A SCIENTIFIC LOOK AT ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE
Thomas J. Wheeler, Ph.D.
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
University of Louisville School of Medicine
ON-LINE READING FOR FEBRUARY 21, 2006
HOMEOPATHY, NATUROPATHY, AND OTHER
“HOLISTIC” AND “NEW AGE” APPROACHES
* = required reading for students in the course
Homeopathy - overview
National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (2006) “Questions and Answers About Homeopathy”
Campbell, A. (2004) Homeopathy in Perspective: Myth and Reality [on-line book; excellent historical perspective]
Barrett, S. (2002) “Homeopathic Glossary”
Lee, A.C.C. and Kemper, K.J. (2000) “Homeopathy and Naturopathy: Practice Characteristics and Pediatric Care.” Arch. Pediatr. Adolesc. Med. 154, 75-80 [abstract]
Homeopathy - critiques
* Barrett, S. (2003) "Homeopathy: The Ultimate Fake"
Ernst, E. (2005) “Is Homeopathy a Clinically Valuable Approach?” Trends Pharmacol. Sci. 26, 547-548 [abstract]
Homeowatch “Your Skeptical Guide to Homeopathic History, Theories, and Current Practices.”
Ramey, D. et al. ”Homeopathy and Science: a Closer Look”
Thomas, W.E. (2000) “Hahnemann’s Homeopathy”
Barrett, S. (2002) “Homeopathy’s ‘Law of Similars’”
Holmes, O.W. (1842) Homeopathy and Its Kindred Delusions [classic analysis]
BBC (2002) “Homeopathy - The Test”: Summary Transcript
Jonas, W.B. et al. (2006) “Can Specific Biological Signals be Digitized?” FASEB J. 20, 23-28 [abstract]
Homeopathy - reviews of research studies
Ernst, E. and Pittler, M.H. (1998) “Efficacy of Homeopathic Arnica: a Systematic Review of Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trials” Arch. Surg. 333, 1187-1190 [abstract]
Ernst, E. (1999) “Homeopathic Prophylaxis of Headaches and Migraine? A Systematic Review” J. Pain Symptom Manage. 18, 353-357 [abstract]
Cucherat, M., Haugh, M.C., Gooch, M., Boissel, J.-P. (2000) “Evidence for the Clinical Efficacy of Homeopathy: A Meta-Analysis of Clinical Trials” Eur. J. Clin. Pharmacol. 56, 27-33 [abstract]
Ernst, E. (2002) “A Systematic Review of Systematic Reviews of Homeopathy” Br. J. Clin. Pharmacol. 54, 577-582 [abstract]
Almeida, R.M. (2003) “A Critical Review of the Possible Benefits Associated With Homeopathic Medicine” Rev. Hosp. Clín. Fac. Med. S. Paulo 58, 324-331
Jonas, W.B. et al. (2003) “A Critical Overview of Homeopathy” Ann. Intern. Med. 138, 393-399 [abstract with link to free full text (pdf file)]
Shang, A. et al. (2005) “Are the Clinical Effects of Homoeopathy Placebo Effects? Comparative Study of Placebo-Controlled Trials of Homoeopathy and Allopathy” Lancet 366, 726-732 [abstract]
Cochrane systematic reviews [abstracts]:
• Vickers, A. and Smith, C. (2004) “Homeopathic Oscillococcinum for Preventing and Treating Influenza and Influenza-Like Syndromes”
• McCarney, R. et al. (2004) “Homeopathy for Chronic Asthma”
Homeopathy - promotional
National Center for Homeopathy
Naturopathy
* Barrett, S. (2003) “A Close Look at Naturopathy”
Relman, A.S. (2001) “Licensure of Naturopathic Physicians” [“A Statement Approved by the Board of Registration in Medicine of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts,” arguing that naturopaths are not qualified to be independent primary care physicians]
Relman, A.S. (2001) “Textbook of Natural Medicine” [critique of a widely-used naturopathic text]
Beyerstein, B.L. and Downie, S. (2004) “Naturopathy: a Critical Analysis”
Boon, S. et al. (2004) “Practice Patterns of Naturopathic Physicians: Results From a Random Survey of Licensed Practitioners in Two US States” BMC Complement. Altern. Med. 4,14
Barrett, S. (2005) “Clayton College of Natural Health: Be Wary of the School and Its Graduates”
Naturopathy - promotional
Sites for naturopathic colleges and organizations:
Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine
American Association of Naturopathic Physicians
NaturalHealthLine [news and resources related to naturopathy]
“Holistic” medicine - promotional
American Holistic Medical Association
Holistic Philosophy Consultants Ltd.
