The role of complementary and alternative medicine : accommodating pluralism

At the center of the debate over complementary and alternative medicine-from acupuncture and chiropractic treatments to homeopathy and nutritional supplements-is how to scientifically measure the effectiveness of a particular treatment.

Fourteen scholars from the fields of medicine, philosophy, sociology, and cultural and folklore studies examine that debate, and the clash between growing public support and the often hostile stance of clinicians and medical researchers.