OBM Integrative and Complementary Medicine is an international peer-reviewed Open Access journal published quarterly online by LIDSEN Publishing Inc. It covers all evidence-based scientific studies on integrative, alternative and complementary approaches to improving health and wellness.

Topics contain but are not limited to:

  • Acupuncture
  • Acupressure
  • Acupotomy
  • Bioelectromagnetics applications
  • Pharmacological and biological treatments including their efficacy and safety
  • Diet, nutrition and lifestyle changes
  • Herbal medicine
  • Homeopathy
  • Manual healing methods (e.g., massage, physical therapy)
  • Kinesiology
  • Mind/body interventions
  • Preventive medicine
  • Research in integrative medicine
  • Education in integrative medicine
  • Related policies

It publishes a variety of article types: Original Research, Review, Communication, Opinion, Comment, Conference Report, Technical Note, Book Review, etc.

There is no restriction on paper length, provided that the text is concise and comprehensive. Authors should present their results in as much detail as possible, as reviewers are encouraged to emphasize scientific rigor and reproducibility.

Indexing: DOAJ-Directory of Open Access Journals.

Publication Speed (median values for papers published in 2023): Submission to First Decision: 5.9 weeks; Submission to Acceptance: 14.7 weeks; Acceptance to Publication: 8 days (1-2 days of FREE language polishing included)

Open Access Review

The Interplay of Nutrition, Exercise, and Dietary Intervention for Enhanced Performance of Athletes and General Well-Being of Non-Athletes: A Review

Received: 28 December 2023;  Published: 28 June 2024;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2402038

Abstract

The optimal enhancement of athletic performance, recovery from exhaustion after exercise, and injury prevention are products of appropriate nutrition. Nutritional supplements that contain proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals are frequently utilized in various sports to complement the recommended daily amounts. Several of these supplements [...]

Open Access Original Research

North Central Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Center: 2020-2023: Outcomes, Lessons Learned, and Recommendations for the Future

Received: 26 April 2024;  Published: 28 June 2024;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2402037

Abstract

Agricultural producers (i.e., farmers, ranchers) and agricultural workers (i.e., hired labor, farmworkers) have worse mental health than the general population and often lack access to mental healthcare. In response, the United States Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture funded four regional Farm and Ranch Stress [...]

Open Access Perspective

Organisational and Emotional Psychology Views on Yozan Uesugi’s Leadership

Received: 09 January 2024;  Published: 27 June 2024;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2402036

Abstract

Yozan Uesugi was a Daimyo (feudal lord) who governed an area called Yonezawa in Yamagata Prefecture, Japan from 1767 to 1823. Yonezawa was originally an impoverished provincial government which under his leadership regained a healthy financial status. His leadership style was unique among Daimyos, yet respected and regarded as an ideal by many including [...]

Open Access Case Report

Art of Telesupport of Caregiver during Myasthenia Gravis Crisis by COVID-19 Infection-Related Followed by Rescue in Late-Onset Patient

Received: 06 February 2024;  Published: 21 June 2024;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2402035

Abstract

An 83-year-old man with myasthenia gravis was hospitalized in the ICU; support for caregivers of elderly myasthenic patients in the ICU can be a crucial aspect of their care. Myasthenia gravis is a chronic autoimmune neuromuscular disease that can cause varying levels of muscle weakness, which can significantly impact the patient's day-to-day activities [...]

Open Access Short Communication

Therapeutic Termination of Pregnancy and Paternal Mental Outcomes

Received: 26 December 2023;  Published: 13 June 2024;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2402034

Abstract

Therapeutic termination of pregnancy (TToP) is performed for maternal health risks or severe fetal malformations. Research focuses on women's psychopathological outcomes after TToP, noting that 10-22% of women experience psychiatric disorders, especially depressive symptoms and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). However, little is known about patern [...]

Open Access Research Article

Developing a Compassion Focused Supervision Model for Senior Leaders in Education

Received: 22 March 2024;  Published: 11 June 2024;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2402033

Abstract

This article describes the development and delivery of a novel model of supervision for senior teachers in schools, informed by Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT). It explores whether this model can be considered acceptable and valuable to senior teachers, and is able to be delivered by multiple supervisors using a manual. Surveys, interviews, and focus [...]

Open Access Original Research

Prescribed Medicinal Cannabis for the Treatment of Chronic Pain Comorbid with Depression: Real World Evidence from Project Twenty21

Received: 01 March 2024;  Published: 05 June 2024;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2402032

Abstract

Chronic pain is one of the most common conditions for which people seek treatment with cannabis-based medicinal products (CBMPs) and there is mounting real world evidence that CBMPs are safe and effective in treating pain. Many people with chronic pain also experience major depression and it is unknown whether pain patients with major depression derive [...]

