Your Guide to Alternative Medicine Understanding, Locating, and Selecting Holistic Treatments and Practitioners Larry P. Credit, Sharon G. Hartunian, and Margaret J. Nowak

ISBN: 0-7570-0125-4 Length: 208 Pages Size: 6 X 9-inch Format: Quality Paperback Category: Health Price: $11.95 Availability: In Print Click below for: Synopsis • Contents Introduction • Reviews

Synopsis

The growing world of complementary medicine offers safe and effective solutions to many health disorders, from backache to headache. The more you know about these alternative health techniques, the greater your chance of selecting the right remedy for your own health problem. You may already be interested in some of the alternative care approaches that are attracting growing attention--for example, acupuncture, chiropractic, homeopathy, and various types of massage. But if you’re like most people, you have a hundred and one questions you’d like answered before you choose a treatment. "Will I feel the acupuncture needles?" "Does chiropractic hurt?" "What is a homeopathic remedy?" "Does massage really work?" Your Guide to Alternative Medicine provides the fundamental facts and practical guidance necessary to choose an effective complementary care therapy and begin treatment.

This comprehensive reference clearly explains numerous approaches in an easy-to-read quick-reference format. For every complementary care option discussed, there is a description and brief history; a list of conditions that respond; information on the cost and duration of treatment; credentials and educational background for practitioners; a directory of professional organizations that can offer you further information; and more. To find those therapies most appropriate for a specific condition, there is also a unique troubleshooting chart that lists common disorders along with the complementary approaches best suited to treat them.

Your Guide to Alternative Medicine introduces you to options that you may never have considered--methods that enhance the body’s natural healing potential and have few, if any, side effects. Have you thought about using an herbal treatment to reduce allergies? Did you know that aromatherapy can relieve nausea? If you have questions about complementary health care, Your Guide to Alternative Medicine has the answers. Here is a reference that can help you make informed decisions about all your important healthcare needs.

Larry P. Credit received his Doctorate in Oriental Medicine from SAMRA University in Los Angeles, California. He is a graduate of the New England School of Acupuncture and holds a Master of Science in Health Management from Lesley University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and a Bachelor of Science in Sport, Fitness, and Leisure Studies from Salem State College in Salem, Massachusetts. Over the past twenty years, Dr. Credit has created and developed alternative medicine, fitness, and allied health programs for hospitals, colleges, and corporations. He is an experienced spokesperson on alternative medicine and has made numerous appearances on radio and television. He is a consultant for individuals confronting health and lifestyle changes.

Sharon G. Hartunian received her Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Tufts University in Medford, Massachusetts, and her Master of Science in Social Work from Simmons College in Boston, Massachusetts. She is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker and a certified Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselor. Ms. Hartunian has over twenty years of clinical, supervisory, and teaching experience in social work and substance abuse.

Margaret J. Nowak is a graduate of the New Hampshire Institute for Therapeutic Arts. She has designed, coordinated, and led complementary medicine seminars and presentations. In addition, she has assisted in the development of alternative medicine and allied health programs for hospitals and colleges. She has extensive management experience in holistic and medical practices.

Contents

Introduction
Guidelines for Choosing a Therapy
Quick-Reference Symptom-Therapy Chart

Glossary
Practitioners’ Credentials
Professional Organizations
Bibliography
Index

Introduction

James Reston, correspondent to The New York Times, was visiting China in the hot summer of 1971. An attack of acute appendicitis forced him into the Anti-Imperialist Hospital in Peking. Reston detailed the significant experience that followed in a front-page article in the July 26, 1971 edition of The New York Times. He described an "intensely human and vibrant" atmosphere in which his medical emergency was deftly treated with a mixture of conventional medical practices and ancient Chinese healing arts. A local anesthetic was used to numb Reston’s mid-section, and surgery was performed. He remained conscious throughout the procedure, which was completed with "no complications, nausea or vomiting." For post-surgical pain and discomfort, Reston received acupuncture and herbal medicine. These alternative medicine treatments resulted in "a noticeable relaxation of the pressure and distension [of the stomach]...and no recurrence of the problem thereafter." Our nation was awakened to alternative medicine through a media voice that announced the healing potential of medical treatments that combine the "very old with the very new."

