and Alternative Medicine: Personal Preference alternative medicine (CAM) is widespread and growing. The reasons that people and alternative medicine. …
The Guide to Complementary and Alternative Medicine on the Internet
Lillian R Brazin, MS, AHIP
The Haworth Information Press An Imprint of The Haworth Press New York London Oxford
Published by The Haworth Information Press, an imprint of The Haworth Press, Inc, 10 Alice Street, Binghamton, NY 13904-1580 2004 by The Haworth Press, Inc All rights reserved No part of this work may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, microfilm, and recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher Printed in the United States of America TR: 31504 PUBLISHERS NOTE Due to the ever-changing nature of the Internet, Web site names and addresses, though verified to the best of the publishers ability, should not be accepted as accurate without independent verification Cover design by Marylouise E Doyle Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Brazin, Lillian R The
guide to complementary and alternative medicine on the Internet / Lillian R Brazin p cm Includes bibliographical references and index ISBN 0-7890-1570-6 hardcover : alk paper–ISBN 0-7890-1571-4 softcover : alk paper 1 Alternative medicine–Computer network resources–Directories I Title R733B795 2003 025066155–dc21 2003012258
CONTENTS
Preface Acknowledgments Chapter 1 Words of Wisdom Introduction How I Selected These Web Sites Why Read This Book? Let the Searcher Beware: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly–Evaluating CAM Web Sites Getting Started Netiquette Chapter 2 General Web Sites Search Engines Discussion Groups Mailing Lists, Chat Rooms, Newsgroups Megasites Medical School, Academic, or Library Based Associations/Organizations General CAM Web Sites Not Produced by Libraries, Universities, or Medical Schools General Government Resources Chapter 3 A Sampling of CAM Therapies and Philosophies Acupuncture African-American Wellness Alexander Technique AT Aromatherapy Ayurvedic
Medicine Biofeedback Chinese or Asian Traditional Medicine ix xi 1 1 2 3 5 8 9 13 13 18 21 27 37 43 53 53 54 56 58 60 62 62
Chiropractic Feldenkrais Work Guided Imagery GI Herbal Medicine Hispanic Herbalism Holistic Medicine Homeopathic Medicine Humor or Clown Therapy Huna Hypnosis Massage Therapy Naturopathic Therapy Nutrition Osteopathic Medicine Pet Therapy Pilates Method Polarity Therapy Rolfing Shamanism Spirituality and Prayer Veterinary CAM Chapter 4 CAM for Specific Illnesses or Symptoms Cancer Crohns Disease/Colitis/Irritable Bowel Syndrome Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Hepatitis C Menopause Multiple Sclerosis MS Parkinsons Disease Sickle-Cell Disease Chapter 5 Parting Advice: Ready, Set, Google Glossary Index
64 65 67 68 75 75 76 79 80 82 84 85 87 87 92 94 95 95 96 98 98 103 103 105 105 108 108 109 110 111 113 115 121
Preface Preface
My personal experiences with complementary and alternative medicine CAM began in graduate library school when I worked as an
assistant at a psychiatric research laboratory The medical school-affiliated laboratory conducted research on hypnosis and biofeedback relaxation training, among other subjects These therapies were studied as aids to pain control My late husband was an old-time family doctor, an osteopathic general practitioner who adjusted my neck on our first date He once tried a patients ethnic family recipe for boiled gingerroot in an attempt to relieve my migraine headaches Even now I gag at the taste of ginger Recently, I have used with some success supplements of riboflavin, choline, vitamin B6, and vitamin E to lessen the frequency of migraine headaches Friends use acupuncture, echinacea, soy milk, and evening primrose oil for a variety of ills As a librarian who has worked in US hospitals, medical schools, and public libraries for over three decades, I have noticed a growing acceptance of and interest in the field of complementary and alternative medicine by both the general public and health
professionals such as doctors and nurses Sometimes called integrative medicine, CAM generally refers to philosophies of treating illnesses and approaches to the patient that are not commonly considered by Western traditional or mainstream medicine Technically, complementary therapy differs from alternative medicine The former refers to therapy used together with traditional Western medicine, while the latter term refers to therapy used in place of mainstream medicine Integrative medicine/therapy has a meaning similar to complementary therapy in that it refers to treatments used in conjunction with
Western medicine, utilizing whatever methods are most effective without favoring one system over another traditional or alternative Many books and Web sites about complementary and alternative medicine tout the field with an enthusiasm bordering on religious fervor The most popular authors in the field all seem to be charismatic guru types with piercing eyes I, however, have a conservative
