1.Improvement of Sleep and Circadian Rhythm Disturbance in Nursing Home Residents by Aromatherapy Massage: A Preliminary Study
Jiro IMANISHI ; Eri WATANABE ; Satoko WATANABE ; Kumi SAKURADA ; Zenshiro ONOUCHI
Japanese Journal of Complementary and Alternative Medicine 2010;7(2):87-93
We examined the effect of aromatherapy massage on the circadian rhythm in 8 elderly subjects in an open semi-comparative trial, comparing the parameters in the 2nd week during which the aromatherapy massage sessions were performed, with 1-week periods (1st and 3rd weeks) before and after the sessions. Time spent asleep while in-bed and the sleep efficiency during the sleep time increased significantly in the 2nd week compared with those in the 1st and/or 3rd weeks. A higher peak of the 24-h cycle circadian rhythm was noted following aromatherapy massage in elderly people, who often exhibit circadian rhythm disturbance. Furthermore, the peaks of the spectrum cycle in the 2nd week were significantly closer to 24 h than those in the 1st and 3rd weeks. These results suggest that aromatherapy massage improves sleep and circadian rhythm disturbance.
2.Randomized Controlled Study on Enhanced Cognitive Function with Acupuncture and Improvements in Life Style
Tasuku YAMAZAKI ; Mayo SATO ; Tadashi YANO ; Kumi SAKURADA ; Fumitoshi NIWA ; Jiro IMANISHI
Kampo Medicine 2012;63(4):229-237
Since it is supposed that the number of patients with dementia will increase as populations age in the near future, it is important to prevent dementia. In the present study, we examined whether acupuncture and life style improvements are able to enhance cognitive function.
The subjects who worry about being forgetful were recruited and divided at random into two groups ; a group receiving acupuncture with transcutaneous electrical acupuncture-point stimulation (TEAS) and im provements in life style (20 subjects ; group A) and a group undergoing improvements in life style alone (20 subjects ; group B) for 12 weeks. The results showed that the cognitive functions assessed via a Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and the Wechsler Memory Scale-Revised, sleep time, and sleep efficiency were improved in all subjects included in groups A and B after the interventions. There were significant pre-to post-intervention differences in MMSE and sleep efficiency in group A only. It was found that these interven tions increased NK cells, NK activity and B cell numbers, and decreased T cell and helper T cell numbers.Thus, acupuncture and improvement of life style could enhance cognitive function and may be useful for the prevention of dementia.