Complementary and alternative medicine
10 April 2008
The practice of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) involves any medical system based on a theory of disease or method of treatment other than the orthodox science of medicine as taught in medical schools. The popularity of CAM declined in the 20th century because of the successes of orthodox medicine but, more recently, a small but increasing number of people have questioned the ability of orthodox medicine to provide all the answers. This resource lists some of the printed resources available at the BMA Library but also guides you to useful web resources.
Print resources
CAM books are kept in the Reading Room at WB 890, although there are reports in the BMA basement collection.
British Medical Association. Board of Science. Acupuncture : efficacy, safety and practice.
Harwood, 2000
British Medical Association. Board of Science and Education. Alternative therapy
British Medical Association, 1986
Hicks A. Acupuncture handbook : how acupuncture works and how it can help you
Piatkus, 2005
Yuan CS, Bieber EJ. Textbook of complementary and alternative medicine
Parthenon Publ 2003
Zollman C, Vickers AJ. ABC of complementary medicine.
BMJ Books, 2000
There is a new open access journal from Oxford University Press,
Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine
http://www.pubmedcentral.gov/tocrender.fcgi?journal=241&action=archive
The BL site lists CAM journals:
http://www.bl.uk/collections/health/ampub.html
Audiovisual resources
| The BMA Library has an extensive collection of videos and films, which can be borrowed by members. Some videos on this subject include: |
Acupuncture.. BBC Television, 2006. UK
In China, scientist presenter Kathy Sykes witnesses the 2,000 year old practice of acupuncture at work when doctors perform open-heart surgery on a woman, using acupuncture instead of a general anaesthetic. She then hears from Western scientists who are testing the claims for relief of chronic pain made on acupuncture's behalf. The conclusions challenge current thinking on the workings of the brain.
Alternative medicine. BBC Television. 1999. 29 mins. UK
This is part of a series where ideological enemies spend a week together. This episode features widow Patricia Moore whose husband died of cancer after spending thousands of pounds on alternative cures. The programme follows her as she spends a week at a new age healing centre in Glastonbury and takes part in various sessions and discussions.
Discover hypnotherapy. MPI Productions. 2003. 44 mins. UK.
Guide to the origins, philosophy and differing styles of practice of hypnotherapy
Herbs. BBC Television. 2006. UK
Kathy Sykes looks into the effectiveness of ancient remedies by looking at herbalism. She discovers that there are at least eight "super herbs" that seemingly outperform modern-day pharmaceutical equivalents. Scientific research shows that these natural products contain several active ingredients and a complex chemical make-up with which 21st century technology can't yet compete.
Databases
About herbs, botanicals and other products
Produced by the US Memorial Sloan-Kettering cancer centre, AboutHerbs is a database of evidence based information on herbs, botanicals, vitamins and other supplements. It includes names, brand names, constituents, use, mechanism, adverse reactions, reports of drug interactions and clinical trials. Freely available.
http://www.mskcc.org/mskcc/html/11570.cfm
Allied and complementary medicine (AMED)
Unique database produced by the Health Care Information Service of the British Library from alternative to conventional medicine. Requires subscription. BMA members may request an AMED search via our literature search service.
http://www.bl.uk/collections/health/amed.html
HerbMed
Herbal database that provides hyperlinked access to the scientific data underlying the use of herbs for health. Freely available.
http://www.herbmed.org/
Manual Alternative and Natural Therapy (MANTIS)
Coverage for health care disciplines not significantly represented in the major biomedical databases. Requires subscription. BMA members may request a MANTIS search via our literature search service.
http://library.dialog.com/bluesheets/html/bl0091.html
MICROMEDEX Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) series
An accurate and scientifically based, in depth series of databases covering: herbal medicine and dietary complements, clinical protocols, patient education and herbal and dietary supplement toxicology. Requires subscription.
http://www.micromedex.com/products/herbalmed/
National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM)
The Center provides the complementary medicine subset of PubMed. The link below gives access to CAM on PubMed (free), some sample searches, and background information:
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/nccam/camonpubmed.html
Web resources
Assessing websites on complementary and alternative medicine for cancer
This paper by K. Schmidt and Professor Edzard Ernst of Exeter University, the country's only Chair of Complementary Medicine reviews alternative medicine websites according to a strict set of guidelines, and offers ratings based on the amount of harm they could conceivably cause.
Schmidt K and Ernst, E. Assessing websites on complementary and alternative medicine for cancer. Ann Oncol 2004 15: 733-742.
http://annonc.oupjournals.org/cgi/reprint/15/5/733 (free as at April 2008)
Alternative Medicine Foundation (US)
A nonprofit organisation founded in 1998 "to provide responsible and reliable information about alternative medicine to the public and health professionals". Information includes resource guides, projects and events. Provides the HerbMed database.
http://www.amfoundation.org/
Alternative Medicine homepage
This site, created and maintained by a US medical librarian contains information on CAM and AIDS/HIV in websites, mailing lists, newsgroups, and government resources:
http://www.pitt.edu/~cbw/altm.html
Bandolier
An excellent set of systematic reviews of complementary therapies rated as causing "no harm conceivable".
http://www.jr2.ox.ac.uk/bandolier/booth/booths/altmed.html
British Homeopathic Association Trust Homeopathy
Three main sections - one primarily for members of the public, one for healthcare professionals and one about research in homeopathy. There are FAQs and articles in the public site and meta-analyses in the research site.
