The Unofficial Guide to Alternative Medicine (Macmillan Lifestyles Guide)

This no-baloney guidebook to the field of alternative medicine is notable not only for its thorough coverage of various practices (Ayurvedic medicine, yoga, biofeedback, acupuncture, osteopathic medicine, Qigong, Chinese medicine, herbs, hydrotherapy, reflexology, and chelation therapy, among others). It's unique, rather, for its symptom-by-symptom guide. For each disease or health problem, the authors list alternative-therapy treatments, along with information about what has been proven to work. For carpal tunnel syndrome, for instance, acupuncture, acupressure, and hydrotherapy are recommended, along with arnica and rhus toxicodendron for homeopathic remedies and vitamin B complex as a nutritional supplement.

In addition to the symptom-specific section, The Unofficial Guide informs you about the best ways to choose an alternative provider; gives tips on cutting the risk of illness in the first place with exercise, nutrition, and stress-reduction techniques; and offers advice on insurance issues. The chapter on navigating your way through the supplement aisle of your local drug or health-food store is especially enlightening.