Purpose: The purpose of this study is to explore self-reported reasons for therapeutic cannabis use among adult consumers in California.

Background: Therapeutic cannabis use has been documented across many cultures, dating back to ancient times (2737 B.C.). Cannabis was widely used for therapeutic purposes in the 1800 and was included in the 1850 US Pharmacopeia, but was later removed in 1942 after the US government criminalized its use, particularly negatively impacting BIPOC populations with strong cultural relevance to medical cannabis. Despite stigmatization, cannabis continues to be used as an important part of traditional healing in many cultures across the globe. California approved cannabis for medicinal (1996) and recreational (2016) purposes. In the present day there remains stigma regarding cannabis consumption, even in state like California where cannabis has been de-criminalized and until recently federal funding was extremely limited for the study of medicinal uses of cannabis, and even less is known about medicinal cannabis consumers’ reasons for use outside of treatment for cancer and PTSD. As a step towards addressing this knowledge gap. The present study explores self-reported reasons for therapeutic cannabis consumption among adult cannabis consuming respondents in California.

Methods: In March of 2024, an ongoing, anonymous, mixed-methods online survey was launched to better understand the lived experiences of adult cannabis consumers in California. Due to Federal policies, active-duty military are unfortunately excluded from participation. While the study covers many domains, the current work explores responses to questions exploring self-reported using cannabis to specifically treat a diagnoses medical condition (N=125) and specific therapeutic reasons for use (N=119). Preliminary descriptive data are presented for responses to these specific questions. Note response categories are not mutually exclusive, thus added percentages may total greater than 100%.

Findings: 42% of respondents reported being diagnosed with a medical condition that they are attempting to use cannabis to specifically treat (n=52). Of those reporting using cannabis to treat a medical condition, 77% reported using cannabis to treat a mental health condition, 55% physical health condition and 8% a sexual health condition. Interestingly, when asked the question “What are some specific reasons you use cannabis?” additional respondents also reported using cannabis therapeutically. While 63 (57%) reported using cannabis for “recreational purposes”, the top self-reported therapeutic reasons were: Sleep (N=77), stress (n=73), anxiety (n=57), pain (n=45) and other reasons (to be presented).

Implications: While reasons for cannabis use are varied, the current study provides support that many adult cannabis consumers in California are doing so, at least in part, for therapeutic purposes for both diagnosed and undiagnosed conditions. Understanding adult cannabis consumers self-reported reasons for use can help address issues related to stigma and discrimination, as well as inform future public health research and policy.

Digital tools have become prominent in various healthcare practices, helping clients facilitate healthcare management, more specifically helping to promote behavior change related to healthy lifestyle choices. In 2017, Sforzo et al. published the Compendium to Health and Wellness Coaching (HWC) which outlined some basic digital tools (e.g., telemonitoring and telephonic wellness coaching) that were being used to assist diabetic clients and heart disease patients. Two years later Sforzo et al. (2019) published the Addendum to the Compendium of HWC, demonstrating that new digital tools (e.g., e-coaching platforms, online chats, systematic reminders) had emerged and were being used as part of HWC sessions. Berman et al. (2018) showed that various digital tools were used as part of a hybrid coaching model, helping clients improve their A1C levels. The use of digital assistance and e-coaching platforms has become a prominent trend in HWC. Since the inclusion of digital tools, large language models (LLMs), which are a specific type of Artificial Intelligence (AI) are being used to understand and produce human language. Generative AI is capable of performing various HWC related tasks, such as generation, translation, summarization, and answering questions. Recent advances in LLMs offer possible opportunities that could automate HWC. AI could revolutionize HWC by providing accessibility, scalability, and customization (Ong et al., 2024). The purpose of this systematic review was to collect and categorize all of the HWC literature after 2019 to determine the current application of LLM and generative AI in HWC. Findings of the review suggest that there is a dearth of current literature that explores how LLMs and AI are being used in HWC.

Background: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death and a major cause of disability worldwide, responsible for approximately 17.9 million deaths annually. CVD ranks as the number one cause of mortality in the United States. This study evaluated the efficacy of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) in improving the quality of life of adults suffering from CVD.

Methods: A comprehensive literature search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, and CINAHL databases to identify peer-reviewed articles that used MBSR as an intervention for CVD. The inclusion criteria were articles whose study design was a randomized controlled trial, published within the last 10 years, and written in English. Protocols, feasibility studies, publications in gray literature, and articles that used other study designs were excluded.

Results: Nine studies met the inclusion criteria. Three were conducted in China, four in Iran, and the remaining two in the U.S. and the Netherlands. The sample sizes ranged from 34 - 324. The interventions were delivered in person (n =4), online (n = 2), or hybrid (n = 3), and the durations ranged from 7 days – 12 weeks. MBSR helped reduce systolic and diastolic blood pressure, heart rate, and psychological distress such as anxiety and depression. Additionally, these interventions improved dietary behaviors and physical activity among participants.

Conclusion: MBSR offers potential benefits to alleviate stress and improve overall mental functioning among adults suffering from CVD. However, this study's findings highlight the necessity of operationalizing behavioral theories in the study design to promote the continued practice of MBSR.

