Background Individuals with Type 2 diabetes are vulnerable to chronic glycaemic fluctuations that impair neural and metabolic functions, emphasising the need to evaluate outcomes linked to both glycaemic regulation and neurological performance. Glycaemic control can be enhanced by healthy behaviours, including regular physical activity. Yoga and naturopathy are two practices that involve physical activity and other lifestyle practices and may support glycemic control as well as well-being. In this study, we evaluated the effects of yoga and naturopathic treatment on audio-reaction time and glycaemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Materials and Methods Sixty people with diabetes were randomly allocated to one of two groups: Yoga and Naturopathy Lifestyle Intervention (YNLI) or standard conventional therapy alone for ten days. Fasting blood glucose (FBG), postprandial blood glucose (PPBG), and auditory reaction time (ART) were measured at baseline and on the tenth day. This trial was prospectively registered in the Clinical Trials Registry-India (CTRI/2024/01/061898).

Results The individuals who underwent YNLI exhibited significant reductions in fasting blood glucose (FBG) by 25.49%, postprandial blood glucose (PPBG) of 23.06% at ten days, and auditory reaction time (ART) by 15.77%. In contrast, the control group showed no statistically significant changes over ten days. Between-group comparison indicated a significant difference (p<0.01) in ART, FBS, and PPBG.

Conclusion YNLI, in addition to standard care, may improve insulin sensitivity and neural signal transduction in adults with diabetes.

Iron is a trace element essential for the proper functioning of the body, playing a key role in energy production, oxygen transport by hemoglobin and DNA synthesis. However, a metabolic imbalance leading to iron overload can cause excessive accumulation of this metal in various tissues, inducing cellular toxicity that can lead to serious damage to vital organs. Currently, three iron chelators are approved to treat this overload: deferoxamine, deferiprone and deferasirox. Although these treatments are effective, their potential side effects, including renal, hepatic and gastrointestinal complications, significantly limit their long-term use. Consequently, exploring alternative and better-tolerated treatments has become a priority. The use of natural, plant-derived chelators is attracting growing interest as a promising therapeutic option. In this review, eleven plants with iron-chelating properties were identified, belonging to various botanical families such as Solanaceae, Zingiberaceae, Theaceae, Ginkgoaceae, Lamiaceae, Poaceae, Moringaceae, Myrtaceae, Anacardiaceae, and Salicaceae. Among these plants, Solanaceae (Withania somnifera L., Capsicum annuum L.) and Lamiaceae (Scutellaria baicalensis G.) stand out for their richness in bioactive compounds capable of effectively binding and eliminating excess iron. This innovative approach could offer a complementary or alternative therapy to conventional treatments, thus opening new perspectives for the control and management of iron overload.

Naturopathy is a drugless system that aims to bring harmony in the physical, mental, moral and spiritual planes of living. It is a distinct type of primary care medicine that blends age-old healing traditions with scientific advances and current research. Its goal is to support homeostasis in accordance with nature’s biological principles. The survival of life on Earth hinges on maintaining a suitable potential of hydrogen ions (pH), a measurement that quantifies how acidic or basic a solution is within living organisms and their surroundings. Throughout digestion, the food consumed can affect pH levels in both the digestive and systemic systems of the body. For instance, the presence of acidic or alkaline substances, such as sulfate or organic anions like citrate and malate, can significantly influence the body’s acid-base equilibrium. Naturopathic diet is a low-calorie, plant-based diet rich in fresh fruits, green leafy vegetables, whole grains and nuts, which are rich sources of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants and are alkaline in nature. It helps to lower dietary oxidative stress while positively influencing the gut microbiome and epigenetics. Naturopathic principles are based on the belief that a well-balanced internal environment, indicated by stable pH levels, fosters the body’s natural ability to heal itself. This concept underscores the significance of maintaining optimal health to support the body’s intrinsic restorative mechanisms. As Thomas Edison once said, “The doctor of the future will give no medicine, but will interest their patient in the care of the human frame, in diet and in the cause and prevention of disease.” This perspective should guide research.

Labour Augmentation occurs in 15% of all birthing mothers in Australia, while necessary in certain clinical contexts, it can result in negative birthing outcomes for mother and child. Raspberry leaf (Rubus idaeus), traditionally well regarded as a partus preparator and uterine tonic, remains one of the most commonly used herbal medicineså in pregnancy. However, misunderstandings regarding its therapeutic actions have resulted in confusion and potentially unsafe prescriptions. This review summarises the available evidence regarding the use of raspberry leaf to support uterine tone and function throughout pregnancy. Highlighting its potential role to decrease the need for labour augmentation and the risks associated, when used safely.

The use of bitter-tasting plants is common in traditional medicine systems. A diverse array of chemically unrelated bitter tasting compounds is found in numerous plant families; the primary commonality among these compounds is their distinctive bitter taste. It has been generally assumed that all types of bitters produce similar cephalic effects, which can help alleviate various upper digestive problems. Early in this century, researchers identified approximately 25 distinct bitter receptors within the oropharyngeal cavity. Studies examining how bitter compounds interact with these receptors have shown that while some compounds are agonists for multiple taste receptors, other compounds are agonists to only one receptor. Subsequent clinical research has reported that various bitter compounds elicit characteristic central and peripheral cardiovascular responses that can influence gastric accommodation and postprandial hyperaemia. Neural signalling to the nucleus tractus solitarius occurs via multiple parallel neural pathways consequently, the hedonistic perception of bitterness is not an accurate indicator of the cephalic reflex responses elicited by bitter tastants. Bitter taste receptors are also distributed throughout the digestive system and influence gastric acid secretion, cholecystokinin release, pancreatic and gall bladder secretion, and postprandial glycaemic responses. The cephalic reflex responses elicited by bitters appears to be associated with multiple dose-response curves, which explains the wide range of recommended doses. This review focusses on clinical trials and discusses the bitterness paradigms of the 19th and 20th centuries, and the emerging 21st century paradigm. Modulation of the autonomic nervous system elicited by bitter tastants is more extensive than previously realised.