| Is evaluating complementary and alternative medicine equivalent to evaluating the absurd? | |
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MedLine Citation:
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PMID: 20457720 Owner: NLM Status: MEDLINE |
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
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Complementary and alternative therapies such as reflexology and acupuncture have been the subject of numerous evaluations, clinical trials, and systematic reviews, yet the empirical evidence in support of their efficacy remains equivocal. The empirical evaluation of a therapy would normally assume a plausible rationale regarding the mechanism of action. However, examination of the historical background and underlying principles for reflexology, iridology, acupuncture, auricular acupuncture, and some herbal medicines, reveals a rationale founded on the principle of analogical correspondences, which is a common basis for magical thinking and pseudoscientific beliefs such as astrology and chiromancy. Where this is the case, it is suggested that subjecting these therapies to empirical evaluation may be tantamount to evaluating the absurd. |
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Authors:
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Pete Greasley |
Publication Detail:
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Type: Journal Article Date: 2010-05-10 |
Journal Detail:
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Title: Evaluation & the health professions Volume: 33 ISSN: 1552-3918 ISO Abbreviation: Eval Health Prof Publication Date: 2010 Jun |
Date Detail:
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Created Date: 2010-06-15 Completed Date: 2010-10-20 Revised Date: - |
Medline Journal Info:
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Nlm Unique ID: 7805992 Medline TA: Eval Health Prof Country: United States |
Other Details:
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Languages: eng Pagination: 127-39 Citation Subset: H; T |
Affiliation:
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Division of Service Development & Improvement, School of Health Studies, University of Bradford, Yorkshire, UK. p.greasley@bradford.ac.uk |
Export Citation:
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APA/MLA Format Download EndNote Download BibTex |
| MeSH Terms | |
Descriptor/Qualifier:
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Complementary Therapies
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methods*,
standards Empirical Research* Humans Treatment Outcome |
From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine
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