Alternative Medicine: The Christian Handbook

Well written, easy to understand, concise but with enough information to give an idea of each method, and enough basic information to give you a start if you wanted to research further. Very helpful resource

I found the historical background of such common alternatives as homeopathy and chiropractic to be interesting reading. There are detailed guidelines to help differentiate proven products from those that are questionable or downright dangerous. Clear explanations are provided as to why products may or may not work, based on a four-level evidence rating system. There are 322 pages that rate most of the popular alternative therapies, herbs, vitamins, and dietary supplements. This represents the bulk of the authors material and the part of the book that I will be referring to time and again if I have questions on Ginko and Ginseng or Wild Yam and Willow Bark. Then at the back of the book is a list that summarizes the effectiveness of various alternative choices on certain common conditions such as allergies, arthritis, anxiety, etc. This volume is going to occupy a prominent place in my shelf of ready sources of information.

This ambitious project by Doctors O'Mathuna and Larimore exceeded my expectations. Their clearly stated purposes are: to point out benefits of alternative medicine; to explain the potential risks of alternative medicine; to anticipate the reader's questions; provide objective answers. Starting with overviews and definitions of alternative and conventional medicine, they acknowledge the limitations of both types of medicine and explore some follies perpetrated over the centuries in the names of both orthodoxy and alternatives. They then move on to discuss Christian principles of health. Their definition of holistic health does not narrowly view it as the pursuit of physical health solely, but as part of the means to a successful life that includes physical, emotional, social and spiritual aspects. They also offer well-researched biblical explanations for illness and suffering. Lastly, they offer advice on how to pursue good health. This last section is somewhat lacking in its own academic rigor as far as documenting the efficacy of their recommendations. However, I found all of their listed suggestions to be very reasonable. It is hard to argue with advocates of preventative health care visits, exercise and balanced diets. The authors' spiritual analysis of each therapy, measuring each against a bible-based standard, sets this book apart from others. Such information is important because of the current trend to equate some health behaviors with spiritual maturity, or to presume that "anything that works must be good (or from God)." O'Mathuna and Larimore carefully look at each treatment or supplement to evaluate possible spiritual implications, using as much of the original source materials in each area as possible. They also present both the overt and covert spiritual worldviews of the therapies' practitioners. Some of these are incompatible with biblical truth, and Christians must steer clear of them. However, both authors also acknowledge that sometimes one's choice of health behaviors (e.g. dietary choices) comes down to a personal conviction and not a biblical command. Before diving into their evaluation of each specific therapy, they present how they objectively evaluate them to determine effectiveness and safety. Their concise primer on the scientific method and statistics is helpful for any reader unskilled in critically evaluating the medical literature. They briefly discuss their statistical methods, why and how the methods originated, and then freely acknowledge the limitations and weaknesses statistical methods have and their need for continued refinements. If you are looking for a sweeping condemnation of all alternative medicine, you will be disappointed (and shame on you anyway). They clearly state when there is good evidence for the effectiveness of alternative therapies, even if it ruffles the feathers of some conventionalists. Conversely, they are willing to sternly warn of the ineffectiveness, wastefulness, an

This book is truly unique. With scientific excellence and compassion, O'Mathuna and Larimore give readers an outstanding resource on alternative medicine. The book works well whether you are a health care practitioner or a layperson considering using an alternative modality for your health. The book is also worth having if you are not a Christian, for although they write from this viewpoint, it contains scientifically sound advice for all faiths.The authors begin the book by reviewing what Alternative Medicine is. Then, they move to quickly diffuse the frequent conflict between "conventional" and "alternative" medicine by giving a brief history of how "conventional" medicine came to be conventional. After a few chapters on specifically Christian concerns regarding health care, pain, and suffering. They also provide a balanced review of what kind of problems to watch out for in Alternative Medicine (e.g., outright fraud, etc.).Then, they turn to perhaps one of the most clearly written exposition of evidence-based medicine for the layperson, entitled: "How science tests therapies and remedies." This helpful chapter is the springboard into the practical portion of the book (pages 133-477). Those hundreds of pages list alphabetically, the majority of alternative medicine modalities in existence today. Included are a text review and a summary section for each, describing what indications the modality is used for, and separately listing on a scale of -4 to +4 how helpful the evidence suggests the therapy is. Additionally, in the text, as they discuss the evidence, they rate how reliable the evidence is (i.e., what type of study), which is very helpful.To summarize, this is a well organized book for a wide-variety of audiences. I have found it a worthy reference in a conventional medical practice context.John B. Waits, MD

I have thoroughly enjoyed reading the author's detailed and thoughtful exploration and evidence-based approach to an area that had been very confusing for me. I also appreciate the information about the spiritual implications of the more common alternative medicine practices. Quite honestly, in order to attempt to keep up with the volumes of evidence-based information that seems to grow daily in conventional medicine, I have largely avoided becoming more informed in the arena of alternative medicine. However, rarely a week goes by that I am not asked by my patients about some herbal treatment, alternative therapy or new "miracle remedy". In the past my approach has been to explain that most of these therapies are relatively untested. After reviewing with them any obvious interactions that I am aware of, I would explain that if they seem to feel better, the choice was up to them. I could not recommend one way or the other. This has bothered me but without a reliable resource of plainly and concisely written EVIDENCE-BASED information I felt the task was simply too time consuming and overwhelming. After reading this well written handbook I am convinced that this is a book that will have a prominent place on my office bookshelf and will be used frequently. I have already used it to answer questions that patients, colleagues and friends have presented in recent weeks. I have and will recommend it to my colleagues and patients. I especially appreciate the concise, honest and open reviews of the history and theories behind conventional and alternative medicine therapies. As a Christian physician I also appreciate the reviews of danger areas in alternative medicine therapies that might otherwise seem innocent to the uninformed observer. I am thankful to Drs. Mathuna and Larimore for their clear, concise, scientific, Biblical and easy to use reference guide. I highly recommend it to both medical practitioners and patients.

I always wondered if vitamins really helped improve health and mood. Thankfully, now I know due to the exhaustive work of Larimore and Mathuna in Alternative Medicine- The Christian Handbook. It is amazingly simple to use, and covers every topic imaginable. (The section on diets was especially interesting with lots of useful sidebars). It presents both sides of the issues in a very readable fashion from a medical perspective. If you want to end the confusion about which alternative medicine techniques really work, you owe it to yourself to pick up a copy of this practical reference guide. Dwight Bain, Nationally Certified Counselor Orlando, FL