento de Medicina Preventiva y Salud Pública, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid/IdiPaz y CIBERESP, Madrid, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Saloň A, Steuber B, Neshev R, Schmid-Zalaudek K, De Boever P, Bergmann E, Picha R, Fredriksen PM, Nkeh-Chungag BN, Goswami N. Vascular Responses following Light Therapy: A Pilot Study with Healthy Volunteers. J Clin Med 2023; 12:jcm12062229. [PMID: 36983231 PMCID: PMC10054429 DOI: 10.3390/jcm12062229] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2023] [Revised: 02/16/2023] [Accepted: 03/07/2023] [Indexed: 03/16/2023] Open
Abstract
(1) Background: Studies have reported the effectiveness of light therapy in various medical conditions. Our pilot study aimed to assess the effect of Maharishi light therapy (MLT) on physiological parameters, such as the heart rate (HR), HR variability (HRV), blood pressure (BP), BP variability (BPV), and the retinal microvasculature of healthy participants; (2) Methodology: Thirty (14 males and 16 females) healthy, non-smoking participants between 23 and 71 years old (46 ± 18 years) were included in this randomized crossover study. Each participant was tested with a placebo (using LED light) and gem lights, 24 h apart. Hemodynamic parameters were recorded during the session, and 24 h heart rate and BP levels were assessed via mobile devices. Retinal vascular responses were captured with fundus images and the subsequent analysis of retinal vessel widths. A linear model, using repeated measures ANOVA, was used to compare the responses across the sexes and to assess the effect of the MLT; (3) Results: Changes in the central retinal artery equivalent (CRAE) (p < 0.001) and central retinal vein equivalent (CRVE) (p = 0.002) parameters were observed. CRAE and CRVE decreased under MLT and increased under the placebo condition from before to after. However, the baseline values of the participants already differed significantly before the application of any therapy, and the variation in the retinal vessel diameters was already large in the baseline measurements. This suggests that the observed effect results may only reflect naturally occurring fluctuations in the microcirculation and not the effect of MLT. Furthermore, no significant effects were observed in any other investigated parameters; (4) Conclusion: Our study with healthy participants finds significant changes in retinal parameters, but the biological variation in the baseline measurements was large to begin with. This suggests that the observed effect results only reflect naturally occurring fluctuations in the microcirculation and not the effect of MLT. However, in the future, larger studies in which MLT is applied for longer periods and/or in patients with different diseases could discover the physiological impacts of this type of therapy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Adam Saloň
- Gravitational Physiology and Medicine Research Unit, Division of Physiology, Otto Loewi Research Center, Medical University of Graz, 8036 Graz, Austria
- Faculty of Health and Social Sciences, Inland Norway University of Applied Science, 2624 Lillehammer, Norway
| | - Bianca Steuber
- Gravitational Physiology and Medicine Research Unit, Division of Physiology, Otto Loewi Research Center, Medical University of Graz, 8036 Graz, Austria
| | - Ruslan Neshev
- Gravitational Physiology and Medicine Research Unit, Division of Physiology, Otto Loewi Research Center, Medical University of Graz, 8036 Graz, Austria
| | - Karin Schmid-Zalaudek
- Gravitational Physiology and Medicine Research Unit, Division of Physiology, Otto Loewi Research Center, Medical University of Graz, 8036 Graz, Austria
| | - Patrick De Boever
- Centre for Environmental Sciences, Hasselt University, 3500 Hasselt, Belgium
| | - Eva Bergmann
- Meditation Center in Silkeborg, Moerksoevej 71, 8600 Silkeborg, Denmark
| | - Rainer Picha
- Rehabilitation Center for Cardiovascular Disease, 8061 St. Radegund, Austria
| | - Per Morten Fredriksen
- Faculty of Health and Social Sciences, Inland Norway University of Applied Science, 2624 Lillehammer, Norway
| | - Benedicta Ngwechi Nkeh-Chungag
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, Walter Sisulu University PBX1, Mthatha 5117, South Africa
| | - Nandu Goswami
- Gravitational Physiology and Medicine Research Unit, Division of Physiology, Otto Loewi Research Center, Medical University of Graz, 8036 Graz, Austria
- College of Medicine, Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dubai P.O. Box 505055, United Arab Emirates
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +43-316-385-73852; Fax: +43-316-385-79005
| |
Collapse
|