Focus on Alternative and Complementary Therapies
www.pharmpress.com/fact
Focus Alternat Complement Ther©2005 Pharmaceutical Press
Focus Altern Complement Ther 2007; 12: 305
Reviewed by E Ernst, Exeter
Roberta Bivins is a medical historian who has previously published a comprehensive and fascinating account of the history of acupuncture.1 In her new book, she reviews the cross-cultural aspects of ‘alternative’ medicine during three centuries. She deals with homoeopathy, acupuncture, Ayurveda, and other systems. Her stance is that of a benevolent observer who has personally experienced (and benefited from) some forms of CAM. She makes the important point that cross-cultural medicine is not at all a phenomenon unique to our time, as we are often (mis)led to believe. In fact, it seems to be as old as medicine itself. She also illustrates that, in order for an ‘alternative’ to medicine to exist, one has to have a definable and stable orthodoxy. Such an orthodoxy, she argues, only emerged relatively recently. Therefore cross-cultural medicine is ancient and ‘alternative’ medicine a relatively new phenomenon.
This new book is even more readable than her first one. It also covers wider ground. I have no hesitation at all in recommending her fascinating account to all FACT readers.