perspective on the subject Neutrality and caution are my watchwords because I have seen so many health fads and beliefs change or fall out of favor over time For nearly a decade I have also worked in public libraries and have had the opportunity to listen to the health concerns of people from many cultures Depending on their age, ethnic background, health status, economic circumstances, profession, and sex, people have different attitudes toward their bodies and toward the medical establishment doctors, nurses, medical insurers Some individuals are comfortable using computers; some are not Not everyone has a home computer Some prefer to leave decisions concerning their health to health practitioners Some may want to take charge of their own health treatment People have different methods of seeking health information Some people are shy about asking for help, while others are very assertive This book is aimed primarily at those readers who have just begun to explore the Internet, who
are shy about talking with friends, relatives, and doctors about medical issues I hope you look at the Internet as a new world of adventure that you can travel to from the safety and anonymity of your home Enjoy
Chapter 1
Words of Wisdom
INTRODUCTION Words of Wisdom Have you noticed that many health insurers now routinely cover acupuncture, chiropractic manipulation, yoga, and massage? Most medical schools and hospitals are establishing centers for integrative medicine and adding CAM courses to the medical school curriculum Hospitals offer massages, yoga, Feldenkrais, tai chi, and pain control instruction to employees, patients, and the general public Americans have embraced CAM in growing numbers In 1993 a report in the New England Journal of Medicine1 revealed startling statistics: in the United States more visits were made to alternative medicine practitioners than to family doctors Insurance paid for only one-fourth of these expenditures A study published in Journal of the
American Medical Association JAMA in 19982 showed that more than 42 percent of Americans who responded to a survey said they had used an alternative medical therapy The therapies they used most often were herbal medicine, massage, megavitamins, self-help groups, folk remedies, energy healing, and homeopathy They reported spending more than 27 billion in 1997, more than was spent out of pocket for hospitalizations in the United States Americans are using CAM treatments in various ways: as an alternative to conventional/traditional therapies or as additions to such treatments complementary or integrative approaches
What types of people use CAM? They tend to be well read, well educated, and suffering from chronic or terminal conditions They embrace CAM not necessarily because they are dissatisfied with Western medicine or their health practitioners but because they view some CAM practices as reflecting their own beliefs toward health and their personal values and lifestyles Widely
publicized deaths and birth defects caused by prescription medications add to the popularity of natural remedies More than half of US physicians reported using for themselves or recommending for their patients some CAM therapies3 Although these cited articles are several years old, from the proliferation of books, magazines, videos, Web sites, and general newspaper articles on CAM, we can be pretty sure that CAM has caught on with the average American in a big way Within this trend, we should not forget the influence of personal computers PCs Consumers can research health topics without visiting the library The Internet, which includes Web sites, online discussion groups, chat rooms, newsgroups, and more, allows people to present information to the world with an immediacy and lack of censorship not generally available with other forms of expression This is a blessing and a problem; there is so much information and it is difficult to evaluate This book will help you choose the best CAM
sites for your needs HOW I SELECTED THESE WEB SITES So many Web sites, so little time I made selections based on criteria many health and information experts have written about in newspaper and magazine articles: the authors or organizations expertise, ease of use, currency, lack of bias or commercialism, accuracy, and respect for privacy For this book I limited listings to sites primarily from North America My search strategies included keyword searches on several search engines, but I also explored the pre-
selected Web sites in search engine directories and university library Web sites Government Web sites were useful and often led me to additional resources Recommendations in newspapers, both national and local, and popular magazines added to my selections I spoke with medical librarian colleagues and recalled the sites that had been most helpful answering the questions of my library users Finally, I referred to my own stash of favorite CAM resources on the Internet–the sites I
have bookmarked on my computer at home You can bookmark your own favorites, using these selections as a starting point WHY READ THIS BOOK? The beginning of health is to know the disease Spanish proverb I teach classes for women about finding and evaluating health information on the Internet The Internet can be frightening and overwhelming because there is so much information to sift through, digest, and evaluate The different chapters of this book will help you identify the Internet CAM resources you can trust The book will clarify questions and controversial topics such as the following:
How can you be certain that the information you find is
correct?