Background: Little is known about the delivery of acupuncture in community health centers using a group medical visit. In biomedicine, the delivery of integrative medicine treatments like acupuncture are evaluated based on pre-existing standards of efficiency through quality improvement. Such frameworks do not fully capture what successful care looks like for patients with a chronic illness.

Methods: We conducted a quality improvement project. We interviewed medical doctors and acupuncturists who provided medical care at a Community Health Center as well as patients from the clinic. Current and previous treated acupuncture patients with complex medical conditions were approached both in-person and over the phone. We conducted 7 months of ethnographic observations during acupuncture medical group visits. Interviews and fieldnotes were transcribed and analyzed using Nvivo.14 software.

Results: Among the 10 individuals interviewed, 3 were biomedical doctors, 3 were acupuncturists, and 4 were patients. Key themes included: clinic success relies on teamwork and the synergy of these team members; the clinic relies on the strengths of medical doctors, medical assistants, and acupuncture students using a group visit model combined with integrative medicine to create an environment that allows patient-led care. The clinical structure nurtures trust, communication, and hope, which reframe how patients think about their chronic illness.

Conclusion: Group-based acupuncture is feasible in community health settings, especially when delivered with an integrative team. This environment allows the patient to become part of care and reorients the patient towards their future.

Background and Objective: Diabetes is a chronic condition that requires consistent management to prevent complications and maintain health. In the U.S., the financial burden of diabetes exceeds $325 billion annually in medical costs and lost productivity. Managing diabetes can be emotionally, psychologically, and financially overwhelming, often resulting in stress, anxiety, depression, and poor disease control. Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) have been shown to reduce stress, anxiety, and depression. Existing research suggests that MBIs may improve psychological and some physiological aspects of diabetes management, offering a potentially cost-effective and accessible tool to alleviate disease burden. We conducted a systematic review to evaluate the effectiveness of MBIs in managing diabetes, based on current literature.

Methods: We reviewed literature in PubMed and Semantic Scholar searching for “mindfulness” and “diabetes”. We synthesized publications with MBIs or measurement of MF. We report our findings using the PICO and PRISMA frameworks.

Results: After screening 218 records, 134 studies were included in the final analysis. 128 studies found a positive association between mindful behavior and the enhancement of various aspects of disease management. Of these, 98 studies reported benefits of MBIs in disease management in type 1 and type 2 diabetes. MBIs were associated with reduced stress, anxiety, depression, reduced pain, improved emotion regulation, medication adherence, dietary adherence, and/or increased physical activity across all age groups from adolescents to young adults to elderly. Some studies noted improvements in glycemic control by measure of blood glucose or HbA1c levels, though these results were mixed.

Conclusion: Our findings revealed that MBIs offer an important complementary approach to diabetes management when effectively implemented. By reducing stress and improving self-management behaviors, MBIs contribute to better disease control. Future research should explore improved delivery of MBIs and the long-term impact of MBIs on diabetes outcomes. Program evaluation, implementation, training and delivery strategies are essential for integrating MBIs into clinical practice, potentially leading to reduced healthcare costs.

Background: Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is an understudied chronic, inflammatory dermatological condition that impacts patients’ physical, social, and emotional lives. Public health research about HS is limited. Since HS is an embodied condition, new methods are needed for studying the experiences of people who have it.

Methods: Two researchers who live with HS designed a mixed-methods study about HS by adapting the arts-based body mapping technique during the COVID-19 pandemic. Feminist public health perspectives about chronic illness informed the innovation of new tools to virtually deliver body mapping methods to a diverse international participants with HS.

Results: We innovated printable silhouettes of various body sizes that provided representation of heterogeneous bodies and accommodated participants with accessibility issues that limit access to traditional body mapping methods. Feminist strategies (reflexivity, strategic disclosure) provided depth to the methodology, yielding HS body maps that can 1) stand alone as artistic representations of the disease; 2) illuminate patient experiences; and 3) expand provider understanding for better research and integrative, patient-centered care.

Discussion: Pandemic-era challenges shaped the study’s methodological decisions and improved participant satisfaction with the body mapping process. These findings are relevant to public health researchers, health practitioners, and vulnerable groups living with chronic conditions like HS. The HS Body Map Study was the first to design and distribute printable silhouettes of diverse body shapes and sizes, and the first to apply the body map method to HS.

Background: Sleep disorders, such as insomnia and restless leg syndrome, adversely affect mental and physical health. While pharmacological treatments are extensively used, yoga has emerged as a potential non-pharmacological, alternative intervention for sleep improvement. This systematic review synthesized evidence from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) assessing the effectiveness of yoga in managing sleep disorders.

Methods: A systematic search using PRISMA was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, PsycINFO, and Cochrane Library for RCTs published between 2000 and 2024. Inclusion criteria were yoga RCTs for sleep disorders, in adults that used validated sleep assessment instruments such as Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and polysomnography, and those that reported outcomes. Exclusion criteria included observational studies, studies lacking quantitative sleep-related outcome measures, and non-English publications.

