Product Description

"For those curious, confused, or downright leery about alternative medicine, the open-minded, plainspoken Rosenfeld offers some sound information."
--Publishers Weekly

Here at last is an authoritative , comprehensive look at the controversial field of alternative medicine. A distinguished and experienced clinician, Dr. Isadore Rosenfeld reviews the track records of dozens of widely used alternative therapies, including acupuncture, aromatherapy, homeopathy, hypnosis, and reflexology. For each approach, he describes how it is used, the theories on which it is based, how much scientific evidence exists to support claims for it, and--perhaps most important--whether it actually works. With wit and candor he explains

• How claims made by some alternative practitioners may be valid even though they cannot be proven by the scientific method
  
• How hypnosis can be used to treat "physical" conditions like asthma as well as emotional disorders
  
• Which herbal preparations should be added to, or even replace, conventional drugs
  
• Why you should try to have acupuncture immediately after a stroke
  
• How certain aromas can help claustrophobia, improve your sex life, and help you sleep
  
• Why fasting can be good for your spirit but bad for your health
  

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #152276 in Books
• Published on: 1997-12-08
• Released on: 1997-12-08
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 368 pages

Features

• ISBN13: 9780449000748
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
• Click here to view our Condition Guide and Shipping Prices

From Publishers Weekly
For those curious, confused or downright leery about alternative medicine, the open-minded, plainspoken Rosenfeld, (Doctor, What Should I Eat?) offers some sound information. After a brief explanation of placebos and some principles of quack detection, he considers over 30 alternative therapies, arranged alphabetically from acupuncture to reflexology. Rosenfeld treats each therapy seriously, yet with a touch of humor, providing a short history, an explanation of how the method is supposed to work, relevant scientific research on its effectiveness for various conditions and, in some cases, an address or phone number for further information. Each chapter ends with an evaluation of the therapy. Occasionally, these are less than helpful. On homeopathy, for instance, Rosenfeld simply advises: "decide for yourself." Nevertheless, when sufficient evidence for a definitive yes or no concerning a technique's efficacy does not exist, Rosenfeld generally offers a carefully considered opinion, and, mindful of the Hippocratic oath's dictum to "first do no harm," he consistently emphasizes safety. 13-city author tour.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal
A best-selling author (Doctor, What Should I Eat?, LJ 1/95) and distinguished professor of clinical medicine, Rosenfeld offers a mainstream medical perspective on 30 major alternative therapies (Chinese, Ayurveda, bee venom, oxygen, mind-body, etc.), describing circumstances where choosing the therapy is and isn't warranted. His conclusions and recommendations are based on personal clinical experiences, scientific research, and literature review. While supportive of bridging the gap between traditional and "holistic" healthcare, Rosenfeld warns against reckless claims in chapters on "The Lure of the Cure" and "How To Spot a Quack." He takes on topics like chelation, reflexology, and hypnosis, telling readers what is safe, what is useless, and what needs further investigation. Writing in a tongue-in-cheek style that is entertaining yet informative, Rosenfeld has produced an excellent resource backed by professional expertise. For all consumer health collections.
-?Rebecca Cress-Ingebo, Fordham Health Sciences Lib., Wright State Univ., Dayton, Ohio
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist
Alternative medicine is a hot topic, and consumers are bombarded with debates between the medical establishment and proponents of such therapies as acupuncture, homeopathy, and reflexology. Rosenfeld, who has written several popular books about medical treatments, looks at 30 alternative treatments, some almost mainstream, others highly controversial; analyzes recent data (and in many cases tries the therapies himself); informs readers about when the treatment is appropriate and when it isn't; and, perhaps best of all, offers "The Bottom Line" on each therapy. Among the topics covered are chelations, cell therapy, hypnosis, diet therapy for cancer, and mind-body connections. He even takes readers on a walk through a health-food store, offering advice along the way about such in-the-news supplements as melatonin and chromium. Easy to read, easy to understand, and an excellent addition to medical shelves. Ilene Cooper

Customer Reviews

Five Stars
For those of us who do not know the difference between Ayurveda, Chelation, and Iridology, Dr. Isadore Rosenfeld comes to the rescue. In his practical book, Dr. Rosenfeld's Guide to Alternative Medicine, he spells out the difference between these and many other alternative therapies which more people are going to everyday. I wholeheartedly reccomend this work to be on anyone's bookshelf who is even romotely interested in knowing different therapies used today.

Judgmental, but up-front about it; oversimplified
Dr. Rosenfeld's book is well written and accessible for laypeople. The narrative is interesting, and the author's wit and humor came through. However, I found the content excessively judgmental in places; in fairness to the author, he admits his biases in most places. The book's principal failing, in my opinion, is one common to books of this sort - oversimplification. For example, the author's classification of chiropractic approaches - and his attendant opinion - did not fully capture the principal differences between practitioners, and appeared to dismiss some credible independent research. As a result, his recommendation was less complete than it could have been. I observed this in a few other areas of the text, though not frequently. In fairness to the author, I must admit my own bias, as a chiropractic college administrator. :-) In general, I applaud the author for his attempt to assist health care consumers in wading through the admittedly murky waters of so-called alternative medicine and complementary therapies.

Great book but didn't convince my kooky mom
Here's why I gave this book four stars even though it is a very good book:

My mom is 85 years old, and believes in everything from astrology to reincarnation to you name it. That's fine, except that when she told me that she was going to stop seeing her regular doctor and instead see a craniosacral therapist for her severe neck pain, I felt that I should help her to evaluate alternative medical practices. I did this after my own research showed that there's no good evidence that craniosacral therapy has any benefit.

Bottom line is that although what I read of the book shows that it might convince someone that not all therapies are beneficial, and that quacks exist, it did not convince my mom.

So if you're buying it for a similar reason, realize that it may not do the job.