In the Himalayan Kingdom of Bhutan, medical patients engage a variety of healing practices to seek cures for their ailments. Patients use the expanding biomedical network and a growing number of traditional healthcare units, while also seeking alternative practices, such as shamanism and other religious healing, or even more provocative practices. The Patient Multiple delves into this healthcare complexity in the context of patients' daily lives and decision-making processes, showing how these unique mountain cultures are finding new paths to good health among a changing and multifaceted medical topography.

This is a clear and lively book intended for students and practitioners from a variety of healthcare backgrounds who want to gain a first foothold in understanding research. It is a highly engaging and very visually attractive introduction to research which students and practitioners will use to gain confidence and to develop as far as initiating small practice based research projects. The book will outline how to get started, how to formulate useful and answerable research questions, a range of methodologies set in terms of their usefulness and limitations, strategies for seeing the project through and writing up the results. Pitfalls and pointers are highlighted along the way. Provides a realistic and clear introduction to understanding research Features simple explanation of all key concepts Offers clear guidance on how to formulate and initiate a project Includes a summary of pros and cons of each research methodology Provides examples relating to each method Includes checklists, summary boxes, warnings, tips and illustrations in abundance

This book investigates the ways in which the evidence base is influencing complementary and alternative medicine in general and Ayurveda and allied health practices in particular. The latter have traditionally been prevalent in Asia and are now increasingly attracting interest worldwide. The book is divided into four sections, the first of which examines issues related to acquisition and evaluation of the evidence base. Evidence-based approaches to Ayurvedic diagnosis and therapy are then examined, with a special focus on management of cardiovascular and rheumatological diseases, dental care, and rejuvenating treatments. The final section explores further the challenges of applying evidence-based practice in contemporary and alternative medicine and Ayurveda with a focus upon the issues requiring urgent attention in ongoing decade. The same involves encompassing areas such as Ayurvedic pharmaceutics, practice, education and research within an evidence-based perspective.

This book provides a clear and authoritative summary of the results and clinical implications of research in spiritual healing, energy medicine and the effects of intentionality. Recent publications in the Archives of Internal Medicine, the Western Journal of Medicine, JAMA and the Annals of Internal Medicine have focused on prayer, distant healing and spiritual healing. Therapeutic touch is taught in many nursing schools and laying-on-of-hands and mental healing are of great interest to the public. But what is the science behind these practices? Is there any research? Is it any good? What are the implications of this research for medicine and science? How should investigation of spiritual healing proceed, if at all? These are the questions this book explores. This book derives from a project sponsored by the Lawrence S. Rockefeller for the purpose of rigorously evaluating the science of spiritual healing. To produce the book, some of the best researchers in these areas were asked to use a standard set of quality criteria for the evaluation of science and clinical research. A conference of scientists, physicians, ministers and others then reviewed and discussed this literature and addressed methods for their further evaluation. The conference was organised by the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Duke University, Wake Forest University and the Institute of Noetic Sciences. The evidence level of these areas was rated using standards established by government groups and published in JAMA for classification of the amount and quality of evidence in medicine. Each area was summarised, and clinical implications identified. Recommendations for future research and investigating the impact of healing practices in the clinical setting were also made. Provides the most authoritative discussion of the science of healing intention and energy medicine. Offers a clear analysis and assessment of research results and their relative quality. Explores the clinical implications for research results and demonstrates how they may be applied in practice. Provides guidelines for further research and study on the subject. With 21 expert contributors.

This book introduces novel and groundbreaking theories on social medicine, social medicine therapy and pharmacogelotology. Aimed at improving the global health care system in terms of cost-effectiveness and efficiency, the research included in this book represents a paradigm shift from traditional drugs to social medicine. Tracing the history of social medicine, from Natural Healing Power (NHP), Oriental Medicine's vitalism, to Homeostasis (Natural Healing Strength) and Reciprocity (Social Healing Strength), the book first focuses on laying the theoretical foundations. It then highlights how social medicine can be specialized into various social medicine therapies (i.e., aromatherapy, stone therapy, diet therapy, exercise therapy, light therapy, etc.), just like stem cells. This is followed by arguments that 21st century pharmacy should be a harmonious system where the replacement of traditional drug products (i.e., herbal, chemical, and biological products) with new social medicine takes precedence. To that end, the author focuses on the '4+2 system' with 4 representing diet, body, stress, and facial-image control, and 2 representing the complementary and alternative medical methods of evacuation(-) and filling(+). In the context of pharmacogelotology, the book then goes on to present findings on theories of laughter and laughter therapy practices, which are systematically examined and described in detail. Finally, it calls for the development of social-medicine structures by governments that aim to help local authorities use their resources effectively, and for local governments to establish the long-term planning on social-medicine therapy for healthy ageing.

