Evidence Maps
As a contribution to facilitating access to available evidence, as well as identifying gaps in knowledge, the Brazilian Academic Consortium for Integrative Health (CABSIN) to BIREME/PAHO/WHO joined forces to systematize the scientific evidence in Traditional, Complementary and Integrative Medicines – TCIM in evidence maps; with the objective of supporting health professionals, decision makers and researchers in the construction of evidence-based health actions.
medical rationales
The map presents an overview of the evidence on the clinical effects of Homeopathy. The map included 51 systematic review studies that evaluated the effect of 4 types of interventions with Homeopathy: Commercial Homeopathic Formulation, Clinical Homeopathy, Isotherapeutics and Individualized Homeopathy. The interventions were associated with 58 health outcomes distributed in 10 groups. In total, there were 221 associations between intervention and outcome, with emphasis on the interventions of the Clinical Homeopathy (82 associations) and Individualized Homeopathy (75) groups. Most of the studies presented inconclusive results, encouraging the need for more research in the area of homeopathy. Some good quality primary studies demonstrate promising results for certain outcomes.
This map presents an overview of the clinical effectiveness evidence on the effects of anthroposophic medicine for different health outcomes: Well-Being and Quality of Life, Health Care, Cancer, Metabolic and Physiological Indicators, Other Pathological Conditions. Anthroposophic medicine (AM) is an integrative multimodal treatment system based on a holistic understanding of the human being, nature, disease and treatment. Anthroposophical therapy uses mineral, vegetable and animal medicines characterized as anthroposophic dynamic medicines by the regulatory body ANVISA, in addition to its own therapies such as Eurythmy, Rhythmic Massage, Biographical Counseling, Psychotherapy, Artistic Therapy, among others.
Natural products
This map presents an overview of the evidence on interventions related to medical cannabis. From a broad bibliographic search, 194 review studies were included. The studies evaluated the effect of 18 types of cannabis-based interventions on 71 health outcomes. The studies included in the map were published from 2001 onwards and the most common population was individuals with mental/neurological disorders and individuals with pain.
The map presents an overview of the evidence on the effects of Brazilian Medicinal Plants on health outcomes. Based on a broad bibliographic search, 214 systematic review studies were included in the map. All studies were evaluated, characterized and categorized by a group of researchers from the Natural Products Technology Laboratory (LTPN) at the Faculty of Pharmacy at the Fluminense Federal University.
The map presents an overview of the evidence on the effects of Medicinal Plants and Phytotherapy for Metabolic and Physiological Disorders. From a wide bibliographic search, 48 systematic review studies were included in the map. All studies were evaluated, characterized and categorized by a group of researchers from the Research & Development Laboratory of Integrative and Complementary Practices (LabPICs) of the Faculty of Pharmacy of the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro.
The map presents an overview of the evidence on the effects of Medicinal Plants and Phytotherapy for pain and chronic diseases. From a wide bibliographic search, 49 systematic review studies were included in the map. All studies were evaluated, characterized and categorized by a group of researchers from the Research & Development Laboratory of Integrative and Complementary Practices (LabPICs) of the Faculty of Pharmacy of the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro.
This map presents an overview of the evidence on the effects of Oral Ozone Therapy for various clinical and health conditions of people from the characterization of 15 review studies, graphically distributed in a matrix with 6 interventions in a series of clinical outcomes grouped into 9 categories. Most studies focus on the intervention with topical ozonized water and topical oxygen-ozone gas mixture applied in the treatment of caries, pain, healing and inflammation. Researchers from the Implant Prosthesis Center of Excellence, Faculty of Dentistry, University of São Paulo (FOUSP) collaborated with the construction of this map.
The map presents an overview of the evidence on the effects of Brazilian Medicinal Plants on health outcomes. Based on a broad bibliographic search, 214 systematic review studies were included in the map. All studies were evaluated, characterized and categorized by a group of researchers from the Natural Products Technology Laboratory (LTPN) at the Faculty of Pharmacy at the Fluminense Federal University.
