Complementary & Alternative Medicine

These almost 800 cross-referenced entries, which average three pages in length each, cover everything from infertility to feng shui in broad categories such as "Conditions," "Drug Interactions," "Functional Foods," "Herbs and Supplements," "Homeopathy," and "Issues and Overviews." Essays are authoritative and balanced, and clearly separate evidence-based research from hypotheses, cautioning readers against believing exaggerated claims and relating possible risks and benefits of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). The set offers authoritative information and suggests additional resources including reputable websites. While the material has a wide scope, oversights should be noted. There are essays on specific vitamins, minerals, herbs, and botanicals, yet information about pycnogenol is missing. Fortunately the resources section and an entry on "National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine" (NCCAM) direct readers to NCCAM's comprehensive website, which fills in the gap. It is unfortunate that misspellings in the opening publisher's note, e.g., "complimentary" for "complementary," may undermine confidence. Purchase of the print set includes free online access.