Questioning Healthcare: There's an awful lot in the news and in society about "alternative medicines" these days. By some estimates, it's an industry doing between $15 and $20 billion annually - and growing! A report in New England Journal of Medicine back in January 1993 showed that about one-third of American adults had sought some sort of unorthodox therapy in the preceding year. With that kind of national influence, it's valid to wonder what it is, why it's so popular, and how effective it is.

What is the philosophy behind alternative medicines? Why do people believe and use them? Are alternative treatments effective and scientific? Is it ethical to recommend treatments which aren't tested?

Elsewhere on the site:

• Books on Science and Skepticism
• Skepticism & Critical Thinking