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Laurie J. Fundukian (Editor)



The profusion of advertisements and propaganda aimed at the consumer-health market confirms the continuing need for library reference collections to provide current, authoritative, and unbiased health sources, particularly in an area as prone to misinformation as alternative medicine. The third edition of The Gale Encyclopedia of Alternative Medicine, updated with 50 new entries and revisions of 300 others, attempts to balance the therapies and remedies used in alternative medicine with input on the effectiveness of such treatments from scientists and the traditional medical community. Authored by a team of about 50 medical writers, the 875 signed, alphabetically arranged entries are written at a level accessible to the layperson. As with any multiauthored work, the quality of the entries depends on the qualifications of the authorial and editorial team. Unfortunately, the advisory board for this encyclopedia does not include anyone with a traditional MD degree. Although most of the entries are well researched and objective, a few could use some improvement. Areas addressed encompass therapies, herbs and remedies, and diseases and conditions, along with types of alternative medicine practiced today. Entries within each of the broad areas follow a standardized format. For example, entries on diseases and conditions have sections for “Definition,” “Description,” “Causes and Symptoms,” “Diagnosis,” “Treatment,” “Allopathic Treatment,” “Expected Results,” “Prevention,” “Resources,” and “Key Terms,” which are defined in colored sidebars. Entries are generally several pages in length. About 450 color photographs, tables, and drawings supplement the text. References to additional resources, including books, periodical articles, Web sites, and organizations, appear at the end of most entries. Although this third edition contains many updated entries, extensive checking revealed some out-of-date print references as well as broken Web links. Appendixes include a 15-page listing of organizations and a 73-page glossary. An unusually thorough 170-page index provides subject access to the contents. Despite the caveats noted above, most of the entries in this comprehensive encyclopedia effectively present well-researched, balanced information on therapies and treatments used in alternative medicine. Readers need to be reminded to approach all alternative medicine interventions with critical perspective and to discuss all remedies with qualified physicians. The Gale Encyclopedia of Alternative Medicine is recommended for college and public libraries with a need for consumer-health information.

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