• Acupuncture and Moxibustion for Cancer-Related Fatigue: An Overview of Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis 

      Choi, Tae-Young; Ang, Lin; Jun, Ji Hee; Alræk, Terje; Lee, Myeong Soo (Journal article; Tidsskriftartikkel; Peer reviewed, 2022-05-10)
      Although acupuncture (AT) is used in the treatment of CRF, the evidence from different systematic reviews (SRs) of AT has not yet been comprehensively evaluated. Moxibustion, which is a treatment method that is well established within Traditional East Asian Medicine, applies the heat of burning herbs towards or onto special points on the skin. Commonly, the herb Artemisia vulgaris, is used. It ...
    • Acupuncture for managing cancer-related fatigue in breast cancer patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis 

      Choi, Tae-Young; Ang, Lin; Jun, Ji Hee; Alræk, Terje; Birch, Stephen; Lu, Weidong; Lee, Myeong Soo (Journal article; Tidsskriftartikkel; Peer reviewed, 2022-09-11)
      Breast cancer (BC) is the most common cancer in women and is a serious threat to women’s health. Cancer-related fatigue (CRF) is a distressing symptom in BC patients during and after chemotherapy or radiation therapy that severely affects quality of life (QoL). AT is widely used for fatigue management. However, the effect of AT on CRF is still uncertain. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy ...
    • The acupuncture on hot flashes among menopausal women (ACUFLASH) study : observational follow up results at six and 12 months 

      Borud, Einar Kristian; White, Adrian; Alræk, Terje; Grimsgaard, Sameline (Journal article; Tidsskriftartikkel; Peer reviewed, 2010-03)
      Objective: The previously published ACUFLASH study compared the effectiveness of individualized acupuncture treatment plus self-care versus self-care alone on hot flashes and health-related quality of life in postmenopausal women. This paper reports on the observational follow-up results at six and 12 months. <br>Methods: The ACUFLASH study was a pragmatic, multicenter, randomized, controlled ...
    • Chinese red yeast rice (Monascus purpureus) for primary hyperlipidemia. A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials 

      Grimsgaard, Sameline; Zhang, Jing; Yi, Shi; Alræk, Terje; Fønnebø, Vinjar; Liu, Jianping (Journal article; Tidsskriftartikkel; Peer reviewed, 2006-11-23)
      Extracts of Chinese red yeast rice (RYR, a traditional dietary seasoning of Monascus purpureus) contains several active ingredients including lovastatin, and several trials of its possible lipid-lowering effects have been conducted. This meta-analysis assesses the effectiveness and safety of RYR preparations on lipid modification in primary hyperlipidemia. We included randomized controlled trials ...
    • Clinical reasoning in traditional medicine exemplified by the clinical encounter of Korean medicine: a narrative review 

      Kim, Tae-Hun; Alræk, Terje; Bian, Zhao-Xiang; Birch, Stephen; Bovey, Mark; Lee, Juah; Lee, Myeong Soo; Robinson, Nicola; Zaslawski, Christopher (Journal article; Tidsskriftartikkel; Peer reviewed, 2020-08-11)
      Background - Clinical reasoning is generally defined as a way of thinking about diagnostic or therapeutic decision making in clinical practice. Different cognitive models have been proposed for the clinical reasoning process which takes place during the clinical encounter with a patient. This may have similarities with similar approaches used in Traditional Korean Medicine (TKM). Jinchal, the clinical ...
    • Comparative effectiveness of acupuncture in sham-controlled trials for knee osteoarthritis: A systematic review and network meta-analysis 

      Lee, Boram; Kim, Tae-Hun; Birch, Stephen; Alræk, Terje; Lee, Hye Won; Nielsen, Arya; Wieland, L. Susan; Lee, Myeong Soo (Journal article; Tidsskriftartikkel; Peer reviewed, 2023-01-09)
      Objectives: Although many trials have assessed the effect of acupuncture on knee osteoarthritis (KOA), its efficacy remains controversial. Sham acupuncture techniques are regarded as representative control interventions in acupuncture trials and sometimes incorporate the use of sham devices (base units) to support a non-penetrating needle. To achieve successful blinding, these trials also use ...
    • Complementary and alternative medicine for treatment of atopic eczema in children under 14 years old: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials 