Results: The review of yoga RCTs resulted in evidence of their efficacy in improving sleep-related parameters. Notably, a 12-week yoga intervention indicated a significant 77% reduction in restless leg syndrome symptoms (p < 0.05). Moreover, an 8-week Kundalini yoga program yielded enhancements in sleep efficiency (d = 1.36, p < 0.001) and a decrease in sleep onset latency (d = 1.16, p < 0.001) and increased total sleep time (p = 0.002). Yoga Nidra interventions effectively reduced salivary cortisol levels (p = 0.041) and improved specific sleep stages among insomnia patients.

Conclusion: Yoga appears to be a safe and effective non-pharmacological intervention for sleep disorders, significantly improving sleep onset, efficiency, and quality. More RCTs with process evaluations and longer follow-ups need to be implemented.

Topic: Evaluating and Promoting Evidence-based Traditional/Indigenous Health Practices

Background: Turmeric, a widely used spice, holds potential therapeutic benefits for various diseases due to its active compound curcumin, which is known for its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. However, significant gaps remain in understanding the specific efficacy of turmeric across different diseases. While studies suggest potential benefits in conditions such as arthritis and cardiovascular diseases, comprehensive clinical trials are limited. This systematic review aims to synthesize clinical evidence from studies conducted in Iran on the health benefits and therapeutic applications of turmeric and its active compound, curcumin. The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of turmeric and curcumin supplementation across various health conditions and provide insights into their potential role in integrative and evidence-based medicine.

Methods: A systematic search was conducted using relevant academic databases. Studies published from 2014 to 2025 were included, focusing on the use of curcumin and related supplements in clinical interventions. Data extraction covered sample sizes, intervention duration, outcomes, co-morbidities, and country of origin.

Results: Out of 611 initially identified studies, 27 met the inclusion criteria, involving a total of 1,344 participants. The sample sizes ranged from 30 to 100, with intervention durations varying from 7 days to 16 weeks. All studies were conducted in Iran as per the inclusion criteria. Curcumin supplementation showed beneficial effects on various health markers, including improvement in dyslipidemia, IL-6 levels, oxidative stress markers, and body composition parameters. Nano-curcumin exhibited promising results in inflammation reduction, glycemic control, and liver fat content, while showing potential for managing migraines and reducing PMS symptoms. However, some outcomes, such as quality of life, did not show significant improvements.

Discussion/Conclusion: Curcumin supplementation seems to have promising positive effects on various health markers, including improvements in dyslipidemia, inflammation, and oxidative stress. While nano-curcumin showed promise for managing conditions like migraines and reducing PMS symptoms, some outcomes, such as quality of life, did not yield significant improvements. Despite the encouraging results, further large-scale randomized controlled trials (RCTs) are required to confirm the long-term efficacy and potential therapeutic benefits of curcumin in diverse medical conditions.

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Background: Yoga has gained recognition as a complementary therapy for managing asthma
symptoms by promoting relaxation and enhancing respiratory function. Techniques such as
pranayama (controlled breathing exercises) have been found to help reduce stress, a known
trigger for asthma exacerbations, thereby improving asthma control and overall quality of life.
This systematic review aims to assess the current evidence regarding yoga&#39;s efficacy in managing
asthma.
Methods: A systematic search was conducted following PRISMA-ScR guidelines across
MEDLINE (PubMed), AltHealthWatch, and CINAHL for studies published from 2014 to 2025.
Studies eligible for inclusion used yoga as an intervention, employed quantitative research
methodologies, and focused on asthma management. Data extraction covered sample sizes,
intervention duration, yoga schools, study designs, outcome measures, country of origin, and
comorbid conditions.
Results: Out of 151 initially identified studies, 10 met the inclusion criteria. These studies
involved 1,373 participants, with sample sizes ranging from 24 to 300 and intervention durations
between 8 and 28 weeks. Seven studies were conducted in India, two in Turkey, and one in
Australia. All included studies reported improvements in the quality of life for asthma patients
following yoga interventions.
Conclusion: This review suggests that yoga, particularly through pranayama, can have a
positive impact on asthma management. Regular practice appears to improve respiratory
function, reduce the frequency of asthma attacks, and enhance the quality of life for asthmatics.
While the evidence is promising, further studies of larger sample sizes and standardized outcome
measures are necessary to confirm these benefits for people with asthma.
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Learning objectives:
Discuss the efficacy of yoga as a complementary therapy for bronchial asthma.
Describe the process of conducting a scoping review on yoga as a complementary therapy for
bronchial asthma.

Background: Cancer incidence among Hmong Americans has increased significantly since the early 2000s. Cancer has historically been unfamiliar in the community due to limited exposure in the countries of origin, the absence of corresponding terminology, adherence to shamanic healing practices, and restricted access to cancer screening. Health and healing within Hmong culture have traditionally been the domain of shamans, whose practices focus on spiritual rather than physical ailments. To understand how shamans conceptualize cancer, this study examines their beliefs, practices, and experiences in caring for patients.