Explore: The Journal of Science and Healing RSS feed: Current Issue. EXPLORE: The Journal of Science & Healing addresses the scientific principles behind, and applications of, evidence-based healing practices from a wide variety of sources, including conventional, alternative, and cross-cultural medicine. It is an interdisciplinary journal that explores the healing arts, consciousness, spirituality, eco-environmental issues, and basic science as all these fields relate to health.http://www.explorejournal.com/?rss=yesElsevier Inc.en © 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. Explore: The Journal of Science and Healing1550-830761January 2010 © 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. healthpermissions@elsevier.comhttp://www.explorejournal.com/article/PIIS1550830709003668/abstract?rss=yes“Gluttony is … a sign that something is eating us.”—Peter De Vries George Rector, a celebrated restaurateur in New York City, called him “the best 25 customers I ever had.” He was referring to James Buchanan “Diamond Jim” Brady (1856-1917), who is famous in culinary history because of his gargantuan appetite.Gluttony and ObesityLarry Dossey10.1016/j.explore.2009.11.002Explore: The Journal of Science and Healing 6, 1 (2010)2010-01-01Explore: The Journal of Science and Healing2010-01-0161S1550-8307(09)X0007-8Explorations16http://www.explorejournal.com/article/PIIS1550830709002924/abstract?rss=yesIt is almost a new year and we're beginning a new decade. These benchmarks in time give us an opportunity to take stock of where we've been, what's happened to us, and where we would like to go from here. If one word could characterize this past decade, I would say that word would be SuperStress. The Oxford Dictionary describes super as “a high or unusual or excessive degree of a quality,” and that description aptly characterizes the type of stress I've watched patients endure. I believe this a result of both the changing nature of our daily lives and our choices in lifestyle habits, as well as a series of unfortunate events. Extreme chronic stress is now causally linked with more diseases than obesity and has silently become a pandemic that disturbs not only how we perceive our quality of life but also our health and mortality.The New Pandemic: SuperStress?Roberta Lee10.1016/j.explore.2009.09.002Explore: The Journal of Science and Healing 6, 1 (2010)2010-01-01Explore: The Journal of Science and Healing2010-01-0161S1550-8307(09)X0007-8Guest Editorial710http://www.explorejournal.com/article/PIIS1550830709003711/abstract?rss=yesLife can change rapidly; we all know that. But sometimes it changes in ways we aren't expecting, which is exactly what happened at the Institute of Noetic Sciences (IONS) in October 2009. They did not know they were in the book.The Lost Symbol Sparks Nationwide Interest in the Noetic SciencesBonnie J. Horrigan10.1016/j.explore.2009.11.007Explore: The Journal of Science and Healing 6, 1 (2010)2010-01-01Explore: The Journal of Science and Healing2010-01-0161S1550-8307(09)X0007-8Matters of Note1114http://www.explorejournal.com/article/PIIS1550830709003681/abstract?rss=yesThe SchwartzReport tracks emerging trends that will affect the world, particularly the United States. For EXPLORE it focuses on matters of health in the broadest sense of that term, including medical issues, changes in the biosphere, technology, and policy considerations, all of which will shape our culture and our lives.Trends That Will Affect Your Future … Mr South Whidbey, Globalization, and the Worship of ProfitStephan A. Schwartz10.1016/j.explore.2009.11.004Explore: The Journal of Science and Healing 6, 1 (2010)2010-01-01Explore: The Journal of Science and Healing2010-01-0161S1550-8307(09)X0007-8SchwartzReport1516http://www.explorejournal.com/article/PIIS1550830709003450/abstract?rss=yesDivine healing is part of every faith and one of the most ancient health claims in the world. However, with the advent of modern medicine, most doctors relegate being healed by faith to the realm of magical thinking and superstition. Yet 75% of Americans pray at least once a week, and 56% do so daily. It is likely that at least some of these prayers are petitionary prayers for healing. What reinforces this behavior? Presumably at least some prayers for healing are answered. We were interested in how people define answered prayers for healing.Medicine Can Give Me a Diagnosis, and Faith Can Give Me a Different Prognosis: Faith and Healing in the American SouthJane Teas10.1016/j.explore.2009.10.006Explore: The Journal of Science and Healing 6, 1 (2010)2010-01-01Explore: The Journal of Science and Healing2010-01-0161S1550-8307(09)X0007-8Original Research1721http://www.explorejournal.com/article/PIIS1550830709003425/abstract?rss=yesBackground: Collaborative input from clinicians of acupuncture and Oriental medicine (AOM) is required for sound AOM