This book explores the ways in which Ayurveda, the oldest medical tradition of the Indian subcontinent, was transformed from a composite of 'ancient' medical knowledge into a 'modern' medical system, suited to the demands posed by apparatuses of health developed in colonial India. It examines the shift between an entrenched colonial reticence to consider the Indigenous Medical Systems as legitimate scientific medicine, to a growing acceptance of Ayurvedic medicine following the First World War. Locating the moment of transition within the implementation of a dyarchic system of governance in 1919, the book argues that the revamping of the 'Medical Services' into an important new category of regional governance ushered in an era of health planning that considered curative and preventative medicine as key components of the 'health' of the population. As such, it illuminates the way in which conceptions of power, authority and agency were newly configured and consolidated as politics were revamped in the late colonial India.

In this twenty-first century our external environment contains innumerable hazards to our health and wellbeing. These impose new and ever greater challenges to our immune systems. As our immune systems become over-loaded and the number and variety of medical problems from which we suffer increases. Often conventional medicine is ill-equipped to deal with these problems. In consequence dealing with chronic illness is becoming a growing burden for society and healthcare providers. In Lymphatic Therapy for Toxic Decongestion Margaret McCarthy describes the relationship between degenerative disease and physiological malfunction within the body. She then goes on to demonstrate how an integrated therapy, which draws on a variety of approaches, may be used to assess the body as a whole and to promote restoration of health simply, effectively and economically, without the use of expensive drugs or equipment. Practical approach uses case histories to explain how and when to use specific techniques. Well illustrated with high-quality line drawings to clarify the text. Straightforward style is easy to read and understand. Written by an experienced practitioner for the most accurate, authoritative perspective on lymphatic therapy.

Multidisciplinary Anatomy & Physiology textbook for Health Professionals! This title will enable the reader to take an informed interest in the patient's or client's condition, and in the planning of total patient care or complementary therapy treatments. It is relevant to students studying anatomy and physiology at a basic level - nursing, complementary therapies, sport therapy, physiotherapy and occupational therapy. A systems approach is presented in an accessible way accompanied by clear illustrations. It is written in an easy to read style explaining otherwise complicated topics.

This book introduces, explores and clearly explains acupuncture and related techniques used in the treatment of children. The author is a practicing pediatrician with many years' experience in both working with children and as an acupuncture practitioner. The book introduces important concepts of childhood development that integrate conventional theories with the Traditional Chinese Medicine theories presented in the classic texts. It covers a variety of acupuncture techniques, including non-invasive approaches (such as electrical stimulation, laser and magnet therapy) which are particularly helpful with children. Full treatment protocols are given for 22 common pediatric conditions, with a particular emphasis on treatments which are safe, simple and readily accepted by children. In addition, issues of diet and immunization are explored by the author. A clear and realistic description is provided for the appropriate use of acupuncture in the treatment of children. Conventional child development theories are integrated with the TCM paradigms to help devise more appropriate and effective treatment plans. Non-invasive acupuncture-related techniques are offered to assist in treating children who have a fear of needles. Treatment plans are provided for 22 common childhood conditions - including asthma and eczema. Concerns and issues related to diet and immunization in childhood are explored. The author is a practicing pediatrician with many years experience in both working with children and as an acupuncture practitioner.

This book aims to present, in a single volume, the best of modern massage research. While research indicates that 1 in 3 Americans use alternative health care modalities, little research has been completed and disseminated in the area of massage therapy. This volume will present about ten chapters in areas of research probably including studies of massage for: stress (post-traumatic stress disorder, eating disorders, depression, abuse), spinal cord injuries, enhancing growth (pregnancy and infancy), pain reduction (rheumatoid arthritis, back pain, migraine, and fibromyalgia), pediatrics, the elderly, increasing employee satisfaction (chair massage), enhancing cognition (alertness, autism), and/or immunity (HIV, cancer).The first text to provide the evidence which the profession is looking for to support its practice - BRINGS IT ALL TOGETHER IN ONE BOOK. Editorial comment will show the relevance of the research evidence to the day to day work of the practitioner Brings together material which at the moment is not readily available to the non-academic therapist Up to date and credible- the latest and most important findings by the key names Common structure to all chapters will make it easier for the reader not used to reading research to follow. Readable, reliable, referenced.

