Synopses & Reviews
Complementary, or alternative, medicine is now widely used in the developed world. It encompasses an enormous range of diagnostic techniques and therapies, many of which are highly valued by both patients and practitioners. Critics of complementary medicine point to the lack of supporting evidence and suggest a variety of dangers and adverse effects. This volume provides a balanced and even-handed review of the evidence and assesses the claims of both advocates and critics. Complementary Medicine: A Research Perspective draws the empirical literature together and examines the effectiveness of complementary medicine for both patients and practitioners by:
* Providing an overview of the major alternative therapies, together with their methods and philosophies
* Explaining the appeal of complementary medicine to patients
* Investigating its relationship with the medical profession
* Analysing methods of evaluation and the role of placebo effects
* Reviewing the evidence for each of the major therapies
* Setting out a research agenda for the future
This timely volume is essential reading for both complementary practitioners and those in the orthodox health professions, including GPs, hospital doctors, nurses, and physiotherapists, as well as medical and social scientists.
Review
"The strength of this book is its psychological side." (Medicine, Health Care and Philosophy: A European Journal, 1999)
Synopsis
Dieses Buch bietet einen berblick ber das wachsende Gebiet alternativer Heilmethoden wie Hom opathie, Osteopathie, Aromatherapie, Akupunktur, Pflanzenmedizin und andere Ans tze und deren zunehmende Bedeutung f r den Berufsalltag des Mediziners. Ein kritischer, ausgeglichener berblick ber die aktuelle Literatur in einem Band - praxisnah und gut zug nglich aufbereitet f r Heilpraktiker und verwandte Heilberufe.
Synopsis
This book explores the growth of complementary medicine and its increasing use by the medical profession. It also examines the appeal of complementary medicine, its safety and efficacy and the direction that research into this fascinating topic might take in years to come.
Concise and comprehensive -- many of the books available on this subject do not review or evaluate the empirical literature in any detail; this book provides a critical, comprehensive and balanced review of the current literature.
-- Accessible -- the literature on complementary medicine is scattered through many medical, psychological and sociological journals; this book draws together this literature into a single source and acquaints the reader with its general features.
Synopsis
Complementary, or alternative, medicine is now widely used in the developed world. It encompasses an enormous range of diagnostic techniques and therapies, many of which are highly valued by both patients and practitioners. Critics of complementary medicine point to the lack of supporting evidence and suggest a variety of dangers and adverse effects. This volume provides a balanced and even-handed review of the evidence and assesses the claims of both advocates and critics. Complementary Medicine: A Research Perspective draws the empirical literature together and examines the effectiveness of complementary medicine for both patients and practitioners by:
- Providing an overview of the major alternative therapies, together with their methods and philosophies
- Explaining the appeal of complementary medicine to patients
- Investigating its relationship with the medical profession
- Analysing methods of evaluation and the role of placebo effects
- Reviewing the evidence for each of the major therapies
- Setting out a research agenda for the future
This timely volume is essential reading for both complementary practitioners and those in the orthodox health professions, including GPs, hospital doctors, nurses, and physiotherapists, as well as medical and social scientists.
Synopsis
This volume provides a balanced and even-handed review of the evidence and assesses the claims of both advocates and critics of complementary medicine. It draws the empirical literature together and examines the effectiveness of complementary medicine for both patients and practitioners by providing an overview of the major alternative therapies, together with their methods and philosophies; explaining the appeal of complementary medicine to patients; investigating its relationship with the medical profession; analysing methods of evaluation and the role of placebo effects; reviewing the evidence for each of the major therapies; and seeking out a research agenda for the future.
Description
Includes bibliographical references (p. [281]-297) and index.
Table of Contents
Theories and Therapies.
Pathways to Complementary Medicine.
The Use of Complementary Medicine.
Complementary Medicine and the Medical Profession.
Knowledge, Attitudes and Beliefs of Patients of Complementary Practitioners.
Consultations with Orthodox and Complementary Practitioners.
The Placebo Effect in Orthodox and Complementary Medicine.
Research Methods and Research Problems in Complementary Medicine.
The Quality of Medical Information and the Evaluation of Acupuncture, Osteopathy and Chiropractic.
Evaluation of Herbalism, Homeopathy and Naturopathy.
Adverse Effects of Orthodox and Complementary Medicine.
A Research Agenda.
References.
Index.