This practical, readable guide focuses on how to effectively integrate complementary therapies into mainstream primary care. Based on the authors' successful real-world clinical experiences, it offers realistic advice on key issues, appropriate referrals, and treatment options. Patient information sheets and clinical guidance sheets on commonly seen conditions serve as convenient, quick-reference guides. Covers key considerations related to integrating complementary therapies into a primary care practice, such as funding, resources, and legal issues. Presents easy-to-follow flowcharts for clinical decision-making and treatment options. Introduces research models and issues commonly used in complementary medicine. (Product description).

Integration of complementary and alternative medicine therapies (CAM) with conventional medicine is occurring in hospitals and physicians offices, health maintenance organizations (HMOs) are covering CAM therapies, insurance coverage for CAM is increasing, and integrative medicine centers and clinics are being established, many with close ties to medical schools and teaching hospitals. In determining what care to provide, the goal should be comprehensive care that uses the best scientific evidence available regarding benefits and harm, encourages a focus on healing, recognizes the importance of compassion and caring, emphasizes the centrality of relationship-based care, encourages patients to share in decision making about therapeutic options, and promotes choices in care that can include complementary therapies where appropriate. Numerous approaches to delivering integrative medicine have evolved. Complementary and Alternative Medicine in the United States identifies an urgent need for health systems research that focuses on identifying the elements of these models, the outcomes of care delivered in these models, and whether these models are cost-effective when compared to conventional practice settings. It outlines areas of research in convention and CAM therapies, ways of integrating these therapies, development of curriculum that provides further education to health professionals, and an amendment of the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act to improve quality, accurate labeling, research into use of supplements, incentives for privately funded research into their efficacy, and consumer protection against all potential hazards.

Complementary and alternative medicine encompasses a wide range of modalities, including acupuncture, herbs and supplements, naturopathy, and body and mind therapies. The use of these healing methods is increasing rapidly, and more and more patients are approaching primary care physicians with questions about them. The purpose of this issue is to help doctors understand the evidence supporting and refuting complementary and alternative medicine techniques so they can provide patients with answers. This is the first of a two-part series, and it focuses on the various modalities.

This revised and updated edition of the ABC of ComplementaryMedicine offers an authoritative introduction to complementarytherapies. Taking an independent standpoint, neither promoting nor disparagingcomplementary therapies, this second edition includes the latestinformation on efficacy of treatments and provides a new emphasison patient management. The ABC of Complementary Medicine is aninvaluable guide to any doctor who encounters complementarymedicine in clinical practice.

Comprehensive and in-depth guide provides the expertise of more than 100 of the nation's top professionals.

By integrating complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) with traditional medical treatment, this volume represents the next generation in the evolving field of integrative medicine. Features a unique approach and case studies immediately applicable to clinical practice. Far more than a review of CAM modalities, this is an evidence-based and clinically authoritative guide for family medicine and primary care providers.

Based on careful analysis of burden of disease and the costs ofinterventions, this second edition of 'Disease Control Priorities in Developing Countries, 2nd edition' highlights achievable priorities; measures progresstoward providing efficient, equitable care; promotes cost-effectiveinterventions to targeted populations; and encourages integrated effortsto optimize health. Nearly 500 experts - scientists, epidemiologists, health economists,academicians, and public health practitioners - from around the worldcontributed to the data sources and methodologies, and identifiedchallenges and priorities, resulting in this integrated, comprehensivereference volume on the state of health in developing countries.