Main description:

Alternative medicine (AM) is hugely popular; about 40% of the US general population have used at least one type of alternative treatment in the past year, and in Germany this figure is around 70%. The money spent on AM is considerable: the global market is expected to reach nearly US $ 200 billion by 2025, with most of these funds coming directly out of consumers' pockets.

The reasons for this popularity are complex, but misinformation is certainly a prominent factor. The media seem to have an insatiable appetite for the subject and often report uncritically on it. Misinformation about AM on the Internet (currently about 50 million websites are focused on AM) is much more the rule than the exception.

Consumers are thus being bombarded with misinformation on AM, and they are ill-protected from such misinformation and therefore prone to making wrong, unwise or dangerous therapeutic decisions, endangering their health and wasting their money.

This book is a reference text aimed at guiding consumers through the maze of AM. The concept of the book is straightforward. It has two main parts. The first, short section provides essential background on AM, explaining in simple terms what is (and what is not) good, reliable evidence, and addressing other relevant issues like, for instance, the placebo response, informed consent, integrative medicine, etc.

The second and main part consists of 150 short chapters, topically grouped and each dedicated to one single alternative therapeutic or diagnostic method. In each of them, seven critical points are raised. These points relate to issues that are important for consumers' decisions whether it is worth trying the method in question. Restricting the discussion to just seven points means that issues must be prioritized to those themes which are most relevant in the context of each given modality.

Contents:

Introduction

UMBRELLA TERMS

Alternative cancer cures

Chinese herbal mixtures

Detox

Essential oils

Herbal medicine

Kampo

Neutraceuticals

Phytotherapy

COMPLEX SYSTEMS OF ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE

Anthroposophic medicine

Ayurveda

Detox

Gerson therapy

Holistic dentistry

Integrative medicine

Kneipp therapy

Naturopathy

TCM

Yoga

ALTERNATIVE CONDITIONS, DISEASES AND SYMPTOMS

Chi deficiency

Food intolerance

Homeopathic aggravation

Leaky gut syndrome

Subluxation

Yin yang imbalance

ALTERNATIVE DIAGNOSTIC TECHNIQUES

Applied kinesiology

Bioresonance

Copper chloride biocrystallisation

Electroacupuncture according to Voll

Hair analysis

Iridology

Kirlian photography

Live blood analysis

Pulse diagnosis

Tongue diagnosis

Radionics

Vega test

ALTERNATIVE EXERCISE TECHNIQUES

Alexander technique

Dance and movement therapy

Eurythmy

Feldenkrais method

Pilates

Qigong

Tai chi

Yoga

VARIOUS MASSAGE TECHNIQUES

Deep tissue massage

Lymph-drainage

Marma massage

Rolfing

Swedish massage

Shiatsu

Shujing massage

Tui na

OTHER MANUAL THERAPIES

Bowen technique

Chiropractic

Cranio-sacral therapy

Dorn method

Functional Cranial Release

Khalifa therapy

Naprapathy

Osteopathy

Reflexology

Slapping therapy

Spinal manipulation

Spinal mobilisation

Visceral osteopathy

PHYSICAL THERAPIES

Acupressure

Acupuncture

Aromatherapy

Biopuncture

Cupping

Emotional freedom techniques

Flotation therapy

Gua sha

Kinesiology tape

Moxibustion

SHORT SELECTION OF IMPORTANT PLANT-BASED TREATMENTS

Aloe vera

Arnica

Essiac

Evening primrose oil

Feverfew

Garlic

Ginkgo biloba

Ginseng*

Kava

Marijuana

Mistletoe

Mushrooms

St Johns Wort

Tumeric*

OTHER ORAL TREATMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTS

Antineoblastons

Antioxidants

Bach flower remedies

Chondroitin

Colloidal silver

Electrohomeopathy

Enzyme therapy

Fish oil

Glucosamine

Homeopathy

Homeoprohylaxis

Homeotoxicology

Laetrile

Vitamin C (for cancer)

ANIMAL PRODUCTS

Bear bile

Homeopathic nosodes

Oscillococcinum

Placentophagy

Rhino horn

Shark cartilage

Tiger penis

Urine therapy

DIETARY APPROACHES

Alkaline diet

Cancer diets

Dietary supplements

Fasting

Hayes diet

Macrobiotics

Paleo diet

Slimming aids

Vegan diet

Vegetarianism

MIND BODY THERAPIES

Autogenic training

Biofeedback

Guided imagery

Hypnotherapy

Meditation

Mind-body therapies

Mindfulness-based stress reduction

Music therapy

Relaxation therapy

Transcendental meditation

PARANORMAL HEALING METHODS

Distant healing

Energy healing

Faith healing

Feng shui

Johrei healing

Pranic healing

Prayer

Qigong

Reiki

Self-Reiki

Spiritual healing

Therapeutic Touch

Vibrational medicine

MISCELLANEOUS OTHER TREATMENTS

Agrohomeopathy

Chelation therapy

Coffee enemas

Colour therapy

Crystal healing

Ear candles

Leech therapy

Magnet therapy

Neural therapy

Neurolinguistics programming

Ozone therapy

Wristbands