Recent Progress in Alternative Medicine Research

Alternative Medicine, also known as complementary and integrative medicine, encompasses a diverse range of practices and therapies that exist alongside conventional medical approaches. : Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) is becoming popular in all over the world for treatment of variety of health problems. Mostly middle-aged adults use it as they are at risk of developing non-communicable diseases [1]. Over the past few decades, alternative medicine has gained popularity, driven by factors such as dissatisfaction with certain aspects of modern medicine, the desire for holistic care, and the quest for natural remedies.

According to recent research on alternative medicine includes:

• Omega-3 fatty acids: 25% of pregnant people don’t get enough omega-3 fatty acids from their diet or supplements.
• Ginkgo biloba: Active components may improve cognitive recovery after stroke.
• Yoga Nidra: May improve sleep and memory.
• Heated yoga: May reduce depression symptoms.

Other recent research on alternative medicine includes:

• The effects of sitting and supine positions on tongue color
• An ethnobotanical study of mosquito repellent plants in Ethiopia
• The effects of combining music therapy, light therapy, and chromotherapy in treating chronic pain

The global herbal medicine industry is rapidly growing due to increasing consumer demand for natural and alternative healthcare options. Herbal medicines are valued for their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, making them popular choices for addressing health-related issues and promoting overall well-being [2]. According to globenewswire.com, the complementary and alternative medicine market is expected to grow from $97.22 billion in 2021 to nearly $362.97 billion by 2029, at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 17.9%.

Complementary, alternative, and integrative medicine has been an increasingly popular choice for patients with psychiatric disorders [3]. Alternative medicine includes mind-body therapies, biologically-based therapies, manipulative and body-based methods, energy therapies, and whole medical systems.

Some examples of alternative medicine include:

Various types of CAM are reportedly used by cancer patients worldwide. Mind-body techniques, such as meditation, yoga, and tai chi, are utilized to enhance mental and emotional well-being, reduce stress, and promote relaxation [4].

Some potential benefits of alternative medicine include:

• Relieving pain
• Reducing anxiety and stress
• Reducing nausea
• Improving mood
• Increasing relaxation
• Improving wound healing
• Encouraging feelings of well-being, pleasure, positivity, and inner peace

Let’s explore some recent advancements in this fascinating field:

1. Mind-Body Interventions

Mind-body interventions emphasize the connection between mental and physical health. Techniques like meditation, yoga, and mindfulness have gained scientific recognition for their positive effects on stress reduction [4], pain management, and overall well-being. Researchers continue to explore the underlying mechanisms and refine these practices.

2. Herbal Medicine and Botanicals

Herbal medicine has a rich history across cultures. Recent research focuses on identifying bioactive compounds in plants and understanding their therapeutic properties. Significantly, these natural remedies were found effective in managing respiratory symptoms associated with COVID-19. Notably, honey, Indian costus, ginger, turmeric, and moringa showed a positive correlation in treating respiratory complications [5]. For instance:

• Turmeric (Curcuma longa): Curcumin, the active compound in turmeric, exhibits anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects.
• Ginger (Zingiber officinale): Gingerol, found in ginger, has potential anti-nausea and anti-inflammatory properties.
• Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera): This adaptogenic herb shows promise in stress reduction and immune support.

3. Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)

Traditional medicine has garnered significant global recognition, with an estimated 80% of the global population using it. Therefore, it is essential to fully understand the integration of traditional medicines into current healthcare systems [6]. Acupuncture, a key component of TCM, involves inserting thin needles into specific points on the body. Research has explored its efficacy in pain management, fertility, and mental health. Additionally, TCM principles guide personalized treatments based on an individual’s constitution and energy balance.

4. Nutritional Therapies

Nutrition plays a vital role in health. Researchers investigate the impact of specific diets, such as the Mediterranean diet, on chronic diseases. Nutraceuticals—bioactive compounds derived from food—also attract attention. For example:

• Omega-3 fatty acids: These have anti-inflammatory effects and may benefit cardiovascular health. Scientific evidence supports the use of omega-3 essential fatty acids (EFAs) as an alternative or complementary agent to NSAIDs. Capsaicin, found in oil of camphor, is used for muscle soreness and local application for painful traumatic injuries [7].
• Probiotics: Gut health influences overall well-being, and probiotics support a balanced microbiome.

5. Energy-Based Therapies

Energy medicine is a broad term encompassing approaches such as Reiki, therapeutic touch, earthing, chakra balancing, chiropractic manipulation, anthroposophic medicine, psychic healing, crystal therapy, magnet therapy, traditional Chinese medicine, Feng Shui, acupuncture, Qigong, Ayurveda, homeopathy, and bioenergy healing [8]. Energy medicine explores the body’s energy fields. Techniques like Reiki, Qi Gong, and biofield therapies aim to restore balance and promote healing. While scientific evidence varies, interest in these modalities persists.