How do you locate a Web site that was recommended to
you? How do you begin to research a particular health problem? What is the Pilates exercise method that Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis helped popularize in the 1960s? It is trendy again There are Pilates studios in most major cities
Your supermarket sells St Johns wort, gingko
biloba, and
vitamins A through Z Should you take soy supplements for hot flashes? What is the meaning of dot com, edu, gov, mailing lists, :, BTW, LOL, flames, Netiquette, etc? Warning: This book is not a substitute for advice and recommendations from your doctor or other health care provider Always share your concerns, as well as any Internet or print health information, with your health care provider before you make any changes regarding treatment or lifestyle Even seemingly harmless diet supplements, for example, can interact with prescribed medications and have dangerous results Your physician needs to know your entire medication history prescribed medications as well as over-the-counter potions to treat you properly In the long run, you will really achieve better results if you adopt a team approach with your doctor A health practitioner should first evaluate all symptoms If you think your family doctor will laugh when you suggest CAM treatments, you might be surprised The
medical journals most commonly read by doctors JAMA, New England Journal of Medicine, The Lancet, and Canadian Medical Association Journal feature articles on CAM The US federal government takes it seriously enough to have established a dozen centers throughout the country to research evidence that CAM therapies are truly effective Partner with your doctor Show him or her the articles you read in Time, Newsweek, and The New York Times Speak with your local public librarian Most public libraries contain up-to-date books on health topics, including CAM, and librarians can show you how to research topics on the Internet and on electronic groupings of databases such as InfoTrac and OVID to which many public libraries subscribe Another warning: The Internet is dynamic–it changes constantly Web sites are removed Sites move to new addresses http://www and do not always leave a forwarding address A site may be abandoned, and its information may become out-
dated Links within a Web site
may go nowhere Names of Internet resources may change or the authors may change At the time this book was submitted for publication, all Web addresses and names of sites were correct LET THE SEARCHER BEWARE: THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE UGLY– EVALUATING CAM WEB SITES A fool believes everything Traditional proverb Would you take medical advice from a sixteen-year-old? A popular magazine posed this question to its readers It may sound silly, but unless you keep some guidelines in mind when surfing the Net, you might find yourself looking at a colorful Web site that is full of incorrect, biased, or even dangerous information Anyone can create an attractive Web site that appears to be authoritative–even your teenaged neighbor The following should be evident on good sites:
The identity of the creator: Is the person or group responsi-
ble for the content readily identified? Can you contact them e-mail, telephone, fax, or mail? What are the credentials of the creator education, experience,
affiliation, and publications? Currency: When was the site last updated? Are all the links to other Web sites still live working? Is the site frequently down for maintenance? Seal of approval: Has a national health organization or the federal government recommended the site? Does it bear the HONCode logo? This code is awarded to sites that meet the HONCode of Conduct See Health on the Net
Foundation HON http://wwwhonch/ This group was created in 1995 and is an international Swiss organization Its mission is to guide Internet searchers to reliable and useful online medical and health information It sets ethical standards for those who develop health and medical Web sites The HON site can also be searched by keyword to locate approved sites that have been categorized as educational, commercial, or individual Another health Web site accrediting organization is URAC http://websiteaccreditationuracorg/ URACs motto is Quality health Web sites you can trust URAC, also known as the
American Accreditation Healthcare Commission, is a nonprofit charitable organization founded in 1990 with the goal to establish standards for the health care industry According to their Web site, URACs mission is to promote continuous improvement in the quality and efficiency of healthcare delivery by achieving a common understanding of excellence through the establishment of standards and a process of accreditation As of May 2003, forty-three sites have URAC accreditation, including MEDLINEplus http://wwwmedlineplusgov URAC aims to help consumers identify sites that meet high accountability and quality standards URAC lists the accredited Web sites with the name of the company that produces the site The sites are reviewed annually, and the date the accreditation expires is listed Under URACs Health Web Site Accreditation Program, sites are evaluated for disclosure of financial backing and sponsorship, privacy and security, and quality and oversight standards For a good guide to
