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.

This is a concise introduction to homoeopathy for the midwife (and nurse-midwife). It starts with a brief introduction to the principles of homoeopathy and the use of remedies. It then presents a series of full page tables to aid the midwife in rapid and clear assessment of the client's needs and the remedy most likely to be appropriate for pregnancy, labour, the puerperium, breastfeeding problems and the newborn. The final section looks at the complete picture of symptoms most closely matched to each of aselected number of remedies. This section acts as a back-up reference for the midwife wishing to check or decide on a particular choice. The text aims to give a quick and clear set of options for treatment by homoeopathy.Interest among midwives in complementary methods of pain control and other symptoms/problems of pregnancy and labour is growing The author is a homoeopath and the editorial advisers are midwives A ready reference for midwives on selection of appropriate and effective homoeopathy treatments Covers pregnancy, labour and post-natal care Uses tables to make selection of remedy as clear as possible

For physical therapists practising, or with an interest in, acupuncture and related techniques, this book provides a complete introduction with pointers for further study. It will equip the physical therapist with a number of basic techniques to incorporate straight away into practice. Clear criteria are given for decision-making. The focus is on conditions commonly encountered by physical therapists, particularly musculoskeletal conditions. The text is supported by clear illustrations.Editors and contributors represent the international experts in their respective fields Takes a very practical approach -- scene-setting chapters cover theory and research, and basic techniques are covered in the text with illustrations Case studies help relate theory to practice and aid decision-making Self-testing exercises at the end of each chapter aid learning

This exciting book presents a wide variety of intriguing and challenging cases, drawn from the experiences of 40 leading practitioners of acupuncture in the West. Written with insight and understanding, the collective contributions of the authors demonstrate the vitality and depth of acupuncture as it is actually practised. The contributors share their observations with remarkable honesty and clarity. Experienced practitioners are seen facing the intractable nature of many conditions and wrestling with subsequent dilemmas and challenges. By following through the progress of each case, readers can see practitioners working through the decision-making process and can draw out many crucial learning points for themselves. Compiled with a rare understanding of what it means to work as an acupuncturist, this extraordinary book will inspire and guide all practitioners and students of acupuncture working in the West.

This book provides a comprehensive coverage and a succinct overview of the current status of supportive cancer care with Chinese medicine written by leading experts in the field. The chapters coherently present an overview on the major treatment approaches of Chinese medicine and progresses made with different important aspects on supportive cancer care with acupuncture, herbal therapy and qigong. Moreover, there are reviews on the evidences and efficacies of Chinese medicine for controlling radiation-induced injuries, chemotherapy-related side effects, as well as pain control with Chinese medicine. In order to provide information from basic science at the bench to the patient's bedside, modern researches and clinical trials would be overviewed so as to give an up-to-date and realistic evaluation of a therapy's utility for cancer patients. It is also worth noting that toxicology, safety and herb-drug interactions are the main concerns of using Chinese medicine combined with western medicine. A chapter will expound on these issues and there will also be chapters discussing integrative Chinese and Western medicine, as well as cancer prevention with Chinese medicine. This book presents state-of-the-art knowledge on supportive cancer care with Chinese medicine, which will appeal to anyone involved in cancer care. This is a precious book for all types of readers, including but not limited to oncologists, cancer researchers, pharmacologists, pharmaceutical specialists, traditional Chinese medicine practitioners, Chinese medicine educators, medicine postgraduates and undergraduates, cancer caregivers, cancer survivors, and family members of cancer patients who want to expand their knowledge in supportive cancer care.

An extraordinary compendium of information on herbal medicine, Medicinal Plants of the World, Volume 2 comprehensively documents the medicinal value of twenty-four major plants species widely used around the world in medical formulations. The book's exhaustive summary of available scientific data for the plants provides detailed information on how each plant is used in different countries, describing both traditional therapeutic applications and what is known from its use in clinical trials. A comprehensive bibliography of over 3000 references cites the literature available from a wide range of disciplines. This book offers an unprecedented collection of vital scientific information for pharmacologists, herbal medicine practitioners, drug developers, medicinal chemists, phytochemists, toxicologists, and researchers who want to explore the use of plant materials for medicinal and related purposes.

