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Alternative Medicine

A Guide to Selected Government Information Available at WIU's Government Publications Library

Web version of this guide includes links to web resources.

Federal Government Information
An FDA Guide to Choosing Medical Treatments

This document provides the reader with many insights regarding options in medical care. 1997
HE 20.4010/A: M 46/15/997

Alternative Medicine -- Expanding Medical Horizons: A Report to the National Institutes of Health on Alternative Medicine Systems and Practices in the United States

This report establishes a baseline of information on alternative medicine, which may be used to direct future research and policy discussions. Specifically, this report was prepared to aid the Office of Alternative Medicine in its mandate to establish an information clearinghouse on alternative medicine so that the public, policymakers and public health experts can make informed decisions about their health care options. 1992
HE 20.3002.AL 7/2

Support Strategies for Clinical Research and Alternative Medicine Research at the National Institutes of Health

This hearing was held to provide an overview of alternative medicine research and to address issues regarding the following: the current state of the alternative medical research field; the implications of alternative medicine therapies on patient clinical care and the health care system; and the appropriate role of the National Institutes of Health in supporting alternative medicine research. 1997
Y4.L 11/4: S.HRG 105-246

Healthfinder

Healthfinder is a gateway consumer health and human services information website from the United States government. A search list is provided and contains many listings under the heading ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE.
http://www.healthfinder.gov

Acupuncture.

This site provides bibliographies from the National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes on Drug Abuse pertaining to acupuncture from January 1970 through October 1997.
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/archive/20040823/pubs/cbm/acupuncture.html

Consensus Development Program.

This website is a compilation of information gathered at the Consensus Development Conference on Acupuncture hosted by the National Institutes of Health. Once in this site, click on the search button and then type in acupuncture to retrieve a variety of information and statements about acupuncture.
http://consensus.nih.gov/1997/1997Acupuncture107html.htm

National Center for Complimentary and Alternative Medicine.

This website serves as the public's point of contact and access to information about the National Institutes of Health Center for Complimentary and Alternative Medicine's programs, conferences, and research activities.

Access to Medical Treatment Act

A hearing to consider the use of any treatment offered by health care practitioners, as long as there is no evidence that the treatment causes harm and the patients are fully informed. This bill would allow medical treatment using (FDA) unapproved or unconventional/ alternative methods and medicines. 1994
Y4.L11/4:S.HRG.103-707

Access to Medical Treatment Act

A hearing on a proposed bill that would, among other things, permit an individual to be treated by a health care practitioner with any method of medical treatment such individual requests. This bill is an attempt to provide greater choice and freedom for Americans and to protect the public from "snake oil" markets and "treatments." This bill seeks to expand the universe of safe and effective treatments and knowledge of those treatments. 1996
Y4.L11/4.S.HRG.104-558

"Homeopathy: Real Medicine or Empty Promises?"

This article by Isadora Stehlin examines the history of homeopathy and examines skepticism and frequently asked questions. It also examines the FDA's view of homeopathy and what it is doing to protect the consumer from fraud and unnecessary illness from overdoses or toxic "cures."
FDA Consumer. December 1996. Vol. 30 no.10 pp.15
HE 20.4010:30/10

Health Fraud Leader Speaks Out on Homeopathy.

This article by William Jarvis is a follow-up article to the one previously listed by Isadora Stehlin. It lists six reasons why users of homeopathic remedies see results that the scientific community may not agree with and discusses how the National Coalition Against Health Fraud believes all medicines should comply with labeling standards.
FDA Consumer. April 1997. Vol. 31 no.3 pp.6
HE 20.4010:31/3

Pharmacological Profile of Natural Products Used to Treat Psychotic Illnesses.

This article by In-Won Chung focuses on natural products and plants used over the centuries in Korea for the treatment of psychotic illnesses. 1995
Psychopharmacology Bulletin. Vol.31 no.1 pp.139-145
HE 20.8109:31/1

Cancer Facts -- Therapy.

This is the National Cancer Institute's Natural Products Branch FAQ website. The Natural Products Branch of the NCI is responsible for coordinating and directing programs aimed at the discovery of naturally-derived agents to treat cancer and AIDS.
http://www.cancer.gov/cancer_information/list.aspx?viewid=14821490-ee6c-4e7c-80b5-c4fb3cbbb07e

Herbal Medicine at a Crossroads

This article discusses the recent rise in world use of herbal medicine. This article also discusses federal regulations, research, beneficial effects, and adverse reactions regarding herbal medicines. 1996
Environmental Health Perspectives September 1996. Vol. 104, no.9 pp. 924-928
HE 20.3559:104/9

Alternative Veterinary Medicine.

Although this site is not a government web site, it is full of useful information about holistic veterinary medicine, acupuncture, chiropractic, herbal medicine, homeopathy, nutrition therapy and other alternative modalities for pets. This site also contains links to alternative veterinary medicine organizations.
http://www.altvetmed.org/

Complimentary and Alternative Medicine in Government-Funded Health Programs

This hearing explores patient access to alternative medicine through Government-funded health programs. Witnesses include physician researchers, a representative from the Department of Health and Human Services, and actress Jane Seymour, among others. 1999
Y 4.G 74/7:AL 7

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