Complementary and Alternative Medicine
Your Questions Answered
Published on 11. January 2024
Book
Hardback
208 pages
978-1-4408-7978-4 (ISBN)
Description
Explore the many forms of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) practiced today and discover their histories, guiding principles, purported benefits, and potential risks.
Part of Bloomsbury's Q&A Health Guides series, this book examines a wide variety of forms of CAM popular in the 21st century. The volume's 48 questions begin with 10 that address foundational topics such as who uses CAM, how CAM has been studied and regulated, and how to gauge a particular treatment's safety and efficacy for yourself. The remaining 38 questions cover alternative medical systems and complementary treatments, including mind-body interventions, biologically based therapies, manipulation- and body-based methods, and energy therapies. Each answer utilizes a standardized format that examines a treatment's history, how it's practiced, the scientific community's view, potential benefits and risks, and special considerations. The text takes an unbiased approach, balancing respect for individuals' beliefs with the rigor of modern science.
Augmenting the main text, a collection of 5 case studies illustrate key concepts and issues through relatable stories and insightful recommendations. The Common Misconceptions section at the beginning of the volume dispels 5 long-standing myths about CAM, directing readers to additional information in the text. The Glossary defines terms that may be unfamiliar to readers, while the Directory of Resources curates a list of the most useful books, websites, and other materials. Finally, whether they're looking for more information about this subject or any other health-related topic, readers can turn to the Guide to Health Literacy section for practical tools and strategies for finding, evaluating, and using credible sources of health information both on and off the Internet.
Part of Bloomsbury's Q&A Health Guides series, this book examines a wide variety of forms of CAM popular in the 21st century. The volume's 48 questions begin with 10 that address foundational topics such as who uses CAM, how CAM has been studied and regulated, and how to gauge a particular treatment's safety and efficacy for yourself. The remaining 38 questions cover alternative medical systems and complementary treatments, including mind-body interventions, biologically based therapies, manipulation- and body-based methods, and energy therapies. Each answer utilizes a standardized format that examines a treatment's history, how it's practiced, the scientific community's view, potential benefits and risks, and special considerations. The text takes an unbiased approach, balancing respect for individuals' beliefs with the rigor of modern science.
Augmenting the main text, a collection of 5 case studies illustrate key concepts and issues through relatable stories and insightful recommendations. The Common Misconceptions section at the beginning of the volume dispels 5 long-standing myths about CAM, directing readers to additional information in the text. The Glossary defines terms that may be unfamiliar to readers, while the Directory of Resources curates a list of the most useful books, websites, and other materials. Finally, whether they're looking for more information about this subject or any other health-related topic, readers can turn to the Guide to Health Literacy section for practical tools and strategies for finding, evaluating, and using credible sources of health information both on and off the Internet.
More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Target group
College/higher education
Product notice
Unsewn / adhesive bound
Illustrations
1 bw illus
Dimensions
Height: 236 mm
Width: 162 mm
Thickness: 18 mm
Weight
460 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-4408-7978-4 (9781440879784)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
E-Book
12/2023
1st Edition
Bloomsbury Academic USA
€86.99
Available for download
Person
Paul Quinn is a Certified Nurse Midwife and Professor of Nursing at Dominican University, USA.
Content
Series Foreword
Acknowledgments
Introduction
Guide to Health Literacy
Common Misconceptions about Complementary and Alternative Medicine
Questions and Answers
CAM Basics
1. What is complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) and how is it different from "regular" medicine?
2. Who uses CAM and why?
3. Can children and teenagers use CAM?
4. Do I need my health care practitioner's permission to use CAM?
5. What type of scientific research has been done on CAM?
6. Are CAM practitioners regulated in the United States?
7. Are CAM therapies safe?
8. Are CAM therapies effective?
9. What is the placebo effect?
10. How much do CAM therapies cost? Is CAM covered by health insurance?
Alternative Medical Systems
11. What is Chinese Traditional Medicine?
12. What is Ayurvedic medicine?
13. What is homeopathy?
14. What is naturopathy?
15. What is folk medicine?
16. What is religious healing?
17. What is Native American medicine?
Mind-Body Interventions
18. What is meditation?
19. What is psychic healing?
20. What is biofeedback?
21. What is guided imagery?
22. What is hypnosis?
23. What is yoga?
24. What is tai chi?
25. How do relaxation techniques work?
Biologically Based Therapies
26. What is herbal medicine or therapy?
27. What is vitamin therapy?
28. How do dietary supplements or specialized diets work?
29. What are animal-derived extracts?
30. What is botanical therapy?
31. What is chelation?
32. What is aromatherapy?
Manipulation and Body-Based Methods
33. What is chiropractic?
34. What is massage therapy?
35. What is Rolfing?
36. What is osteopathic manipulation therapy?
37. What is reflexology?
38. What is craniosacral therapy?
39. What is acupressure?
40. What is acupuncture?
41. What is gua sha?
42. What is cupping?
43. What is ear candling?
Energy Therapies
44. What is qi gong?
45. What is reiki?
46. What is therapeutic touch?
47. What is magnet therapy?
48. What is crystal therapy?
Case Studies
Glossary
Directory of Resources
Index
Acknowledgments
Introduction
Guide to Health Literacy
Common Misconceptions about Complementary and Alternative Medicine
Questions and Answers
CAM Basics
1. What is complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) and how is it different from "regular" medicine?
2. Who uses CAM and why?
3. Can children and teenagers use CAM?
4. Do I need my health care practitioner's permission to use CAM?
5. What type of scientific research has been done on CAM?
6. Are CAM practitioners regulated in the United States?
7. Are CAM therapies safe?
8. Are CAM therapies effective?
9. What is the placebo effect?
10. How much do CAM therapies cost? Is CAM covered by health insurance?
Alternative Medical Systems
11. What is Chinese Traditional Medicine?
12. What is Ayurvedic medicine?
13. What is homeopathy?
14. What is naturopathy?
15. What is folk medicine?
16. What is religious healing?
17. What is Native American medicine?
Mind-Body Interventions
18. What is meditation?
19. What is psychic healing?
20. What is biofeedback?
21. What is guided imagery?
22. What is hypnosis?
23. What is yoga?
24. What is tai chi?
25. How do relaxation techniques work?
Biologically Based Therapies
26. What is herbal medicine or therapy?
27. What is vitamin therapy?
28. How do dietary supplements or specialized diets work?
29. What are animal-derived extracts?
30. What is botanical therapy?
31. What is chelation?
32. What is aromatherapy?
Manipulation and Body-Based Methods
33. What is chiropractic?
34. What is massage therapy?
35. What is Rolfing?
36. What is osteopathic manipulation therapy?
37. What is reflexology?
38. What is craniosacral therapy?
39. What is acupressure?
40. What is acupuncture?
41. What is gua sha?
42. What is cupping?
43. What is ear candling?
Energy Therapies
44. What is qi gong?
45. What is reiki?
46. What is therapeutic touch?
47. What is magnet therapy?
48. What is crystal therapy?
Case Studies
Glossary
Directory of Resources
Index