Understanding Alternative Medicine: New Health Paths in America

by Tyler; Virginia M

• ISBN13: 9780789007414
• ISBN10: 078900741X
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2000-02-07
• Publisher: Routledge

Summary

Understanding Alternative Medicine: New Health Paths in America provides health professionals and educators with insight into the growing use and social acceptance of alternative medicines in the United States today. This book discusses the political, economic, and scientific implications of multicultural medicine in American society and provides you with specific information on the use of alternative medicines in the United States. With this complete and comprehensive guide, you will discover the safety and efficacy of alternative medicines, therapies, and philosophies to offer your patients the best possible care for their ailments. Intelligent and informative, Understanding Alternative Medicine examines several different philosophies that alternative treatments are based on, such as Shamanism, Ayurvedic Medicine, and traditional chinese medicine and discusses some of the negative consequences of these practices on both the plant and animal kingdoms. This essential

Author Biography

Lawrence Tyler, PhD, is Professor of Sociology at Western Michigan University, where he teaches courses in the Asian Studies Program.

Table of Contents

Foreword	ix
Varro E. Tyler
Preface	xi
Diversity in American Medicine	1	(6)
Philosophical Differences	7	(20)
Shamanism	8	(2)
Traditional Chinese Medicine	10	(11)
Ayurvedic Medicine	21	(3)
Herbs and the Ice Man	24	(3)
TCM Use and Endangered Species	27	(16)
The Trade in Bear Parts	28	(3)
Aphrodisiacs	31	(2)
Bear Farms and Parks	33	(3)
Ginseng: Poaching or Harvesting?	36	(7)
The Economic Growth and Social Acceptance of Alternative/Herbal Medicines in the United States	43	(22)
Safety and Efficacy	44	(6)
Herbal Politics	50	(7)
Herbal Business	57	(2)
AMA and Alternatives	59	(3)
Alternative Insurance	62	(3)
``Like Two Wings of a Bird''?	65	(14)
Medicine, Authority, and Wealth	67	(3)
The RCT Standard and Recent Studies	70	(5)
Acupuncture and Placebo Effect	75	(4)
Placebos, Spontaneous Remissions, and Nonspecific Factors in Healing	79	(14)
Approaching Therapy	82	(1)
Approaching Pain	83	(1)
Four Features of Effective Therapy	84	(9)
Herbal Medicine: The German Example	93	(8)
Bibliography	101	(6)
Index	107