Includes bibliographical references and index.

Why consider opposing viewpoints? -- Introduction -- ch. 1. Does alternative medicine work? -- Chapter preface -- 1. Homeopathic medicine is effective / Dana Ullman -- 2. Homeopathic medicine is ineffective / Robert Todd Carroll -- 3. Chiropractic can reduce some types of pain / Michael Menke -- 4. Chiropractic is a potentially dangerous pseudoscience / John Jackson -- 5. Herbal medicines are effective / Danny Siegenthaler -- 6. Herbal medicines vary in their effectiveness and some may be dangerous / Jane E. Brody -- Periodical bibliography -- ch. 2. Why is alternative medicine popular? -- Chapter preface -- 1. People choose alternative medicine because they are dissatisfied with conventional medicine / Benedict Carey -- 2. People choose alternative medicine because they fall for sales pitches / Stephen Barrett and William Jarvis -- 3. People choose alternative medicine because they want to believe it works / Ben Goldacre -- 4. Employers choose alternative medicine to combat health care costs / George DeVries -- Periodical bibliography. ch. 3. Can alternative and conventional medicine work together? -- Chapter preface -- 1. Spirituality should be part of conventional medical treatment / Barbara Anan Kogan -- 2. Spirituality should not be part of conventional medical treatment / Timothy N. Gorski -- 3. Alternative medicine should submit to conventional testing standards / The National Academies -- 4. Conventional medical testing standards are flawed / E. Haavi Morreim -- 5. Alternative medicine should be integrated into medical school / Philippe Szapary -- 6. Alternative medicine should be evaluated critically in medical school / Wallace Sampson -- Periodical bibliography. ch. 4. What should government do to research and regulate alternative medicine? -- Chapter preface -- 1. The FDA should tightly regulate herbal supplements / Joe Dobrin -- 2. Tighter regulation of herbal supplements may overshadow their appropriate use / James S. Gordon -- 3. The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine promotes pseudoscience / Kimball C. Atwood IV -- 4. The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine promotes valuable research / Stephen E. Straus and Margaret A. Chesney -- Periodical bibliography -- For further discussion -- Organizations to contact -- Bibliography of books -- Index.