Former New York Times reporter Warner (Pandora's Lunchbox) leavens skepticism with support to investigate the role of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in contemporary health care. The author first examines the existing science behind CAM therapies, then considers how CAM's successes can be put to use in mainstream medicine. Warner discusses a variety of therapies but neglects to distinguish between evidence-based practices, such as chiropractic medicine and acupuncture taught in accredited schools, and other types of CAM. Some of her claims are incorrect; for example, "alternative" practitioners cannot give any diagnosis or treatment they wish but are instead bound by licensure scope of practice as well as statutes against administering treatment without a license. Warner categorizes CAM therapies plus physical therapy as "placebos," with their sole value based in the ritual of the therapeutic encounter. She encourages mainstream medical practitioners to incorporate these features into their own services in order to reduce patients' desire to see CAM professionals. VERDICT Recommended for readers who may turn to questionable sources for health advice and would appreciate a readable account of CAM exploration. Less useful for those already familiar with evidence-based forms of CAM.-Monica Howell, Northwestern Health Sciences Univ. Lib., Bloomington, MN © Copyright 2019. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Journalist Warner (Pandora's Lunchbox) delves into the mysteries of alternative medicine in this fascinating study. As an observer, skeptic, and participant, Warner explores various alternative techniques and what the "surprising number of placebo researchers, neuroscientists, and psychologists" studying the field have said about "scientific reasons that seemingly unscientific practices might work." In addition to energy medicine, she looks at the history and practice of acupuncture, chiropractic practices, and other techniques. Fair-minded, thorough, and focused on verifiable scientific research, not hearsay or cherry-picked anecdotes, Warner interviews practitioners of these methods as well as those who test their efficacy. In one remarkable case, she interviews a man who claims to have recovered from quadriplegia through techniques learned from qigong monks. She concludes that while alternative medicine cannot "eradicate physical disease or directly repair substantial damage to tissues," it can have measurable physical impacts, by "relaxing our bodies and reducing stress" and thus affecting "symptoms for which brain activity plays a significant role-pain, panic attacks, fatigue, shortness of breath, nausea," among others. This well-written survey of alternative medicine also leaves readers with a sharp critique of mainstream medicine: that it does not currently prioritize creating "empathic connections" with patients, the major strength of alternative medicine. (Jan.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.