In the same spirit of optimism and respect for the pairing of conventional and holistic/wholistic medicine, we have endeavored to introduce you to a number of alternative medicine approaches, so that you, too, can benefit from healthcare that encompasses current science and technology and the wisdom of the ages. We recognize that in order to encourage consumers of healthcare to try alternative medicine approaches, we must describe the treatments in a clear, direct manner, and then lay out the practical steps toward finding a trained practitioner.

This handbook is the key to understanding alternative medicine options. Our goal is to give you the basic facts and practical guidance necessary to choose an appropriate therapy and to successfully initiate treatment. In an easy-to-read, quick-referencing format, this text covers the following topics for each alternative medicine approach:

• What Is It?: a brief description and history of the approach.
• Conditions That Respond Best: what conditions are usually treated by this approach.
• How Does It Work?: the philosophy and procedures followed during therapy.
• What to Expect: what you will encounter when being treated.
• Cost/Duration: average cost and time ranges for treatment sessions.
• Credentials/Education: what you should consider regarding the background and training of practitioners.
• How to Find a Practitioner: the best ways to contact a practitioner.
• Professional Organizations: groups that are involved in disseminating information about the approach, licensing or certifying practitioners, and providing training and/or referrals.
• Recommended Reading: suggested resources for further information and study.

Alternative medicine, commonly referred to as holistic or wholistic healthcare, covers treatment options that generally are not a part of conventional medical practice. These approaches are viewed as complements to conventional Western medicine. In partnership with conventional medicine, the treatments can bolster your potential for health and recovery. It is clear that when it comes to emergency procedures and appropriate surgical interventions, conventional medicine excels. However, a combination of standard treatments and alternative medicine approaches can be very effective.

The belief that the mind influences the body and that the body, in turn, has an impact on the mind is a key element in the philosophy of alternative medicine. As a result, alternative medicine focuses on the health needs of the whole person. Practitioners strive to be aware of their clients’ health from a number of perspectives; physical, emotional, nutritional, and spiritual factors are considered. The emphasis of treatment is on the body’s ability to heal itself with the help of natural, non-invasive therapies that are effective and without harmful side effects.

Alternative medicine supports client education and encourages positive lifestyle changes. Practitioners serve dual roles as treatment specialists and teachers. They work in partnership with their clients, motivating them toward better health and helping to strengthen the internal healing potential of each individual.

Sometimes, terms used to describe alternative medicine can be confusing because of their holistic context. For example, balance, in holistic terms, refers to the equality between the body and the mind--both have equal influence on your health and both must operate optimally in order to minimize dysfunction. Likewise, the term harmony refers to the facile interaction of the systems of the body and mind. Restoring balance and harmony are often goals of alternative medicine. To assist you in better understanding alternative medicine approaches, we have provided the definitions of essential terms in the glossary.

While alternative medicine approaches are helpful for individuals experiencing chronic pain and seriously debilitating disorders, they also benefit those who are interested in maintaining health and preventing future problems. You do not need an illness or an injury to be treated. Just as a well-oiled machine functions smoothly, the magnificent human body operates at its best when cared for on a regular basis with health-enhancing regimens.

The overall goal of alternative medicine is to put your well-being into your own hands, so that you become an active participant in your recovery and/or health maintenance. We have researched approaches thoroughly and have interviewed numerous practitioners in our quest to bring you a concise, accessible handbook. Our hope is that you will consider this book a trusted guide to the healing realm of alternative medicine.

Please note that throughout this book, we refer to practitioners according to their education, certificates, and degrees. For example, a chiropractor is also a doctor, and is therefore termed as such in various places. As we work to popularize alternative care approaches, we also endeavor to erase the various stereotypes and prejudices that have formed around them. Practitioners of alternative medicine accomplish much study in, and exhibit tremendous commitment to, their chosen practices. We hope that the public will become increasingly comfortable using titles that properly refer to professionals who have trained so diligently in their specialties.

Reviews

"Provides a breakdown of various holistic treatments and a guide to national organizations to help you get started ... the best way to learn about treatments."

--The Detroit News

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