We often hear that alternative medicine is superior to classical medicine, for it treats us holistically, both the physical body and the immaterial part of our nature. Although such an approach seems desirable, it is precisely this aspect that opens the door to spiritual views incompatible with Christianity. Many forms of alternative medicine speak of a divine essence we allegedly possess, of a vital force that we can manipulate, of spiritual beings that can help us, and other such views closely related to Eastern religions and New Age thought. In their desire to find healing at any price, Christians often resort to these methods without realizing the spiritual danger involved. For Christians who want to live consistently with their faith, this book is intended to raise awareness of the hidden beliefs of alternative medicine.

Since the beginning of the World Health Organization, many of its staff members, regional offices, member states, and directors-general have grappled with the question of what a 'spiritual dimension' of health looks like, and how it might enrich the health policies advocated by their organisations. Contrary to the wide-spread perception that 'spirituality' is primarily related to palliative care and has emerged relatively recently within the organisation, this study shows that its history is considerably longer and more complex, and has been closely connected to the WHO's ethical aspirations, its quest for more holistic and equitable healthcare, and its struggle with the colonial legacy of international health organisations. While such ideals and struggles silently motivated many of the key actors and policies - such as the provision of universal primary healthcare - which for decades have embodied the organisation's loftiest aspirations, the WHO's official relationship with 'spirituality' advanced in fits, leaps, and setbacks. At times creative and interdisciplinary, at others deeply political, this process was marked by cycles of institutional forgetting and remembering. Rather than as a triumph of religious lobbyists, this book argues, the 'spiritual dimension' of health may be better understood as a 'ghost' that has haunted - and continues to haunt - the WHO as it comes to terms with its mandate of advancing health as a state of 'complete well-being' available to all.

"Spiritual, Health, and Healing : An Integrative Approach, Second Edition offers healthcare professionals, instructors, and spiritual care providers a comprehensive guide to the most current research on the connection between spiritual practice and health. This updated Second Edition includes new sections on integral spirituality and the New Thought Movement; healing rituals and healing environments; plus new information on spirituality and aging, caring for the elderly, and spiritual hospice."--Résumé de l'éditeur.

Today, being a health consumer encompasses more than being knowledgeable about traditional medicine and health practice but also includes the necessity to be well informed about the expading field of complementary and alternative medicine. Consumer Health and Integrative Medicine: Holistic View of Complementary and Alternative Medicine Practices, Second Edition was written to expand upon the many alternative modalities that many other consumer health texts overlook. It includes chapters on the major alternative medicine systems and healing modalities, including Ayurvedic medicine, traditional Chinese medicine, naturopathy, homeopathic medicine, chiropractic medicine, massage, reflexology, and herbals or botanicals. The authors mission is to increase reader's knowledge base, not make up their mind, as we all make better choices related to our own personal health care practices when we are informed consumers.

Cutting-edge medical ethics issues are addressed by nationally recognized experts. The BioBasics Series confronts the maze of challenging questions with biblical responses and uncompromising respect for all human life.

Alternative therapies, once the province of the hippie counterculture, are now a mainstream phenomenon. But they are more than a medical and economic sensation. At once spiritual and bodily, medical and recreational, they are an enormously popular cultural practice bound up with the pleasure-seeking drive of consumer culture as well as with spiritual and neo-liberal values.Complementary and Alternative Medicine critically examines this phenomenon - which some denounce as the triumph of superstition over reason - by asking practitioners themselves what makes these therapies so appealing.Drawing on a wealth of interviews with Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) practitioners as well as on the author's longstanding participation in CAM culture, the book provides a much needed look from both the inside and the outside of the CAM phenomenon. This book is essential reading for students and scholars of cultural studies, anthropology, sensory studies and sociology.

Provides proven longevity strategies that restore balance to stressful lives and promote optimum health. The authors describe four wellness pillars, that are the foundation of the medi-spa approach.

Health of the Human Spirit, Second Edition: Spiritual Dimensions for Personal Health is a thoughtful examination of the ageless topic of human spirituality. It addresses the need to acknowledge spiritual wellness as a vital dimension of the general health and well-being of the individual and examines the dynamic balance between mind-body-spirit health and the roadblocks and distractions on the spiritual path. Dr. Seaward includes many behavioral suggestions to enhance the health of the human spirit. He presents the material in an approachable, user-friendly manner by engaging the reader and carefully distinguishing the differences between spirituality and religion.

The most complete resource of its kind on alternative medicine• Herbal remedies, dietary supplements, and alternative therapiesTheir specific usesWhich ones really work (and which ones don’t)What to watch out for• Christian versus non-Christian approaches to holistic health• Clinically proven treatments versus unproven or quack treatments• Truths and fallacies about supernatural healing• Ancient medical lore: the historical, cultural, and scientific facts• And much, much moreAlternative Medicine is the first comprehensive guidebook to nontraditional medicine written from a distinctively Christian perspective. Keeping pace with the latest developments and research in alternative medicine, this thoroughly revised edition combines the most current information with an easy-to-use format. University lecturer and researcher Dónal O’Mathúna, PhD, and national medical authority Walt Larimore, MD, provide detailed and balanced answers to your most pressing questions about alternative medicine—and to other questions you wouldn’t have thought to ask.Also includesTwo alphabetical reference sections:Alternative therapiesHerbal remedies, vitamins, and dietary supplementsA description of each therapy and remedy, an analysis of claims, results of actual studies, cautions, recommendations, and further resourcesHandy cross-references linking health problems with various alternative therapies and herbal remedies reviewed in the book

In a clear, cohesive format, Delivering Health Care in America provides a comprehensive overview of the basic structures and operations of the US health system—from its historical origins and resources, to its individual services, cost, and quality. Using a unique “systems” approach, it brings together an extraordinary breadth of information into a highly accessible, easy-to-read text that clarifies the complexities of health care organization and finance, while presenting a solid overview of how the various components fit together. The fourth edition has been thoroughly updated with the latest information on: The global threat of avian influenza Health policy agenda of the Bush administration Progress towards Healthy People 2010 goals The effects of corporatization, information revolution, and globalization on health care delivery. The role of hospitals in the U.S. healthcare system The continuing nursing shortage Prospective payment initiatives for inpatient psychiatric facilities and inpatient rehabilitation facilities Pay-for-performance initiatives Trends in home health care services The role of long-term care hospitals and reimbursement for their services Disease management as a strategy to manage utilization The role of inpatient rehabilitation facilities Updated information on health services for special populations State strategies to provide universal coverage State Children’s Health Insurance Plan reauthorization issues The President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief High-deductible health plans Insurance restructuring in Massachusetts Challenges in long-term care The era of evidence-based medicine Mandates of recent legislation such as the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003 and the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 New Fifth Edition Now Available