The oil-dispersion bath in anthroposophic medicine – an integrative review

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Anthroposophic medicine offers a variety of treatments, among others the oil-dispersion bath, developed in the 1930s by Werner Junge. Based on the phenomenon that oil and water do not mix and on recommendations of Rudolf Steiner, Junge developed a vortex mechanism which churns water and essential oils into a fine mist. The oil-covered droplets empty into a tub, where the patient immerses for 15–30 minutes. We review the current literature on oil-dispersion baths.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The following databases were searched: Medline, Pubmed, Embase, AMED and CAMbase. The search terms were 'oil-dispersion bath' and 'oil bath', and their translations in German and French. An Internet search was also performed using Google Scholar, adding the search terms 'study' and 'case report' to the search terms above. Finally, we asked several experts for gray literature not listed in the above-mentioned databases. We included only articles which met the criterion of a clinical study or case report, and excluded theoretical contributions.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Among several articles found in books, journals and other publications, we identified 1 prospective clinical study, 3 experimental studies (enrolling healthy individuals), 5 case reports, and 3 field-reports. In almost all cases, the studies described beneficial effects – although the methodological quality of most studies was weak. Main indications were internal/metabolic diseases and psychiatric/neurological disorders.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Beyond the obvious beneficial effects of warm bathes on the subjective well-being, it remains to be clarified what the unique contribution of the distinct essential oils dispersed in the water can be. There is a lack of clinical studies exploring the efficacy of oil-dispersion baths. Such studies are recommended for the future.</p

PANC Study (Pancreatitis: A National Cohort Study): national cohort study examining the first 30 days from presentation of acute pancreatitis in the UK

Abstract Background Acute pancreatitis is a common, yet complex, emergency surgical presentation. Multiple guidelines exist and management can vary significantly. The aim of this first UK, multicentre, prospective cohort study was to assess the variation in management of acute pancreatitis to guide resource planning and optimize treatment. Methods All patients aged greater than or equal to 18 years presenting with acute pancreatitis, as per the Atlanta criteria, from March to April 2021 were eligible for inclusion and followed up for 30 days. Anonymized data were uploaded to a secure electronic database in line with local governance approvals. Results A total of 113 hospitals contributed data on 2580 patients, with an equal sex distribution and a mean age of 57 years. The aetiology was gallstones in 50.6 per cent, with idiopathic the next most common (22.4 per cent). In addition to the 7.6 per cent with a diagnosis of chronic pancreatitis, 20.1 per cent of patients had a previous episode of acute pancreatitis. One in 20 patients were classed as having severe pancreatitis, as per the Atlanta criteria. The overall mortality rate was 2.3 per cent at 30 days, but rose to one in three in the severe group. Predictors of death included male sex, increased age, and frailty; previous acute pancreatitis and gallstones as aetiologies were protective. Smoking status and body mass index did not affect death. Conclusion Most patients presenting with acute pancreatitis have a mild, self-limiting disease. Rates of patients with idiopathic pancreatitis are high. Recurrent attacks of pancreatitis are common, but are likely to have reduced risk of death on subsequent admissions. </jats:sec

Kampagnen fuer erneuerbare Energien - Die Evaluation von 'Solar-na klar.' und Empfehlungen fuer neue Kampagnen

(a) Die Kampagne 'Solar - na klar.' unterstuetzt seit 1999 eine verstaerkte Verbreitung von solarthermischen Anlagen durch vielfaeltige Oeffentlichkeitsarbeit und Dienstleistungen. Die Evaluation der Kampagne kam bezueglich der externen Wirkungen zu ueberwiegend positiven Ergebnissen: Die zentralen Zielgruppen, Handwerker und der Ein-/Zweifamilienhausbesitzer, wurden durch die Kampagne gut erreicht und mit gutem Informationsmaterial angesprochen. Darueber hinaus schaetzte ca. ein Viertel der Haushalte, die eine solarthermische Anlage installierten, den Einfluss der Kampagne eher hoch ein. Allerdings vermissten die Haushalte zum Teil weiterfuehrende Informationen. Auch die befragten Handwerker aeusserten eine relativ grosse Zufriedenheit mit der Kampagne. Sie nutzten die bereitgestellten Informationsmaterialien der Kampagne jedoch nur sehr selten. Die Evaluation der internen Grundlagen und Prozesse fuehrt zu ambivalenten Ergebnissen: Beispielsweise ist es der Kampagne auf der einen Seite gelungen, eine breite und heterogene Traegerschaft zu gewinnen und flexibel auf aeussere Anforderungen zu reagieren. Auf der anderen Seite stellten sich Probleme in der Steuerung und im Konfliktmanagement ein. Hierzu trugen u.a. eine nicht ausreichend integrierte Projektplanung sowie strukturelle Unterschiede zwischen den Partnern bei. Die Evaluation muendet in der zentralen Empfehlung, die Kampagne in modififizierter Form fortzusetzen. Verbesserungsmoeglichkeiten sehen die Evaluatoren u.a. in der verstaerkten Einbindung regionaler Aktvitaeten. (b) Als Grundlage fuer die Empfehlungen fuer weitere Kampagnen fuer erneuerbare Energien analysierte das ifeu-Institut zudem weitere Evaluationen anderer Kampagnen, strukturierte potentielle Zielgruppen und fasste aktuelle Untersuchungen zum Image der erneuerbaren Energie in Deutschland zusammen. Ein erster Berichtsentwurf wurde mit Vertretern von Verbaenden der Branche diskutiert. Schliesslich wird aufgezeigt, unter welchen Bedingungen und mit welchen Elementen eine uebergeordnete Kampagne fuer alle erneuerbaren Energien sinnvoll waere, die von den Verbaenden prinzipiell gewuenscht wird. (orig.)(a) Since 1999, the 'Solar - na klar.' campaign has supported the expansion of the market for solar collectors in Germany by providing public relations activities and consulting services. The evaluation revealed predominantly positive results regarding the external effects of the campaign. The campaign was successful in reaching its main target groups, especially private house owners and craftsmen and delivered useful information regarding the installation of solar collectors to both groups. More than 25% of private home owners who had installed a collector expressed the view that the campaign had a significant influence in their decision. However, many home owners that were interviewed in the evaluation study expressed the need for more and detailed information, e.g. regarding the economic efficiency of solar collectors. Interviews with owners of businesses that install solar collectors revaled the material provided by the campaign was rarely used although most of businesses expressed a high level of satisfaction with the campaign itself. The evaluation of the internal principles and processes of the campaign yielded an ambivalent picture. While the campaign was successful in involving a heterogeneous spectrum of stakeholders flexibly reacted to changes in the political and other conditions, problems emerged with the conflict management in the campaign itself. These problems were accelerated by the lack of both an integrated project planning and large structural differences between the actors involved. The main recommendation of the evaluators is that the campaign be continued in a modified manner. Among other issues, stronger emphasis should be placed to include activities on the regional level since these have the potential to further increase the external effects of the campaign. (b) In developing recommendations for other campaigns on renewable energies, the ifeu-Institute analysed existing evaluations of other marketing campaigns in the field, localized relevant target groups and condensed recent image studies about renewable energies in Germany. As a result, the report details the main elements and conditions that are necessary for campaigns that cover all types of renewable energies, such campaigns are supported in principal by all stakeholder groups. (orig.)SIGLEAvailable from TIB Hannover: RN 8422(2002,22) / FIZ - Fachinformationszzentrum Karlsruhe / TIB - Technische InformationsbibliothekDEGerman