Whether you are an ardent believer in alternative medicine, a skeptic, or are simply baffled by the range of services and opinions, this guide lays...
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Oct 20, 2008
Lena
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This is the third book I've read this year that examines the evidence for and against alternative medicine, so much of the ground it covers was already familiar to me. Despite that fact, I enjoyed this book a great deal and think it is likely to be the most accessible to those who have personal experience with alternative medicine.
The authors take an in-depth look at the four most popular modalities in the alternative medicine world: acupuncture, homeopathy, chiropractic and herbal More...
The authors take an in-depth look at the four most popular modalities in the alternative medicine world: acupuncture, homeopathy, chiropractic and herbal More...
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Nov 10, 2011
Alasse
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DIE, HOMEOPATHY, DIE!!
This book is perfect. I've been thinking I had to write this book eventually, but now I don't have to because it exists and it's exactly as I imagined it. Now all I have to do is have a child and plant a tree.
It's a fact that otherwise smart people have a tendency to believe weird stuff. It's always there, right under the surface. My own mom just came in to tell me I have to be careful tomorrow (11/11/11), because the number 11 scares her. I don't under More...
This book is perfect. I've been thinking I had to write this book eventually, but now I don't have to because it exists and it's exactly as I imagined it. Now all I have to do is have a child and plant a tree.
It's a fact that otherwise smart people have a tendency to believe weird stuff. It's always there, right under the surface. My own mom just came in to tell me I have to be careful tomorrow (11/11/11), because the number 11 scares her. I don't under More...
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Oct 04, 2011
Campbell
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Readable and interesting, if unsurprising and a little lightweight,
In "Trick or Treatment" Singh and Ernst summarise the cases for or against four of the more popular alternative health treatments, acupuncture, chiropractic, homeopathy and herbal medicine. This summary includes a resume of the history, theory and format of the therapy and an overview of the attempts that have been made to prove or disprove the efficacy of the treatment. An appendix gives a briefer overview of More...
In "Trick or Treatment" Singh and Ernst summarise the cases for or against four of the more popular alternative health treatments, acupuncture, chiropractic, homeopathy and herbal medicine. This summary includes a resume of the history, theory and format of the therapy and an overview of the attempts that have been made to prove or disprove the efficacy of the treatment. An appendix gives a briefer overview of More...
Jul 11, 2011
Jenny
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I'd been hoping to find a book like this. It was well done and interesting. The introductory chapter and explanation of the history of clinical trials was well done. Then the meat of the book (brief history of alternative therapy, and review of it's merit and/or risks based on trials and studies to date) was excellent reading. Acupuncture, Homeopathy, Chiropractic, and Herbal Medicine are examined in detail, and there is a nice appendix with summaries on a plethora of other alternative therapies
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Jul 11, 2010
Michael
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Trick or Treatment didn't have to carry me very far, I was already severely dubious of any from of alternative medicine, and it may in fact have made me reconsider my own point of view on a number of the treatments that apparently have some claim to efficacy, despite the authors' overwhelmingly negative conclusions with regards to the efficacy of alternative treatments.
However, I don't know whether I really appreciated its overall tone, which, while informative, struck me as too impa More...
However, I don't know whether I really appreciated its overall tone, which, while informative, struck me as too impa More...
Jan 17, 2010
Harry
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This book reviews the evidence for the various main forms of alternative medicine. The take-home message, for me, was that most of these treatments are completely ineffective but harmless, with two major exceptions.
First is herbal medicines, which are largely untested but some of which work. Of course they can also have just as bad side-effects as anything your doctor will prescribe for you, and there's no guarantee of the quality of the product. So that's a bit of a crap-shoot.
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First is herbal medicines, which are largely untested but some of which work. Of course they can also have just as bad side-effects as anything your doctor will prescribe for you, and there's no guarantee of the quality of the product. So that's a bit of a crap-shoot.
