Complementary/alternative medicine: Engulfed by postmodernism, anti-science and regressive thinking

British Journal of General Practice

Volumn 59, Issue 561, 2009, Pages 298-301

  Ernst, Edzard ^a  

^a UNIVERSITY OF EXETER   (United Kingdom)

Author keywords

[No Author keywords available]

Indexed keywords

ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE; ARTICLE; EVIDENCE BASED MEDICINE; GERMANY; NOMENCLATURE; PHILOSOPHY; POLITICS; PUBLIC HEALTH; UNITED STATES; HUMAN; PSYCHOLOGICAL ASPECT; SCIENCE;

COMPLEMENTARY THERAPIES; HUMANS; POSTMODERNISM; SCIENCE; TERMINOLOGY AS TOPIC;

EID: 65349100696     PISSN: 09601643     EISSN: None     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.3399/bjgp09X420482     Document Type: Article

References (52)

1. Barnes PM, Powell-Griner E, McFann K, Nahin RL. Complementary and alternative medicine use among adults: United States, 2002. CDC Advance Data Report #343. May 27, 2004. http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/ad/ ad343.pdf (accessed 4 Mar 2009).
2. Härtel U, Volger E. Use and acceptance of classical natural and alternative medicine in Germany - findings of a representative population-based survey. Forsch Komplementarmed Klass Naturheilkd 2004; 11: 327-334.
3. World Health Organisation. National policy on traditional medicine and regulation of herbal medicines. Geneva: WHO, 2005.
4. Jagtenberg T, Evans S, Grant A, et al. Evidence-based medicine and naturopathy. J Altern Complement Med 2006; 12: 323-328.
5. Koutouvidis N. CAM and EBM: arguments for convergence. J R Soc Med 2004; 97: 39-40.
6. Ruggie M. Marginal to mainstream. Alternative medicine in America. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2004.
7. Barry CA. The role of evidence in alternative medicine: contrasting biomedical and anthropological approaches. Soc Sci Med 2006; 62: 2646-2657.
8. Giordano J, Garcia MK, Strickland G. Integrating Chinese traditional medicine into a US public health paradigm. J Altern Complement Med 2004; 10: 706-710.
9. Baer H. Toward an integrative medicine: merging alternative therapies with biomedicine. Walnut Creek, CA: Altamira Press, 2004.
10. O'Connor BB. Healing traditions. Alternative medicine and the health professions. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press, 1995.
11. Hyman M. Paradigm shift: the end of 'normal science' in medicine understanding function in nutrition, health, and disease. Alternative Therapies 2004; 10: 10-15.
12. Walach H. Wider naiven Empirismus und verkleidete Machtansprüche - politische und wissenschaftstheoretische Splitter [Against naive empiricism and power in disguise - political and philosophical ruminations]. Forsch Komplementarmed Klass Naturheilkd 2004; 11: 72-75.
13. Barnard J. Bach Flower Remedies form and fuction. Great Barrington, MA: Lindisfarne Books, 2004.
14. Tonelli MR, Callahan TC. Why alternative medicine cannot be evidence-based. Acad Med 2001; 76: 1213-1220.
15. Coulter ID. The chiropractic paradigm. J Manipulative Physiol Ther 1990; 13: 279-287.
16. Tobert N. Research paradigms in CAM [workshop]. Nottingham University: ACHRN Conference, Nottingham, 29 Jun 2005.
17. Werbach MR. Medical science and scientism: when is belief in science a religion? Altern Ther 2004; 10: 14-92.
18. Whitelegg M. Goethean science: an alternative approach. J Altern Complement Med 2003; 9: 311-320.
19. Kenyon J. Integrated medicine bringing back creativity. Cam 2004; Mar: 34-40,
20. Ernst E. Bioresonance, a study of pseudo-scientific language. Forsch Komplementärmed Klass Naturheilkd 2004; 11: 171-173.
21. The Prince of Wales's Foundation for Integrated Health. Complementary healthcare: a guide for patients. London: The Prince of Wales's Foundation for Integrated Health, 2005.
22. Ernst E. Keynote comment: dumbing down of complementary medicine. Lancet Oncol 2005; 6: 442-443.
