Simon Singh

Edzard Ernst

An analysis of alternative medicine evaluates thirty popular treatments, including acupuncture, homeopathy, and herbal remedies, to address contradictory opinions and identify their benefits and potential dangers, in a study that counsels readers on how to make informed choices and supports the primacy of the scientific method for public health practice and policy.

Trick Or Treatment: The Undeniable Facts about Alternative Medicine

Kevin Smith

This book reveals the numerous ways in which moral, ethical and legal principles are being violated by those who provide, recommend or sell ‘complementary and alternative medicine’ (CAM). The book analyses both academic literature and internet sources that promote CAM. Additionally the book presents a number of brief scenarios, both hypothetical and real-life, about individuals who use CAM or who fall prey to ethically dubious CAM practitioners. The events and conundrums described in these scenarios could happen to almost anyone. Professor emeritus of complementary medicine Edzard Ernst together with bioethicist Kevin Smith provide a thorough and authoritative ethical analysis of a range of CAM modalities, including acupuncture, chiropractic, herbalism, and homeopathy. This book could and should interest all medical professionals who have contact to complementary medicine and will be an invaluable reference for patients deliberating which course of treatment to adopt.

The Moral Maze of Complementary and Alternative Medicine

More Harm than Good?

Adevărul despre medicina alternativă

So-called alternative medicine (SCAM) is popular and therefore important. This book was written by someone who received SCAM as a patient, practised SCAM as a doctor, and researched SCAM as a scientist. It provides an insider's perspective by covering aspects of SCAM which most other books avoid.

So-Called Alternative Medicine

Scam

This book traces the genesis, principles and practice of homeopathy, and discusses the reasons for its enduring popularity. Two hundred years ago, medicine had little to offer except blood letting and the administration of violent purgatives – practices which shortened the course of illness by hastening the death of the patient. Largely in reaction to what he correctly saw as the brutality and ineffectiveness of the medicine of his day, the eighteenth century German physician Samuel Hahnemann developed a system of therapeutics that he termed homeopathy. Ironically, while modern medicine has changed beyond recognition, homeopathy, with its roots in alchemy and metaphysics, continues to be practiced precisely as it was in Hahnemann’s day. Readers of this book will enjoy the story of homeopathy and its almost magical attraction, whilst learning much from the authors' rational and scientific discussion of the biological, chemical and psychological questions that this treatment raises.

Including a Comprehensive A-Z Lexicon

Homeopathy - The Undiluted Facts

Prince Charles has entertained a long-standing love affair with alternative medicine. This book describes his passion as it developed during the last 40 years. The Prince's beliefs, opinions, and ambitions are critically assessed against the background of the scientific evidence. In most instances, the contrast could not be starker. Thus, Charles' tenacious promotion of unproven, disproven, and occasionally harmful alternative therapies turns out to be little more than the pipe dream of a self-declared enemy of the Enlightenment. The book portrays our future king, reviews the evidence on alternative medicine, and inspires critical thinking.

An Unauthorised Biography

Charles, the Alternative Prince

So-called alternative medicine (SCAM) is popular and therefore important, no matter whether we love or loathe it. Consequently, an impressive number of books about SCAM are already available. Most of them, however, are woefully uncritical, overtly promotional and dangerously misleading. Not so this one! This book was written by someone who received SCAM as a patient, practised SCAM as a doctor, and researched SCAM as a scientist. It provides an insider's perspective by covering aspects of SCAM which most other books avoid, and by questioning the many tacitly accepted assumptions and wild extrapolations that underpin SCAM. The text is factual, occasionally dosed with a touch of humour or satire. The aim is not only to inform but also to entertain. It is written principally for members of the general public who have an interest in healthcare and are tired of the promotional counter-knowledge produced by SCAM enthusiasts. It is an exercise in critical thinking that might prevent you from wasting your money on (or endangering your health with) bogus treatments.

SCAM

Alternative medicine (AM) is popular; about 40% of the US general population have used alternative treatment in the past year, and in Germany this figure is around 70%. The global market is expected to reach nearly US $ 200 billion by 2025, with most of these funds coming directly out of consumers’ pockets. Consumers are bombarded with misleading and false information on AM and therefore prone to making wrong, unwise, or dangerous therapeutic decisions, endangering their health and wasting their money. This book is a reference text aimed at guiding consumers through the maze of AM. This second edition includes over 50 additional treatments as well as updates on many others.

A Critical Assessment of 202 Modalities

Alternative Medicine

This book discloses the errors and lies that misled you into believing things about so-called alternative medicine (SCAM) that are untrue. It analyses the many falsehoods used in the promotion of SCAM, explains the erroneous thinking behind them, and presents the scientific evidence in easily understandable terms.

Arguments for and Against Scam

Don't Believe What You Think

Max H Pittler

Barbara Wider

Kate Boddy

The Oxford Handbook of Complementary Medicine presents evidence-based information on CAM in an easily accessible form, thereby enabling hospital doctors, GPs, nurses, medical students and other healthcare professionals to competently advise patients about CAM treatments. The book covers definitions, cost, safety, regulation, legal and ethical questions and a range of practical issues, diagnostic techniques, and risk-benefit assessments of CAM modalities. The main part of the book is organised by condition, outlining for each the CAM treatments available, ranked according to level of evidence of effectiveness, followed by a concise clinical bottom line assessing risks and benefits, also in relation to conventional treatment. The information is presented in a concise, matter-of-fact fashion, avoiding the obscure jargon sometimes used in CAM. Many issues surrounding CAM remain controversial and this handbook discusses them openly and critically.

