The New York Times Guide to Alternative Health [Paperback]

Denise Grady (Author, Editor), Jane E. Brody (Author, Introduction)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 24, 2001

An indispensible resource for anyone interested in alternative medicine.

Nearly half the American population has at some point consulted a practitioner of complementary medicine -- a chiropractor or a specialist in acupuncture, homeopathy, massage therapy, or herbal or Chinese medicine. The amount of money spent on treatments and products in these areas is staggering, yet we still know little about their efficacy.

Adhering to the same high standards of investigation used by mainstream medical science, Jane Brody, Denise Grady, and the reporters of The New York Times take a hard look at the products, the research -- and the scams. They reveal the facts about unregulated dietary supplements, interactions between herbal and prescription medicines, and the many theories about the power of the mind over physical ailments. They evaluate claims about popular remedies like echinacea, ginkgo, and St. John's wort, and review the increasing body of scientific data on alternative treatments, including critical government case studies.

Contributors to this timely and authoritative guide include star writers of the health, science, and business pages of The New York Times, whose articles are prized by those seeking practical, reliable, well-researched reporting on vital health issues.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Self-healing can be a long journey--one that starts with having to wade through miles of misinformation and flavor-of-the-week hype. In an attempt to help sort out the hodgepodge of material on various methods of improving your health, Jane Brody and Denise Grady have assembled a book filled with carefully analyzed articles written by themselves and the reporters of The New York Times. Insightful and informative, The New York Times Guide to Alternative Health doesn't present a specific how-to plan for anyone; rather, it provides readers with a practical reference tool for everything from herbs to homeopathy.

The chapters are divided into general categories, most of which involve items that are ingested. Herbs, foods, minerals, vitamins, combination supplements... the list seems endless. Remaining chapters are devoted to a variety of more physical remedies like tai chi, acupuncture, massage, and meditation. In every case, you'll find a distinctive newspaper style quite different from the personal--not to say touchy-feely--format of most alternative health books. After noting the studies and statistics cited, even the hardiest skeptics may decide to add a daily multivitamin or reconsider hormone replacement therapy. Some of the writers are the biggest skeptics around; as one says on the topic of vitamin-rich cosmetics, "I've been known to skip the workout and just tone my eyelashes." Whether you're a chronic doubter or have a tendency to believe everything you read, this guide has a deserved spot on the shelf, especially as a reference for double-checking suggestions from Web sites, well-meaning friends, or other less straightforward sources. --Jill Lightner

From Library Journal

Brody, personal health columnist for the New York Times and author of several best-selling health and nutrition books, is here joined by Denise Grady, a science and health reporter for the New York Times, and by other Times reporters to compile a guide that offers facts, theories, and anecdotal evidence related to several of the most popular alternative therapies, including acupuncture, massage therapy, herbal medicine, and chiropractic. Although it is neither comprehensive in scope nor in-depth in its analysis of specific therapies, it does give an overview of the current information available in both scientific and popular literature, aiming to debunk popular myths and assess these therapies scientifically. This is a useful resource for libraries that receive frequent questions about alternative therapies. It will also be a good resource for students who are writing papers on alternative therapies, as it includes both historical and current information about the therapies. Kristine Benishek, Good Samaritan Hosp., Dayton
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 416 pages
• Publisher: Times Books; 1st edition (July 24, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0805067434
• ISBN-13: 978-0805067439
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.2 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,943,996 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Little Dated, May 20, 2003

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Sandra Cline "sange" (NC USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The New York Times Guide to Alternative Health (Paperback)

I really admire Jane Brody, but some of the material in this book is 4-5 years old. In the fast paced world of integrative medicine, some info seems a little dated.