OWN YOUR HEALTH: Choosing the Best from Alternative & Conventional Medicine

This solid reference book came as a result of alternative treatments that helped Weisman, a medical writer, recover after suffering a debilitating stroke. Although the doctors offered her some solutions, she attributes most of her recovery to using a variety of exercise and massage techniques as well as Chinese medicine. Drawing on her own experience, Weisman presents a variety of case histories along with the available treatments, conventional and otherwise. Among the illnesses discussed are cancer, cardiovascular illness, spinal cord injuries and more. Included are comments from the patient along with detailed descriptions of the types of treatments. Particularly helpful are the shaded boxes that offer clear assessments of both conventional and complementary treatments. For more skeptical readers, there are sections called "What's the Evidence?" that discuss the research on a particular topic. The book also includes useful appendices of resources including organizations, books and Web sites on complementary medicine. For readers interested in pursuing alternative treatments, this is a first-rate guide. (Mar.)