Iridology
* Barrett, S. (2004) “Iridology is Nonsense”
Ernst, E. (2000) “Iridology: Not Useful and Potentially Harmful” Arch. Ophthalmol. 118, 120-121 [abstract]
Knipschild, P. (1988) "Looking for Gall Bladder Disease in the Patient's Iris" BMJ 297, 1578-1581 [abstract] [iridologists are unable to diagnosis gall bladder disease from slides of patients' eyes]
Reflexology
* Barrett, S. (2004) “Reflexology: A Close Look”
Brygge, T. et al. (2001) “Reflexology and Bronchial Asthma” Respir. Med. 95, 173-179 [abstract]
Tovey, P. (2002) “A Single-Blind Trial of Reflexology for Irritable Bowel Syndrome” Br. J. Gen. Pract. 52, 19-23
Reflexology - promotional
Bodywork
Barrett, S. (2004) “Craniosacral Therapy”
Hehir, B. (2002) “Head Cases” Spiked Health, Feb. 12 [craniosacral therapy]
Moran, R.W. and Gibbons, P. (2001) “Intraexaminer and Interexaminer Reliability for Palpation of the Cranial Rhythmic Impulse at the Head and Sacrum” J. Manipulative Physiol. Ther. 24, 183-190 [abstract]
Bodywork - promotional
Upledger Institute (2004) “CranioSacral Therapy”
National College of Naprapathic Medicine and Clinic
Therapeutic touch
* Barrett, S. (2000) “Therapeutic Touch”
Rosa, L., Rosa, E., Sarner, L. and Barrett, S. (1998) "A Close Look at Therapeutic Touch" JAMA 279, 1005-1010 [abstract]
O’Mathúna, D.P. (2000) “Evidence-Based Practice and Reviews of Therapeutic Touch” J. Nurs. Scholarsh. 32, 279-285 [abstract] [points out serious flaws in most reviews on the subject, such as omitting negative findings and mistakes in positive reports]
Therapeutic touch - promotional
Aromatherapy
Barrett, S. (2001) "Aromatherapy: Making Dollars Out of Scents"
McCutcheon, L. (1996) “What’s That I Smell? The Claims of Aromatherapy” Skeptical Inquirer 20(3)
Barrett, S. (2003) “A Critical Look at Gary Young, Young Living Essential Oils, and Raindrop Therapy”
Cooke, B. and Ernst, E. (2000) “Aromatherapy: A Systematic Review” Br. J. Gen. Pract. 50, 493-496 [abstract]
Burns, A. et al. (2002) “Sensory Stimulation in Dementia” BMJ 325, 1312-1313
Other “holistic” approaches
Oumeish, O.Y. (1998) “The Philosophical, Cultural, and Historical Aspects of Complementary, Alternative, Unconventional, and Integrative Medicine in the Old World.” Arch. Dermatol. 134, 1373-1386 [abstract] [emphasis on Arabic traditions]
"New Age" approaches and “energy medicine”
* National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (2005) “Energy Medicine: An Overview” [note: mentions numerous incredible claims without providing critical assessment]
Seavey, T. (2002) “My Visit to a New Age Health Expo” (Part 3 of “Alternative Medicine: The Healers, the Hopeful, and the Dingbats”)
Straight Dope Science Advisory Board (2001) “What’s the Scoop on Edgar Cayce, the ‘Sleeping Prophet’?”
STATS (Statistical Assessment Service) (2000) “Distance Healing”
Stenger, V. (1999) “Bioenergetic Fields”
Stenger, V. (1997) “Quantum Quackery” Skeptical Inquirer 21(1)
Barrett, S. (2001) “Kirlian Photography”
Jarvis, W.T. (1999) “Reiki”
Miles, P. and True, G. (2003) “Reiki - Review of a Biofield Therapy History, Theory, Practice, and Research” Altern. Ther. 9(2), 62-72 [abstract]
Duerden, T. (2004) “An Aura of Confusion: ‘Seeing Auras - Vital Energy or Human Physiology’” Complement. Ther. Nurs. Midwifery 10, 22-29 [abstract]; “An Aura of Confusion Part 2: The Aided Eye - ‘Imaging the Aura?’” Complement. Ther. Nurs. Midwifery 10, 116-123 [abstract]
Krucoff, M.W. et al. (2001) “Integrative Noetic Therapies as Adjuncts to Percutaneous Intervention During Unstable Coronary Syndromes: Monitoring and Actualization of Noetic Training (MANTRA) Feasibility Pilot” Am. Heart J. 142, 760-767 [abstract] [tested relaxation, imagery, touch therapy, and intercessory prayer]
"New Age" approaches and “energy medicine” - promotional
Durham, J. “Energy Medicine: Hands-On Healing of the Human Energy Field”
Azeemi, S.T. and Raza, S.M. (2005) “A Critical Analysis of Chromotherapy and Its Scientific Evolution”
Evid. Based Complement. Alternat. Med. 2, 481-488
International Society for the Study of Subtle Energies and Energy Medicine
Caroline Myss [medical intuitive]
Products offered by Holistic Philosophy Consultants (for balancing the human bioenergy system)
Lammers, W. and Kircher, B. (eds) The Energy Odyssey: New Directions in Energy Psychology [pdf file of 277-page book]