Australian Journal of Herbal and Naturopathic Medicine

Background Tongue diagnosis, a long-established practice in Chinese, Korean, and Japanese Traditional Medicine, integrates physical, mental, and emotional considerations. As a non-invasive tool, it offers insights into systemic health and treatment progress, though interpretation can be influenced by practitioner skill and external factors such as lighting, diet, and hydration.

Study aims This review traced the historical development of tongue diagnosis across cultures, highlighted key contributions, and examined its integration into modern practice, including the role of digital technologies in clinical care.

Methods A narrative literature review was undertaken using PubMed, Google Scholar, and JSTOR, alongside grey literature, such as historical texts and theses. Publications from the 1600s to 2024 were reviewed, with emphasis on peer-reviewed journals, historical treatises and studies on digital applications.

Results Findings reveal a long tradition of tongue diagnosis in Asian medicine and its gradual adoption in Western contexts. Evidence supports associations between tongue features and systemic conditions including metabolic, immune and oncological disorders. Technological advances, including computer-assisted imaging and mobile applications, enhance diagnostic consistency and support use in telehealth.

Conclusions Tongue diagnosis remains a valuable adjunct for holistic and biomedical practitioners. Historical and contemporary evidence affirms its clinical relevance, while emerging technologies improve accuracy and accessibility. Ongoing research and standardisation are needed to strengthen its role in contemporary healthcare.

Background and aim Menopause is associated with symptoms and complications that can have adverse effects on women’s quality of life and feelings of well-being and health. This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of yarrow extract,  mindfulness-based cognitive therapy against wait-list controls for hot flushes experienced by postmenopausal women.

Materials and Methods 75 postmenopausal women were randomly assigned to one of three groups: Achillea millefolium (25 people), CBT/mindfulness counselling (25 people) or control (25 people). The Achillea millefolium group received two 500mg capsules daily for two months and the counselling group received eight sessions of 150–120 minutes. A self-report symptom diary was used to collect frequency, intensity and duration of hot flushes.

Results A statistically significant improvement in the number of hot flushes was observed over time for participants in the Achillea millefolium (P<0.001) and counselling (P<001) groups but not in controls (p=0.163); whereas no significant difference was found between Achillea millefolium and counselling (p=0.775). There were no significant differences between the three groups for severity (p=0.1) and duration (p=0.384) of hot flushes after intervention.

Conclusion Yarrow and mindfulness-based cognitive counselling may be used as methods to reduce the number of hot flushes in post-menopausal women. The findings of this trial may inform further larger investigations, and women with menopausal vasomotor symptoms and practitioners in health centres.

Background By 2045, the global number of people living with diabetes is expected to reach 783 million; of these, 5–10% will have type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM), and 98% will have type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Drug treatments for T2DM often lead to adverse effects. Consequently, herbal ingredients such as Aloe vera may be used to regulate blood glucose levels and enhance pancreatic islet function. This review aims to provide a comprehensive explanation of the molecular mechanisms through which Aloe vera influences both T1DM and T2DM.

Methods This scoping review was based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Scoping Review protocol. Published experimental studies that explored the mechanisms of Aloe vera in cellular, animal and human modes were eligible for inclusion. Quality of studies was assessed with the EEQAT (in vitro) and the SYRCLE (in vivo) risk of bias instruments. Data were described in a narrative synthesis.

Results Out of the 3,210 articles obtained from the PubMed Central, Science Direct, and Scopus databases, six studies were included in this review. Multifaceted mechanisms were described including regeneration of pancreatic beta cells, glucose absorption and metabolism, insulin secretion and cellular sensitisation, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory pathways.

Conclusion The effects of Aloe vera in T1DM and T2DM require further investigation in human studies and in human trials. T1DM and T2DM have yet to be explored.

These abstracts are brief summaries of articles in recent issues of medical journals. Articles selected are of a general nature for the information of practitioners of naturopathy and herbal medicine. A dominant theme is often present throughout the journals which will be reflected in the reviews.

These abstracts are brief summaries of articles which have appeared in recent issues of herbal medicine journals, some of which may be held in the NHAA library.

The AJHNM-based CPD questionnaire system is a voluntary system designed to assist members in the accumulation of NHAA CPD hours. Each question refers to an article in this issue of the Australian Journal of Herbal and Naturopathic Medicine. Hours accumulated through completion of these questions should be recorded in the NHAA CPD diary. The completion of answering each issue’s questions qualifies for four hours within the Formal Learning category. Your completed CPD diary should be returned with your membership renewal at the end of the financial year. For further information, please see the NHAA CPD Guide on the NHAA website: www.nhaa.org.au