The Arthritis Foundation's Guide to Alternative Therapies

Discusses alternative treatments for arthritis

From the establishmentthe Arthritis Foundation itselfa worthwhile, realistic look at the help to be had from alternative therapies. For years, Horstman acknowledges, the Arthritis Foundation has cautioned against remedies offered by those outside of the medical mainstream. Here, the Foundation acknowledges survey results showing that many arthritis sufferers already use unconventional therapies, and would like help finding reliable resources for such treatments. Accepting this development, Horstman provides help in sorting out the choices. She is both sympathetic and realistic about the problems: ``There is no cure for most kinds of arthritis, and the limited treatments available can leave you feeling helpless, frustrated and depressed.'' In fact, ``Chronic disease can grind the joy and meaning right out of your life.'' Complementary medicine can't treat most acute illnesses, replace conventional medical treatment, or cure chronic disease, cautions Horstman. But what acupuncture, homeopathy, chiropractic, herbal medicines and other such disciplines can do is promote wellness and general well-being, prevent other illnesses from occurring, ease such symptoms as pain, stiffness, anxiety, and depression, and increase the effectiveness of conventional remedies. For each of the various therapies, Horstman explains what the basis for treatment is and how it is used, reviews any scientific evidence documenting its effects, explains how to find a reliable practitioner, lists the probable cost, and offers further resources. Typical signals of the quackery that often accompanies new treatments include any mention of secret formulas or of the words ``amazing,'' ``breakthrough,'' or ``cure.'' Overall: careful, sound, and useful suggestions for help and comfort. -- Copyright ©1999, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

No longer content with merely warning patients about possibly dangerous treatments, the Arthritis Foundation has compiled a valuable guide "to the most-used complementary therapies for arthritis." Many experts in the fields of arthritis and alternative therapies contributed information to this thorough and well-organized book, which stresses the combination of conventional Western medicine and alternative therapies. Each chapter "describes the therapy and how it is used, the scientific evidence about the therapy, expert opinion of the therapy, how to find a practitioner, what the therapy costs, [and] resources on how and where to learn more." The work relies heavily on biomedical scientific data, which should appeal to health professionals seeking information on the efficacy of specific therapies. Appendixes cover basic information on different forms of arthritis and provide extensive lists of citations, recommended readings, and web sites. Nicely illustrated and neatly laid out, this is recommended for all consumer health collections.ALisa McCormick, Jewish Hosp. Lib., Cincinnati
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.