A Doctor's Guide To Alternative Medicine: What Works, What Doesn’t, and Why

A new release by Mel Borins, MD

More than 50% of people report that they’ve tried alternative medicine; it’s a $34 million industry. But because some patients don’t feel their doctors see alternative therapies as legitimate, they turn to unreliable sources such as the internet, celebrities, etc. for guidance. With so much misinformation out there, how does anyone know which advice to follow and what actually works?

In A DOCTOR’S GUIDE TO ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE, Dr. Mel Borins answers these questions using the latest scientific research and double-blind studies to educate patients and physicians on which alternative treatments are worth trying, which aren’t, and why—and how to use the effective ones safely. Written in clear, accessible language for the layperson while providing citations to full studies for the health care professional, the book covers natural health products, herbal remedies, acupuncture, physical therapies and psychological therapies. A DOCTOR’S GUIDE TO ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE is the perfect book for alternative medicine skeptics looking for hard evidence, doctors of conventional medicine seeking to understand why alternative therapies work, and for those open to alternative medicine but who want to understand the benefits and dangers; these include America's 78 million Baby Boomers who purchase 77% of all prescriptions drugs and are seeking ways to treat their health issues without causing more of them.

Overview

When you’re sick, you’ll do just about anything to get your health back. And in the $34 million alternative medicine industry, there are plenty of businesses looking to help you do just that . . . for a price. But with so much misinformation online about alternative medicine, how do you know which advice to follow and what actually works? The Science of Alternative Medicine by Dr. Mel Borins answers these questions using the latest scientific research and double-blind studies on alternative medicine to educate patients and physicians on which treatments work, which don’t, and why. And more importantly, it teaches them how to safely use these alternative treatments.

Many physicians aren’t trained in alternative medicine during medical school, so they may not understand that there are alternative treatments out there that work. Because these treatments aren’t given much, if any, attention in conventional medicine, some doctors brush them off as “quack” science. Because of this, many patients feel uncomfortable talking about alternative treatments with their medical providers, and physicians feel uninformed about those treatments.The Science of Alternative Medicine is looking to bridge that gap by showing doctors the scientific evidence they want while empowering patients to seek safe, alternative treatments that better serve their health needs.

Why this book?

When physicians and patients are working together, they have a much better chance of fighting and preventing illness. The Science of Alternative Medicine will serve as the bridge to connect these two groups.

To put it simply, The Science of Alternative Medicine hopes to do two main things:

• Provide alternative medicine skeptics with the hard evidence they’ve been asking for and help doctors of conventional medicine understand why alternative therapies work for patients. Once physicians understand the science behind these treatments, they’ll be better equipped to answer questions from patients who are curious about alternative medicine.

• Educate patients about the benefits and dangers of alternative medicine and show them which treatments work, which don’t, and how to use them. Doing so will help patients avoid scams and dangerous treatment plans offered by self-proclaimed experts and get real advice and recommendations from a professional doctor.

Other writers have attempted to write a book like The Science of Alternative Medicine, but if the online reviews are any indication, they haven’t met the target audience’s needs. Those books tend to vaguely discuss findings without citing specific studies, or if they do cite specific studies, they’re not double-blind ones that have been peer reviewed. Many reviewers also complained that the authors of those books write towards a certain bias and choose studies that fit their argument, rather than presenting all the evidence. The Science of Alternative Medicine is different in that it presents both sides, making it one of the first books on the topic of alternative medicine that offers a balanced, unbiased perspective backed by science.

About the Author:

Mel Borins, MD has been active for more than two decades in training physicians in complementary and alternative medicine, counseling and psychotherapy, stress management and communication. In addition to his private practice, Dr. Borins has been a regular contributor to medical journals and a sought-after speaker who has appeared on television and radio across North America. He lives in Toronto, Canada.

Praise for A Doctor's Guide to Alternative Medicine - What Works, What Doesn’t and Why

"Medicine needs to open its mind to potential and true healing. Doctors need an education and not just information about alternative and holistic methods of treating the whole patient and not just their diagnosis with some drug. Mel Borins's book can help open minds and empower both the patient and the doctor to form a healing team."

– Bernie Siegel, M.D. author of A Book of Miracles and The Art of Healing

"Here at last Dr. Mel Borins presents an alternative to the Merck Manual, with many great holistic suggestions for enhancing your health."

– C. Norman Shealy, MD, PhD, president of Holos Energy Medicine Education and founder of the American Holistic Medical Association