      Lu, Chun-Li; Lui, Xue-han; Stub, Trine; Kristoffersen, Agnete Egilsdatter; Liang, Shi-bing; Wang, Xiao; Bai, Xue; Norheim, Arne Johan; Musial, Frauke; Alræk, Terje; Fønnebø, Vinjar; Liu, Jianping (Journal article; Tidsskriftartikkel; Peer reviewed, 2018-09-26)
      <i>Background</i>: Due to limitations of conventional medicine for atopic eczema (AE), complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is widely used as an alternative, maintaining, or simultaneous treatment for AE. We aimed to evaluate the beneficial and harmful effects of CAM for children with AE under 14 years old.<p> <p><i>Methods</i>: We searched for randomized trials on CAM in 12 Chinese and ...
    • Descriptions of qi deficiency and qi stagnation in traditional East Asian medicine: A comparison of Asian and Western sources 

      Birch, Stephen; Alræk, Terje; Lee, Myeong Soo; Kim, Tae-Hun (Journal article; Tidsskriftartikkel; Peer reviewed, 2022-08-20)
      Introduction - In a previous study, evidence was found of the variability of signs/symptoms (s/s) of blood stasis syndrome among texts of Chinese and Asian origin and English language texts including evidence of the differences between non-Asian and Asian patients. In the current study the diagnostic patterns of qi deficiency (QD) and qi stagnation (QS) were examined to see if similar results could ...
    • Different Outcomes According to Needling Point Location Used in Sham Acupuncture for Cancer-Related Pain: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis 

      Lee, Boram; Kwon, Chan-Young; Lee, Hye Won; Nielsen, Arya; Wieland, L. Susan; Kim, Tae-Hun; Birch, Stephen; Alræk, Terje; Lee, Myeong Soo (Journal article; Tidsskriftartikkel; Peer reviewed, 2023-12-17)
      Numerous acupuncture studies have been conducted on cancer-related pain; however, its efficacy compared to sham acupuncture remains controversial. We confirmed whether the outcome of acupuncture differs according to the needling points of sham acupuncture for cancer-related pain. We searched 10 databases on 23 May 2023 to screen acupuncture trials using sham acupuncture or waiting list as controls ...
    • The effect of TCM acupuncture on hot flushes among menopausal women (ACUFLASH) study: A study protocol of an ongoing multi-centre randomised controlled clinical trial 

      White, Adrian; Borud, Einar Kristian; Alræk, Terje; Fønnebø, Vinjar; Grimsgaard, Sameline (Journal article; Tidsskriftartikkel; Peer reviewed, 2007-02-26)
      Background: After menopause, 10–20% of all women have nearly intolerable hot flushes. Long term use of hormone replacement therapy involves a health risk, and many women seek alternative strategies to relieve climacteric complaints. Acupuncture is one of the most frequently used complementary therapies in Norway. We designed a study to evaluate whether Traditional Chinese Medicine acupuncture-care ...
    • Ginseng for Erectile Dysfunction: A Cochrane Systematic Review 

      Lee, Hye Won; Lee, Myeong Soo; Kim, Tae-Hun; Alræk, Terje; Zaslawski, Chris; Kim, Jong Wook; Moon, Du Geon (Journal article; Tidsskriftartikkel; Peer reviewed, 2021)
      The objectives of this study were to assess the effects of ginseng on erectile dysfunction. We searched multiple electronic databases from their inceptions to 30 January 2021 without restrictions by language. We included randomized or quasirandomized controlled trials that evaluated the use of any type of ginseng as a treatment for erectile dysfunction compared to placebo or conventional treatment. ...
    • Global research trends of sham acupuncture: A bibliometric analysis 

      Lee, Boram; Kwon, Chan-Young; Lee, Ye-Seul; Alræk, Terje; Birch, Stephen; Lee, Hye Won; Ang, Lin; Lee, Myeong Soo (Journal article; Tidsskriftartikkel; Peer reviewed, 2023-10-30)
      Objective - Sham acupuncture has been used as a control in acupuncture efficacy trials. However, questions have been raised about whether it is a physiologically inert placebo. We aimed to understand global research trends and provide guidance for future research by conducting a bibliometric analysis of sham acupuncture studies.<p> <p>Methods - Journal articles published to date related to sham ...
    • Historical perspectives on using sham acupuncture in acupuncture clinical trials 

      Birch, Stephen; Lee, Myeong Soo; Kim, Tae-Hun; Alræk, Terje (Journal article; Tidsskriftartikkel; Peer reviewed, 2021-04-02)
      <i>Background</i> - Trials of acupuncture in the West began before textbooks about acupuncture were generally available. This placed trials at risk of possible faulty assumptions about the practice of acupuncture and adoption of problematic research assumptions and methods. Further, this lack of information has had an influence on the theories of developing a valid and reliable sham control treatment ...
    • Mapping of systematic reviews on traditional medicine across health conditions: A protocol for a systematic map 