Open Access Original Research

Is Stimulant Treatment in Children and Adolescents with Mood Dysregulation Associated with Adverse Outcomes?

Received: 25 January 2024;  Published: 04 June 2024;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2402031

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to examine effects of stimulant treatment in children and adolescents with high levels of emotional dysregulation in a psychiatric outpatient clinic. Subjects were referred children and adolescents 6-17 years of age who presented to a child psychiatric outpatient clinic between September 2016-November 2021 and received a prescri [...]

Open Access Review

Trauma in Schools: A Review of the Impact of Childhood Trauma and Assessment of a Potential Intervention

Received: 02 March 2023;  Published: 24 May 2024;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2402030

Abstract

According to the National Survey of Children’s Health (NSCH), nearly 30 million children in the United States have experienced one or more types of significant childhood trauma. In the average public school, this statistic translates to as many as half of the students in a given teacher’s classroom. Children exposed to the toxic stress of trauma [...]

Open Access Original Research

Enhancing Therapist Courage: Feasibility and Changes in Distress Tolerance and Equanimity Following Martial Arts-Based Radically Embodied Compassion Workshops

Received: 07 April 2024;  Published: 21 May 2024;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2402029

Abstract

The work of psychotherapy demands much of those who engage in it. Compassion provisioned by therapists requires varying competencies, yet remains a highly embodied and enactive endeavour. Therapist skill can be cultivated in this area and enhanced through a variety of body-mind trainings, including various forms of therapist personal practice. However [...]

Open Access Original Research

Effect of Hydrotherapy and Physical Activity on Uric Acid and Nitric Oxide Concentrations in Serum Samples

Received: 20 November 2023;  Published: 21 May 2024;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2402028

Abstract

Hydrotherapy is highly recommended for older adults because it offers warmth and support, so people with pain or reduced mobility and balance can move and exercise more freely compared to regular physical activity. The high plasma antioxidant capacity of uric acid in neutralizing oxidative species and the importance of nitric oxide (NO) in vasodilation [...]

Open Access Editorial

Mechanisms of Laser Acupuncture – Hypotheses and Evidence

Received: 14 May 2024;  Published: 15 May 2024;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2402027

Abstract

Laser acupuncture, a rising complementary therapy, applies a low-intensity laser to acupuncture points, yet its underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Proposed hypotheses include modulation of cellular signaling, tissue repair, and immune modulation. Laser acupuncture may stimulate energy flow, neurotransmitter release, cellular changes, immune regulatio [...]

Open Access Review

The Impact of Wellbeing Interventions on the Anxiety Levels of Children Attending Low-Income Schools: A Systematic Literature Review

Received: 02 November 2023;  Published: 11 May 2024;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2402026

Abstract

This systematic review examined the impact of wellbeing interventions on the anxiety levels of children attending low-income schools. Studies, published between January 2000 and April 2022, were included if they had samples of school aged children attending low-income schools who were given a universal school-based wellbeing intervention. Ten databases [...]

Open Access Original Research

The Impact of Stress on Father Involvement in Early Infancy: Examining Risk and Protective Factors in Residential and Nonresidential Fathers

Received: 24 December 2023;  Published: 30 April 2024;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2402025

Abstract

Residential and nonresidential fathers are taking an increasingly greater role in their children’s lives, and father involvement predicts positive child outcomes across development. This study utilized data from a large sample of racially and ethnically diverse fathers of low to middle income (n = 1,112) to test if paternal stress is associated with [...]

Open Access Concept Paper

Compassion-Focused Mentoring: An Antidote to Adverse Faculty-Student Mentoring Outcomes?

Received: 14 October 2023;  Published: 27 April 2024;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2402024

Abstract

Fueled by decreased state support, economic pressures, and a growing emphasis on academic capitalism, higher education in the United States faces significant challenges. These shifts have fostered fast-paced, competitive environments, impacting the quality and equity of faculty-student mentoring in graduate programs, particularly for Black, Indigenous [...]

Open Access Original Research

The Acceptability and Impact of a Video on Compassion Focused Therapy as a Psycho-Educative Tool to Deepen Awareness around Voice-Hearing

Received: 21 December 2023;  Published: 25 April 2024;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2402023

Abstract

In the compassion focused therapy (CFT) model of voice-hearing, a distressing relationship with voices is thought to be influenced by evolved threat-protection patterns, which are activated and attuned by socially threatening experiences, such as being harmed by others, as well being shamed, stigmatised, invalidated, and excluded. Therefore, the CFT [...]

