Michael Jeitler

Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin | Charité · Department for Integrative Medicine

Purpose Approximately 10–20% of couples in Germany are unable to conceive. About 50% of this subfertility can be attributed to the male partner. Preclinical studies suggest that fasting could potentially influence central mechanisms of spermatogenesis. This study aimed at investigating feasibility and effects of a Fasting Mimicking Diet (FMD) in th...

Introduction Nutrition plays a crucial role in current German public health strategies. While sociodemographic differences in nutrition have been extensively studied, recent data specific to Germany remains limited. Methods A representative cross-sectional online survey was conducted in 2022 among German-speaking adults aged 18–75 using a Computer...

Background The holistic health and wellness Kneipp concept, has a long tradition in Europe with demonstrated health benefits. Based on the five elements of the Kneipp concept, kindergartens in and around Germany are used to certify “Kneipp Kindergartens” that practice regular Kneipp applications and activities: cold water applications, exercise, nu...

Nutrition plays a crucial role in human and planetary health, as prevailing nutritional patterns significantly contribute to the global non-communicable disease pandemic. Moreover, the global food system is inextricably linked to planetary health deterioration. The relevance of nutrition for individual and planetary health is insufficiently address...

Introduction Ayurveda, South Asia’s largest and most relevant system of Traditional Medicine, holds a legal status akin to conventional Western medicine in India and elsewhere. There is an almost complete lack of data on the use of Ayurveda in Germany. The aim of this study was to investigate Ayurveda’s utilization patterns, entry points, and facto...

Background: Experimentally, it has been shown that short-term fasting (STF) induces a “protective mode” in healthy cells against chemotherapeutic toxicity while it enhances the susceptibility of tumor cells to chemotherapy. In healthy cells, fasting triggers distinct protective metabolic and gene expression changes, such as upregulation of DNA repa...

Background Maharishi Amrit Kalash (MAK) 4 and 5 are Ayurvedic herbal nutritional supplements that are believed to have beneficial effects on overall health and wellbeing. This study aimed to systematically review all available randomized controlled trials (RCTs) investigating the clinical effects and safety of MAK. Methods We included RCTs on ther...

Fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) is a common chronic pain disorder and often occurs as a concomitant disease in rheumatological diseases. Managing FMS takes a complex approach and often involves various non-pharmacological therapies. Fasting interventions have not been in the focus of research until recently, but preliminary data have shown effects on s...

Background Older representative surveys show that Traditional, Complementary and Integrative Medicine (TCIM) is used by about 60% of the German population. However, no data exists for the current nationwide situation. The main aim of this cross-sectional study is to investigate the current use and acceptance of TCIM in Germany. Methods This study...

Introduction Since cannabinoids were partially legalized as prescription medicines in Germany in 2017, they are mostly used when conventional therapies do not suffice. Ambiguities remain regarding use, benefits and risks. This web-based survey explored the perspectives of patients whose experiences are not well enough known to date. Methods In an...

Objective: Understanding the relevance of religion or spirituality (R/S) in the treatment of mental disorders is central to clinical and academic psychiatry. In this secondary analysis, associations of R/S with depression were investigated with respect to a new second-generation mindfulness-based intervention, the Meditation-Based Lifestyle Modific...

Background: Several meditation interventions showed positive effects on physical and mental health. The aim of this study is a first evaluation of the (within-group) effects of a 21-day online meditation course of the "expansion method." Methods: For this exploratory observational study, parameters were assessed at baseline, at 1 month, and at a 3-...

Background: The American College of Lifestyle Medicine proposed 6 evidenced-based pillars to tackle the increasing burden from chronic non-communicable diseases, including regular physical activity, 7+ hours of restorative sleep, a whole-food plant-based diet, stress management, avoidance of risky substances and positive social connections. Methods...

Simple Summary Cancer often causes long-term physical and psychological impairments. Lifestyle modification and nature-based interventions (NBIs) can have a positive impact on patients’ quality of life (QOL). However, there is sparse scientific research on the effects of natural environments in the treatment of cancer patients. Therefore, we integr...

Preliminary clinical data suggest that pain reduction through fasting may be effective for different diagnoses. This uncontrolled observational clinical study examined the effects of prolonged modified fasting on pain and functional parameters in hip and knee osteoarthritis. Patients admitted to the inpatient department of Internal Medicine and Nat...