6. Integrative Oncology

Integrative oncology, a new field in cancer care, combines conventional supportive care and validated complementary approaches [9]. Over the last 2 decades, integrative oncology (IO) has seen exponential growth within cancer care. It aims to combine evidence-based complementary therapies with conventional treatments to improve the well-being and quality of life for individuals dealing with cancer [10]. Alternative medicine complements conventional cancer treatments. Integrative oncology combines approaches like acupuncture, massage, and mind-body practices to enhance quality of life, manage symptoms, and support cancer patients during treatment.

7. Challenges and Collaborations

Despite progress, alternative medicine faces challenges:

• Research Funding: Funding for rigorous studies remains limited.
• Standardization: Establishing consistent protocols and quality control is essential.
• Evidence Base: Researchers strive to build robust evidence for alternative therapies.

Collaboration between conventional and alternative medicine practitioners is crucial. Integrating evidence-based practices ensures comprehensive patient care.

In conclusion, alternative medicine continues to evolve, bridging ancient wisdom with modern science. As researchers delve deeper, we anticipate more breakthroughs that empower individuals to make informed health choices.

List of top most journals in Alternative Medicine

Journal titleCiteScorePublisherPhytomedicine10.4ElsevierJournal of Ginseng Research10The Korean Society of GinsengAmerican Journal of Chinese Medicine9.3World ScientificJournal of Natural Products8.5American Chemical SocietyJournal of Traditional and Complementary Medicine8.5ElsevierJournal of integrative medicine7.5Science PressComplementary Therapies in Medicine7.2ElsevierBMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies7Springer NatureChinese Medicine6.9Springer NatureChinese Journal of Natural Medicines6.8China Pharmaceutical UniversityMedical Cannabis and Cannabinoids6.3KargerJournal of Natural Medicines6.1Springer NaturePlanta Medica6ThiemeCannabis and Cannabinoid Research5.9Mary Ann LiebertPharmaceutical Biology5.6Taylor & FrancisJournal of Evidence-Based Integrative Medicine5.4SAGEChinese Journal of Integrative Medicine5.3Chinese Journal of Integrated Traditional and Western Medicine Press

What is open access journal?

An open access journal is an academic journal that publishes scholarly papers and makes the content available for access, download, reading, and distribution without charging subscription fees. People commonly refer to open access journals as “free journals” since users do not have to pay to read or use their contents. In the general context, it is somehow correct. But technically, most open access journals use Creative Commons licenses, which are public licenses that allow content usage and impose certain restrictions, if any. Such restrictions may include attribution, modifications, and non-commercialization. Open access journals are growing in popularity and are well respected in academia. Major databases such as the Directory of Open Access Publishing have begun focusing on indexing and promoting high-quality open access journals. More established databases have also followed suit. The presence of established databases in promoting open access journals is an important validation and recognition of open research.

What is open peer review?

Open peer review (OPR), where review reports and reviewers’ identities are published alongside the articles, represents one of the last aspects of the open science movement to be widely embraced, although its adoption has been growing since the turn of the century (Wolfram etal., 2020) [11]. Open peer review refers to various modifications of the traditional scholarly peer review process. These modifications aim to address perceived shortcomings of the conventional system. Here are the three common forms of open peer review:

1. Open Identities:

• In open peer review, authors and reviewers are aware of each other’s identities. Unlike traditional peer review, where reviewers remain anonymous to anyone but the journal’s editors, open peer review allows transparency by revealing reviewer names to authors.
• However, reviewer identities may or may not be disclosed to the public.

2. Open Reports:

• Under this model, review reports are made public, rather than being confidentially shared only with the article’s authors. This includes publishing not only the reviewers’ comments but also the authors’ responses and editors’ recommendations.
• Typically, this applies to articles accepted for publication, not those that are rejected.

3. Open Participation:

• In open peer review, self-selected reviewers (beyond invited experts) can comment on an article. The assumption is that the article’s content is openly accessible.
• These self-selected reviewers may contribute either brief comments or comprehensive reviews.
• The text of the article is openly available, allowing broader community participation in the review process.

The adoption of open peer review aims to enhance transparency, provide incentives, reduce wastefulness, and address issues like bullying and harassment in scholarly communication.

What are the benefits of Open Peer Review?

