Alternative Medicine

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 bookis 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.

Auteur

Edzard Ernst has researched all aspects of alternative medicine for 25 years. He and his team have published well over 1000 peer-reviewed papers and many books on the subject, including More Harm than Good? - The Moral Maze of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (2018) and Homeopathy - The Undiluted Facts (2016) with Springer. His work has been awarded more than a dozen prizes, including the John Maddox Prize 2016. He retired about six years ago and is emeritus professor of the University of Exeter. He continues to play an active role in the public debate on alternative medicine.

Contenu

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 imager...