* What is complementary medicine? * What evidence is there to support its use? * What can orthodox medicine learn from holistic practices? Providing a sound introduction to the range of treatments and philosophies usually termed 'complementary and alternative medicine', this book offers a systematic explanation of the philosophies and practices that underpin contemporary complementary medicine. Introduction to Complementary Medicine examines the rise in popularity of complementary medicine and discusses the challenges of developing a more integrated system of health care. Drawing on recent research, this book explores the development, application, evidence, contraindications and appropriateness of a wide range of traditional systems of medicine and healing modalities, including Herbal Medicine, Massage, Osteopathy, Traditional Chinese Medicine, Aromatherapy, Chiropractic, Ayurveda, Yoga and Meditation. Written by leading academics, researchers and experienced practitioners, Introduction to Complementary Medicine is designed to be used as a reference for students and practitioners in a range of health professions. With a foreword by Dr Joseph Pizzorno ND

Integration of complementary and alternative medicine therapies (CAM) with conventional medicine is occurring in hospitals and physicians offices, health maintenance organizations (HMOs) are covering CAM therapies, insurance coverage for CAM is increasing, and integrative medicine centers and clinics are being established, many with close ties to medical schools and teaching hospitals. In determining what care to provide, the goal should be comprehensive care that uses the best scientific evidence available regarding benefits and harm, encourages a focus on healing, recognizes the importance of compassion and caring, emphasizes the centrality of relationship-based care, encourages patients to share in decision making about therapeutic options, and promotes choices in care that can include complementary therapies where appropriate. Numerous approaches to delivering integrative medicine have evolved. Complementary and Alternative Medicine in the United States identifies an urgent need for health systems research that focuses on identifying the elements of these models, the outcomes of care delivered in these models, and whether these models are cost-effective when compared to conventional practice settings. It outlines areas of research in convention and CAM therapies, ways of integrating these therapies, development of curriculum that provides further education to health professionals, and an amendment of the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act to improve quality, accurate labeling, research into use of supplements, incentives for privately funded research into their efficacy, and consumer protection against all potential hazards.

Modern medicine has reached a point where the patient is not treated as a biopsychosocial-spiritual being but rather is seen as a virtual identity consisting of laboratory findings and images. More focus is placed on relieving the symptoms instead of curing the disease. Mostly, patients are turned into lifetime medication-dependent individuals. New medicines are needed to overcome the side effects, complications, resistance, and intolerance caused by pharmacological and interventional therapies. In hopes of drug-free and painless alternative treatments with fewer complications, there has been a trend to revisit traditional methods that have been dismissed by modern medicine. Traditional medicine has to be reevaluated with modern scientific methods to complement and integrate with evidence-based modern medicine.

Based on careful analysis of burden of disease and the costs ofinterventions, this second edition of 'Disease Control Priorities in Developing Countries, 2nd edition' highlights achievable priorities; measures progresstoward providing efficient, equitable care; promotes cost-effectiveinterventions to targeted populations; and encourages integrated effortsto optimize health. Nearly 500 experts - scientists, epidemiologists, health economists,academicians, and public health practitioners - from around the worldcontributed to the data sources and methodologies, and identifiedchallenges and priorities, resulting in this integrated, comprehensivereference volume on the state of health in developing countries.

Discover creative new ways to facilitate the therapeutic process Therapeutic modalities that psychotherapists usually rely on--such as psychodynamic, humanistic, systems, cognitive, narrative, analytic and solution focused--are all verbal interventions. Introduction to Complementary and Alternative Therapies presents a comprehensive overview of complementary and alternative therapeutic interventions that go beyond the standard verbal approaches. The therapies presented in this book--including mindfulness and meditation, spirituality, poetry therapy, art therapy, psychodrama, dance/movement therapy, music therapy, animal-assisted therapy, and touch therapy--provide the reader with creative non-traditional modalities that are effective in conjunction with traditional treatment, or as substitutes. They may enrich talk-therapy, especially when therapists and/or clients get "stuck," or they may provide healing on their own. Introduction to Complementary and Alternative Therapies explains the basics about how these nontraditional therapies work and provides vivid examples for utilizing them in treatment. Each chapter is written by an expert in the field of expertise, and includes a description of the approach, research evidence about its effectiveness, guidelines on how to use the therapy in practice, and case examples. This excellent volume also provides practitioners with a wide range of resources, including Web sites, information on state and national organizations, accrediting board info, and more. Topics in Introduction to Complementary and Alternative Therapies include: the mind-body relationship ways to integrate spirituality in counseling the healing components of poetry research studies on art therapy different techniques available in Psychodrama using body movement as a means of expressing conflicts and desires how music therapy promotes positive changes in the client the healing aspects of animals and much more! Introduction to Complementary and Alternative Therapies is a horizon-expanding guide for therapists, social workers, psychologists, counselors, physicians, educators, and students.