The consumption of western diets that are often rich in animal-source foods and low in wholesome, plant-based foods, has grave implications for public health. This is expressed in a growing prevalence of obesity as well as high rates of cardiovascular and metabolic diseases and some cancers. At the same time, current global dietary patterns are maj...

Preliminary clinical data suggest pain reduction through fasting in different diagnoses. This uncontrolled observational clinical study examined the effects of prolonged modified fasting on pain and functional parameters in hip and knee osteoarthritis. Patients admitted to the inpatient department of Internal Medicine and Nature-based Therapies of...

This is a 54-year-old woman from Germany of central European origin who developed an acute hepatitis while orally taking Ayurvedic herbal remedies, among those was the medicinal herb Tinospora cordifolia. She took the plant powders from July 1, 2021, to October 1, 2021, with the intention of relieving the symptoms of her subjectively irritated gast...

Background Complementary and Integrative Medicine (CIM), including self-care healthy life-style promotion strategies, is widely used in Germany. Aim of this study was to assess the use of self-care and lifestyle interventions as well as mental/emotional state experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods An exploratory cross-sectional online s...

Plant-based diets are associated with numerous health benefits but also bear risks of micronutrient deficiencies if inadequately planned. The risk of nutrient deficiencies can be reliably reduced by supplementation but requires risk-awareness. We distributed a paper-and-pencil questionnaire to n = 902 healthcare professionals attending a congress o...

Background: Hypophosphatasia (HPP) is a rare congenital disease caused by a mutation affecting tissue non-specific alkaline phosphatase, an enzyme involved in phosphate metabolism. The clinical manifestation usually includes bone-mineralization disorders, neurological symptoms, and persistent muscle pain. Case report: This case involves a woman...

Background Fasting is beneficial in many diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis (RA), with lasting effects for up to 1 year. However, existing data dates back several decades before the introduction of modern therapeutic modalities. Objective This exploratory RCT compares the effects of a 7-day fast followed by a plant-based diet (PBD) to the ef...

A plant-based diet (PBD) can provide numerous health benefits for patients with cardiovascular risk factors. However, an inadequately planned PBD also bear the potential for deficiencies in certain macro- and micronutrients. The present study analyzed nutrient profiles of individuals who adopted a PBD as part of the CardioVeg study. Participants wi...

Distress is a growing public health concern. In this three-armed randomized controlled trial, n = 102 adults with elevated stress levels and stress-related symptoms were randomly assigned to (1) "integrative" yoga classes which combined physical exercises, mindfulness training, and ethical/philosophical aspects of traditional yoga; to (2) Iyengar y...

Lifestyle interventions can have a positive impact on quality of life and psychological parameters in patients with metabolic syndrome (MetS). In this randomized controlled trial, 145 participants with MetS (62.8% women; 59.7 ± 9.3 years) were randomized to (1) 5-day fasting followed by 10 weeks of lifestyle modification (F + LM; modified DASH diet...

Background: Lifestyle interventions, such as fasting, diet, and exercise, are increasingly used as a treatment option for patients with metabolic syndrome (MS). This study assesses the efficacy and safety of fasting followed by lifestyle modification in patients with MS compared to lifestyle modification only. Methods: Single-blind, multicenter,...

Background: Complementary medicine (CM) is often used as an opportunity for preventive health measures and supportive self-care practices. This study aimed to explore the use of self-care practices and preventive health strategies and the aspects of the experienced emotions during the COVID-19 pandemic in a population with an affinity for CM. Metho...

Mind–Body Medicine (MBM) includes a broad range of interventions with proven preventive and clinical value, such as yoga and meditation. However, people differ in their preferences and response to different MBM treatments and it remains unclear who benefits most from what type of practice. Thus, finding moderators of treatment outcome seems to be a...

Mind-Body Medicine (MBM) includes a broad range of interventions of proven pre-ventive and clinical value, such as yoga and meditation. However, people differ in their preferences and response to different MBM treatments, and it remains unclear who bene-fits most from what type of practice. Thus, finding moderators of treatment outcome seems to be...

Introduction People with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) are at increased risk of decreasing cognitive functioning. Computerised cognitive training (CCT) and nutrition have been shown to improve the cognitive capacities of people with MCI. For each variable, we developed two kinds of interventions specialised for people with MCI (CCT: ‘individualis...

