Alternative medicine /

Larson (Univ. of Kentucky), a business development consultant, offers a "comprehensive, objective and definitive guide to alternative medicine." She covers practical aspects such as effectiveness, insurance coverage, and legal issues. Part 1 is an overview that discusses origins, theories, and consumers' reasons for seeking alternative treatments. Part 2 speaks to controversial issues such as alternative medicine's success, its relationship to pharmaceuticals, government regulation, and managed care's involvement. Part 3 provides reference material, including primary source documents, a time line of important events, and an annotated bibliography of print/electronic resources for those interested in learning more. Part of the "Health and Medical Issues Today" series, this volume aims to help researchers, clinicians, and consumers make sense of the prevailing debates about alternative health care. Drawing on preventive strategies and treatments that include lifestyle changes, clinical nutrition, and some alternative therapies, Larson outlines a proactive program for managing degenerative diseases. The author clarifies terminology and explains integrative medicine's relationship to holistic care. Larson suggests a strategy focused on using successful and safe practices in alternative therapies together with Western medicine. This comprehensive analysis of this diverse field will be a valuable addition to academic, medical, and hospital libraries. Summing Up: Highly recommended. Upper-level undergraduates and above; general readers. B. M. Lopez-Fitzsimmons Manhattan College