Toward an Integrative Medicine: Merging Alternative Therapies with Biomedicine

by Hans A. Baer

This book chronicles the transformation of the holistic health movement over the past three decades, as it increasingly influences the delivery of health care in America. In it, he describes the battle for legitimacy by alternative therapeutic practitioners, and the biomedical profession's increasing interest in the possibilities of a complementary and integrative medical system. Baer examines a variety of professionalized and lay heterodox therapeutic systems, including chiropractors, naturopaths and acupuncturists, homeopaths, bodyworkers, and lay midwives. He shows, ironically, how the holistic movement may become more limited as it gains acceptance and becomes integrated into mainstream, professional medicine. This book is a valuable resource for instructors, students, professionals and others interested in public health issues, health policy, medical studies, health economics, medical anthropology and sociology.

224 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2004

Reviews

[corinne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wish I could have finished this book but leaving Providence made me have to leave it as Brown University.

This book looked at the reality of alternative medicine - who uses it in the U.S. or more eloquently, who has ACCESS to it because its not covered by health care and so many people don't even have health care and most modalities need consistent usage and are quite expensive. I appreciated the statistical research and it felt rather harrowing.