Alternative medicines, popular and policy perspectives

Conventional scientific medicine is increasingly coming under attack for its high cost, perceived dehumanization, technological dependence, and its inability to cure many forms of ill health. At the same time, there is a resurgence of interest in a wide range of new and age-old approaches to health and healing. This book offers answers to two essential questions: how do alternative medicines challenge the tenets of conventional scientific medicine; and could a synthesis of these alternative medicines and scientific medicine lead to a reformulation of conceptions of healing? This is a crucial book for anyone concerned with the future direction of health policy. -- Publisher description.