Naturopathic Treatment and Complementary Medicine in Surgical Practice

Area of Science:

• Integrative Medicine
• Evidence-Based Complementary Therapies

Background:

• Naturopathic treatments and complementary medicine are widely used by patients in Germany.
• Many patients utilize these therapies alongside conventional surgical care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review the evidence for naturopathic and complementary medicine in managing common postoperative issues.
• To assess the safety and efficacy of these interventions in surgical patients.

Main Methods:

• Systematic search of multiple databases for systematic reviews, controlled trials, and experimental studies.
• Inclusion criteria applied to 387 identified publications, with 76 meeting requirements.

Main Results:

• Acupuncture and acupressure effectively reduce postoperative nausea, vomiting, and pain.
• Acupuncture can improve gastrointestinal motility and facilitate earlier defecation.
• Aromatherapy and music therapy show potential in reducing pain, stress, anxiety, and improving sleep.

Conclusions:

• Certain naturopathic and complementary methods show potential benefits for postoperative care.
• Further investigation is warranted for phytotherapy and mind-body medicine in surgical contexts.
• No serious adverse events were reported in the reviewed literature.