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Dec 13, 2009
Mike
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So a while back a friend of mine used acupuncture to help with some nausea issues. I teased her about it and said it was just the placebo effect. Then I heard that some studies indicated that acupuncture may truly be useful for certain kinds of pain and nausea. In order to confirm this, I wanted to find a trusted source. I'm rather new to the skeptical community, but I have already heard much about Simon Singh and his battles with British libel laws to tell the truth about chiropractics. So
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Jun 08, 2009
Elaine
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My tongue-in-cheek instinct is to say that I'm posting spoilers, but not really: acupuncture might work for nausea & pain; homeopathy is BS; chiropractic might work for lower back pain; and herbal remedies are a mixed bag, some quite effective, others not so much.
More seriously, I like the detailed approach to these fairly common "alternative" techniques. The authors start with a history of evidence-based medicine and the application of the scientific method to human health More...
More seriously, I like the detailed approach to these fairly common "alternative" techniques. The authors start with a history of evidence-based medicine and the application of the scientific method to human health More...
Apr 02, 2010
Matt
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Similar to Bad Science in some ways, and with some overlap, this important work covers some of the most popular "complementary and alternative medicine" (CAM) options available, focussing primarily upon acupuncture, homeopathy, chiropractic, and herbal medicine. Both authors bring their extensive combined experience in CAM, science, medicine, journalism and writing to bear in this excellent book.
Despite what you may expect from scientists writing about alternative treatment More...
Despite what you may expect from scientists writing about alternative treatment More...
Sep 07, 2010
Joseph
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This book is excellent for anyone that has ever wondered about the efficacy of alternative or complementary medicine. The book provides an in depth look at 4 major alternative treatments: acupuncture, homeopathy, chiropractic and herbal medicine. It also provides a glossary at the back with a run down of numerous other treatments of this nature.
Fear not, this book is not a hatchet piece determined to tear down the subject matter. Instead, it aims to convince the reader of the i More...
Fear not, this book is not a hatchet piece determined to tear down the subject matter. Instead, it aims to convince the reader of the i More...
Jan 05, 2009
Andrew
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I picked this book up at the library by chance. It is a fascinating exploration of both standard medicine and alternative medicine. It describes the successes and failures of standard medicine, and how the medical profession continually tests treatments to determine which work and which don't.
It then describes in detail acupuncture, chiropractry, homeopathy and herbal medicine, describing their history, their philosophy and their effectiveness. I never fully understood the first th More...
It then describes in detail acupuncture, chiropractry, homeopathy and herbal medicine, describing their history, their philosophy and their effectiveness. I never fully understood the first th More...
Aug 21, 2011
Tanja
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This book aims to explain the most common alternative therapies - acupuncture, chiropractic therapy, homeopathy and herbal medicine - and analyze their usefulness based on the same method as mainstream medicine is rigorously tested. The book details the history of clinical trials based on scientific method and explains simply and thorougly. It is thanks to clinical trials that medicine profession began to emerge from the dark ages 150 years ago and that we can now see our GP's without risking ou
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May 08, 2009
Michelle
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There's a lot of health stuff out there to make you wonder. This book gives you a clear and interesting point of view to think critically about alternative medicine. The authors want to provide a method to prove or disprove different methods like acupuncture, herbal remedies, etc. I thought it might be boring but it was not. The reading level is easily accessible and it starts out with history of how evidence-based medicine, and statistical research came about to disprove previously upheld me
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Aug 13, 2011
Johan
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
To view it, click here
Jan 04, 2009
Laurie
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With the growing popularity of alternative medicine, this new book is well-timed. It evaluates various therapies such as acupuncture, homeopathy, aromatherapy, reflexology, chiropractic, herbal medicines, and more. The authors analyze alternative medicines for their benefits and potential dangers, apply scientific scrutiny to various claims, and show where some underlying philosophies contradict what is already known scientifically. A section called, "Why do smart people believe odd thi
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Oct 07, 2011
Peter
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Very solid book examining the scientific evidence on a number of different alternative therapies. The conclusion? Chiropractic and herbal medicines can be helpful, but are not demonstrably more helpful that evidence-based, modern medicine, and are sometimes more dangerous. Everything else (reflexology, homeopathy, iridology) is pretty much bunk.
