How can I find information on alternative medicine?

First, please understand that The Gathering Place does not endorse or recommend any form of alternative medicine. It is the goal of the library to offer you credible, current and relevant information on all types of  medicine, so you can make more educated decisions about your care in conjunction with your physicians.

Next, there are some basic caveats to consider when you hear about a ‘miracle’ cure for cancer:

1. Is it a “secret” formula? This would be a red-flag, indicating that perhaps the ‘inventor’ is not willing to have their product be investigated. This might indicate that there is no research to back up their claims, and that they are looking more to make a profit. It would be a concern especially if you were to have a negative reaction to the product, and your physician would not know what they were dealing with.
2. Is the person or company asking for quite a bit of money, in cash up front? This would be a red-flag, indicating that perhaps they make their profit and then don’t provide thorough care or follow-up. Find out if you can get any portion of a refund.
3. Is there anything toxic in the ingredients or dangerous in the procedure? Ask about all potential side effects.Ask is there evidence that this particular regimen has helped someone with your particular type of cancer, at your stage?
4. If everything the author says about their product is all positive and glowing, with no negatives, this would be a red-flag that the claims are unrealistic.

When you want to find impartial or well-researched evidence for a particular product or procedure, here are some websites that can be very helpful:

Society for Integrative Oncology www.integrativeonc.org

Quackwatch  http://www.quackwatch.org/

National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicinehttp://nccam.nih.gov/

Annie Appleseed http://www.annieappleseedproject.org

 

Disclaimer

The resources and information given by our staff is NOT an endorsement of those individuals or practices. Staff members do not provide medical advice or assistance. We make every attempt to stock current, legitimate health-related materials. Opinions offered in writing or in lectures do not necessarily reflect the opinions of The Gathering Place staff or Board of Trustees.  We receive no fee for maintaining lists of resources and information. It is the responsibility of anyone utilizing this information to fully research the resources provided.