      Ang, Lin; Song, Eunhye; Jong, Maria Catharina; Alræk, Terje; Vellinga, Barbara Wider; Choi, Tae-Young; Jun, Ji Hee; Lee, Boram; Choi, Yujin; Lee, Hye Won; Yang, Changsop; Lee, Myeong Soo (Journal article; Tidsskriftartikkel; Peer reviewed, 2023-12-11)
      Introduction - Traditional medicine (TM) is an important part of healthcare either as the main healthcare system or as a complement to conventional medicine. The effectiveness of TM has been assessed in clinical trials that have been synthesised into thousands of systematic reviews (SRs). This study is commissioned by the World Health Organization (WHO) and is aimed at providing a systematic map of ...
    • Mercury, silver and selenium in serum before and after removal of amalgam restorations: results from a prospective cohort study in Norway 

      Björkman, Lars; Musial, Frauke; Alræk, Terje; Werner, Erik Lønnmark; Hamre, Harald J. (Journal article; Tidsskriftartikkel; Peer reviewed, 2022-11-16)
      <p><b> Objective</b> A prospective cohort study on changes of health complaints after removal of amalgam restorations was carried out at the request of the Norwegian Directorate of Health. The aim was to provide and evaluate experimental treatment to patients with health complaints attributed to dental amalgam fillings. <p><b> Methods</b> Patients (n = 32) with medically unexplained ...
    • Mercury, silver and selenium in serum before and after removal of amalgam restorations: results from a prospective cohort study in Norway 

      Björkman, Lars; Musial, Frauke; Alræk, Terje; Werner, Erik Lønnmark; Hamre, Harald J. (Journal article; Tidsskriftartikkel; Peer reviewed, 2023-11-16)
      Objective A prospective cohort study on changes of health complaints after removal of amalgam restorations was carried out at the request of the Norwegian Directorate of Health. The aim was to provide and evaluate experimental treatment to patients with health complaints attributed to dental amalgam fillings. <p><p>Methods Patients (n = 32) with medically unexplained physical symptoms (MUPS), which ...
    • Needling Point Location Used in Sham Acupuncture for Chronic Nonspecific Low Back Pain: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis 

      Lee, Boram; Kwon, Chan-Young; Lee, Hye Won; Nielsen, Arya; Wieland, L Susan; Kim, Tae-Hun; Birch, Stephen; Alræk, Terje; Lee, Myeong Soo (Journal article; Tidsskriftartikkel; Peer reviewed, 2023-09-06)
      IMPORTANCE When sham acupuncture is set as a control in evaluating acupuncture, the sham needling technique is usually different from acupuncture. However, the sham procedure is conducted either at the same points that are used for the acupuncture group or at nonindicated points.<p> <p>OBJECTIVE To assess whether the outcome of sham acupuncture varies according to the needling points in ...
    • Publication status and reporting quality of case reports on acupuncture-related adverse events: A systematic reviews of case studies 

      Kim, Tae-Hun; Lee, Myeong Soo; Birch, Stephen; Alræk, Terje; Norheim, Arne Johan; Kang, Jung Won (Journal article; Tidsskriftartikkel; Peer reviewed, 2023-09-30)
      Introduction: Case reports on acupuncture-related adverse events (AEs) have been consistently published in the literature. This review aims to assess the current publication status of case reports on acupuncture-related AEs and evaluate their reporting quality in order to identify areas for improvement.<p> <p>Methods: This study is a systematic review (SR) of case reports. Studies describing cases ...
    • Removal of dental amalgam restorations in patients with health complaints attributed to amalgam: A prospective cohort study 

      Björkman, Lars; Musial, Frauke; Alræk, Terje; Werner, Erik Lønnmark; Weidenhammer, Wolfgang; Hamre, Harald Johan (Journal article; Tidsskriftartikkel; Peer reviewed, 2020-08-18)
      <i>Background</i> - The Norwegian Ministry of Health and Care Services initiated a project including experimental treatment for patients with health complaints attributed to amalgam restorations.<br><br> <i>Objective</i> - The aim was to evaluate changes of general health complaints in patients who participated in the project and had all amalgam restorations removed.<br><br> <i>Methods</i> - ...
    • Risk in homeopathy: Classification of adverse events and homeopathic aggravations – A cross sectional study among Norwegian homeopath patients 

      Stub, Trine; Kristoffersen, Agnete Egilsdatter; Alræk, Terje; Musial, Frauke; Steinsbekk, Aslak (Journal article; Tidsskriftartikkel; Peer reviewed, 2015-06-10)
      The registration of adverse events is important to identify treatment that might impose risk to patients. Homeopathic aggravation, a concept unique for homeopathy may impose a particular risk, as it is tolerant towards a worsening of the patients’ symptoms. The aim of this study was to explore the classification of patient reported reactions as homeopathic aggravations or adverse events. <br>Design ...