Open Access Editorial

Acupuncture in Oncology – Update 2024

Received: 02 April 2024;  Published: 03 April 2024;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2402022

Abstract

Acupuncture, as a promising complementary therapy for cancer patients, offers personalized symptom management and improved quality of life alongside conventional treatments. With its proven efficacy in alleviating chemotherapy-induced side effects such as nausea, fatigue, and pain, acupuncture stands as a holistic approach to cancer care. Tailored to [...]

Open Access Original Research

“Seeing Myself Through Someone Else’s Eyes”: Embodying the Perfect Nurturer in Compassion Focused Therapy

Received: 29 January 2024;  Published: 27 March 2024;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2401021

Abstract

Compassion-focused chairwork has become a recent focus of empirical investigation. This study extended this area of research by exploring how participants with depression experienced the ‘compassionate other’ imagery exercise enacted via chairwork methods. Eight individuals from primary care NHS mental health services were interviewed about their [...]

Open Access Short Report

The Heavy Burden of Judgement: Cultivating Compassion with People Accessing Healthcare Services for Support with Weight Management

Received: 16 October 2023;  Published: 20 March 2024;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2401020

Abstract

Compassion focused therapy concepts and techniques are explored in the context of weight management efforts within community, specialist and surgical settings. Living at higher weights within a culture that over-values life at low weights can induce feelings of shame, self-loathing and hypercriticism. This article examines points at which individuals [...]

Open Access Research Article

Effectiveness of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) Interventions on Mindfulness and Stress Symptoms for Cancer Patients: A Quantitative Assessment

Received: 21 January 2024;  Published: 13 March 2024;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2401019

Abstract

The aim of this article is to provide a quantitative assessment of the correlation between heightened mindfulness and stress reduction among cancer patients and survivors who engaged in Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) interventions. Utilizing data from eight studies, we conducted quantitative analyses to provide the effectiveness scores of [...]

Open Access Original Research

Modified Jade Wind-Barrier Formula (MJWB) for Preventing Common Cold in Elderly with Qi-deficiency Constitution: A Controlled Trial

Received: 04 December 2023;  Published: 06 March 2024;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2401018

Abstract

The modified Jade Wind-Barrier formula (MJWB) may prevent the common cold in the elderly with a Qi-deficiency Constitution. Previously, no controlled trial evidence existed to illuminate the concept of “preventive treatment of disease” as outlined in the constitution theory of Traditional Chinese Medicine. This theory distinctly suggests that enhanc [...]

Open Access Original Research

Covid 19’s Social Quarantine-Moderated Self-Reported Mental Health and Substance Use Among US Adults

Received: 03 December 2023;  Published: 29 February 2024;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2401017

Abstract

In 2019 the novel coronavirus spread quickly throughout the world. It was easily transmitted, resulting in a sudden increase in infection and death rates that overwhelmed hospitals. This sudden pandemic resulted in government and health officials mandating physical and social quarantines to decrease the spread of COVID-19. All these unexpected factors [...]

Open Access Review

Beneficial Effects of Acupuncture for Depression-A Possible Mediation of Peripheral Sensory Stimulation and Central Oxytocin Release

Received: 28 August 2023;  Published: 27 February 2024;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2401016

Abstract

In modern society, depression is one of the most common mental disorders. It is generally thought that depression is due to the disorders of neuronal circuits and chemical balance in the brain. Patients with depression often receive treatment with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). However, recent studies suggest that the magnitude of [...]

Open Access Original Research

Dancing Exercise Enhances Metabolic Functions via Hypercortisolism-Mediated Inhibition of Inflammatory Cytokines in Healthy Adult Volunteers

Received: 04 December 2023;  Published: 27 February 2024;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2401015

Abstract

Regular physical activity has been proven to improve metabolism, slow aging, and decrease the likelihood of various health conditions such as obesity, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disorders. Hence, dancing was evaluated for its effects on cardiovascular, liver enzymes, and biochemical markers among healthy adults. Forty (40) healthy adults (20 [...]

Open Access Original Research

Erectile Function in Men during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Received: 25 August 2023;  Published: 18 February 2024;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2401014

Abstract

This research focused on two age groups of men (under 40 and over 40 years) and their sexual function during the COVID-19 pandemic. Somatic examinations, including the measurement of hormone levels, were conducted on all patients. The subjects also completed two questionnaires and provided personal history data. The first questionnaire covered the evalu [...]

