This no-baloney guidebook to the field of alternative medicine is notable not only for its thorough coverage of various practices (Ayurvedic medicine, yoga, biofeedback, acupuncture, osteopathic medicine, Qigong, Chinese medicine, herbs, hydrotherapy, reflexology, and chelation therapy, among others). It's unique, rather, for its symptom-by-symptom guide. For each disease or health problem, the authors list alternative-therapy treatments, along with information about what has been proven to work. For carpal tunnel syndrome, for instance, acupuncture, acupressure, and hydrotherapy are recommended, along with arnica and rhus toxicodendron for homeopathic remedies and vitamin B complex as a nutritional supplement.
In addition to the symptom-specific section, The Unofficial Guide informs you about the best ways to choose an alternative provider; gives tips on cutting the risk of illness in the first place with exercise, nutrition, and stress-reduction techniques; and offers advice on insurance issues. The chapter on navigating your way through the supplement aisle of your local drug or health-food store is especially enlightening.
Product Description
In 1997, more than four out of ten adults in America used at least one type of alternative care therapy. Thats 42 percent! From Aryuveda to reflexology, from black cohosh root to St. Johns wort, alternative medicine is a billion dollar business in the United States alone. Written by a health journalist in conjunction with Dr. Michael Jansen, President of the American Preventive Medical Association, this book is the only one that discusses the facts on which treatments work for common ailments, ranked by effectiveness; the inside scoop on popular therapies that are unproven or may be harmful; and the medical vs. alternative care debatewhat everyone needs to know.
