J. Longe – The Gale Encyclopedia of Alternative Medicine (Second edition)

Автор: J. Longe
Название книги: The Gale Encyclopedia of Alternative Medicine (Second edition)
Формат: PDF
Жанр: Медицина
Страницы: 2483
Качество: Изначально компьютерное, E-book

The fact that some alternative health treatments are now covered by health insurance is proof that they have entered the mainstream. The second edition of this set is “a one-stop source for alternative medical information” containing more than 800 articles covering 150 therapies, 275 diseases and conditions, and 300 herbs and other remedies. Alternative health practitioners, educators, pharmacists, and medical writers wrote the alphabetical, signed articles. All entries have resource lists of books, articles, and organizations, and many are illustrated with black-and-white photographs. Sidebars with biographies of leaders in the field, such as Edward Bach, Deepak Chopra, and David Palmer, are a new feature. A photo gallery of color plates of medicinal plants appears in each volume. Many entries have sidebars containing glossaries of key terms.
The entries for therapies (Acupuncture, Rolfing) discuss origins, benefits, precautions, side effects, and research and general acceptance. Those covering herbs and other remedies (Gotu kola, Saw palmetto) describe general use, preparations, precautions, side effects, and interactions. Information about diseases and conditions covers definitions, descriptions, causes and symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, allopathic treatment, expected results, and prevention. Cross-references make locating relevant material easy. The articles are written in lay language, so they are easy to read and understand.

The second edition has a glossary and an expanded organization list that includes mainstream organizations such as the American Medical Association. It also has information about the efficacy of the various treatments based on research conducted at institutions such as the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine at the National Institutes of Health. Controversial topics, such as the link between childhood vaccines and autism, are covered, but the article on vaccines does not include a citation for the information on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Web site citing studies that show no evidence for this.

Although this edition has only 50 new articles, the expanded coverage and inclusion of evidence-based study data make it a valuable addition to collections in health-science, consumer health, and large public libraries. Barbara Bibel

The Gale Encyclopedia of Alternative Medicine is a
medical reference product designed to inform and educate
readers about a wide variety of complementary therapies
and herbal remedies and treatments for prevalent
conditions and diseases. Thomson Gale believes the
product to be comprehensive, but not necessarily definitive.
It is intended to supplement, not replace, consultation
with a physician or other healthcare practitioner.
While Thomson Gale has made substantial efforts to provide
information that is accurate, comprehensive, and
up-to-date, Thomson Gale makes no representations or
warranties of any kind, including without limitation,
warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular
purpose, nor does it guarantee the accuracy, comprehensiveness,
or timeliness of the information contained in
this product. Readers should be aware that the universe
of complementary medical knowledge is constantly
growing and changing, and that differences of medical
opinion exist among authorities. They are also advised to
seek professional diagnosis and treatment for any medical
condition, and to discuss information obtained from
this book with their healthcare provider

The Gale Encyclopedia of Alternative Medicine
(GEAM) is a one-stop source for alternative medical information
that covers complementary therapies, herbs
and remedies, and common medical diseases and conditions.
It avoids medical jargon, making it easier for the
layperson to use. The Gale Encyclopedia of Alternative
Medicine presents authoritative, balanced information
and is more comprehensive than single-volume family
medical guides.
Scope
Over 800 full-length articles are included in The
Gale Encyclopedia of Alternative Medicine. Many
prominent figures are highlighted as sidebar biographies
that accompany the therapy entries. Articles follow a
standardized format that provides information at a
glance. Rubrics include:
Therapies
• Origins
• Benefits
• Description
• Preparations
• Precautions
• Side effects
• Research & general acceptance
• Resources
• Key terms
Herbs/remedies
• General use
• Preparations
• Precautions
• Side effects
• Interactions
• Resources
• Key terms
Diseases/conditions
• Definition
• Description
• Causes & symptoms
• Diagnosis
• Treatment
• Allopathic treatment
• Expected results
• Prevention
• Resources
• Key terms
Inclusion criteria
A preliminary list of therapies, herbs, remedies, diseases,
and conditions was compiled from a wide variety
of sources, including professional medical guides and
textbooks, as well as consumer guides and encyclopedias.
The advisory board, made up of three medical and
alternative healthcare experts, evaluated the topics and
made suggestions for inclusion. Final selection of topics
to include was made by the medical advisors in conjunction
with Thomson Gale editors.
About the Contributors
The essays were compiled by experienced medical
writers, including alternative healthcare practitioners and
educators, pharmacists, nurses, and other complementary
healthcare professionals. GEAM medical advisors reviewed
over 95% of the completed essays to insure that
they are appropriate, up-to-date, and medically accurate.