The field of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) encompasses a wide range of holistic therapies and healing practices. Until recently, many of these treatments were not taught in most medical schools, used in hospitals, or reimbursed by medical insurance. Increasingly, as these therapies become more widespread, practitioners need both professional and patient-oriented information regarding their use and effectiveness.
The Health Sciences and Human Services Library's Complementary and Alternative Medicine web page links users to a small number of selected web sites that may be useful to both health care providers and consumers. See selection criteria.
- The Alternative Medicine HomePage
The Alternative Medicine HomePage provides annotated links to a variety of resources. Sections include alternative medicine resources for AIDS and HIV, databases, Internet resources, mailing lists & newsgroups, government resources, Pennsylvania resources, practitioner's directories, and related resources. Charles B. Wessel, M.L.S., Health Sciences Library System, University of Pittsburgh, maintains the site. - Ask Noah: Alternative Medicine
A comprehensive site compiled by the NOAH (New York Online Access to Health) project provides links to information on alternative healing approaches and resources. It includes links to book reviews, educational institutions, and directories of practitioners. A Spanish language site is also offered. - Cancer.gov--Complementary and Alternative Medicine
A site sponsored by the National Cancer Institute links to resources that include introductory information, articles on specific topics, and links to related web sites. - FDA Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition: Dietary Supplements
This site offers information regarding the Food and Drug Administration's regulation of dietary supplements. It includes links to warnings and safety information, adverse event reporting, announcements and meetings, and general information. Industry information and regulations, questions and answers, and other sources of information are also provided. - IBIDS Database
The International Bibliographic Information on Dietary Supplements database provides access to almost 400,000 scientific citations on dietary supplements, including vitamins, minerals, and botanicals. Abstracts to some citations are provided. The site also provides a consumer information database and links to the Dietary Supplements Resource List from the USDA Food and Nutrition Information Center. IBIDS is produced by the Office of Dietary Supplements at the National Institutes of Health. - The Longwood Herbal Task Force
This site includes in-depth mongraphs on herbal products and supplements written by health professionals and students. It also provides clinical information summaries, patient fact sheets, interactions and toxicity information, and links to other resources. The LHTF was organized by faculty, staff and students from Children’s Hospital, the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences and the Dana Farber Cancer Institute in order to learn and disseminate information about herbs and dietary supplements. - MEDLINEplus: Alternative Medicine
Sponsored by the National Library of Medicine, this site includes links to news, general information, clinical trials, research resources, information on specific conditions/aspects, directories, lists of print publications, and alternative medicine organizations. - Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC)-About Herbs, Botanicals & Other Products
Sponsored by the Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, the site provides searchable herb information for healthcare professionals. Entries include a clinical summary for each agent with details about constituents, adverse effects, interactions, and potential benefits or problems. A consumer version of each monograph also is available. - NCCAM: National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine
This is the official site for the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) at the National Institutes of Health. The site includes access to factsheets, consensus reports, and databases for both health practitioners and the general public. Information regarding research policies, funding opportunities, and training is also provided. Links to complementary and alternative medicine databases are included. - Quackwatch
Operated by Dr. Stephen Barrett, M.D., Quackwatch provides a skeptic's look at a number of alternative medicine therapies. It provides both general information, as well as critical analyses of an extensive list of practices. Links to a number of related sites are included. - Rosenthal Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine
The Rosenthal Center, an affiliate of Columbia University, seeks to contribute to the informed research and practice of complementary and alternative medicine. The web site offers information about the center, its projects and training programs. It also offers selected links to CAM resources for practioners, patients, and the Columbia community.
Last edited on Tuesday, April 7, 2009