Background: Ayurveda is widely practiced in South Asia in the treatment of osteoarthritis (OA). The aim of these secondary data analyses were to identify the most relevant variables for treatment response and group differences between Ayurvedic therapy compared to conventional therapy in knee OA patients. Methods: A total of 151 patients (Ayurve...

BACKGROUND Medical cannabinoids are controversial in Germany and worldwide. Their use is still comparatively rare but rising rapidly. Little is known about their therapeutic advantages and disadvantages at the individual patient level. In addition, few representative data is available. OBJECTIVE The study is intended as a representative explorativ...

Background: Medical cannabinoids are controversial. Their use is comparatively rare, but it is rising. Since 2017, cannabinoids can be prescribed in Germany for a broader range of indications. Patient surveys on these drugs are hampered by the stigmatization of cannabinoids and their (still) low prevalence in medical contexts. Against this backgro...

Objective Depression is a global key challenge in mental health care. The implementation of effective, low‐risk and cost‐effective interventions to reduce its disease burden is a necessity. The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of the new Meditation‐Based Lifestyle Modification (MBLM) program, a “second‐generation” mindfulness‐based...

Aim Cranberries (Vaccinium macrocarpon) are traditionally used in prevention of urinary tract infections (UTIs). The authors' aim was to evaluate effects of a supplement containing cranberry extract, pumpkin seed extract, vitamin C, and vitamin B2 on recurrent uncomplicated UTIs in women and their intestinal microbiota. Methods A prospective, unco...

Aim: Study aim was to investigate the effects of therapeutic phlebotomy on ambulatory blood pressure in patients with grade 1 hypertension. Methods: In this randomized-controlled intervention study, patients with unmedicated hypertension grade 1 were randomized into an intervention group (phlebotomy group; 500 mL bloodletting at baseline and after...

Background/objective: Historically, fasting has been practiced not only for medical but also for religious reasons. Bahá'ís follow an annual religious intermittent dry fast of 19 days. We inquired into motivation behind and subjective health impacts of Bahá'í fasting. Methods: A convergent parallel mixed methods design was embedded in a clinical...

Integrative medicine – what evidence is at hand for rheumatology? The diverse procedures of traditional european medicine (TEM) look back on a long tradition in Germany and are characterized by numerous application possibilities. Due to the growing evidence base, such treatments are increasingly being scientifically recognized and are successfully...

Background / Objective: Historically, fasting has not only been practiced for medical but also for religious reasons. Bahá’ís follow an annual religious fast of 19 days. We assessed motivation behind and subjective health impacts of Bahá’í fasting. Methods: A convergent parallel mixed methods design was embedded in a clinical single arm observation...

Numerous medical studies have documented vegetarian diets as having various health benefits. Studies have also compared vegetarians with other dietary groups from a socio-psychological perspective. The objective of this review is to investigate the differences between vegetarians and omnivores in terms of their personality profiles, values, and emp...

Aims: To compare the effects of Ayurvedic and conventional nutritional therapy in patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).Methods: Sixty-nine patients with IBS were randomized to Ayurvedic (n = 35) or conventional nutritional therapy according to the recommendations of the German Nutrition Society including the low-FODMAP diet (n = 34). Study...

Background Previous studies have shown beneficial effects of therapeutic fasting and plant-based dietary interventions on disease activity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) for a duration of up to 1 year. To date, the effects of such interventions on the gut microbiome and on modern diagnostic markers in patients with RA have not been stud...

Objectives The present study examined the effects of a yoga and mindfulness-based programme on the autonomic nervous system of primary school children by using heart rate variability parameters. Design A two-arm non-randomised controlled trial compared an integrated yoga and mindfulness-based programme (16 weeks) to conventional primary school les...

Background: Religiously motivated Bahá'í fasting (BF) is a form of intermittent dry fasting celebrated by abstaining from food and drinks during daylight hours every year in March for 19 consecutive days. Aim: To test the safety and effects of BF on hydration, metabolism, and the circadian clock. Methods: Thirty-four healthy Bahá'í volunteers (15 w...

We aimed to evaluate the effects of yoga and eurythmy therapy compared to conventional physiotherapy exercises in patients with chronic low back pain. In a three-armed, multicentre, randomized controlled trial, patients with chronic low back pain were treated for 8 weeks in group sessions (75 minutes once per week). Primary outcome was patients’ ph...

Die zkm hat Ärztinnen und Ärzte gefragt, was sie in der derzeitigen Situation ihren PatientInnenzur Prävention viraler Infekte empfehlen.

