Examining Alternative Medicine: An Inside Look at the Benefits & Risks

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What are the benefits and risks of alternative medicine? Do some therapies have spiritual underpinnings that are at odds with a biblical framework?

Herbal therapy. Homeopathy. Acupuncture. Energy healing. Yoga. Therapeutic touch.

These are just a few of the many new health care alternatives that have recently joined the more established practices of chiropractic care, massage, weight-loss programs and vitamin therapy.

Today alternative medicine is not only mainstream but also very big business. Some surveys show that there are as many patient visits to alternative health care providers each year as to traditional providers.

Two of the best-known advocates of new perspectives on health, Andrew Weil and Deepak Chopra, each sell millions of books and enjoy prime-time media attention.

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How should you evaluate these new options? Is alternative health care simply a fad–or is it here to stay? What are the benefits and risks of nontraditional therapies? Do some health care alternatives have spiritual underpinnings at odds with Christian faith and practice?

Medical doctor Paul Reisser, former alternative health care practitioner Dale Mabe and writer Robert Velarde team up to answer these questions in Examining Alternative Medicine. Sound, frank and even-handed, their book is essential reading for anyone seeking new roads to health.
– Source: Book description, Examining Alternative Medicine: An Inside Look at the Benefits & Risks, InterVarsity Press (June 2001)

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Examining Alternative Medicine: An Inside Look at the Benefits & Risks, by Paul Reisser, M.D., Dale Mabe, D.O., and Robert Velarde, was published by InterVarsity Press in June 2001.

Now out of print, the copyright has reverted back to the authors — who have decided to make the entire book available as a free download:

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    Examining Alternative Medicine PDF file (2.2 MB).
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About the Authors

Paul C. Reisser, M.D., has practiced family medicine in southern California for more than 25 years. His has authored many books on health, including the Complete Guide To Family Health, Nutrition & Fitness

Dale Mabe practices family medicine in North Carolina. Previously he served on the faculty of the Oklahoma State University College of Osteopathic Medicine. He has also served on the staff of one of the largest holistic health clinics in the South.

Robert Velarde is a Christian author. His latest book is A Visual Defense: The Case for and Against Christianity. A recent article is Did Jesus Know “The Secret”? Velarde serves as associate editor of Apologia Report

Article details

Category: Alternative Healing / Medicine
Related topic(s): ,

First published (or major update) on Thursday, July 12, 2007.
Last updated on February 18, 2013.

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