23. Smallwood C. The role of complementary and alternative medicine in the NHS. An investigation into the potential contribution of mainstream complementary therapies to healthcare in the UK. London: Freshminds, 2005.
24. Ernst E. The 'Smallwood report': method or madness? Br J Gen Pract 2006; 56: 64-65.
25. Milgrom L. Quantum perspective on CAM research [workshop]. ACHRN Conference, Nottingham University, Nottingham, 29 Jun 2005.
26. Ernst E. 'Flower remedies': a systematic review of the clinical evidence. Wien Klin Wochenschr 2002; 114: 963-966.
27. Mastrangelo D, Lore C. The growth of a lie and the end of 'conventional' medicine. Med Sci Monit 2005; 11: SR27-SR31.
28. Ernst E. Chiropractic: a critical evaluation. J Pain Symptom Manage 2008; 35: 544-562.
29. Singh S, Ernst E. Trick or treatment? Alternative medicine on trial. London: Bentham, 2008.
30. Atwood KC. A critique of the 'Annals of Alternative Medicine' distant healing review. Scientific Review of Alternative Medicine 2002; 6: 99-101.
31. Steinsbekk A, Launso L. Empowering the cancer patient or controlling the tumor? A qualitative study of how cancer patients experience consultations with complementary and alternative medicine practitioners and physicians, respectively. Integr Cancer Ther 2005; 4: 195-200.
32. McGuire MB. Ritual healing in suburban America. New Brunswick, NJ: Rutgers University Press, 1988.
33. Csordas T. Embodiment as a paradigm in anthropology. Ethos 1990; 18: 5-47.
34. Ernst E. Cultural diversity in healthcare. Perfusion 2004; 17: 33
35. Turpin R. Characteristics of pseudoscience. Scientific Review of Alternative Medicine 2002; 6: 102-105.
36. Vickers A. Research paradigms in mainsteam and complementary medicine. In: E Ernst (Ed) Complementary medicine: an objective appraisal. London: Butterworth Heinemann, 1996: pp: 1-17.
37. Toynbee P. Charles is more keeper of the kitsch than heir to the throne, http://politics.guardian.co.uk/columnist/story/0,9321,1250431,00.html (accessed 4 Mar 2009).
38. Ernst E. Disentangling integrative medicine. Mayo Clin Proc 2004; 79: 565-566.
39. Goldacre B. A tonic for sceptics. http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2005/ aug/29/badscience.health (accessed 4 Mar 2009).
40. Bartecchi CE. 'Alternative' medicine's free ride. Scientific Review of Alternative Medicine 2004; 8: 5-8.
41. Ernst E. Teaching complementary/alternative medicine for primary care. Ed Prim Care 2003; 14: 414-418.
42. Thomas KJ, Coleman P, Weatherley-Jones E, Luff D. Developing integrated CAM services in primary care organisations. Complement Ther Med 2003; 11: 261-267.
43. Mills S, Budd S. Professional organisation of complementary and alternative medicine in the United Kingdom 2000. A second report to the Department of Health. Exeter: Centre for Complementary Health Studies, University of Exeter, 2000.
44. Ernst E. Distant healing - an 'update' of a systematic review. Wien Klin Wochenschr 2003;115: 241-245.
45. Evans MA, Shaw A, Sharp DJ. et al. Male cancer patients' views on and use of CAM: a qualitative study. Focus Altern Complement Ther 2004; 9: 12-13.
46. Ernst E, Pittler MH, Stevinson C, White AR. The desktop guide to complementary and alternative medicine. Edinburgh; Mosby, 2001.
47. Risberg T, Vickers A, Bremnes RM, et al. Does use of alternative medicine predict survival from cancer? Eur J Cancer 2003; 39: 372-377.
48. Verhoef M, Mulkins A, Oneschuk D, Carlson L. Cancer patients' understanding of evidence. Focus Altern Complement Ther 2004; 9: 56.
49. Goldacre B. Bad science. London: Fourth Estate Ltd, 2008.
50. Ernst E, Schmidt K. Courses in complementary medicine at institutions of higher education in the United Kingdom. International Journal of Naturopathic Medicine 2004; 1: 56-69.
51. Ernst E. Healing, hype or harm? A critical analysis of complementary or alternative medicine. Exeter: Societas Imprint Academics, 2008.
52. Ernst E, Pittler M, Wider B, Boddy K. Oxford handbook of complementary medicine. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2008.