Journal of Health Science and Alternative Medicine

Complementary Medicine Techniques (Hirudotherapy, Cupping Therapy and Apitherapy) in the Management of Cervical Abscess in a Diabetic Patient: A Case Report

AHMED A. RAWWASH — 2026-04-30

Introduction: Deep neck abscesses are serious infections, particularly in diabetic patients. Standard treatment involves surgical drainage and antibiotics, which may be challenging in high-risk individuals. This report details an alternative treatment approach using complementary medicine techniques (Hirudotherapy, Cupping Therapy and Apitherapy) for a patient deemed ineligible for surgery.

Methods: A 72-year-old male with poorly controlled type 2 diabetes presented with a cervical abscess. Following shared decision-making in agreement with the patient’s family, surgical intervention was not undertaken due to the patient’s advanced age and high operative risk. An integrative protocol, including medicinal Medicinal Leech Therapy, cupping therapy, and apitherapy (honey, propolis, and bee venom), was applied. Clinical progression was monitored over 18 days.

Results: The integrative regimen led to complete abscess resolution, reduced inflammation, alleviated neurological symptoms, and restored motor function. No surgical drainage or systemic antibiotic therapy was required. Close monitoring for systemic infection was maintained throughout the treatment.

Conclusions: This case suggests that selected complementary medicine modalities may serve as a feasible alternative option for managing complex deep neck abscesses in carefully selected high-risk patients. Further rigorous clinical trials are needed to validate the efficacy and safety of such integrative protocols.

Effects of Royal Thai Traditional Massage Combined with Thai Yoga Exercise among Thai Patients with Office Syndrome

Sappaporn Wirattanapokin — 2026-04-30

Introduction: Given the increasing prevalence of office syndrome and the concerns about medicinal treatments or innovative treatments that are accessible, cost-effective, and safe over the long-term are necessary. A combination therapy, such as the Royal Thai Traditional Massage combined with Thai Yoga Exercise (RTTM – TYE), is introduced to treat people suffering from office syndrome in this study, and that would fill this research gap. The study aimed to examine the effects of RTTM-TYE on pain levels and neck range of motion (NROM) by comparing two treatment methods: RTTM-TYE and RTTM alone.

Methods: A quasi-experimental, pretest-posttest research design was conducted on 60 participants diagnosed with office syndrome from the Thai traditional medicine clinic at Luangphopern Hospital in Nakhon Pathom province. Participants were assigned to two groups for a 2-week intervention period (3 sessions per week, totaling 6 sessions. While the control group of 30 received a 45-minute RTTM, the experimental group of 30 received RTTM the same as the control group and followed by a 30-minute TYE per session. Pain intensity was assessed using a Visual Analog Scale (VAS), and neck range of motion (NROM) was measured using a goniometer for precision in four directions: flexion, extension, and bilateral flexion. Data on pain levels and NROM were measured before and after treatments. Descriptive statistics and inferential statistics were used for data analysis.

Results: When comparing pre-post treatment, within the group of both the experimental and control groups, the findings indicated that pain levels and NROM of post-treatment were better than those of pre-treatment at the significant level of 0.05. The comparison between groups suggested that the experimental group demonstrated significantly lower pain levels and increased NROM for all positions than the control group at the significant level of 0.05.

Conclusions: Participants in the experimental group experienced better improvement in pain levels and neck mobility than those in the control group. This research suggests that using RTTM with TYE should be promoted as the combined treatment can reduce pain and increase neck movement more than RTTM alone.

Mechanistic Study of Guan’s Liushangyin for Fall Injury via Network Pharmacology and Molecular Docking

Chaofei Yin — 2026-04-30

Introduction: The study aimed to investigate the potential molecular mechanisms of Guan’s Liushangyin, a classical prescription from Guan’s Commonly Used Prescriptions, in the treatment of fall-related injuries and to provide mechanistic evidence supporting its therapeutic relevance.

Methods: Active compounds and their putative targets of Guan’s Liushangyin (Liu Jinu, Rhizoma Drynariae, and Rhizoma Corydalis) were retrieved from the TCMSP database. Fall injury–related targets were collected from GeneCards, PharmGKB, OMIM, TTD, and DrugBank. Protein–protein interaction (PPI) networks were constructed using the STRING database and visualized with Cytoscape. Key targets were identified through topological analysis using NetworkAnalyzer and core modules were extracted via the MCODE plugin. Gene Ontology (GO) functional annotation and KEGG pathway enrichment analyses were performed using R software. Molecular docking was conducted to evaluate binding affinities between representative active compounds and core targets using Chem3D, AutoDock 1.5.6, SYBYL 2.0, and PyMOL 2.4.

Results: A total of 66 active compounds were identified, with β-sitosterol, luteolin, quercetin, corydine, curcumenol, and dehydrocorydalis bulbus alkaloids emerging as key constituents. Core therapeutic targets included PTGS2, CASP3, VEGFA, JUN, MAPK1, AKT1, and TP53. Molecular docking analysis demonstrated favorable binding interactions between β-sitosterol and CASP3/PTGS2; luteolin and quercetin with CASP3, JUN, and TP53; Corydalis-related alkaloids with PTGS2; and curcumenol and dehydrocorydalis bulbus alkaloids with MAPK1. GO enrichment analysis indicated that the therapeutic effects of Guan’s Liushangyin are mainly associated with biological processes related to cell cycle regulation, inflammatory response, apoptosis, and signal transduction. KEGG pathway analysis highlighted the PI3K–Akt, TNF, IL-17, and MAPK signaling pathways as key pathways involved in its anti-injury effects.

Conclusions: Guan’s Liushangyin may exert therapeutic effects on fall injuries through a multi-component, multi-target, and multi-pathway regulatory mechanism, particularly involving PTGS2, CASP3, VEGFA, JUN, MAPK1, AKT1, and TP53, and pathways related to inflammation, apoptosis, and tissue repair. These findings provide mechanistic support for its traditional use and offer a theoretical basis for future experimental validation and clinical investigation.

University Students' Knowledge, Attitudes, Awareness and Practices Regarding Thalassemia in a Carrier Screening Campaign in Bangladesh

Anamika Sarker — 2026-04-30

Introduction: Thalassemia is the most common inherited hemoglobin disorder in the world. A thalassemia carrier is a recessive condition carrying one of the faulty genes that cause thalassemia. There is a 25.0% probability in every pregnancy of having this life-threatening disorder in a child. This study aims to investigate university students' knowledge, attitudes, awareness and practices (KAP) towards thalassemia by conducting a pre-KAP study in a thalassemia carrier screening campaign in Bangladesh.

Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted at Jahangirnagar University, Bangladesh, from January 2021 to March 2021. The study involved 290 university students participating in a thalassemia carrier screening campaign, who completed a self-administered questionnaire about thalassemia.

Results: The pre-KAP study showed that 82.6% of students were familiar with thalassemia, but 76.4% of students answered incorrectly that thalassemia spreads through blood. More than 90.0% of the students (93.7%) believed that premarital screening is necessary to reduce the occurrence of thalassemia, and (92.7%) believed that raising social awareness for thalassemia is important. There were no notable distinctions between male and female participants in terms of their knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding thalassemia.

Conclusions: The study highlights the need for increased awareness of thalassemia and suggests that identifying carriers is crucial in reducing the occurrence of this life-threatening disorder.