Encyclopedia of complementary health practice /

Not intended as a textbook, manual, or handbook, this interesting encyclopedia treats complementary health care in depth, offering a unique examination of recent developments and research and of ancient practices, and emphasizing health care rather than a medical approach. Written for a specialized audience (health care practitioners; government, organizational, educational, and foundation personnel; and educated researchers), the work is arranged in four parts, all compilations of essays of varying length by a variety of authors. The first, divided into four sections, contains a broad-based overview of concepts and issues affecting health care consumers and providers; economic practice concerns; education and research issues; legal, legislative, and health policy trends; and historical perspectives. The second and third provide dictionary-style definitions, alphabetically arranged, of disorders, research-based treatments, and influential substances such as herbs. The fourth presents complementary treatments and disciplines, also alphabetically. A contributor directory and an extensive bibliography are included. Recommended for health collections. M. Rosenthal Nassau Community College