This map presents a graphical synthesis of the evidence on apitherapy analyzed in 51 systematic review studies. All studies were evaluated, characterized and categorized for the following apitherapy interventions: Honey, Propolis, Apitoxin, Pollen and Royal Jelly. Most studies analyzed the Honey intervention applied to mucositis (16 reviews) and wound (8 reviews) outcomes. Propolis was the second most studied intervention for mucositis (4 reviews) and dental plaque (3 reviews) outcomes. Three reviews evaluated the effects of Apitoxin applied on outcomes of the Pain groups (pain relief, joint pain, neck pain, low back pain and muscle pain); and Noncommunicable Diseases (arthritis, bursitis, Parkinson's disease, osteoarthritis and polycystic ovary). This intervention was also applied to motor function and temporomandibular joint disorder outcomes. Royal Jelly was applied for mucositis, glycemia and glycated hemoglobin outcomes in 2 studies. A systematic review studied pollen applied to pelvic pain and quality of life outcomes.
The map presents an overview of the evidence on the effects of Medicinal Plants and Phytotherapy for wound healing and acute illness. From a wide bibliographic search, 16 systematic review studies were included in the map. All studies were evaluated, characterized and categorized by a group of researchers from the Research & Development Laboratory of Integrative and Complementary Practices (LabPICs) of the Faculty of Pharmacy of the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro.
The map brings together evidence from 73 systematic review studies that analyzed the clinical effect of aromatherapy interventions with essential oils (49 essential oils), vegetable oils (06 fatty vegetable oils), blends (66 synergies) and 01 hydrosol, using five forms of application: inhalation, bath, massage, ingestion or topic. Each intervention was associated with at least one of 55 health outcomes. In total, there were 420 associations between interventions and outcomes.
Non-Pharmacological Therapies
The map presents an overview of the evidence on the effects of Bioenergetic Analysis. The map included 40 studies that evaluated the effect of bioenergetic analysis in 5 types of intervention: Bioenergetic Analysis alone, Multimodal Bioenergetic Analysis with Psychotherapy, Multimodal Bioenergetic Analysis with Body Therapy, Multimodal Bioenergetic Analysis with Alternative Therapies and Multimodal Bioenergetic Analysis with Conventional Medical Therapies. The interventions were associated with 30 health outcomes distributed in 6 groups: Emotional Well-Being, Quality of Life, Physical Symptoms, Psychological Illnesses, Psychosomatic Illnesses and Chronic Conditions. In total, there were 50 associations between intervention and outcome, the majority (28) with Multimodal Bioenergetic Analysis with Psychotherapy and Alternative Therapies of the mixed type and for outcomes in the group Emotional Well-Being (12), Quality of Life (10) and Physical Symptoms (6).
The map provides an overview of the evidence on the effects of cupping. 25 systematic review studies that evaluated the effect of cupping in 4 types of intervention were included in the map: Cupping only, Cupping multimodal with TCM, Cupping multimodal with TCM and non-TCM and Cupping multimodal with non-TCM. Interventions were associated with 20 health outcomes divided into 5 groups: Well-Being, Vitality and Quality of Life, Pain, Chronic Noncommunicable Diseases, Infectious Diseases and Noncommunicable Diseases. In total, there were 37 associations between intervention and outcome, the majority (22) with multimodal cupping with TCM and non-TCM of the mixed type and for outcomes in the Pain group (9), Chronic Noncommunicable Diseases (6) and Well-Being, Vitality and Quality of Life (4).
The map provides an overview of the evidence on the effects of moxibustion. From a wide bibliographic search, 64 review studies were included in the map (51 systematic reviews with meta-analysis, 6 systematic reviews of randomized controlled studies, 3 systematic reviews and 4 meta-analyses). All studies were evaluated, characterized and categorized by a group of researchers in the field of acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine. Most of the available evidence focuses on the group of chronic non-communicable diseases and is applied to the outcomes osteoarthritis, arterial hypertension and herniated disc. The most observed outcomes were osteoarthritis, arterial hypertension and labor.
The map presents an overview of the evidence on the effects of acupuncture on health outcomes. Based on a broad bibliographic search (PubMed and the Virtual Health Library), 171 review studies were included in the map (48 systematic and 123 systematic reviews with meta-analysis). All studies were evaluated, characterized and categorized by a group of researchers in the area of Acupuncture.
