of acupuncture, 68-9, 79-82
of homeopathy, 129-30
twentieth-century research into, 58-60
plant-based drugs in conventional medicine, 194—7
see also herbal medicine
prayer: power investigated, 227-30
prospective cohort study: defined, 32
publication importance of, 18, 22
publication bias, 72-3
refereeing, 120
radionics, 294
Randi, James, 120-2
prize offered for proof of paranormal phenomenon, 120-1, 125
randomization: defined, 22
value of in clinical trials, 21-2, 66-7
reflexology, 323
regulation
of alternative medicine, lacking, 274-5, 281-2
acupuncture, 48
chiropractors, 147, 178, 271
food supplements, 312
of conventional medicine, 178, 273-4, 281-3
prosecution of chiropractors in US, 161, 163, 169
reiki, 221, 222, 324
relaxation therapies, 325
Reston, James, on positive experience of acupuncture, 47
risk assessment and monitoring in conventional medicine, 178, 205, 283
lack of in chiropractic, 178
Rosa, Emily: research paper on therapeutic touch, 221-2
Rush, Dr Benjamin, 12-14, 25
Sagan, Carl, 279
St John's wort (Hypericum perforatum), 116, 198, 286-7
as antidepressant, 198-201
clinical trials, 199-200 ; meta• analysis, 200 ; Cochrane Collaboration systematic review, 200
risks associated, 206-7, 217-18
Sampson, Dr Wallace: study of laetrile, 216
science
antagonism of some alternative therapists to, 223-5
contrasted with opinion, 1
pseudo-science and unsound science used to promote alternative therapies, 220-1, 226-31
scientific method, 4, 5, 18, 125, 228
scientific approach to plant-based remedies, 194—7
see also clinical trials, evidence-based medicine, meta-analysis, systematic reviews
Scientology, Church of, 164
scurvy, as subject of first controlled clinical trials, 14-20
Shang, Dr Aijing: meta-analysis of clinical trials of homeopathic treatments, 135-9, 140
shark cartilage, as food supplement, 26 3 -4, 31 2
Shiatsu, 326
Silverman, Bilclass="underline" advocacy of clinical trials, 150-3, 272
Singh, Simon, 3
investigation of homeopaths' medical advice, 187-8
Smallwood, Christopher: report for Prince of Wales, 241-2
snake oil remedies, 249
Snow, Dr John: work on cholera, 112-13
spiritual healing, 327
Steiner, Rudolf, 298
stroke risk of from chiropractic therapy, 174-8
acupuncture treatment for, 70
succussion (shaking), 300
in preparation of homeopathic remedies, 96
Sutherland, William G.: inventor of cranial osteopathy, 305
systematic reviews by the Cochrane Collaboration, 73-4, 76-9, 81
need for, 73-4, 75-6
of spinal manipulation trials, 154-5, 166-7
shortcomings of WHO summaries of acupuncture research, 71-3, 278
see also meta-analysis
tachyon therapy, 220
t'ai chi, 296
tea tree, 299
therapeutic touch, 220-2
Emily Rosa's research on, 221-2
Thymus therapy, 302
tradition dangers of placing value on, 25, 223
Traditional Chinese Medicine, 46-7, 328
Trudeau, Kevin, 257-8
vaccination against MMR (measles, mumps and rubella), 185, 266
against smallpox, 185, 277
false analogy made with homeopathy, 119-20
introduction of, 113
negative attitude among alternative therapists, 184—6
vega-test, 294
Vickers, Dr Andrew, 125
Wales, Charles, Prince of, 236, 237-8, 240, 241, 242-3, 277, 295, 280
Foundation for Integrated Health, 237-8, 275, 276
Smallwood Report commissioned by, 241-2
Washington, George, final illness of, 9-12, 108
Weil, Dr Andrew, 256-7
Withering, William, research on digitalis, 194
World Health Organization (WHO), 237, 280
attitude to alternative medicine, 277-9
reports on acupuncture: (1979), 51, 70; (2003), 70-3, 278
X-rays risks of, 172
used in chiropractic therapy, 153, 172-3, 182
used in conventional medicine, 172
used in homeopathy, 97
used in osteopathy, 179
yoga, 219, 296