Open peer review (OPR) is a transparent process that allows scholarly articles to be evaluated by experts in the field, while also revealing the identities of both authors and reviewers. OPR can improve the quality of research by:

• Encouraging constructive feedback: Openness in the identities of authors and reviewers can lead to better quality feedback rather than simply rejecting the paper.
• Reducing bias: Everything is openly available to all, which can reduce the possibility of bias.
• Empowering authors: Authors can lead the process by suggesting reviewers themselves.
• Improving accountability: The quality of current scientific publications is at stake.
• Encouraging collaboration: OPR encourages collaboration and promotes diversity of perspectives, ultimately leading to more robust and credible research outcomes.
• Providing learning opportunities: OPR places a research work in the context of a discussion, and gives authors, readers and others a chance to better understand the process from the initial manuscript submission to final published version.
• Exposing possible conflicts of interest: OPR may help to expose possible conflicts of interest in some cases.

Adoption of OPR by publishers (Wolfram etal., 2020) [11]

 A summary of the most prolific publishers contributing to OPR and their headquarters country appears below. Although many journals today attract an international audience and are managed by international teams of researchers, the prevalence of OPR journals associated with publishers based in Europe stands out. Twenty-four of the 38 (63.2%) identified publishers are based in Europe and account for 445 out of the 617 titles (72.1%). Although the publishers are based in Europe, many of the journals they publish may support journals originating from other areas of the world (e.g., Kowsar). Furthermore, 500 of the OPR journals (81.0%) are published by only five publishers (MDPI, SDI, BioMed Central, Frontiers Media S.A., Kowsar). This points to the important role that publishers have played to date in the promotion of OPR (Wolfram etal., 2020) [11].

1. *United Kingdom (19 journals), United States (9), Argentina (1), Bulgaria (1), Canada (1), France (1), Germany (1), Ireland (1), Kenya (1), The Netherlands (1), Switzerland (1)

List of open Peer-review journals in alternative medicine (2024)

1. BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies (Website: https://bmccomplementmedtherapies.biomedcentral.com)
2. Journal of Complementary and Alternative Medical Research (Website: https://journaljocamr.com)
3. Journal of Pharmaceutical Research International (Website: https://journaljpri.com)
4. European Journal of Medicinal Plants (Website: https://journalejmp.com)

References

1. Rana, S., Sahu, R., Mandal, R., Maharjan, J. L., & Shrestha, R. Utilization of Complementary and Alternative Medicine among Middle Aged Adults of Bhaktapur.
2. Bhattacharjee, B., Sandhanam, K., Ghose, S., Barman, D., & Sahu, R. K. (2024). Market Overview of Herbal Medicines for Lifestyle Diseases. In Role of Herbal Medicines: Management of Lifestyle Diseases(pp. 597-614). Singapore: Springer Nature Singapore.
3. Ng, J. Y., Kochhar, J., & Cramer, H. (2024). An International, Cross-Sectional Survey of Psychiatry Researchers and Clinicians: Perceptions of Complementary, Alternative, and Integrative Medicine. medRxiv, 2024-01.
4. Yusefi, M., Reihani, H., Heydari, M., Azgomi, R. N. D., & Hashempur, M. H. (2024). Complementary and alternative medicine use among cancer patients in Iran: A systematic review. Preventive Medicine Reports, 102644.
5. Kamoka, H. M. E., & Elengoe, A. (2024). An Investigation on Use of Traditional Medicine during COVID-19 and Post-COVID-19. International Journal of Advancement in Life Sciences Research, 7(1), 89-102.
6. Zhang, Z., Li, R., Chen, Y., Yang, H., Fitzgerald, M., Wang, Q., … & Luo, L. Integration of traditional, complementary and alternative medicine with modern biomedicine: The scientization, evidence, and challenges for integration of Traditional Chinese medicine. Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine, 10-1097.
7. Singh, P., & Singh, D. ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE.
8. Guy, J., Trecek-King, M., Harpur, R. A., & Stea, J. N. (2024). Energy Medicine. In Investigating Clinical Psychology(pp. 102-115). Routledge.
9. Theunissen, I., & Bagot, J. L. (2024). Supportive cancer care: is integrative oncology the future?. Current Opinion in Oncology, 10-1097.
10. Lacey, J., Huston, A., Lopez, G., Vozmediano, J. R., Lam, C. S., Narayanan, S., … & Frenkel, M. (2024). Establishing an Integrative Oncology Service: Essential Aspects of Program Development. Current Oncology Reports, 1-12.
11. Wolfram, D., Wang, P., Hembree, A. et al. Open peer review: promoting transparency in open science. Scientometrics 125, 1033–1051 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11192-020-03488-4