Oxford Handbook of Complementary Medicine

Eckhart G. Hahn

This exciting new book is set to become the standard professional reference text on homoeopathy. A critical evaluation of the discipline, it reviews the known facts and defines the knowledge gaps, offering a reliable and much-needed critique of the uses of traditional homoeopathic remedies. As its title suggests, 'Homoeopathy: a critical appraisal' takes an evaluative approach, reviews known facts and defines knowledge gaps. It discusses the findings of clinical trials and research into effectiveness and safety, drug 'provings', the placebo effect/response, and the socio-economic aspects of homoeopathy. Recommended for all medical and professional homoeopaths, students of homoeopathy, GPs and health care professionals.

A Critical Appraisal

Homoeopathy

Adrian White

A new text examining acupuncture from a scientific standpoint. Related titles in the growing Butterworth Heinemann list include: 'Complementary Medicine: an objective appraisal' and 'Homoeopathy: a critical appraisal', both of which also originate from the Department of Complementary Medicine at the University of Exeter. This thought-provoking new book provides a critical evaluation of the discipline, reviewing known facts, defining current knowledge gaps and formulating several interesting challenges for the future. The book

A Scientific Appraisal

Acupuncture

The scientists, academics and practitioners writing this book are not 'against' complementary or alternative medicine (CAM), but they are very much 'for' evidence-based medicine and single standards. They aim to counter-balance the many uncritical books on CAM and to stimulate intelligent, well-informed public debate. TOPICS INCLUDE: What is CAM? Why is it so popular? Patient choice; Reclaiming compassion; Teaching CAM at university; Research on CAM; CAM in court; Ethics and CAM; Politics and CAM; Homeopathy in context; Concepts of holism in medicine; Placebo, deceit and CAM; Healing but not curing; CAM and the media.

A Critical Analysis of Complementary or Alternative Medicine

Healing, Hype or Harm?

Cancer victims are bombarded with misleading information about alternative medicine. Many such treatments try to sell false hope at inflated prices, and many promise a cure without side-effects. This book explains why alternative cancer cures are a fallacious concept. However, it also outlines the important role of alternative medicine in supporting cancer patients and improving their quality of life.

So-Called Alternative Medicine (SCAM) for Cancer

Pain is the single most common reason for patients to consult a CAM practitioner. This essential new book provides concise evidence-based information on complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in relation to pain. Each section has a clear and accessible design to enable quick decision-making, and includes an analysis of the most up-to-date research available. Provides a single authoritative reference source on CAM for pain for healthcare professionals Takes a systematic and evidence-based approach Offers concise information on CAM diagnostic methods and treatments for pain Summarises clinical trial data on the effectiveness of CAM for specific areas of pain Alerts readers to areas where CAM may present risks Weighs the benefits and risks of each CAM treatment in relation to pain Includes CD-ROM for easy searching of the text

An Evidence-based Approach

Complementary Therapies for Pain Management

So-called alternative medicine (SCAM*) is largely useless; very few SCAMs demonstrably generate more good than harm. Yet, SCAM is popular and has grown into a huge business. Spending on SCAM in Australia (2016) was estimated to be AUS$3.9bn, in the UK (2008) £4.5bn, and in the US (2012) US $30.2bn. Why is something that is expensive and useless nevertheless popular? One answer is that consumers are constantly being misled about SCAM. Consequently, many of us have come to believe things that are quite simply not true. Currently, over 50,000,000 websites promote SCAM, and consumers are being bombarded with information not just via the internet, but also via newspapers, magazines, books and many other sources. This situation has the potential of separating us from our cash or even of damaging our health. There is little that protects us from greedy SCAM-entrepreneurs and over-enthusiastic SCAM-therapists. Therefore, we ought to protect ourselves. This book offers this protection for anyone who is willing to reconsider their own beliefs. It discloses the errors and lies that misled you into believing things about SCAM that are untrue. It analyses the many falsehoods used in the promotion of SCAM, explains the erroneous thinking behind them, and presents the scientific evidence in easily understandable terms. In a way, Ernst's new book amounts to a course in critical thinking, a skill that should prove to be helpful far beyond the realm of healthcare. *Ernst’s previous book was entitled SCAM: So-Called Alternative Medicine.

Argument For and Against SCAM

Includes CD-ROM with fully searchable text and links to Medline.

The Desktop Guide to Complementary and Alternative Medicine

This comprehensive guide provides healthcare professionals with accessible complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). Presenting the evidence-base for each treatment and providing clear advice about the effectiveness and safety of CAM, this is an essential resource for all clinicians interested in alternative therapies.

St. John's wort (Hypericum perforatum) is one of the best-selling herbal medicines in the world. For that reason, research into all aspects of St. John's wort continues to intensify. Hypericum: The Genus Hypericum summarizes the current knowledge on a wide range of issues, such as botany, plant infections, cultivation, manufacturing, standardization, quality control, biochemistry, pharmacology and clinical application. This landmark book tackles issues not previously addressed, such as selection of the pharmacologically active compounds, application for severe depression, mechanisms of action, long-term effects and risks, marketing issues (dietary supplements or drugs), and comparison to synthetic drugs for the same indications. Containing many updated references, Hypericum will be of immense value to those involved in industry and academia alike, including researchers, producers, processors, importers and end users.

Edzard Ernst

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