research, and AOM training institutions have begun to include research education into their curriculum. However, few attempts have been made to systematically evaluate AOM practitioners' perspectives on the value of research to their profession.Methods: We conducted surveys of AOM students at two institutions that have begun to integrate research training into their curriculum, the New England School of Acupuncture and the Oregon College of Oriental Medicine. Surveys were conducted to assess current attitudes regarding the value of research and to serve as a reference point for documenting the impact of ongoing research training programs on these attitudes. Surveys at both institutions were independently developed and administered but shared seven questions that were phrased very similarly. This paper summarizes responses to these questions.Results: Surveys at both institutions suggest interest in research among AOM students is high in first-year students; students in later years showed a lower level of interest, but the cross-sectional design of this survey does not allow any temporal effects to be inferred. Results also indicate that AOM students believe research is highly relevant to how both the public and the health insurance industry view their system of healthcare but not highly relevant to their own clinical practice of AOM. The belief that research is of limited relevance to clinical practice was associated with widespread belief that scientific methods may not be consistent with the principles of AOM.Conclusions: Results of these surveys provide important preliminary information about attitudes of AOM students toward research, and thus the value and future specific needs of research training programs targeting this population. Repeated implementation of validated versions of our surveys are needed to confirm the trends we report and to evaluate the impact of research training programs already in place on AOM students' attitudes toward research.Attitudes and Interests Toward Research Among Students at Two Colleges of Acupuncture and Oriental MedicinePeter M. Wayne, Richard Hammerschlag, Jacqueline Savetsky-German, Tim F. Chapman10.1016/j.explore.2009.10.003Explore: The Journal of Science and Healing 6, 1 (2010)2010-01-01Explore: The Journal of Science and Healing2010-01-0161S1550-8307(09)X0007-8Original Research2228http://www.explorejournal.com/article/PIIS1550830709003437/abstract?rss=yesIt has become increasingly evident that bidirectional (“top-down and bottom-up”) interactions between the brain and peripheral tissues, including the cardiovascular and immune systems, contribute to both mental and physical health. Therapies directed toward addressing functional links between mind/brain and body may be particularly effective in treating the range of symptoms associated with many chronic diseases. In this paper, we describe the basic components of an integrative psychophysiological framework for research aimed at elucidating the underlying substrates of mind-body therapies. This framework recognizes the multiple levels of the neuraxis at which mind-body interactions occur. We emphasize the role of specific fronto-temporal cortical regions in the representation and control of adverse symptoms, which interact reciprocally with subcortical structures involved in bodily homeostasis and responses to stress. Bidirectional autonomic and neuroendocrine pathways transmit information between the central nervous system and the periphery and facilitate the expression of affective, autonomic, hormonal, and immune responses. We propose that heart rate variability (HRV) and markers of inflammation are important currently available indices of central-peripheral integration and homeostasis within this homeostatic network. Finally, we review current neuroimaging and psychophysiological research from diverse areas of mind-body medicine that supports the framework as a basis for future research on the specific biobehavioral mechanisms of mind-body therapies.Top-Down and Bottom-Up Mechanisms in Mind-Body Medicine: Development of an Integrative Framework for Psychophysiological ResearchAnn Gill Taylor, Lisa E. Goehler, Daniel I. Galper, Kim E. Innes, Cheryl Bourguignon10.1016/j.explore.2009.10.004Explore: The Journal of Science and Healing 6, 1 (2010)2010-01-01Explore: The Journal of Science and Healing2010-01-0161S1550-8307(09)X0007-8Hypothesis2941http://www.explorejournal.com/article/PIIS1550830709003449/abstract?rss=yesHeadaches in children are common, and their care presents a challenge to both allopathic and nonallopathic physicians. Their recurrence have an impact on a child's life in a number of ways, including school absenteeism and reduction in scholastic performance, decreased home and family interactions, and decreased socialization with peers. The medical approach to the child with headaches involves both nonpharmacologic