It is often difficult for general readers to obtain unbiased information about the benefits or drawbacks of alternative medicine. The media and the Internet often carry only information from activists and partisans intent on presenting their side of a story. This volume provides readers and researchers a balanced, in-depth introduction to the medical, scientific, legal, and cultural issues surrounding alternative medicine and its import in today's world of healthcare. "Alternative Medicine" provides readers with easy access to the information they need: Section 1 provides overview chapters on the background information needed to intelligently understand the issues and controversies surrounding complementary and alternative therapies, such the theories behind alternative treatments. Section 2 offers capsule examinations of the contemporary issues and debates that provoke the most heated disagreements and misunderstandings, such as the debates over the efficacy of alternative treatments and whether the government should regulate herbal treatments. Section 3 contains reference material, including primary source documents from important players in the struggle over alternative treatments, a timeline of important events, and an annotated bibliography of useful print and electronic resources.