The sense and nonsense of alternative medicine. By Paul A. Offit.
There is Medicine that has been adequately tested, and there is medicine that has not.
Too often well-tested medicine leaves us without hope. If I have cancer with a low chance of survival, If have a terminal disease, why wouldn't I switch to an alternative healthy provider that offered hope? Am I supposed to just give up?
If you go to a faith healing center, there are lots of cancers and braces and pains, but few wooden legs, toupees and casts.
The book is also very skeptical about vitamin supplementation. Once you have a balanced diet, extra vitamins don't help or can even hurt you.
So, what alternative medicines and supplements work? Omega 3, but not too much (causes bleeding) Calcium and Vitamin D if you are older woman, or live in a dark location. Folic acid if you are pregnant.
I wish there was a guide to well tested medicines and treatments. I would not be able to tell if a smart enough doctor who actually believed in his treatments was a quack or not.
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