This popular, evidence-based overview of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) emphasizes clinical research, analyzes the effectiveness of each therapy, and presents practical information on how these therapies can be used to treat health conditions and diseases. It not only acquaints the reader with information about CAM, but provides evidence for the effectiveness of various therapies used to treat medical conditions ranging from allergies to psychiatric conditions - in all populations relevant to CAM including children, women and the elderly. Summary tables embedded throughout highlight clinical data, statistics, and major research findings. More thorough documentation in this edition is achieved through new tables and added commentary on the quality of studies, making research findings more relevant and useful. Chapters are grouped according to condition and special populations rather than treatment, so readers can easily compare all possible treatments for a specific condition. Up-to-date tables allow the reader to see what studies have been done for a certain condition, and what the findings are. Extensive references and suggested reading lists refer the reader to the most up-to-date or historically relevant sources. An emphasis on research and clinical studies gives the book a comprehensive focus on CAM treatments and results. The evidenced-based approach clearly details which therapies are most effective and safe. Up-to-date tables focusing on critical needs related to demographics, safety, and areas of clinical pain allow summary information to be quickly referenced.Comprehensive, reliable content presents an unbiased account of CAM that allows the reader to follow the data without excessive commentary from the authors. A focus on major medical conditions for which there is the most detailed and up-to-date information available allows the reader to learn about the major critical issues of CAM. The ways in which research methodology can be used to practice evidence-based medicine is reviewed in several chapters. A focus on special populations, including women, children, and the elderly, presents important CAM considerations for these groups.

1. Essential Issues in Complementary and Alternative Medicine -- 2. Pre-Clinical Research as a Bridge to Clinical Research Outcomes in Complementary and Alternative Medicine -- 3.Complementary/Alternative Therapies Used in the Treatment of Asthma and Allergies -- 4.Complementary/Alternative Therapies Used in the Treatment of Cancer -- 5.Complementary/Alternative Therapies Used in the Treatment and Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease -- 6.Complementary/Alternative Therapies Used in the Treatment of Diabetes -- 7.Complementary/Alternative Therapies Used in the Treatment of Neurologic Diseases -- 8.Complementary/Alternative Therapies Used in the Treatment of Psychiatric Disorders -- 9.Complementary/Alternative Therapies Used in the Treatment of Alcohol and Chemical Dependency -- 10.Complementary/Alternative Therapies Used in the Treatment of Pain -- 11.Complementary/Alternative Therapies Used in Select Populations: Children -- 12.Complementary/Alternative Therapies Used in Select Populations: Women -- 13.Complementary/Alternative Therapies Used in Select Populations: Elderly -- 14. Legal and Ethical Issues in Complementary/Alternative Medicine -- 15. Integration of Clinical Practice and Medical Training with Complementary and Alternative and Evidence-Based Medicine -- 16. Future Trends and Important Focuses for CAM in the 21st Century -- 17. Final Summary -- Appendix A: Definitions of Complementary/Alternative Therapies Described in the Text -- Appendix B: Selected Resources for Complementary/Alternative Medicine -- Appendix C: Research Databases -- Appendix D: Informed Consent Process Checklist for Physicians Integrating Complementary and Alternative Medicine -- Glossary -- Index.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Ch. 1. Essential issues in complementary and alternative medicine -- Ch. 2. Preclinical research in complementary and alternative medicine -- Ch. 3. Asthma and allergies -- Ch. 4. Cancer -- Ch. 5. Atherosclerotic vascular disease -- Ch. 6. Diabetes mellitus -- Ch. 7. Neurologic disorders -- Ch. 8. Psychiatric disorders -- Ch. 9. Alcohol and chemical dependency -- Ch. 10. Pain -- Ch. 11. Select populations: children -- Ch. 12. Select populations: women -- Ch. 13. Select populations: elderly patients -- Ch. 14. Legal and ethical issues -- Ch. 15. Integration of clinical practice and medical training with complementary and alternative and evidence-based medicine -- Ch. 16. Complementary and alternative medicine in the twenty-first century: future trends and key focuses -- Ch. 17. Final summary: goals for complementary and alternative medicine.

Print version record.

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