ABSTRACT
This part introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters. The part looks at the analysis of complementary and alternative therapies from a scientific standpoint. This is a relatively new approach for much of the Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) community, with many users and practitioners remaining sceptical about the value of applying a rational, scientific approach to modalities which influence emotions, body energies and well-being factors that are difficult to quantify. The part also looks at the widespread rise of evidence-based medicine, and considers the kinds of research that might be applied to CAM to provide it with the evidence base it needs. It discusses concerns that can arise when applying reductionist thinking to holistic phenomena. The part summarises the evidence available in 2003 relating to three popular modalities: acupuncture, herbal medicine and homoeopathy. It considers in some depth the large amount of evidence relating to the safety of herbal medicines.
