Donal O'Mathuna

This is actually an excellent book on Alternative Medicine, taking a skeptical look at both conventional and alternative medicine, looking at multiple study results and where studies fall short. The main point of the Christian approach is that God wants us to be "healthy in body and mind." I agree. On Christians that use Biblical verses to justify diets or particular herbs, the author says, "Those who use verses to promote herbal medicines seem to forget one of the primary principles of biblical interpretation: first seek to understand what the text meant to the original writer and audience, not to us today." Yay. A reasoned--and scientific--approach to health treatment.… (mais)

A good reference and starting point for examining alternative medicine from an evidence-based perspective. The authors are sympathetic to traditional, allopathic (what most people get with an MD) medicine, but they are not hostile to alternative methods. Medicines and systems are evaluated by giving any evidence of effectiveness (including anecdotal evidence and research), evidence of harm (within certain populations, such as nursing mothers), any apparent conflict with biblical principles (such as methods that integrate occult-type practices), and references.… (mais)