Traditional Chinese Medicine in Europe – from Science to Clinical Practice

August 15-18, 2024
Bad Zurzach, Switzerland

As in the first conference, the scientific program will address current research findings in TCM and will focus on studies in patients. In addition, the conference will offer the opportunity to learn new TCM techniques in practical courses and will be a unique platform for scientific exchange and networking among experts, practicing physicians, therapists, researchers and students interested in TCM.

More details are provided at: https://www.tcmuni.ch/en/congress/

The 14th Annual World Congress of Neurotalk

June 12-14, 2024

Budapest, Hungary

It is our great pleasure to announce the successful convening of "The 14th Annual World Congress of Neurotalk", held in Budapest, Hungary, from June 12th - 14th, 2024.
This conference focuses on basic research, advanced technology, and clinical application, providing a platform for all experts to discuss latest researches and achievements. Specific areas of interest include Neuroscience, Brain Development & Disorders, Advanced Technology, Neurodegenerative Disease, Drug Discovery, Clinical Biotherapy Development, Neuropathic Pain & Management, etc..
If you have information about upcoming conferences in 2024, please share it with us, we are always open to cooperating with conferences in all areas of integrative medicine.

The 14th Annual World Congress of Neurotalk

June 12-14, 2024
Budapest, Hungary

The Annual World Congress of Neurotalk (NT) has been successfully organized 13 times in the previous years and has attracted more than 1000 participants from over 50 countries and regions. The 14th NT will be held on June 12-14, 2024 at Budapest, Hungary. It is an international event focusing on basic research, advanced technology, and clinical application, providing a platform for all experts to discuss the latest researches and achievements.

More details are provided at: https://www.bitcongress.com/neurotalk2024europe/scientificprogram.asp

11th International Symposium on Auriculotherapy

September 8th - 10th, 2023

It is our great pleasure to announce the successful convening of "The 11th International Symposium on Auriculotherapy ", held in Copenhagen, Denmark, from September 8th - 10th, 2023. Dr. Gerhard Litscher, Editor-in-Chief of the ICM Journal, was the chair of the opening session and also gave a keynote lecture in the opening session.
This symposium is designed to build bridges between Auriculotherapy and psychotherapy. Auriculotherapy, a complementary therapy based on the stimulation of specific points on the ear, is gaining recognition for its potential to enhance psychological well-being. Researchers and practitioners are invited to share their interdisciplinary knowledge, experience, and inspiration, contributing to complex multidisciplinary approaches, a milestone in integrative medicine.
If you have information about upcoming conferences in 2023, please share it with us, we are always open to cooperating with conferences in all areas of integrative medicine.

The 21st World Congress of Psychophysiology

June 26th - 30th, 2023
Geneva, Switzerland

The IOP2023 congress in Geneva will again bring together scientists from different backgrounds who are engaged in research relevant to the understanding of the interplay between mind, brain, and body. Please find the objectives below:

1.The world-wide dissemination of information regarding psychophysiological research, teaching and apppcations

2.The estabpshment and stimulation of psychophysiological research, teaching and apppcations

3.The development and promotion of international collaborations and discussion in the field of psychophysiology

For more details, please visit: https://iop2023.com/

OBM Integrative and Complementary Medicine welcomes the following types of articles: original research, review, communication, opinion, case report, comment, conference report, technical note, book review, etc. There is no restriction on the length of the papers, color figures, supplementary file types. More details please see Instructions for Authors.

Register and Submit now.

Newsletter
Announcements

Update: Article Processing Charge  (Price Changes Effective 1 July 2024)

The journal OBM Integrative and Complementary Medicine (ISSN: 2573-4393) will have the new APCs (New APC, 500 USD) for manuscripts submitted after 30 June 2024.

Recent Highly Accessed Articles

Original Research

by Antonella Sansone et al.

OBM Integrative and Complementary Medicine 2024

Published: 02 January 2024

Review

by Charlotte Grégoire et al.

OBM Integrative and Complementary Medicine 2024

Published: 09 January 2024

Review

by Stephanie Bryan and Maryellen Hamilton

OBM Integrative and Complementary Medicine 2024

Published: 10 January 2024

Original Research

by James Hackley et al.

OBM Integrative and Complementary Medicine 2024

Published: 27 March 2024

Review

by Satchit Anand Saha et al.

OBM Integrative and Complementary Medicine 2024

Published: 09 January 2024

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