determining a CAM or other health sites credibility or the validity of its claims, check out Quackwatch http://wwwquackwatchcom This site, however, sometimes takes a negative view toward CAM therapies Quackwatch is excellent for exposing fraudulent therapies and devices Another site to visit for information
on medical fraud is the National Council Against Health Fraud http://wwwncahforg It is a good source for breaking news items Health professionals write the articles Bias: Is the site selling products such as vitamins, books, and equipment? Is the site produced or sponsored by a drug company? Does the site advertise a practitioners clinic? Purpose: Is the purpose of the Web site clearly indicated? Is it meant to educate, inform, support, sell something, or attract customers or patients? Audience: Who is the intended audience: CAM professionals therapists, physicians, instructors, medical professionals, or consumers? Attractiveness of the site: Is it easy to use and
pleasing to the eye? Origin: Are you the master of your domain? The two- or three-letter tag at the end of a Web site address gov, edu, com, org indicates the origin of the site The gov domain means you have found a government Web site, edu is an educational institution such as a school or hospital, com is a business, and org is an organization More domains are under consideration Sometimes an abbreviation follows the domain to indicate a foreign language or country uk is the United Kingdom, fr is France, esp is Spain or Spanish language Web sites in the gov or edu domains have the most credibility When in doubt, choose one of these sites
Finally, try to familiarize yourself with several general CAM Web sites, in case your favorite site disappears Most of the government and academic sites are kept up to date Keep your eyes open when reading the newspaper or your favorite general news magazine all are great sources for learning about new medical and CAM Web sites
GETTING STARTED No
one is without knowledge except he who asks no questions African proverb Before you begin to research complementary and alternative treatments, you should be certain you are knowledgeable about traditional therapies and the causes, course, and prognosis future outcome of your illness or symptoms Are you aware of new drugs, procedures, and basic medical knowledge concerning your condition? Do you know what is in the research pipeline? Are there centers of excellence for treating your condition in your community? Have you had a heart-to-heart chat with your health care providers about your condition and the progress you are making in dealing with it? Have you told your health care providers that you are ready to explore CAM? If you have done all of these things, you are ready to begin to explore CAM Internet resources First look at government resources, starting with MEDLINEplus Medlineplusgov You will find dozens of diseases at this site, along with a medical dictionary, directories,
diagrams, and links to government agencies and national health organizations Some of these traditional medical sites include information about approved and nonapproved CAM therapies and have their own online discussion/support groups The next step is to visit Internet sites for national disease societies and organizations Some, such as the National Osteoporosis Foundation http://wwwnoforg and the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society http://wwwleukemiaorg, include the text of pamphlets or information about research currently being conducted Now check out the sites developed by universities usually libraries and public library groups These sites generally include only those Web resources that meet criteria for currency, accu-
racy, etc Move on to Internet sites dealing with specific therapies, such as herbal medicine, hypnosis, Rolfing, massage, and acupuncture Last, try search engines to locate other sites Search by keyword, phrase, name of practitioner, symptom, and disease Use the quality
criteria discussed previously Show the Web sites to your health practitioner Never put anything into or on your body pills, liquids, oils, ointments, inhalants without telling your health practitioner what you plan to do Do not begin exercise regimens before having a medical checkup Do not stop your traditional therapy without discussing this with your health practitioner After beginning any CAM treatment, stop immediately and call your health practitioner if any new pain or other symptoms develop Natural ingredients are not necessarily nonallergenic or benign harmless Use common sense: if coffee enemas seem bizarre to you, do not let yourself be persuaded otherwise Do you really believe that the color of your eyes affects your health? Does a diet of one food or only liquids sound healthy to you? Be smart about this–it is your health and your life we are talking about Now, lets begin NETIQUETTE Because it is so easy to dash off a message over the Internet, some of us forget basic
