Title:

Alternative Medicine

Publish Date:

September 2010

ISBN:

978 1 86168 560 5

Covering Ages:

16 to 18 years

Issue Description

Complementary and alternative medicines such as homeopathy, herbal medicines, acupuncture and chiropractic are widely used. Many who rely on them claim to have experienced benefits to their health, yet critics believe that some of these methods are little better than a placebo. What is the evidence for and against these therapies? How should they be regulated? Should they be funded by the NHS? This book looks at alternative medicine and the debate surrounding it.

The information comes from a wide range of sources and includes government reports and statistics, newspaper articles, features, magazine articles and surveys, literature from lobby groups and charitable organisations.

Price:

£7.95

Quantity:

Key Facts

• More and more health professionals such as doctors, nurses and physiotherapists use various kinds of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). (page 1)
  
  
• A report in the Lancet in 2007 stated that about 13,000 patients were treated at the five (now four) homeopathic hospitals in the UK each year. 14.5% of the population say that they trust homeopathy and £38 million is spent on homeopathy each year in the UK. (page 3)
  
  
• In the UK, up to one-third of people with cancer (33%) use some sort of complementary therapy at some time during their illness. For some types of cancer, such as breast cancer, the number of people using complementary therapies is even higher at almost half (50%). (page 6)
  
  
• Herbal medicine is among the most ancient forms of treatment known and the medicinal use of plants is common to all cultures and peoples of the world. (page 10)
  
  
• All herbal medicines sold over the counter in the UK should according to the law be licensed. The MHRA assesses them on safety, quality and patient information. By 2011 a new scheme, which is currently being rolled out, will be in place. (page 13)
  
  
• Medics at a BMA conference voted overwhelmingly in favour of banning homeopathic remedies being funded by the NHS and withdrawing backing for the UK’s four homeopathic hospitals. (page 16)
  
  
• Last year, the Guardian newspaper reported that the NHS spent £12m on homeopathy from 2005-08. The Society of Homeopaths estimates that £4m is spent annually. (page 20)

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Table of Contents

Chapter 1 Complementary Therapies

An introduction to complementary therapy, Complementary and alternative medicine, Why people use complementary or alternative therapies, Alternative antidotes, Traditional medicine: definitions, Herbal and traditional medicine, Herbal medicine, Just how safe are herbal medicines?, Call for more research into complementary therapies.
 

Chapter 2 The Debate

Complementary medicine: health risk or the real heal?, BMA votes against homeopathy funding, EU to fund complementary medicine research, Supporters of homeopathy outraged at medical union’s attacks, An overview of NHS homeopathy, Ban homeopathy on NHS, say Mps, Homeopathy works and is an important part of the NHS, Government urged to embrace integrated healthcare, Homeopathy remains on NHS, Government ignored our advice on homeopathic remedies, say experts, No to homeopathy placebo, Pulling apart the placebo, WHO cares about the dangers of homeopathy?, Mass homeopathy ‘overdose’ protest outside boots, The British Homeopathic Association dismisses 10:23 campaign, Herbal medicine is under threat, Herbal medicines ‘should be regulated’, Faith makes regulating herbal medicine difficult, Advice to consumers: safe use of herbal medicines.

Key Facts

Glossary

Index

Additional Resources

Acknowledgements

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The Study Guide for: Alternative Medicine - Volume 195

Each book in the Issues series has a study guide. These four-page guides provide a variety of discussion points and other activities to suit a wide range of ability levels and interests.

Publisher: Independence Educational Publishers
Price: £1.95
ISBN: ISBN: 978 1 86168 570 4

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