http://www.trusthomeopathy.org/
Complementary Alternative Medical Association (US)
A US-based nonprofit group that aims to "be recognized as a provider of quality education and accurate information about complementary/alternative medicine - promoting natural, non-toxic healing, health and consumer empowerment". Site contains around 100 articles on topics such as homeopathy and Chinese medicine.
http://www.camaweb.org/
eBMJ collected resources: Complementary medicine
Collected resources on complementary medicine from the BMJ including the ABC of Complementary Medicine series. Freely available.
http://bmj.com/cgi/collection/complementary_medicine
Medicdirect (UK)
Online health information site aimed at both the UK general public and medical practitioners. Meeting both CHIQ (Centre for Health Information Quality) and OMNI (UK medical gateway) quality criteria, the site has a comprehensive glossary of therapies with a star rating based on the weight of evidence; and listings of dietary supplements, Internet resources, and an A-Z of homeopathy.
http://www.medicdirect.co.uk/alt_medicines/default.ihtml
National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (US National Institutes of Health)
Dedicated to exploring CAM in the context of rigorous science, training researchers, and disseminating authoritative information to the public and professionals. A good site with an alphabetical list of treatments.
http://nccam.nih.gov/
Natural Standard (US)
This well-researched resource aims to "provide high quality, evidence-based information about complementary and alternative therapies". It includes contributors from more than 100 international academic institutions, and validated rating scales are used to evaluate the quality of available evidence. Therapies are presented as three types of peer reviewed mongraphs: professional - a systematic review; bottom-Line, aimed at patients and para-professionals; and Natural Standard/Harvard Medical School with data on efficacy, safety, interactions, and dosing
http://www.naturalstandard.com (registration required)
Positive Health (UK)
Website for the magazine of the same name. Contains abstracts of the back issues as well as a portal to browse for books, events, courses and UK practitioners.
http://www.positivehealth.com
Science and Technology Committee Sixth Report (Session 1999-2000)
Report on training and regulation, NHS provision and the evidence base for CAM. Available in full text.
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld199900/ldselect/ldsctech/123/12301.htm
World Health Organization: Traditional Medicine section
Includes information on WHO activities such as FAQs, definitions and publications.
http://www.who.int/medicines/areas/traditional/en/index.html
Other organisations and libraries
General Council and Register of Naturopaths
Goswell House
2 Goswell Road
Street
BA16 0JG
tel: 08707 456984
fax: 08707 456985
http://www.naturopathy.org.uk/
GCRN was officially incorporated in 1965 as an independent registering body to establish and maintain standards of education for practitioners and to provide for the inspection of colleges and courses of naturopathy for the protection and benefit of the public.
General Chiropractic Council
44 Wicklow Street
London
WC1X 9HL
tel: 020 7713 5155
fax: 020 7713 5844
http://www.gcc-uk.org/page.cfm
UK-wide statutory body with regulatory powers, established by the Chiropractors Act 1994 to protect the public by establishing and operating a scheme of statutory regulation for chiropractors and to set the standards of chiropractic education
General Osteopathic Council
176 Tower Bridge Road
London
SE1 3LU
tel: 020 7357 6655
fax: 020 7357 0011
http://www.osteopathy.org.uk/
Established by the Osteopaths Act 1993 to 'provide for the regulation of the profession of osteopathy'. Its aims are: to protect patients; to develop the osteopathic profession and to promote an understanding of osteopathic care.
British Complementary Medicine Association (BCMA)
PO Box 5122
Bournemouth
BH8 0WG
tel: 0845 3455977
http://www.bcma.co.uk/
BCMA operates a system of voluntary self-regulation with a code of conduct and a complaints and disciplinary procedure, which are mandatory for all members and their practitioners.
British Holistic Medical Association
PO Box 371
Bridgwater
Somerset
TA6 9BG
United Kingdom
tel: 01278 722000
email:admin@bhma.org
http://www.bhma.org/
Formed in 1983 by a group of medical doctors and students as an organisation for professionals and members of the public who wanted to adopt a more holistic approach in their own life and work.
British Medical Acupuncture Society
BMAS House
3 Winnington Court,
Winnington Street
Northwich,
Cheshire
CW8 1AQ
tel: 01606 786782
fax: 01606 786783
email: admin@medical-acupuncture.org.uk
Go to the website here http://www.medical-acupuncture.co.uk
British Register of Complementary Medicine (ICM-BRCP)
PO Box 194
London
SE16 1QZ
tel: 020 72375165
fax: 020 72375175
Go to the register here http://www.i-c-m.org.uk/practitioners/
Professional register of practitioners who have proved their competence to practise by either completing an approved course or through an assessment made by the Registration Panel. They also agree to abide by a Code of Ethics and Practice and have full practitioner insurance.
International Register of Consultant Herbalists and Homeopaths (IRCH)
Birch Leaf Clinic
1 Institue Row
Townshend
Cornwall
TR27 6AQ
tel/fax: (01736) 850941
email: office@irch.org
Go to the register here http://www.irch.org/homepage.htm
Provides the student of natural medicines with the means of study and comprehensive training which can be fitted into most people’s lives, while leading to a professional qualification and Diploma in Herbal or Homoeopathic Medicine with full membership of the IRCH
National Institute of Medical Herbalists
Elm House
54 Mary Arches Street
Exeter EX4 3BA
tel: 01392 426022
fax: 01392 498963
email : nimh@ukexeter.freeserve.co.uk
Go to the website here http://www.nimh.org.uk/
Promotes the benefits of herbal medicine and continuously strives to provide the best patient care through the work of its members.