Complementary and Alternative Medicine is a sociological investigation of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in contemporary society, and an exploration of the forces throughout the globe, across different institutions, and within different therapeutic spaces, that constrain or foster alternative medicine. Drawing on 30 years of research, the book identifies the trends in the use of CAM and explores the scientific, political and social challenges that CAM faces in relation to orthodox medicine. The author examines the varieties of CAM practices and how they manifest in different institutional spaces – including public inquiries, the orthodox medical practitioner’s consulting room, medical journals and the homes of those who use CAM. It also compares unorthodox practices in different geo-political settings, namely the global north and the global south. This book is valuable reading for higher-level undergraduate and postgraduate social science students, including those in psychology, sociology, anthropology, health sciences and related disciplines. It is relevant for courses in medical sociology, medical anthropology and social science and health, and a broader audience interested in contemporary health issues, controversies and alternative medicine.

This is the first book to address public health issues in traditional, complementary and alternative medicine (TCAM). It presents state-of-the-art reviews of TCAM research in a range of priority public health areas such as malaria and HIV and in such common ailments as skin conditions and orthopedic injury in developing countries. Contributions analyze policy trends in areas such as financing of TCAM and education and training in this field as well as selected case studies of model TCAM projects. Important chapters on research methodology, ethical and safety issues, and intellectual property rights pertaining to traditional medicine are also presented. Public financing for TCAM is a test of the commitment of governments, and the book includes an analysis from the World Health Organization's (WHO) Global Atlas data of the worldwide trends in this area. With safety concerns foremost in the minds of both policy makers and the public, the book offers a global overview of policy and legislative trends in this field as well as an important set of guidelines for pharmacovigilance and TCAM products. Sample Chapter(s). Chapter 1: Introduction (1,729 KB). Contents: Foreword (Allan Rosenfield); Policy: Introduction (Gerard Bodeker & Gemma Burford); Policy and Public Health Perspectives on Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicine: An Overview (Gerard Bodeker, Fredi Kronenberg & Gemma Burford); Financing Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Health Care Services and Research (Gemma Burford, Gerard Bodeker & Chi-Keong Ong); Training (Gerard Bodeker, Cora Neumann, Chi-Keong Ong & Gemma Burford); Safety: Issues and Policy (Gilbert Shia, Barry Noller & Gemma Burford); Pharmacovigilance of Herbal Medicines: A United Kingdom Perspective (Joanne Barnes); Medicinal Plant Biodiversity and Local Healthcare: Sustainable Use and Livelihood Development (Gerard Bodeker & Gemma Burford); Home Herbal Gardens OCo A Novel Health Security Strategy Based on Local Knowledge and Resources (G Hariramamurthi, P Venkatasubramanian, P M Unnikrishnan & D Shankar); Humanitarian Responses to Traditional Medicine for Refugee Care (Cora Neumann & Gerard Bodeker); Public-Private Partnerships: A Case Study from East Africa (Patrick Mbindyo); Public Health Issues: Priority Diseases and Health Conditions: Malaria (Merlin L Willcox & Gerard Bodeker); HIV/AIDS: Traditional Systems of Health Care in the Management of a Global Epidemic (Gerard Bodeker, Gemma Burford, Mark Dvorak-Little & George Carter); An Overview of Clinical Studies on Complementary and Alternative Medicine in HIV Infection and AIDS (Jianping Liu); Skin and Wound Care: Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicine in Public Health Dermatology (Gemma Burford, Gerard Bodeker & Terence J Ryan); Traditional Orthopaedic Practices: Beyond OCyBonesettingOCO (Gemma Burford, Gerard Bodeker & Jonathan Cohen); Research: Clinical Trial Methodology (Ranjit Roy Chaudhury, Urmila Thatte & Jianping Liu); Ethical Issues in Research (Merlin L Willcox, Gerard Bodeker & Ranjit Roy Chaudhury); Intellectual Property Rights (Gerard Bodeker); Epilogue (Gerard Bodeker & Gemma Burford). Readership: Public health specialists and departments; health policy departments in ministries of health and universities; colleges of traditional and complementary medicine; World Health Organization and affiliated institutions; medical schools as a background text on TCAM."

Highly researched and referenced, Complementary and Alternative Medicine for Health Professionals: A Holistic Approach to Consumer Health educates students about the many complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) modalities that are available, in addition to the more traditional methods that exist. Early chapters provide an overview of both traditional and alternative medicine, scientific method and steps in scientific research, and look at the cost of health care in the U.S. Later chapters introduce students to integrative medicine and provide a thorough overview of CAM practices employed today. Topics that are covered include acupuncture, meditation, herbals and aromatherapy. By reading this text, students will become astute at distinguishing among those traditional and CAM health practices that are helpful, those that have been scientifically tested, and those that may offer no benefit. Case studies throughout the text give students an opportunity to apply material and ideas to real life situations.

Fourteen contributions collected by Kelner (U. of Toronto) et al. address the growing CAM trend, its use and availability, research base, and future; and offer a model for integrative health services. c. Book News Inc.