Trick or treatment

In many ways, I preferred this book over the one of 100 years of quackery. It did put a lot of effort into examining the claims and validity of the same about alternative medicine. And it emphasized what made for the difference between conventional medicine and STRICTLY alternative. It took efforts to not out right call all alternative medicine "quackery", but it definitely pointed out when there was no evidence of healing involved! It also was sure to include that treatments that previously determined to be ineffective and/or harmful have sometimes since been reevaluated.
Lack of popularity – amongst citizens or doctors – is NOT enough to claim our treatment useless. I find that I suffer from a form of confirmation bias, in that I don't believe in any of this crap, but I appreciate the findings of measured/limited good from seemingly ridiculous claims, simply because experiments have not totally discounted them. The necessity to keep an open mind, particularly because there are those believe very strongly in these things, is paramount.
Outspoken and opinionated, me? Never…

Similar to [b:Bad Science|3272165|Bad Science|Ben Goldacre|http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51NPP8ZDXZL.SL75.jpg|3308349] 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 treatments, they are not scathing in their appraisal of these methods, and show that sceptical and scientific method will accept treatments that are proved to work. And even those that are not proven to work exactly as stated by their practitioners, the authors will illustrate what does and does not work within those treatments. It is written to educate, not to proselytise or shill.

Aside from the meat of the book, of particular use to the layperson is the final chapter, Does The Truth Matter?, and the Appendix. The final chapter covers ethical issues such as whether it's acceptable to allow known placebos to be used as treatment, a full explanation of the process involved in clinical trials of a new drug, and singles out certain groups in society that are in a position to improve medical education (but often fail to do so). The Appendix covers other popular CAM treatments and systems, one per page, outlining its claims and background, the evidence for its efficacy, and a conclusion when and if appropriate (if there is no clear evidence of it working or not working, they will tell you).

As with [b:Bad Science|3272165|Bad Science|Ben Goldacre|http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51NPP8ZDXZL.SL75.jpg|3308349], this book is essential reading for anyone interested in looking beyond the hype and FUD of the media and popular opinions to the facts. Warts and all.