Author Instructions

Comprehensive Guidelines for Authors

1. Submission Types:

• Original Research Papers: Provide fresh research and add to the corpus of integrative health knowledge already in existence.
• Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses: Compile and integrate the body of knowledge regarding a certain subject.
• Clinical Studies: Explain research projects that assess the efficacy and security of integrative health measures.
• Case Reports: Describe specific instances that illustrate certain health issues and reactions to integrative therapies.
• Editorials and Commentary: Provide information about new developments, difficulties, and prospects in the industry.

The contributions listed below have been approved for publication. Please follow the maximum lengths that have been specified. Peer review will not be applied to lengthy articles.

• Editorials: Only when the editor requests it.
• Clinical Papers: No more than 3000 words and 30 citations.
• Research Papers: No more than 3000 words and 40 references.
• Review Papers: No restrictions on length or reference count.
• Technical Notes: No more than 1500 words, 10 references, and two figures (surgical techniques, new instruments, technical innovations).
• Case Reports: No more than 1500 words, including two figures and ten references.
• Reviews of Books
• Letters to the Editor: See the comprehensive instructions at the conclusion of the main author guide.

Broad Announcements: Please be aware that case reports are only taken into consideration for publication if they offer fresh insights into well-known illnesses or contribute to the body of knowledge. The paper must have been written by all authors, not only those who treated patients. A maximum of four writers may be included in technical notes and case reports; in rare cases, five authors may be included.

2. Formatting Instructions:

• Structure of the Manuscript:
Title Page: Title, names of the authors, affiliations, and contact details for the relevant authors.
Abstract: A succinct (no more than 250 words) synopsis of the goals, procedures, findings, and conclusions of the study.
Keywords: Four to six keywords that sum up the article.
Primary Text: Arranged according to components including the Introduction, Methods, Results, Discussion, and Conclusion.
Citations: Should follow the American Medical Association (AMA) style, and a comprehensive list of references should be included.

• Introducing New Manuscripts — Key Points:
Avoid instant return and review delays by submitting your work in journal style. American or British spelling should be used consistently. Double-spacing and a minimum of 3 cm margins are required for all papers.
Keywords: Use the US National Library of Medicine MeSH terms to include at least five keywords that are pertinent to the content of your article.

• Format Guidelines:
• STROBE guidelines for observational/case cohort studies and case series.
• CONSORT guidelines for randomized controlled trials.
• PRISMA guidelines for systematic reviews and meta-analyses.

Each portion of the paper should begin on a separate page: Title Page, Abstract, Text, Acknowledgments, References, Tables, and Illustration Captions.

Title Page Requirements:
• Title of the article.
• Each author's full name, credentials, and affiliations.
• The organization that is credited with the effort.
• The contact details of the corresponding author.
• Grant-based sources of assistance.
• Keywords.
• A brief title for running heads if the title exceeds 40 characters (including spaces).

Abstract:
• No more than 200 words.
• An uninterrupted paragraph devoid of acronyms or subheadings.
• Provide background information, methodology, findings, and a conclusion.

Text Structure:
• Introduction: Outlining the nature and extent of the issue, relevant literature review, study justification, paper purpose, and study objectives.
• Materials and Procedures: Comprehensive information, technical specifications, amounts, generic names, statistical techniques, and no outcomes.
• Outcomes: No repeating data, non-personal form, and past tense.
• Discussion: Talk about the findings, anomalies, absence of connections, ramifications, and conclusions.
• Quantitative analysis with subheadings: Subheadings should be brief and improve readability. Use the Cochrane style handbook for presenting statistical approaches.
• Symbols, Abbreviations, and Nomenclature: When using unfamiliar abbreviations, define them first and use standardized words.

Additional Advice:
• When the sex is unclear, refrain from using "he" or "his" — use "the patient" instead.
• Verify that references are correct. Follow Index Medicus for abbreviating journal titles.

3. Submission Procedure:

• Authors must attest that their work is unique and hasn't been published or submitted elsewhere. Manuscripts must be submitted electronically through our online submission system.
• The submission should be accompanied by a cover letter discussing the importance of the work and possible contributions to the field.

