The Complete Idiot's Guide to Alternative Medicine

by Pressman, Alan H.; Buff, Sheila

• ISBN13: 9780028627427
• ISBN10: 0028627423
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1999-01-01
• Publisher: Macmillan Distribution

Summary

You're no idiot, of course. You call your doctor for regular check-ups, see your dentist at least once a year, and make sure your children are up to date with their immunizations. But when it comes to trying any kind of alternative medicine, you don't know the diffference between a healing tea and a healing bath. Don't rip up your herb garden yet! The Complete Idiot's Guide to Alternative Medicine gives detailed descriptions of different kinds of treatments and explains what they're all about. You'll learn what to expect when you consult an osteopath, a reflexologist, or a Chinese herbalist. In this Complete Idiot's Guide, you get:

Table of Contents

Part 1: Choosing Health	1	(20)
1 Alternative Medicine: In Sickness and in Health Welcome to the wide world of alternative medicine.	3	(10)
2 Myths and Realities Alternative medicine isn't just for weirdoes.	13	(8)
Part 2: What's Up, Doc? Alternative Medical Practices	21	(86)
3 Osteopathy: Boning Up Hands-on modern medicine--one of the fastest-growing areas of alternative care.	23	(8)
4 Naturopathy: The Healing Power of Nature Whole-body health using diet, herbs, nutrition, and more--but hold the drugs.	31	(10)
5 Ayurvedic Medicine: Health from India A traditional healing system meets today's medicine.	41	(22)
6 Traditional Chinese Medicine The medicine of the mysterious East, based on thousands of years of experience. Can one billion Chinese people be wrong?	63	(22)
7 Holistic Dentistry: Sinking Your Teeth into Health Open wide for better dental health the natural way.	85	(8)
8 Chelation: Grabbing for Good Health This one's not for everybody--but it can really help heart patients. You might even be able to bypass surgery.	93	(6)
9 Oxygen Therapy: Airing Out Your Body We're not full of hot air--these treatments can help, but they're controversial.	99	(8)
Part 3: Acupuncture and Energy	107	(34)
10 Acupuncture: Getting Right to the Point The ancient Chinese art of using tiny, painless needles to help your health--or how sticking a needle in your earlobe helps your lungs.	109	(14)
11 Acupressure and Shiatsu: Press On! Who needs needles when you can use your fingers?	123	(8)
12 Reflexology: Rubbing It In The foot bone's connected to every other part of you.	131	(10)
Part 4: Homeopathy and Herbs	141	(80)
13 Homeopathy: Let Like Cure Like Tiny, tiny doses--big, big results.	143	(18)
14 Flower Remedies Stop and smell the roses--and also the lavender, gentian, honeysuckle, impatiens, violets...	161	(16)
15 Traditional Herbal Medicine Healing with traditional herbs from Europe and the Americas.	177	(28)
16 Ginseng and More: Traditional Chinese Herbs The herbal wisdom of China--a complex, time-tested system that really works.	205	(16)
Part 5: You Are What You Eat	221	(58)
17 Nutritional Supplements: Extra Help for Health What is all that stuff at the health-food store, anyway?	223	(22)
18 Juice Therapy: Drink It Down Five a day the juicing way.	245	(6)
19 Macrobiotics: The Brown Rice Way to Health Learning to love brown rice.	251	(12)
20 Detoxification Treatments: What a Waste Cleaning out your body the natural way.	263	(16)
Part 6: Getting in Touch	279	(36)
21 Chiropractic: Working Out the Kinks The best way to treat lower-back pain.	281	(10)
22 Massage: There's the Rub Massage for relaxation and better health.	291	(10)
23 Bodywork: Straightening Yourself Out The many methods for working out the kinks.	301	(14)
Part 7: Making Sense of It All	315	(36)
24 Aromatherapy: The Nose Knows Aromas and your emotions: Using essential oils.	317	(10)
25 Light Therapy: Light Up Your Life Resetting your internal clock, making SAD people happy, and more.	327	(8)
26 Hydrotherapy: Water, Water, Everywhere Have another drink--then take a bath.	335	(8)
27 Sound Therapy: Soothing the Savage Breast Getting in tune with your health.	343	(8)
Part 8: It's All in Your Mind	351	(32)
28 Yoga: Exercise Your Body--and Your Mind Body and mind together--an ancient idea that's new again.	353	(8)
29 Relaxation and Meditation: Rising Above It All Setting your mind--and body--at ease.	361	(12)
30 Use Your Head Using hypnosis, guided imagery, and biofeedback for better health.	373	(10)
Appendices	383	(20)
A Quick Reference Chart for Health Problems	383	(2)
B Common Health Problems	385	(6)
C National Organizations	391	(2)
D Read All About It	393	(4)
E Alternative Health Online	397	(6)
Glossary	403	(12)
Index	415