Top 10 Recently Reviewed Books on Alternative Medicine

Is religion good for your health? For a long time, religion and medicine were closely intertwined, with healthcare generally relying heavily upon the ideas created by religious tradition. In the modern age, the two diverged and medicine became a subject of scientific research. Today, however, religion and medicine may be moving closer together again - but should they?

The use of so-called "complimentary and alternative medicines" has been widespread in America; by all accounts, its popularity increased dramatically during the late 20th century. At the same time, the effectiveness of scientific medicine has also increased, and the outlook of what scientific medicine may be able to achieve in the coming decades continues to improve. Why does this dichotomy exist?

Homeopathy is one of the most popular of the various alternative medical treatments, bringing in around USD $1.5 billion a year. It's also one of the oldest, having been created by German physician Samuel Hahnemann in the mid-19th century. Considering its age and popularity, is there anything at all to the treatments? Do they work?

Can meditation really help you achieve optimum physical and psychological health? Can you really get in touch with a spirit guide who will help you make the right decisions in life? Can wishful thinking really make you better looking, richer, and cure your acne? Is self-delusion the key rather than an obstacle to happiness?

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! With that kind of national influence, it's valid to wonder what it is, why it's so popular, and how effective it is.

Today, modern medical science has more to offer to people in terms of treatments and cures than ever before, and the situation is improving every year. So why is it that so many people keep turning to treatments like herbs and acupuncture which have not been scientifically demonstrated to offer any help whatsoever?

A wide variety of "alternative" medical treatments are currently offered and employed, all falling under the label "holistic." What are "holistic" medicines, and do they offer a legitimate alternative to traditional medicine? Or are they instead just a misguided attempt to alleviate the suffering of individuals who are anxious for any sign of hope?

Alternative "medicines" are very popular in the United States, and there is an ever-increasing obsession with diet and nutrition. Taken together, the result is a wide variety of quack diets and alternative "nutrition" programs which tend to appeal to people's gullibility and desire to believe in a supernatural world.

On the one hand, Complimentary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) has become increasingly popular over the past years. On the other hand, much of the medical establishment continues to be at least skeptical, if not outright hostile, to CAM treatments. Why does this difference exist? Is the public simply ignorant of science, or is the scientific establishment trying to protect its power?

Alternative medical treatments take a number of different forms, but a great many of them share in common a "mystical" or "supernatural" foundation which makes them quite distinct from traditional, scientific medical practices. Just what is the nature of these mystical views, and do they provide as solid of a foundation as science has?