Exploring This Issue: Whole-Person, Whole-Systems Health and Healing

Editorial T his issue of Global Advances in Health and Medicine (GAHMJ) presents a diversity of topics relevant to whole-person, whole-systems health and healing. In one of this issue's original articles, Hathaway et al performed a retrospective analysis of the University of Cincinnati's neonatal integrative therapy services. 1 Hospitalized infants in the neonatal intensive care unit were treated with gentle massage and/or healing touch, with improvement in pain ratings and physiological stress measures such as heart rate. This real-world analysis adds to a growing evidence base for the benefits of implementing infant massage into healthcare settings. 2 Tai chi's effectiveness for improving balance and decreasing falls in frail elderly is well documented. 3 Increasingly, cognitive impairment is seen as a contributing factor to fall vulnerability. Walsh et al performed a hybrid observational and randomized controlled trial (RCT) exploring tai chi's effect on cogni-tive function. 4 Cognitive measures were overall better for seasoned tai chi practitioners compared to age-and gender-matched tai chi–naïve, healthy non-sedentary adults. However, a subsequent RCT for the tai chi– naïve individuals did not show any improvement in cognitive function after 6 months of tai chi training compared to a waitlist control. In a small, single-arm pilot study of healthy Dutch volunteers and chronic pain patients, Soer et al provided participants with 3 sessions of the Heart Coherence Technique using a computerized biofeed-back program. 5 Although measures of heart coherence increased with favorable reports of subjective improvement in awareness, emotion, and self-regulation, scores did not strongly correlate with standardized measures of mindfulness. results of an online cross-sectional national nutritional survey of US firefighters. 6 Not surprisingly, fire-fighters have a prevalence of overweight and obesity similar to the rest of the US population. Among different nutritional approaches to try, firefighters ranked a Mediterranean diet as most desirable. The investigators intend to use the data collected in this study to plan a future nutritional intervention. Group meals during long work shifts are commonplace among career firefighters and can enhance cohesion and mutual support. A shift in communal meals from the typical high–saturated fat, high-carbohydrate meals to a healthier diet of whole grains, lean protein, fruits, and vegetables will hopefully facilitate better eating habits in this population. Decision-making between patient and provider occurs on a continuum ranging from highly autonomous patients taking strong leadership in the direction of their care to the provider making decisions without seeking input from the patient. …