"Health Communication in Traditional Chinese Medicine Cardiology" presents an overview of health communications including history, cardiovascular prevalence and role of Chinese medicine, interpersonal communications between practitioners and patients, and explores methods in epidemiology to follow symptom, diagnostic, treatment and follow-up patterns in the clinic.

The book integrates the role of Chinese medicine in public health efforts, classifying the identity of the practitioner and the needs of certain patient types who require this kind of matching for better health and research methods to help sharpen the focus for specializing practitioners.
Identifies the rationale for specializing in cardiovascular Chinese medicine as an important part of current public health needsPrepares practitioners to adjust their skills, knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors, and to guide patients to do likewise for better health outcomesPrepares the practitioner to sit for the Niambi Wellness Health Communications 1 final online exam

Explore how everyday people living in eighteenth-century England dealt with sickness, accidents, and disease in this unpublished kitchen book from 1737.Bridget Lane, a typical British housewife and lady of the house, treated her family for the physical ills that befell them. She gathered more than 150 cures and remedies, compiling them along with her unique insights into healing principles and practices of the time.Edited with detailed commentary by Vincent DiMarco, a longtime scholar of medieval literature, this text examines how Bridget Lane's cures relate to folk- and herbal medicine traditions, whether recipes preserved vestiges of magic and spiritual healing, details on ingredients and their effects, and ways certain recipes have been adapted to the modern kitchen.Based on a comprehensive analysis of how the people of the eighteenth-century understood ailments, Mrs. Lane's guide and the attendant commentary is intended for students, lovers of history, and anyone interested in the social sciences. Join an eighteenth-century housewife and discover all she did in the kitchen to protect and help her family with "It Has Helped to Admiration."

The authors describe the electric, magnetic and other relaxational processes in a wide spectrum of materials: liquid crystals, molecular magnets, polymers, high-Tc superconductors and glasses. The book summarizes the phenomenological fundamentals and the experimental methods used. A detailed description of molecular and collective dynamics in the broad range of liquid crystals is presented. Magnetic systems, high-Tc superconductors, polymers and glasses are an important subject of matter. It is shown that the researchers working on relaxation processes in different fields of materials sciences are dealing with the same physical fundamentals, but are sometimes using slightly different terms. The book is addressed to scientists, engineers, graduate and undergraduate students, experimentalists and theorists in physics, chemistry, materials sciences and electronic engineering. Many internationally well known experts contribute to it.

This book on complementary alternative medicine (CAM) for the Elderly provides a critical and objective evaluation of alternative medical therapy for the elderly. The focus on practical aspects such as adverse effects and general risks of various therapeutic methods makes it a valuable reference book for the general practitioner, for geriatricians and professionals within the area of alternative medicine, but also for interested laypeople. In the three sections, Epidemiology, Types of CAM, and Common Medical Problems and CAM, a broad range of issues are covered. They range from drug compliance in elderly people to CAM in the treatment of specific conditions such as pulmonary diseases, arthritis or cancer. The above features and in particular the unbiased approach to discuss the pros and cons of CAM make this publication a must-have for everybody searching for detailed information on alternative medicine for the elderly.

Acupuncture and moxibustion together are the principal therapeutic method of external Chinese medicine. This is a highly illustrated guide to acupuncture and moxibustion techniques. It describes the tools of the trade and how to use them. Presentation of each needle and moxibustion technique is followed with practical advice on how to use it.A practical guide showing techniques step by step Presents an in-depth study of tools, needle insertion, manipulation techniques, moxibustion, Qi Gong exercises, and an in-depth training programme Excellent photographs and line drawings illustrate each step Covers moxibustion as well as acupuncture - one of the few texts to cover both Covers indications contraindications principal ailments it can treat examples of point combinations appropriate to particular manipulations