About the Encyclopedia Health Article

ABOUT THE ENCYCLOPEDIA

The Gale Encyclopedia of Alternative Medicine (GEAM) is a one-stop source for alternative medical information that covers complementary therapies, herbs and remedies, and common medical diseases and conditions. It avoids medical jargon, making it easier for the layperson to use. The Gale Encyclopedia of Alternative Medicine presents authoritative, balanced information and is more comprehensive than single-volume family medical guides.

Scope

Over 800 full-length articles are included in The Gale Encyclopedia of Alternative Medicine. Many prominent figures are highlighted as sidebar biographies that accompany the therapy entries. Articles follow a standardized format that provides information at a glance. Rubrics include:

Therapies

• Origins
• Benefits
• Description
• Preparations
• Precautions
• Side effects
• Research & general acceptance
• Resources
• Key terms

Herbs/remedies

• General use
• Preparations
• Precautions
• Side effects
• Interactions
• Resources
• Key terms

Diseases/conditions

• Definition
• Description
• Causes & symptoms
• Diagnosis
• Treatment
• Allopathic treatment
• Expected results
• Prevention
• Resources
• Key terms

Inclusion criteria

A preliminary list of therapies, herbs, remedies, diseases, and conditions was compiled from a wide variety of sources, including professional medical guides and textbooks, as well as consumer guides and encyclopedias. The advisory board, made up of three medical and alternative healthcare experts, evaluated the topics and made suggestions for inclusion. Final selection of topics to include was made by the medical advisors in conjunction with Thomson Gale editors.

About the Contributors

The essays were compiled by experienced medical writers, including alternative healthcare practitioners and educators, pharmacists, nurses, and other complementary healthcare professionals. GEAM medical advisors reviewed over 95% of the completed essays to insure that they are appropriate, up-to-date, and medically accurate.

How to Use this Book

The Gale Encyclopedia of Alternative Medicine has been designed with ready reference in mind:

• Straight alphabetical arrangement allows users to locate information quickly.
• Bold faced terms function as print hyperlinks that point the reader to related entries in the encyclopedia.
• A list of key terms is provided where appropriate to define unfamiliar words or concepts used within the context of the essay. Additional terms may be found in the glossary.
• Cross-references placed throughout the encyclopedia direct readers to where information on subjects without their own entries can be found. Synonyms are also cross-referenced.
• A Resources section directs users to sources of further complementary medical information.
• An appendix of alternative medical organizations is arranged by type of therapy and includes valuable contact information.
• A comprehensive general index allows users to easily target detailed aspects of any topic, including Latin names.

Graphics

The Gale Encyclopedia of Alternative Medicine is enhanced with over 450 images, including photos, tables, and customized line drawings. Each volume contains a color insert of 64 important herbs, remedies, and supplements.