THE DESKTOP GUIDE TO COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE: AN EVIDENCE-BASED APPROACH
Edzard Ernst (Editor), with MH Pittler, C Stevinson and A White (Associate Editors)
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Mosby, 2001
448 pages
ISBN 0723432074
RRP £25.99 $US 36.95
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As the majority of patients with advanced cancer will use some form of complementary or alternative medicine (CAM), it is necessary that palliative care professionals are able to discuss the
possible benefits and disadvantages of these therapies with patients. And if you want the evidenced-based facts (and not the anecdotal evidence or historical myths), there is no better place
to start than this book.
The main part of the text is divided into sections on Therapies (from acupuncture to herbalism to yoga), Herbal and non-herbal medicine (from aloe vera to lavender to yohimbe), and Conditions
for which complementary medicine is frequently used (from AIDS to cancer to upper respiratory tract infections). Each topic is divided into a number of sections including definition, scientific
rationale, clinical evidence, risks, risk-benefit assessment, and references. Where they are available, the assessment focuses on systematic reviews, randomized controlled trials, and meta-analyses.
This book is a pleasure to use. There is a mine of up-to-date, evidence-based, and referenced information on all aspects of complementary and alternative medicine. The manner in which the text
is set out is excellent, making the information easily accessible; the inclusion of a CD-ROM is a bonus. The most important feature that sets this book apart from its competitors is the quality
of the information presented and I would strongly recommend it to anyone wanting to buy a reference of complementary and alternative medicine for themselves or their service.
Roger Woodruff Director of Palliative Care, Austin Health, Melbourne, Australia
Former Chairman, IAHPC
(May 2003)
Author information
Edzard Erns is Professor of Complementary Medicine, University of Exeter, UK
MH Pittler and C Stevinson are Research Fellows, Department of Complementary Medicine, University of Exeter, UK
A White is Senior Lecturer, Department of Complementary Medicine, University of Exeter, UK
Table of Contents
SECTION 1: Using the Book 1
SECTION 2: Diagnostic Methods 17
SECTION 3: Therapies 25
SECTION 4: Herbal & Non-herbal Medicine 83
SECTION 5: Conditions 195
SECTION 6: General Topics 361