A fresh examination of the past successes of natural products as medicines and their new future from both conventional and new technologies. High-performance liquid chromatography profiling, combinatorial synthesis, genomics, proteomics, DNA shuffling, bioinformatics, and genetic manipulation all now make it possible to rapidly evaluate the activities of extracts as well as purified components derived from microbes, plants, and marine organisms. The authors apply these methods to new natural product drug discoveries, to microbial diversity, to specific groups of products (Chinese herbal drugs, antitumor drugs from microbes and plants, terpenoids, and arsenic compounds), and to specific sources (the sea, rainforest, and endophytes). These new opportunities show how research and development trends in the pharmaceutical industry can advance to include both synthetic compounds and natural products, and how this paradigm shift can be more productive and efficacious.

Written by over 60 scientists and clincicians from the United States, mainland China, Germany, Australia, Japan, Sweden, Portugal and Hong Kong, Current Research in Acupuncture discusses recent advances in acupuncture research in a modern scientific language. The first 5 chapters investigate the basic mechanisms of acupuncture. Later chapters explore topics including acupuncture treatment and potential mechanisms for epilepsy, Parkinson's diseases, neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease, vascular cognitive impairment, aging, anxiety, polycystic ovary syndrome, pain, nerve root cervical spondylosis, stroke, imflamation, myocardial ischemia and other cardiovascular diseases. Following the translational and clinical discussions, 4 chapters present new prospects for acupuncture theories and applications. The final chapter comments on the pitfalls and problems of the previous studies and suggests direction for future research towards in-depth understanding of acupuncture, along with better application of acupuncture in modern medicine. Each chapter is written by one or more experts in the field. This unique book provides a broad perspective on the principles of acupuncture for acupuncture researchers and neuroscientists. The laboratory and clinical investigations of various acupoints and optimal conditions provide unique clues to acupuncturists for improved clinical efficacy. For a medical student, this book is a modern course in ancient Traditional Chinese Medicine, especially acupuncture. Ying Xia, the chief editor, is Professor and Vice-Chairman of the Department of Neurosurgery at The University of Texas Medical School in Houston, Texas, USA. Guanghong Ding is Professor in the Department of Mechanics and Engineering Science at Fudan University and Director of Shanghai Research Center for Acupuncture and Meridians, Shanghai, China. Gen-Cheng Wu is Professor of Neurobiology; Chairman, Department of Integrative Medicine and Neurobiology; Director, Institute of Acupuncture Research; and Director, WHO Collaborating Center for Traditional Medicine, at Shanghai Medical College of Fudan University, Shanghai, China.

This book provides a step-by-step introduction and practical guide to palpation as a method of assessment, diagnosis and treatment within the context of Oriental medicine, and in particular Japanese acupuncture practice. Leading the reader through the how and what of touch, around the abdomen (or hara) and other key areas of the body, the author also explores key acupuncture points for clearing these areas, as well as Japanese needle techniques. The aim of the book is to allow the reader to have a more vivid and sensitive feel for what lies below acupuncture meridians and points, and to be able to assess and treat a very wide variety of clinical conditions with an understanding of the individual patient - successfully.Powerfully illustratedwith line drawings and photographs to give the reader as vivid and accurate a sense as possible of what it being seen and felt Palpation is the heart of Japanese acupuncture diagnosis and treatment. With a clear understanding of principles and techniques, all acupuncturists will be able to add another dimension to their practice, over a very wide range of conditionsAn emphasis is placed on the integration of Chinese and Japanese medical thought, helping the reader to see them as interrelated, classically based systems The chapters take a building blocks approach whereby concepts are explored gradually and new terms introduced and reiterated at the end of every chapter. A question section is included at the end of every chapter.Cases from the authors 15 years of clinical experience are integrated whenever the concepts covered need further elaboration, helping the reader to study patient progress and get a sense of how to use the material Forms outlining procedures, diagnoses and possible treatment strategies supplement the theoretical material in each chapter so that the practitioner is assisted in organising and performing palpatory examinations.

Alternative medicine is a fifty billion dollar per year industry. But is it all nonsense? The Whole Story rounds up the latest evidence on the placebo effect, the randomized control trial, personalized genetic medicine, acupuncture, homeopathy, osteopathy and more. It reaches a provocative conclusion: alternative therapies' whole-body approach might be just what medicine really needs right now to help crack the tough, chronic conditions seemingly untouched by the revolutions of surgery, antiseptics, antibiotics, vaccines and molecular biology.

Modern medicine has penetrated Bedouin tribes in the course of rapid urbanization and education, but when serious illnesses strike, particularly in the case of incurable diseases, even educated people turn to traditional medicine for a remedy. Over the course of 30 years, the author gathered data on traditional Bedouin medicine among pastoral-nomadic, semi-nomadic, and settled tribes. Based on interviews with healers, clients, and other active participants in treatments, this book will contribute to renewed thinking about a synthesis between traditional and modern medicine - to their reciprocal enrichment.

