The New York Times Guide to Alternative Health (Paperback)

by Jane E. Brody (Author, Introduction), Denise Grady (Author, Editor) "Consider the case of a woman in her late seventies, battling colon cancer that had spread to her liver..." (more)
Key Phrases: New York, United States, National Institutes of Health (more...)

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: 448 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.com Sales Rank: #998,900 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

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

By	Sandra Cline (NC USA) - See all my reviews

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.