rules of etiquette, grammar, and spelling Also, some features are unique to the Internet Here are some words of advice:
Do not divulge personal information when posting to a
group whether a mailing list, bulletin board, chat room, or online support group Messages may be stored archived or made available to the public
Do not forward messages from other people without first
obtaining their permission
Do not type in all capital letters This is annoying and is
known as shouting
Do not send replies in a fit of anger Do not insult flame someone over the Internet Do not stalk or harass others in cyberspace Carefully con-
sider the impression your message leaves Could your words be misunderstood as insulting or insensitive? Do not clog up mailboxes by posting me too messages As a rule, do not reply or post a message unless you have a new or unique opinion to add Reply to individuals, rather than to the entire group, when appropriate Do not be embarrassed to state that you
are a newbie newcomer to discussion lists Do not be afraid to lurk for a while read but not post messages when you first join a discussion group It takes a while to get a feel for the culture of the group Do not overdo emoticons the punctuation marks people use to express emotion in e-mail or acronyms abbreviations in which each letter stands for initials of each word Examples of emoticons and acronyms follow: : sad : happy lol laughing out loud rotfl rolling on the floor laughing btw by the way THX thanks - confused FAQ frequently asked questions For more emoticons and abbreviations, see Acronyms, Emoticons and Smilies Page http://wwwMuller-Godschalk com/emoticonhtml
Follow the rules at work Some companies have very strict
rules about appropriate use of the Internet and e-mail Many companies monitor employees messages and Internet surfing When in doubt, use a home computer It is not worth losing your job over this NOTES
1 Eisenberg, DM, Kessler, RC, Foster, C, Norlock, FE,
Calkins, DR, and Delbanco, TL 1993 Unconventional Medicine in the United States: Prevalence, Costs, and Patterns of Use New England Journal of Medicine 328: 246-252 2 Eisenberg, DM, Davis, RB, Ettner, SL, Appel, S, Wilkey, S, Van Rompay, M, and Kessler, RC 1998 Trends in Alternative Medicine Use in the United States, 1990-1997: Results of a Follow-Up National Survey JAMA 280: 1569-1575 3 Borkan, J, Neher, JO, Anson, O, and Smoker, B 1994 Referrals for Alternative Therapies Journal of Family Practice 39: 545-550
SPECIAL 25-OFF DISCOUNT Order a copy of this book with this form or online at:
http://wwwhaworthpresscom/store/productasp?sku4986
THE GUIDE TO COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE ON THE INTERNET
in hardbound at 2246 regularly 2995 ISBN: 0-7890-1570-6 in softbound at 1121 regularly 1495 ISBN: 0-7890-1571-4 Or order online and use special offer code HEC25 in the shopping cart
COST OF BOOKS OUTSIDE US/CANADA/ MEXICO: ADD 20 POSTAGE HANDLING US: 500 for first book 200 for
each additional book Outside US: 600 for first book 200 for each additional book SUBTOTAL IN CANADA: ADD 7 GST STATE TAX NY, OH MN, CA, IN, SD residents, add appropriate local sales tax FINAL TOTAL If paying in Canadian funds, convert using the current exchange rate, UNESCO coupons welcome BILL ME LATER: 5 service charge will be added Bill-me option is good on US/Canada/Mexico orders only; not good to jobbers, wholesalers, or subscription agencies Check here if billing address is different from shipping address and attach purchase order and billing address information Signature PAYMENT ENCLOSED: PLEASE CHARGE TO MY CREDIT CARD Visa MasterCard Diners Club AmEx Eurocard Discover JCB
Account Exp Date Signature
Prices in US dollars and subject to change without notice NAME INSTITUTION ADDRESS CITY STATE/ZIP COUNTRY TEL E-MAIL May we use your e-mail address for confirmations and other types of information? Yes No We appreciate receiving your e-mail address and fax number Haworth would
like to e-mail or fax special discount offers to you, as a preferred customer We will never share, rent, or exchange your e-mail address or fax number We regard such actions as an invasion of your privacy COUNTY NY residents only FAX
Order From Your Local Bookstore or Directly From The Haworth Press, Inc
10 Alice Street, Binghamton, New York 13904-1580 USA TELEPHONE: 1-800-HAWORTH 1-800-429-6784 / Outside US/Canada: 607 722-5857 FAX: 1-800-895-0582 / Outside US/Canada: 607 771-0012 E-mailto: orders@haworthpresscom
PLEASE PHOTOCOPY THIS FORM FOR YOUR PERSONAL USE
http://wwwHaworthPresscom BOF03
Source:upenn.edu
