cover image Alternative Advisor: The Complete Guide to Natural & Alterantive Treatments

Alternative Advisor: The Complete Guide to Natural & Alterantive Treatments

Time-Life Books. Time Life Medical, $24.95 (400pp) ISBN 978-0-7835-4907-1

The latest entry in Time-Life's health series focuses on the alternative approaches that were considered alongside conventional treatments in its introductory volume, The Medical Advisor (1996). Readers can consult an alphabetical listing of 24 alternative therapies--acupressure, various kinds of bodywork, Chinese and herbal medicine, homeopathy, light and sound therapies, etc.--to learn about how each is used, to understand the licensing procedure of its practitioners, likelihood of insurance coverage, and to locate addresses and phone numbers for more information. Significantly, critical comments and cautionary notes are also included. Alternatively, readers can turn to the alphabetical listing of 81 common ailments to find a selection of alternative therapies that have been used to treat each disorder. These entries often include preventive and home remedies, plus prominent warning notes on when to call a doctor. Owners of The Medical Advisor, however, will likely find this sequel redundant. (May)