Mayo Clinic Book of Alternative Medicine: The New Approach to Using the Best of Natural Therapies and Conventional Medicine
Review
One of my favorites. If you’re interested in taking a holistic approach to your health… this book is for you. — The Wall Street Journal
The Mayo Clinic Book of Alternative Medicine is an illustrated, accessible guide to understanding what works and what doesnt in the world of complementary and alternative medicine, and how to put this information to use in your everyday life. From acupuncture to yoga, Echinacea to St. Johns wort, and meditation to healin…
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August 5th, 2009 at 2:25 am
2.0 out of 5 stars
Not Impressed
This book isn’t really that informative. I should have saved my money and just used my computer.
August 5th, 2009 at 2:49 am
I agree with the previous reviewer that this book is a bit simplistic and does not go into great detail, but it is meant to be an overview of “alternative” and complementary treatments for the average health care consumer. As a physician, I would not recommend this book for providers, but I think it’s a great starting point for patients, and I would not hesitate recommending it to my own patients. The idea is to give the reader a quick summary of the CAM (complementary/alternative medicine) treatment involved, a helpful “traffic light” system that indicates whether the authors think the treatment might be beneficial (green), unknown/might be useful/use caution (yellow), or unsafe (red), based on the best scientific evidence available. There is a quick blurb on “What the research says” for each CAM treatment, and this is where I wish there was a bit more information–perhaps a list of studies that the motivated patient can look up himself. As a provider, I am interested in the studies from which the authors are drawing their conclusions–perhaps a book from the Mayo clinic experts with this kind of information specifically for providers can be made available someday.
There is a lot of conventional medicine in this book as well, some good sections on diet, exercise, and lifestyle, and a section on “what makes a good study”. I don’t find the presentation to be patronizing; rather, it is appropriate for the broad range of educational backgrounds of the audience for which it is intended. I think the photos and layout are pleasing to the eye.
I found the sections on energy therapies (reiki, healing touch, acupuncture) and “other approaches” (ie, naturopathy, ayurveda, homeopathy, traditional Chinese medicine) to be a little too lenient (”yellow lights” were given to most of these); most of these treatments need more research, and it should be stressed in the chapters that they should not be undertaken IN PLACE OF conventional treatments, but perhaps as adjuncts. In another chapter, spirituality and prayer is discussed, and although this is given a green light, it really should be stressed that prayer alone will not cure illnesses such as meningitis or diabetes, as some religious groups would have us believe. Of course, it can be used as a useful integrative practice for some patients.
A strong chapter on quackery and how to spot it should always be included in any book on CAM, in my opinion. Since it is not really addressed in this book, I would recommend my patients to also read Dr. Stephen Barrett’s Quackwatch internet site, which is free, and which does not mince words when it comes to criticisms of CAM, studies involving CAM, and even the NIH’s National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine.
I believe that the search for “alternative” treatments has picked up recently because conventional doctors, due to decreasing insurance reimbursements and increased demand to see greater numbers of patients, are not able to spend enough time with their patients, and really LISTEN to them. Doctors are no longer able to afford to open their own practices and become part of a community, where their patients are their neighbors and friends. More and more we see doctors jumping around the country in order to find the states with the lowest malpractice insurance rates, the best call schedules, the highest salaries. Patients are searching for someone they can trust, who will listen to their concerns and offer support. Many times a massage therapist or reiki provider has the time to provide this, whereas a doctor does not. Unfortunately, there are also a lot of “quack” CAM providers who take advantage of this as well, and they have a large stake in the continued support of their practices by the public and the government. It is up to conventional medical practitioners, who should demand as much scientific evidence to support CAM treatments as conventional treatments, to help patients sort the wheat from the chaff, and I think this book is a good starting point for opening the lines of communication.
August 5th, 2009 at 4:09 am
I think money and politics and the threat of lawsuits sometimes affects the how researchers present a therapy or drug as either safe or not. It seems they tend more to the safe side than not, at least that what it seems like. The book has a lot of nice pretty pictures, and for those who are rushed for time and don’t want to take an indepth look at a particular drug or treatment, then I suppose this book is adequate. Although there are a lot of websites out there, imo, that have just as good information if not better. I was suprised that Soy was given a green light given the nature that high amounts of soy does contain a chemical in it that might be considered by some to not be beneficial. Definately a good book for some. But for the serious alternative medicine researcher, there is no substitute for reading as much as you can from just about every source you can.
August 5th, 2009 at 5:04 am
5.0 out of 5 stars
It is never wise to completely shun a proven method, and it’s never wise to shun all alternatives
It is never wise to completely shun a proven method, and it’s never wise to shun all alternatives
as well.
August 5th, 2009 at 6:10 am
Although this book offers an overview of a wide field of various medicinal approaches, its promise simply isn’t met: Items are given either a green, yellow, or red light with little or no meaningful discussion; alternative therapies are discussed so briefly as to make their discussion unworthy of the time spent in locating them; most of the book is big pictures and little words, setting a patronizing tone that persists throughout the volume.
There are many, many more useful books than this one out there. As much poor writing as there is, most books that cover any given medical area are going to offer more than this volume by virtue of offering at least some depth. This book simply offers none.
August 5th, 2009 at 7:09 am
5.0 out of 5 stars
Plain talk
Mayo Clinic book on alternative medicine should be on everyones book shelf. It contains down to earth information about many simple procedures for good health.
August 5th, 2009 at 7:24 am
1.0 out of 5 stars
Misleading title, inaccurate information
I purchased this book because I have been so happy with PDR for Herbal Medicines, 4th ed. (Physician’s Desk Reference (Pdr) for Herbal Medicines).
August 5th, 2009 at 9:49 am
5.0 out of 5 stars
Nice Book
I was very happy with the book. It is in good condiltion, very readable, and came quickly. I wanted to give it as a gift for christmas, and was able to do so.
August 5th, 2009 at 12:19 pm
3.0 out of 5 stars
Good book but could be even better
This really deserves 3 1/2 stars. It is very good for what it includes, but should include a bit more. It mostly emphasizes cardiac health.
August 5th, 2009 at 2:48 pm
3.0 out of 5 stars
Know your expectations
The answer to the question “Is this book worth the money it costs?” greatly depends on what you expect to get from it.
August 5th, 2009 at 4:15 pm
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great book
Nice large easy to read, not too technical book. Good for anyone who wants to bridge traditional medicine with alternative treatments.
August 5th, 2009 at 6:11 pm
2.0 out of 5 stars
Disappointed
Very disappointed in how watered down the information in this book is…doesn’t seem like the Mayo Clinic gave me any new information, and just scratched the surface on all that’s…