Perhaps the best parts of the book are the explanations of why alternative medicines are appealing (they give hope and their practitioners are More...
Perhaps the best parts of the book are the explanations of why alternative medicines are appealing (they give hope and their practitioners are More...
Mar 31, 2009
Todd
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Trick or Treatment takes a scientific look at the evidence for and against Alternative Medicine. The authors look at a broad range of clinical trials and use this data to describe:
• The claims as to how the treatments function
• Whether the treatments work
• If so, for what conditions
• The dangers involved
Unfortunately, alternative medicine makes many claims which are not supported by the evidence.
Acupuncture – There is no such thing as Chi or Merid More...
• The claims as to how the treatments function
• Whether the treatments work
• If so, for what conditions
• The dangers involved
Unfortunately, alternative medicine makes many claims which are not supported by the evidence.
Acupuncture – There is no such thing as Chi or Merid More...
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Jul 29, 2011
Frank Jude
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Here's a real challenging book that will most likely not be read by the very folks who need it the most! Singh and Ernst go deeply, using the highest benchmark of the scientific method and clinical research to investigate "alternative" medicine and treatments, including homeopathy, acupuncture, and chiropractic therapy.
If you use any of these -- or any other 'alternative' medicine or treatments (their appendix reviews many other treatments from 'magnet therapy' to 'crystal th More...
If you use any of these -- or any other 'alternative' medicine or treatments (their appendix reviews many other treatments from 'magnet therapy' to 'crystal th More...
Jan 25, 2010
Heather
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Which alternative medicines work, and which ones don't? Which ones are sometimes effective, which ones can work if used correctly... and which ones might actually kill you dead? This book starts by discussing why the scientific method works, then carefully lays out the available evidence for various popular alternative treatments, including herbal remedies (some work, some don't, some are really dangerous), acupuncture (placebo), homeopathy (placebo), and chiropractic (can work on back pain...
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Jan 16, 2012
Cindy
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An absolutely wonderful survey of the importance of evidence over anecdote in medicine. The bulk of the book delves into four of the largest areas of alternative medicine -- acupuncture, homeopathy, chiropractic, and herbal medicine -- and very clearly reveals most of them to be glorified placebos.
Alternative medicine aside, though, the introductory chapter concisely explains how science informs decisions about the safety and efficacy of both traditional and alternative therapies, st More...
Alternative medicine aside, though, the introductory chapter concisely explains how science informs decisions about the safety and efficacy of both traditional and alternative therapies, st More...
Aug 27, 2009
Lynn
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This was another one my favorite reads this year. The first chapter on evidence based medicine is probably the best part of the book. He covers acupuncture, chiropractic care, and homeopathy extensively and much of the remaining alternative practices in the appendix.
I’m more partial to science based medicine which is a little different than evidence based medicine covered in this book. Science based medicine would have immediately dismissed homeopathy as unworthy of study. He gav More...
I’m more partial to science based medicine which is a little different than evidence based medicine covered in this book. Science based medicine would have immediately dismissed homeopathy as unworthy of study. He gav More...
Apr 29, 2009
Ken
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Skimmed this book quickly and, although I was already a nonbeliever in the alternative medicine hype, it was still shocking just how little or antithetical evidence there is for these things.
Gives the history of and modern double blind experiments for acupuncture, chiropractic stuff, and herbal medicines.
Bottom line: placebo effect mostly with some marginally good stuff distributed amid potentially harmful practices.
Great quote from Hippocrates: "Science and opinion More...
Gives the history of and modern double blind experiments for acupuncture, chiropractic stuff, and herbal medicines.
Bottom line: placebo effect mostly with some marginally good stuff distributed amid potentially harmful practices.
Great quote from Hippocrates: "Science and opinion More...
