Alternative Medicine for the Elderly

One of the golden rules of reviewing is not to review a text to which one has contributed. I am here (again) breaking this rule! Therefore, I will exclude my [excellent (just kidding!)] chapter on chiropractic spinal manipulation from my comments. This book is written by a large number of (mostly USA) experts. It therefore struggles with the usual drawback of such texts: the considerable heterogeneity in approach. For example, some chapters are strictly evidence-based and will please the reader who is thus inclined. Others are not at all evidence-based and will be applauded by readers not looking for evidence. Notwithstanding this degree of variation, the chapters are, by and large, informative. The book has three main parts: (1) epidemiology (which is actually a more general introduction than epidemiology in any strict sense), (2) types of CAM used and (3) common medical problems of the elderly and CAM. This structure entails a degree of repetition, but this, I found, is not necessarily negative. Each chapter is referenced and there again we encounter a huge variation in thoroughness and even style. On the whole, I think this book is a valuable text for all healthcare professionals entrusted with the care of the elderly. There is clearly room for improvement and its second edition might address some of its current, minor weaknesses.