The map presents an overview of the evidence on the effects of Meditation for various clinical and health conditions in the general population. Based on a broad bibliographic search of published and unpublished studies, 191 reviews were included in the Map (78 systematic reviews, 110 meta-analyses, 2 meta-syntheses and 1 integrative review). On types of meditation: 147 reviews evaluated outcomes from mindfulness techniques or derivatives, 34 reviews evaluated general meditation, 8 reviews transcendental meditation, 3 reviews technical compassion, and 1 review evaluated focused attention practices. All studies were selected, evaluated, characterized and categorized by pairs of Meditation researchers.
The map presents an overview of the evidence on the clinical effects of Yoga practice on various health conditions, quality of life and well-being. From a wide bibliographic search, 150 systematic review studies were included in the map. All studies were evaluated, characterized and categorized by a group of Yoga researchers.
The Map presents evidence on the clinical effectiveness of Shantala systematized from 38 review studies. Most evidence focuses on massage therapy applied to newborns hospitalized by health professionals for the following outcomes: pain reduction, growth improvement, neuropsychomotor development, length of hospital stay, immunity, stress and sleep quality.
The map presents an overview of the evidence on the effects of Reflexology for various clinical and health conditions of people. From a wide bibliographic search of studies published and unpublished between 2000 and 2019, 18 systematic reviews were included in the Map, which were evaluated, characterized and categorized by the Research Group on Health Promotion and Integrative and Complementary Practices of the Federal University of São Paulo (GPPIC/Unifesp).
The map provides an overview of the evidence on the effects of Mind and Body Practices of Traditional Chinese Medicine for various clinical and health conditions of people. From a wide bibliographic search of published and unpublished studies, between 1989 and 2019, 172 systematic reviews were included in the Map, which were evaluated, characterized and categorized by the Research Group on Health Promotion and Integrative and Complementary Practices (GPPIC/ Unifesp).
The map presents an overview of the evidence on the effects of Auriculotherapy for different clinical and health conditions of people. From a broad bibliographic search, 38 systematic review, integrative review, scope review and meta-analysis studies were included in the map. All studies were evaluated, characterized and categorized into 4 intervention groups: Acupressure, Auriculoacupuncture, Electropuncture and Photobiostimulation. This map had the collaboration of a group of researchers coordinated by the Federal University of Santa Catarina (UFSC).
The map presents an overview of the evidence on the effects of Family and Systemic Constellations. Sixteen publications were included, and constellation interventions were associated with 40 outcome measures, organized into five axes: psychoemotional behavior changes; psychosocial well-being; specific outcomes such as depression and anxiety; psychosomatic symptoms; and spirituality/life purpose.
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clinical outcomes
The map presents an overview of the evidence on the effects of Complementary and Integrative Health Practices (TCIM) for Cardiovascular Diseases. From the characterization of hundreds of studies in the series of evidence maps of Traditional, Complementary and Integrative Medicines (TCIM/TCIM), 208 review studies were selected and included in this evidence map.
The map presents an overview of the evidence on the effects of Complementary and Integrative Health Practices (TCIM) for Chronic Pain. From the characterization of hundreds of studies in the series of evidence maps of Traditional, Complementary and Integrative Medicines (TCIM/TCIM), 142 review studies (61 reviews) were selected and included in this evidence map. systematic reviews with meta-analyses, 13 systematic reviews of randomized controlled trials, 54 systematic reviews and 14 meta-analyses).
The map presents an overview of the evidence on the clinical effects of complementary and integrative therapies for cervical and uterine cancer. From the characterization of hundreds of studies in the series of evidence maps of Traditional, Complementary and Integrative Medicines (TCIM/TCIM), 26 review studies were selected and included in this evidence map, of which 18 systematic reviews, 7 systematic reviews and meta-analyses and 1 meta-analysis.
The Brazilian Academic Consortium for Integrative Health (CABSIN), the Americas TCIM Network and the BIREME/PAHO/WHO, joined efforts to call on volunteer researchers from Latin America to systematize the available scientific evidence on possible contributions of Traditional, Complementary and Integrative Medicine (Traditional Complementary and Integrative Medicine) in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. The information collected in this evidence map can serve to support health professionals, decision makers and researchers in building evidence-based actions.