Howard Facklam

Howard Facklam's Alternative Medicine: Cures or Myths is a detailed and well-researched book that dissects the many types of alternative medicines from acupuncture to imagery therapy and cites scientific research to explore their truths and falsehoods. Facklam begins by informing the reader that allopathy, or conventional medical practices based in hard scientific research, contains major variations from doctor to doctor in America, yet it is accepted as the only proven methods for healing. The reader is also given some insight into the evaluation of alternative therapies including double blind and comparative studies, but Facklam acknowledges "Not everything that counts can be easily counted." In the end, he accomplishes his goal of differentiating between the proven hoaxes or myths, the proven cures or aids, and the methods that have yet to be explored by medical researchers, but reminds the reader that alternative medicine is no substitute for modern medicine but it can be an addition. Acupuncture, certain herbal therapies, meditation, and more can be used as complementary treatments. This book was thoroughly researched, containing many specific research studies to debunk and support alternative medical practices. It also contains a hearty glossary, index, source notes, and a further reading section. However, I am uncertain about the punctuation in the title; the question mark behind 'Cures or Myths' may be correct, but it seems strange to have punctuation in a title (especially if it's read out loud).… (mais)