4. Ethical Considerations:

  • Every study that uses human or animal participants needs to adhere to ethical guidelines and secure the required permits.
  • Any funding sources and conflicts of interest must be disclosed by the authors.
  • Along with the application, a cover letter should be sent explaining the importance of the work and its potential contributions to the area.
  • The Declaration of Helsinki, "Ethical Principles for Medical Research Involving 'Human Subjects,'" which was adopted by the 18th World Medical Assembly in Helsinki, Finland, in June 1964 and most recently amended by the 64th World Medical Assembly in Fortaleza, Brazil, in October 2013, must be followed by any manuscript involving human subjects, medical records, or human tissue.
  • A statement attesting to the work's approval by the appropriate ethical committee of the institution or institutions where the research was carried out and the subjects' informed consent must be included in the manuscript. All human studies require permission from the Institutional Ethics Committee. When submitting a manuscript for a retrospective study, the Committee must either issue a declaration of approval or an exemption.
  • Animal experimentation studies must report that the care given complied with institutional policies.
  • According to the ICMJE principles, ethics committee oversight must be independent.
  • Animal studies must state compliance with institutional guidelines.
  • Ethics oversight should be independent, as per ICMJE recommendations: ICMJE Guidelines.

5. Reporting Sex- and Gender-Based Analyses

  • Reporting Recommendations: In accordance with field best practices and funder/sponsor requirements, researchers should incorporate sex and gender-based analyses (SGBA) into their research design. If the authors are unable to address the sex and/or gender dimensions in their article, they should discuss the constraints. Specific definitions of sex and/or gender should be included to improve accuracy and reproducibility. For detailed methods to include sex and gender information in study design, data analysis, outcome reporting, and interpretation, consult the SAGER guidelines.
  • Patient privacy: Patients are entitled to confidentiality. Informed consent must be acquired, and identifying information should only be included if it is absolutely necessary for scientific purposes. The Editorial Office must have access to written consents upon request. To preserve anonymity without changing scientific meaning, identifying information should be changed or omitted if unnecessary. Clinical photos and single case reports require patient consent. Personal information must be deleted prior to submission if it cannot be accessed.
  • Clinical trials: Clinical trials must be registered in a public registry at the time of patient enrollment or prior. The abstract should conclude with the registration number. Any research study that assigns human subjects to health-related interventions to assess impact on health outcomes is considered a clinical trial.

6. Authorship

  • Authorship criteria: Participants must have helped with (1) study design or data collection and analysis, (2) article drafting and revision, and (3) final approval of the submitted version.
  • Send in an Author Contribution Form that details the contributions made by each author.
  • Generally, case reports and technical notes can have no more than four authors, but other article genres can have up to six. Justification for additional authors must be included in both the Author Contribution Form and the cover letter. Prior to the references, minor contributors and non-contributory clinicians should be recognized.
  • Co-first authorship is permitted if all co-authors agree and the corresponding author requests it.
  • There can only be one corresponding author, who is in charge of making sure all writers understand their responsibilities and maintaining the accuracy of published data.
  • Authorship Changes: At original submission, include a complete list of authors. Before acceptance, any additions or deletions must be authorized by the editor-in-chief. Send an email to the Editor-in-Chief explaining your request, including manuscript number, original and new author lists, and consent from all authors. Changes after publication are rarely accepted.

7. Acknowledgements

  • The acknowledgements section should include a list of non-author contributors who provided technical assistance, writing assistance, or general support.
  • Provide the funding source and any writing assistance (upload the editing certificate, if applicable). Professional language editing services that are paid for might not be recognized.

8. Conflict of Interest

  • At the conclusion of the main text, disclose any financial or personal ties that might skew the work. If there are no conflicts, mention them.
  • Include all funding sources and state the role of sponsors (if any) in study design, data gathering and analysis, manuscript preparation, or submission decisions.
  • The journal provides an Open Access option to make articles publicly accessible.

9. Publication Criteria

  • Focus: Papers must be targeted.
  • Hypothesis and Investigation: The conclusion is supported by pertinent results derived from a sound hypothesis and an appropriate investigation technique analyzing a statistically significant series.
  • Writing: Excellently written using straightforward, scientific English syntax and style.
  • Message: Contains fresh material pertinent to the journal's readership and is presented with a clear message.
  • Cover Letter: Include a paragraph outlining the novel aspects of your study and how they relate to your area of expertise. After peer review, writers have three months to resubmit updated work; the editor may extend this time.