Background: During the COVID-19 pandemic people are facing risks of adverse health effects due to the restrictions implemented such as quarantine measures, reduced social contact, and self-isolation. In this qualitative review, we collected data on potential preventive and therapeutic health benefits of Complementary and Integrative Medicine (CIM)...

Mental disorders are a core health challenge in the 21st century. Integrative mental health care takes an individual, lifestyle modifying , salutogenic approach, combining somatic, psychosocial, and spiritual perspectives from evidence-based conventional and complementary medicine. In particular , meditation and mindfulness have received growing re...

Medicinal mushrooms are widely used in East Asia for the treatment of various diseases, especially in complementary cancer care. While there is a growing interest in medicinal mushrooms in Western countries and an increasing number of pre-clinical studies indicate distinct anti-cancer and regenerative properties, little is known about their potenti...

Background: Integrative mental health care can be applied to treat depression with a person-centered, lifestyle- modifying, and more salutogenic approach to mental health and human flourishing. In this article, we report on the feasibility and acceptability of a new mind-body program, Meditation Based Lifestyle Modification (MBLM), in outpatients w...

Background/objectives A few preliminary studies have documented the safety and feasibility of repeated short-term fasting in patients undergoing chemotherapy. However, there is a lack of data from larger randomized trials on the effects of short-term fasting on quality of life, reduction of side effects during chemotherapy, and a possible reduction...

Objectives Distress and stress-related diseases are an increasing public health problem at schools. This qualitative study was nested in a non-randomized, controlled trial studying the effects of a 10-week yoga course as an alternative for regular school sports in two secondary schools in Germany. Methods We conducted a qualitative evaluation in 3...

The state of the art for monitoring hypertension relies on measuring blood pressure (BP) using uncomfortable cuff-based devices. Hence, for increased adherence in monitoring, a better way of measuring BP is needed. That could be achieved through comfortable wearables that contain photoplethysmography (PPG) sensors. There have been several studies s...

Supplemental material to Meditation-Based Lifestyle Modification (MBLM) – Development of an Integrative Mind-Body Program for Mental Health and Human Flourishing

Mental disorders are a core health challenge in the 21st century. Integrative mental health care takes an individual, lifestyle-modifying, salutogenic approach, combining somatic, psychosocial, and spiritual perspectives from evidence-based conventional and complementary medicine. Meditation and mindfulness have received growing research interest i...

The state of the art for monitoring hypertension relies on measuring blood pressure (BP) using uncomfortable cuff-based devices. Hence, for increased adherence in monitoring, a better way of measuring BP is needed. That could be achieved through comfortable wearables that contain photoplethysmography (PPG) sensors. There have been several studies s...

Background Yoga in school is a beneficial tool to promote the good health and well-being of students by changing the way they react to stress. The positive effects of yoga—taught in schools—on children, youth and young adults have been demonstrated in former studies using mostly subjective psychometric data. Aim The present trial aims to evaluate...

Objectives: Distress is an increasing public health problem for adolescents and young adults. We aimed to evaluate potential effects of a 10-week 90-minute once-a-week yoga course. Methods: A non-randomized controlled study with a school sport control group was implemented in two German secondary schools. Primary outcome was stress on the Percei...

Background: High expectations about acupuncture might contribute to larger treatment effects (Prady et al., 2015). However, problems in the assessment are well known: 1) floor or ceiling effects lower variance; 2) expectation measures include general beliefs about complementary medicine; 3) construct validity of expectation measures remains unclear...

Objective: The aim of the study was to evaluate whether intermittent fasting (IF) is an effective preventive measure, and whether it is feasible for healthy volunteers under every day conditions. Methods: A nonrandomized controlled clinical trial on IF was performed with healthy volunteers over a period of 8 wk, and a subsequent 4-mo follow-up....

Objectives Ayurveda claims to be effective in the treatment of psychosomatic disorders by means of lifestyle and nutritional counseling. Design In a randomized controlled study mothers with burnout were randomized into two groups: Ayurvedic nutritional counseling (according to tradition), and conventional nutritional counseling (following the reco...

There is increasing experimental evidence for beneficial effects of calorie restriction and intermittent fasting in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). In humans, prolonged fasting is established as a health-promoting complementary treatment in Europe and claimed to improve metabolism by a complex hormetic response. We aimed to investigate effects of...