and pharmacologic interventions. Despite such a comprehensive approach to patient care, observational studies indicate that complementary and alternative medicine for children continues to be popular. To contribute to evidence-based practice on the safety and effectiveness of spinal manipulative therapy (SMT) in children with headaches, we present this case report.Chiropractic Care of a Pediatric Patient With Migraine-Type Headaches: A Case Report and Selective Review of the LiteratureJoel Alcantara, Kyle J. Pankonin10.1016/j.explore.2009.10.005Explore: The Journal of Science and Healing 6, 1 (2010)2010-01-01Explore: The Journal of Science and Healing2010-01-0161S1550-8307(09)X0007-8Case Report4246http://www.explorejournal.com/article/PIIS1550830709003656/abstract?rss=yesDiet can be a powerful force for health as well as for disease in everyone, and men have specific health concerns that can be addressed through diet. This article will review some of the ways in which nutrition can impact risk and assist with treatment of diseases that are the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in men, such as cardiovascular disease (CVD) and cancers of the colon and prostate, as well as hyperlipidemia, hypogonadism, and osteoporosis. In fact, four of the leading causes of death and disease in men have clear associations with diet: heart disease, cancer, stroke, and diabetes. Alcohol is a separate concern that will not be discussed in detail in this article; however, alcohol abuse is twice as common in men as in women and is associated with several of the other leading causes of death in men: suicide, homicide, and unintentional accidents/injuries.Integrative Men's NutritionMyles Spar10.1016/j.explore.2009.11.001Explore: The Journal of Science and Healing 6, 1 (2010)2010-01-01Explore: The Journal of Science and Healing2010-01-0161S1550-8307(09)X0007-8Diet & Nutrition4751http://www.explorejournal.com/article/PIIS1550830709003693/abstract?rss=yesNow that we have reviewed the seven domains of an optimal healing environment (OHE), how do we begin to implement and integrate these principles into the hospital setting? We have seen many examples of forward-thinking hospital leaders and clinicians who have taken bold steps to incorporate various components of a healing environment because they believe it is both the right thing to do and that it makes good business sense. It isn't easy, they will all agree, but can be done.Implementing OHEsSita Ananth, Wayne Jonas10.1016/j.explore.2009.11.005Explore: The Journal of Science and Healing 6, 1 (2010)2010-01-01Explore: The Journal of Science and Healing2010-01-0161S1550-8307(09)X0007-8Optimal Healing Environments5253http://www.explorejournal.com/article/PIIS155083070900370X/abstract?rss=yesContent on integrative healthcare and complementary and alternative medicine is being taught in hundreds of educational programs across the country. Nursing, medical, osteopathic, chiropractic, acupuncture, naturopathic, and other programs are finding creative and innovative ways to include these approaches in new models of education and practice. This column spotlights such innovations in integrative healthcare and CAM education and presents readers with specific educational interventions they can adapt into new or ongoing educational efforts at their institution or programs.We invite readers to submit brief descriptions of efforts in their institutions that reflect the creativity, diversity, and interdisciplinary nature of the field. Please submit to Dr Sierpina at vssierpi@utmb.edu or Dr Kreitzer at kreit003@umn.edu. Submissions should be no more than 500 to 1,500 words. Please include any Web site or other resource that is relevant, as well as contact information.The Continuing Bias Against Complementary and Integrative Healthcare EducationVictor S. Sierpina, Mary Jo Kreitzer10.1016/j.explore.2009.11.006Explore: The Journal of Science and Healing 6, 1 (2010)2010-01-01Explore: The Journal of Science and Healing2010-01-0161S1550-8307(09)X0007-8Innovations in Integrative Healthcare Education5456http://www.explorejournal.com/article/PIIS1550830709003747/abstract?rss=yesEditorial Board10.1016/S1550-8307(09)00374-7Explore: The Journal of Science and Healing 6, 1 (2010)2010-01-01Explore: The Journal of Science and Healing2010-01-0161S1550-8307(09)X0007-8FrontmatterA1A1http://www.explorejournal.com/article/PIIS1550830709003759/abstract?rss=yesMasthead10.1016/S1550-8307(09)00375-9Explore: The Journal of Science and Healing 6, 1 (2010)2010-01-01Explore: The Journal of Science and Healing2010-01-0161S1550-8307(09)X0007-8FrontmatterA2A2http://www.explorejournal.com/article/PIIS1550830709003760/abstract?rss=yesContents10.1016/S1550-8307(09)00376-0Explore: The Journal of Science and Healing 6, 1 (2010)2010-01-01Explore: The Journal of Science and Healing2010-01-0161S1550-8307(09)X0007-8FrontmatterA3A3