Aug 03, 2011
Mike
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
To view it, click here
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Mar 18, 2011
Ben
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Welp, so much for grabbing that homeopathic remedy off the shelf at Walgreen's this afternoon.
I would recommend this book to anyone. I've never made much consideration, or even shown much interest, in alternative medicine before. And for those of you like me, this book is perfect. The authors speak plainly yet authoritatively to the leymen among us.
I found the brief histories and consistent approaches to the major alternative therapies appeasing and trustworthy.
Si More...
I would recommend this book to anyone. I've never made much consideration, or even shown much interest, in alternative medicine before. And for those of you like me, this book is perfect. The authors speak plainly yet authoritatively to the leymen among us.
I found the brief histories and consistent approaches to the major alternative therapies appeasing and trustworthy.
Si More...
Aug 17, 2010
Katey
rated it:
For something about science and medicine, the writing style is clear and concise, and easily accessible without being "dumbed down."
In particular what I liked about the general tone of the book, and I can't say the same for others about the same subject(s), is the absence of overly emotional language and drama added for effect. Very British. It instead focuses on what the core of this book intends to reinforce: science, and the scientific method.
Even as a highl More...
In particular what I liked about the general tone of the book, and I can't say the same for others about the same subject(s), is the absence of overly emotional language and drama added for effect. Very British. It instead focuses on what the core of this book intends to reinforce: science, and the scientific method.
Even as a highl More...
Feb 02, 2011
Graham
rated it:
Acupuncture? Bullshit. Homeopathy? Bullshit. Chiropractic? Bullshit. Herbal Medicine? A few stragglers aside, bullshit. The authors of Trick or Treatment ruthlessly show that alternative medicine is modern day snake oil.
The first chapter reviews the scientific method and Evidence Based Medicine (EBM) and how it leads to double-blind controlled clinical trials, the gold standard of scientific verification of the efficacy and safety of medicine. While it may be tempting for th More...
The first chapter reviews the scientific method and Evidence Based Medicine (EBM) and how it leads to double-blind controlled clinical trials, the gold standard of scientific verification of the efficacy and safety of medicine. While it may be tempting for th More...
May 01, 2009
Jennifer
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I only read the section of this book that related to chiropractic care. The authors seem to make the fatal assumption that the double-blind study it the only valid test of a medical treatment. Although the book seemed well researched and accurate in the facts presented, it was written with a clear bias against non-allopathic medicine. Since they claim that they are presenting a scientific and unbiased view, they have clearly failed in their goals. I actually believe that the time I spent on this
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Nov 09, 2008
Blake
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This book is a very well written and accessible discussion of the most popular forms of alternative medicine in use today (homeopathy, chiropractic, herbal medicine, and acupuncture).
The book starts with a description of evidence based medicine, which is the process of determining which treatments work and which don't by observing their effects on people. Remarkably, it is only the last couple hundred years that people have thought to check on the result of a treatment - most trea More...
The book starts with a description of evidence based medicine, which is the process of determining which treatments work and which don't by observing their effects on people. Remarkably, it is only the last couple hundred years that people have thought to check on the result of a treatment - most trea More...
Sep 21, 2008
David
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So alternative medicine doesn't work. Big surprise. This book explains what we know and how we know it in careful but accessible language. And points out that, well, by definition alternative medicine doesn't work - if it worked, it would just be part of medicine (this includes the few herbal remedies that actually work). Just as there is no "alternative physics" or "alternative biology", there is no "alternative medicine".
While a part of me prefers Snake Oil Medicine More...
While a part of me prefers Snake Oil Medicine More...
Aug 27, 2008
Mazola1
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The authors' aim is to find out the truth about alternative medicine. They do this mostly by reviewing double blind clinical trials. That is the gold standard for determining whether drugs or therapies are actually effective. The book provides an in depth look at homeopathy, chiropractic therapy, herbal remedies and acupuncture. The authors conclude that with few and minor exceptions, none of these forms of therapy(and a host of other alternative modes of therapy considered in less detail)has be
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