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18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Engaging, Encouraging and Authoritative, August 4, 2002
This review is from: The Best Alternative Medicine (Paperback)
This is an engaging and encouraging survey of evidenced-based, complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) from the perspective of a leading medical researcher well-experienced with the many scientific and public policy issues involved in CAM. It provides a delightful educational experience and deserves a prominent spot on the health reference shelf for many reasons. First, most of the major CAM disciplines and methods are covered, including Mind-Body Medicine, Dietary Supplements, Traditional Chinese Medicine, Acupuncture, Western Herbal Medicine, Naturopathy, Homeopathy, Chiropractic, Ayurveda & Yoga, and Spirituality & Healing. This provides a basic introductory understanding of the therapies themselves and the science behind the evaluation. All assessments of therapies are well documented, which is one of the major strengths of this work. Second, there is an alphabetical list of many specific medical conditions and an assessment of a variety of CAM therapies for treatment. This is a valuable feature of the book and the reason it may be of immediate help for some and a good reference manual for others. Of course, the science is rapidly expanding in this area due to popular interest and NIH funding, so the evaluations in this book will increasingly lag behind current thought. In addition, there is a good discussion of CAM insurance and related public policy matters. (Unfortunately, at least in my view, this otherwise very helpful discussion does not address the fundamental impact Medical Savings Accounts might have on making CAM more accessible by providing consumers more treatment and economic choices in their own health care decisions.) A good complementary to this book is Health and Healing by Andrew Weil. The policy minded will wish to review the recent report (March 2002) from the White House Commission on Complementary and Alternative Policy (WHCCAMP), available on the web.
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29 of 34 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Must be read carefully, February 20, 2001
Like most people I am aware of the scientific limitations of some complementary and alternative medical practices and approaches (CAMs). I am also aware that there are some ailments that are most effectively treated by conventional methods. As Dr. Pelletier points out, "conventional medicine excels in the treatment of acute trauma, childbirth emergencies, treating broken bones, performing corrective surgery, and treating acute, life-threatening illnesses" (p. 183). Nonetheless I am a staunch supporter of alternative approaches taken selectively, in particular those based on a long history of practice, such as acupuncture, Chinese medicine and some aspects of Ayurvedic medicine. I am also aware that the theory behind these practices is sometimes flawed in a scientific sense, and that the reason for the effectiveness of some of the treatments is not fully understood. Additionally, it is sometimes impossible to separate the effectiveness of a therapy from the placebo effect. The fact is, however, the art and science of medicine is still in its adolescence at best, and we have a lot to learn. I think in particular the American Medical Association and its members have a lot to learn. The main thing they should understand is that a strictly scientific approach to the healing arts is of limited effectiveness because an essential part of the healing process is treating the whole person, physically, mentally, and emotionally. This is particularly true of the chronic diseases that plague modern societies. However I cannot give a ringing endorsement to this book, mainly because it is primarily a carefully constructed, painstakingly written, legally considered endorsement of the alternative medical industry. As such it is a book taking a political position, clearly motivated by a desire to convince the insurance industry of the wisdom of allowing its clients to chose CAMs instead of, or in addition to, conventional treatments. Again and again Dr. Pelletier tells the reader that this or that alternative approach is more cost effective than the conventional approach (e.g., see p. 149). While I wish Dr. Pelletier success in getting the HMOs to fork out cash for CAMs, I would prefer a book that concentrates on helping the lay person evaluate the effectiveness of the various approaches. Dr. Pelletier has too many people to please for him to be candid about the relative merits of the various methods. Again and again we are told that the evidence is "suggestive" or "intriguing" (p. 147) or that some recent findings are "so new that they...have not yet been published and subjected to peer review" (p. 203). If one does not read carefully, one might get the impression, for example, that homeopathic medicine is the equal of say, Chinese medicine. Homeopathic medicine is based on a rather limited tradition and a highly suspect theory, while its principle technique is to give patients astronomically-diluted solutions of curative agents that are not necessarily curative. The explanation for how such a medicine works is that the water in the solution somehow "remembers" the form of the curative agent! However I must add that it is to the infinite credit of homeopathy that it follows the first and most important rule of medicine--a rule that conventional medicine does not always adhere to--which is, to do no harm. Having seen the horrendous harm that chemotherapy and radiation treatment can do, I say, thank you, dilute solutions! Chinese medicine, in contradistinction, is based on the use of thousands of medicines and practices honed over thousands of years of practice. This is an enormous difference not emphasized in the text. The real reason these alternative practices work (when they do work) is that the body heals itself, but it heals itself best when the patient has confidence in the therapy and is treated with respect, kindness, consideration and intelligence. The conventional medical establishment still hasn't gotten this very important message. The AMA has spent many decades decrying the "false" medical practices of, for example, chiropractic, but hasn't seen that a bigger problem lies with itself and the medical practices of far too many of its members, practices that neglect and ignore the whole-body, mind and emotional needs of patients while astronomically increasing the cost of their treatments. What has happened is CAMs have rushed in to fill the real needs of patients, and if their approach is not as scientifically "valid" as that of mainstream medicine, in many cases it doesn't matter, since the body itself is really the healer. What often matters most is how the patient feels during treatment. The "best" alternatives that Dr. Pelletier presents include, in addition to those mentioned above, "MindBody," "Western Herbal Medicine," "Naturopathy," and "Spirituality." He has a chapter devoted to each with an introduction to the particular approach, a brief history, and a statement of principles. He follows this with a "What Works" section, a "What Doesn't Work," and a "What's in the Works" section." Again the text must be read carefully. For example, on page 199 he writes, "Homeopathy's underlying theoretical principles appear to contravene the principles of modern scientific medicine...However...the principle of like cures like was the basis for the development of vaccines and allergy desensitization treatments. This analogy, though, is not really accurate...," etc., leaving the reader in a position of clear uncertainty! What is not uncertain is that some conventional doctors are becoming better educated and are reaching out into the fields of alternative medicine for ideas on how to improve their practice. But not all. Some are still the willing dupes of medical insurance companies; indeed there are mainstream doctors whose primary source of income is derived from making diagnoses that please HMOs and protect them from patients with chronic illnesses. The growth of alternative approaches may have the effect of forcing the practitioners of conventional medicine to become more responsive to the public welfare. At least one hopes so. This book should help.
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15 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A must-buy!, August 28, 2000
This excellent book is written in three parts. Part I is a thoughtful introduction to complementary and alternative medicine (or "CAM"). It looks at the history of medicines, acupuncture, traditional Chinese medicine, homeopathy, chiropractic, and much, much more. Part II is an examination of the complementary and alternative treatments for many illnesses and ailments including: Aids, allergies, high blood pressure, and much more. I just can't say enough about this book. It has a wealth of information, both general and specific, and it is very easy to read. If you are interested in alternative medicine, then you must get this book. I recommend this book wholeheartedly.
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