Add New Evidence to the Portal

This evidence-based medical portal is meant to be a living, breathing, growing resource - and user contributions are DEEPLY VALUED!

If you are a...

Medical professional with access to new findings, knowledge of new trials or subscription-based industry publications
A spa/wellness business or practitioner conducting your own (formal or less formal) research on client outcomes
Just a "regular" reader who comes across articles or studies

...Please contribute the evidence you come across (for or against) diverse spa/wellness therapies by clicking the "Contribute" tab.

Once you submit your contribution, it will be reviewed (before posting) by our team of experts.

Previous Contributions

The Spa Encyclopedia: A Guide to Treatments & Their Benefits for Health & Healing

Proven traditional spa treatments that have been administered for centuries throughout the world. Kur/Spa facilities have been using these treatments for prevention, rehabilitation and curing illnesses.

Dr. Reinhard Bergel & Hannelore Leavy

06/05/2012

Qualitative Assessment of the Impact of Implementing Reiki Training in a Supported Residence for People Older Than 50 Years with HIV/AIDS

Reiki training can be successfully implemented in a supported housing facility with people with HIV/AIDS and comorbid disorders. Some people in the study population reported areas of improvement and life-changing experiences.

Lewis Mehl-Madrona, MD, PhD, MPhil, Nita M Renfrew, and Barbara Mainguy, MA

12/05/2011

Neurofeedback-Enhanced Gamma Brainwaves from the Prefrontal Cortical Region of Meditators and Non-Meditators and Associated Subjective Experiences - THE JOURNAL OF ALTERNATIVE AND COMPLEMENTARY MEDICINE Volume 17, Number 2, 2011, pp. 109–115

The inner experience associated with increased clarified gamma amplitude from the prefrontal cortex apparently involves positive emotions of happiness and love, along with reduced stress.

Dr. Beverly Rubik

07/27/2011

CANCER PATIENTS, OTHERS COMBAT NAUSEA with Acupressure Bands

The use of acupressure reduced the incidence of nausea or vomiting from 53% to 23% compared with placebo during the operation and from 66% to 36% compared with placebo after the operation.

Amy Herzog

07/26/2011

Massage May Ease Chronic Bak Pain

In an Oregon Health and Science University randomized trial (401 people), reported in the Annals of Internal Medicine, people who got weekly massages for 10 weeks used less pain medicine and spent less time in bed than those without special care.

Oregon Health and Science University study, led by Dr. Richard A. Deyo

07/25/2011

Hand pain is reduced by massage therapy

Massage therapy reduces pain, increases grip strength and reduces anxiety, depressed moods and sleep disturbances with those suffering from hand pain. Hand pain result of various conditions including arthritis, carpal tunnel, overuse syndromes and injuries.

Dr. Tiffany Field, Miguel Diego, Jeannette Delgado, Daniel Garcia, C.G. Funk

07/08/2011

Massage--including the kind you get at the spa--may improve lower back pain

The study proved that both relaxation and structural massage greatly improved back pain.

Daniel C. Cherkin, PhD; Karen J. Sherman, PhD, MPH; Janet Kahn, PhD; Robert Wellman, MS; Andrea J. Cook, PhD; Eric Johnson, MS; Janet Erro, RN, MN; Kristin Delaney, MPH; and Richard A. Deyo, MD, MPH

07/08/2011

New University study finds that pomegranate juice consumption reduces workplace stress

In conclusion, the study shows that consumption of pomegranate pure juice for 2 weeks has significantly reduced blood pressure and the feeling of stress and nervousness in a large group of office workers from different disciplines. This was substantiated by the reduction in the stress hormone levels. There was also an improvement of arterial health and the above results may suggest that pomegranate juice intake can alleviate work-related stress levels in addition to the cardiac protective effect of pomegranate.

Dr. Emad Al-Dujaili, Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh

06/20/2011

"T'ai chi helps prevent falls and improve mental health in the elderly" - British Medical Journal, May 2011

An overview by the Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine and the Univ. of Exeter (UK) showed that t'ai chi, which combines deep breathing with slow and gentle movements, may exert exercise-based general benefits for fall prevention and improvement of balance in older people as well as some meditative effects for improving psychological health. "We recommend t'ai chi for older people for its various physical and psychological benefits."

Researchers from the University of Exeter (UK) and the Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine (South Korea)

06/13/2011

Study finds acupuncture can help patients with 'unexplained symptoms'

The study involved 80 adults who had consulted their GP at least eight times in the past year with problems such as headaches, muscle pain, extreme tiredness, joint and back pain. Half were sent for acupuncture, up to 12 sessions in six months, while the remainder were given no extra treatment. Those having acupuncture had a ‘significant and sustained’ benefit in their symptoms

Professor Andrew Gould, Researcher, Charlotte Paterson, Institute of Health Services Research, Peninsula Medical School, University of Exeter, UK

05/30/2011

St. Johns Wort (hypericum) for psoriasis - a case study

Within 6 weeks of daily topical treatment with a 10% solution of hypericum a long standing condition of psoriasis was in complete remission.

John Smith

05/16/2011