With all the recent promotion of herbal remedies and alternative therapies--acupuncture, therapeutic touch, aroma therapy, magnet therapy, homeopathy, naturopathy, Ayurvedic medicine, and many others--how can the average consumer find objective, scientific information evaluating these products and treatments? Without reliable information from objective, scientifically qualified sources, consumers run the risk of wasting their money, or worse, endangering their health.
This anthology of research articles by reputable scientists is dedicated exclusively to the careful scrutiny of the claims of alternative medicine. Using scientific and rational criteria, well-respected scientists and physicians review available evidence for therapeutic claims, critique published studies, present original research, and discuss the methods and principles of valid research. Among the topics covered are the origins of alternative medicine and current trends; the theories and therapies of Andrew Weil, naturopathy, therapeutic touch, and colloidal silver treatment; the psychological dimensions of belief in unconventional treatments; and the ethics of promoting unproven treatments.
This informative, user-friendly volume is a must for everyone considering alternative medicine.

This dictionary provides an authoritative, up-to-date, international consensus on the definition or interpretation of concepts necessary to an understanding of the principles and practice of homeopathy. It is compiled through the help of a panel of international experts, and is written as a reference work for homeopaths, but it will also help integrate homeopathy into medical practice as a whole. It reconciles conceptual differences and inconsistencies and provides a unifying and progressive influence on the development of homeopathic medicine.Fully accessible to the modern-day practitioner and student, especially those from a medical background An international consensus view on the definition o both basic and contentious termsA fully realistic base for the student entering this field to gain a coherent view of terminology and concepts Destined to become a must buy alongside a materia medica and a repertory!

This excellent research based textbook addresses nursing care issues rather than disease processes and therefore looks at issues such as discharge planning, adolescents and cancer, coping strategies for family and staff. It concentrates on the psychological and social aspects of care and reflects the radical changes that have occurred in recent years in thisfield. These include better survival rates in childhood cancer, advanced therapies, the move to community based care and increasing awareness of the long term effects of treatment.All post-graduate nurses working with children with cancer, whether in a community or hospital setting will find this text invaluable. It will equally benefit post-graduate nurses studying professional and academic specialist courses such as the ENB 240 paediatric oncology course or those who are already qualified paediatric oncology nurses but who need to keep themselves updated or need a reference in this area.Expert contributors and editor in this field who will provide up-to- date and relevant analysis of the subject. Emphasises the partnership between nurse, child and family.Discusses the impact of treatment on the nursing team. This is an important chapter as there is a lack of knowledge regarding the emotional cost of caring for children with cancer.

Understanding Acupuncture offers a fully developed analysis of the practice of acupuncture and its theoretical bases. With clarity and insight, the book addresses: What is acupuncture, in all its diverse forms of practice? What are the key concepts, which underpin current practice? Exactly which historical and cultural factors have shaped the present and past development of acupuncture? What is the reliable evidence on acupuncture, and what scientific studies have yet to be done? When is acupuncture a realistic form of treatment? Built on a thorough review of historical and scientific material, Understanding Acupuncture offers analysis, examples, cases and issues for discussion, forming a unique bridge between science and tradition.Suitable for both the acupuncture student and practitioner and also the medical reader Provides the acupuncture student with the historical and theoretical basis of their professionIncludes what is reliably known about acupuncture Describes the breadth of practice approaches in the professionProvides the medical reader with enough information to know when to choose acupuncture as a referral option and what to tell their patients about it

There is currently no detailed and comprehensive source of direct information from Chinese sources on the full scope of Traditional Chinese medicine diagnosis. This meticulous translation offers, for the first time in English, an authoritative and detailedcompilation of the principles and practice of TCM diagnostic methods and approaches. This translation has been carefully prepared and polished by translators in both China and the west, and has been edited thoroughly to maximize its accessibility by Western practitioners.Provides a single source for the widest variety of applied approaches and methods to come out in one volume on the topic of diagnosis Covers commonly seen clinical symptoms in separate chapters, detailing possible approaches to diagnosis and lines of exploration

Ivan Ross takes advantage of the significant growth in the amount of new data available to update and expand his much acclaimed Medicinal Plants of the World: Chemical Constituents, Traditional and Modern Medicinal Uses. This second edition exhaustively compiles new clinical research and references twenty-six of the most widely used medicinal plants in the world, including Allium sativum, Mangifera indica, Punica granatum;, Momoridica charantia, Mucuna pruriens; Arbus precatorius; Moringa pterysgosperma, Phyllanthus niruri, and Jatrpha curcas.