The Medical Advisor: The Complete Guide to Alternative & Conventional Treatments (Hardcover)

~ Time-Life Books (Editor)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Time-Life's entry into the health care field is carefully planned, handsomely executed and basically quite conservative in approach. Its board of consultants includes such luminaries as Harvard's Herbert Benson, pioneer of mind/body medicine, as well as board-certified specialists in conventional fields and hands-on practitioners of such alternative therapies as chiropractic, yoga, acupressure, aromatherapy, homeopathy and herbal medicine. In the alphabetically arranged section, "Ailments and Options," which lists some 300 symptoms and ailments, readers can quickly find treatments for problems as vague as Aches and Pains, as minor as Swimmer's Ear, or as serious as Stomach Cancer. Causes and prevention are discussed, and appropriate therapies are described, with conventional medical treatment presented first and in greatest detail. Care is taken to differentiate between cures and palliative measures, and highlighted warnings signal when to call a doctor and when to beware of quacks, a helpful feature regarding such chronic conditions as arthritis, often a magnet for quacks. A first-aid manual, a catalogue of conventional and natural medicines, a visual diagnostic guide and an atlas of the body round out the text. With scope so broad, the book's inevitable drawback is its lack of depth. Nevertheless, this is an effective introduction to the world of alternative therapies, affording a safe first step for readers who want to move cautiously into areas of nontraditional healing. 250,000 first printing.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

This is a unique, complete, all-purpose guide to the new age of healthcare, from ancient healing practices to modern medical alternatives. The alternative therapies covered are acupressure, acupuncture, aromatherapy, ayurvedic medicine, body work (massage), chiropractic, herbal therapies (including Chinese herbs), homeopathy, lifestyle (exercise), mind/body therapy such as mediation, nutrition/diet, and osteopathy. The main body is an 800-page alphabetical section devoted to describing over 200 ailments and conditions, with symptoms, causes, prevention, and the various conventional and alternative forms of treatment. In addition, there are descriptions of how conventional medicine and alternative therapies work, general guidelines to health, emergency first aid information, an index of conventional and natural medicines (including hundreds of herbs and homeopathic remedies), a nutrition guide, a directory of health organizations, and a glossary, bibliography, and detailed general index. Illustrated sections cover a visual diagnostic guide, an anatomical atlas, a map of acupressure points, a foot reflexology chart, and a gallery of acupressure techniques and yoga positions. Highly recommended, particularly for small libraries with limited funds seeking to update their health reference section with one purchase.?Valerie Vaughan, Hatfield P.L., Mass.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 1152 pages
• Publisher: Time Life Medical; 2 edition (May 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0809467372
• ISBN-13: 978-0809467372
• Product Dimensions: 10.3 x 8.3 x 2.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #420,404 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent symptom to diagnosis guide, October 13, 1998

By A Customer

I abosolutely love this book! It is easy to find your symptoms and find out what the possible diagnoses are. Also, when you have been diagnosed, you can see both the traditional and alternative treatments. I use the drug index to check out every prescription I'm given. It also has excellent pictures that helps in understanding the diseases. I've used it often to see when a situation is urgent or not. My friends often call me and ask me to "look it up in your medical book," because it has proven itself to be reliable.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Every Home Needs The Medical Advisor, January 23, 2000

By A Customer

I bought The Medical Advisor in 1997 and it's one of the most important books I own. I use it to look up my symptoms whenever I get sick and check out all my medicine in the large drug reference section. This book is wonderfully comprehensive. Each topic is covered in four pages or less. In ten to fifteen minutes you find out what you need to know. The text is well written and consistently uses language everyone can understand. That's why every home can use The Medical Advisor.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Reference Book, August 29, 1999

By	Shannan Mattsen (Washington) - See all my reviews

Im 16 years old and interested in being a doctor. This book has a lot of information ranging from an atlas of the body to what to do in certain emergencies. But the main part of the book is an alphabetized index that explains in detail things from bee stings, to pneumonia, to back pain. It shows conventional methods along with alternative methods like acupressure and herbal remedies. This is a great book to have around the house and doesn't cost as much as some medical books do.