{"product_id":"snake-oil-science-r-barker-bausell-9780195313680","title":"Snake Oil Science: The Truth about Complementary and Alternative Medicine","description":"Millions of people worldwide swear by such therapies as acupuncture, herbal cures, and homeopathic remedies. Indeed, complementary and alternative medicine is embraced by a broad spectrum of society, from ordinary people, to scientists and physicians, to celebrities such as Prince Charles and Oprah Winfrey. \u003cbr\u003e In the tradition of Michael Shermers \u003cem\u003eWhy People Believe Weird Things\u003c\/em\u003e and Robert Parks's \u003cem\u003eVoodoo Science\u003c\/em\u003e, Barker Bausell provides an engaging look at the scientific evidence for complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) and at the logical, psychological, and physiological pitfalls that lead otherwise intelligent people--including researchers, physicians, and therapists--to endorse these cures. The books ultimate goal is to reveal not whether these therapies work--as Bausell explains, most do work, although weakly and temporarily--but whether they work for the reasons their proponents believe. Indeed, as Bausell reveals, it is the placebo effect that accounts for most of the positive results. He explores this remarkable phenomenon--the biological and chemical evidence for the placebo effect, how it works in the body, and why research on any therapy that does not factor in the placebo effect will inevitably produce false results. By contrast, as Bausell shows in an impressive survey of research from high-quality scientific journals and systematic reviews, studies employing credible placebo controls do not indicate positive effects for CAM therapies over and above those attributable to random chance. \u003cbr\u003e Here is not only an entertaining critique of the strangely zealous world of CAM belief and practice, but it also a first-rate introduction to how to correctly interpret scientific research of any sort. Readers will come away with a solid understanding of good vs. bad research practice and a healthy skepticism of claims about the latest miracle cure, be it St. John's Wort for depression or acupuncture for chronic pain.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e R. Barker Bausell\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-10:\u003c\/b\u003e 0195313682\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-13:\u003c\/b\u003e 9780195313680\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Oxford University Press\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eLanguage:\u003c\/b\u003e English\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 10\/31\/2007\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 352\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eFormat:\u003c\/b\u003e Hardcover\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 1.20lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 8.52h x 6.28w x 1.19d\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eReview Citation(s): \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eLibrary Journal\u003c\/i\u003e 10\/01\/2007 pg. 88\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eBooklist\u003c\/i\u003e 11\/15\/2007 pg. 11","brand":"R. Barker Bausell","offers":[{"title":"Hardcover","offer_id":46617843237119,"sku":"9780195313680","price":76.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0662\/2982\/9887\/files\/img_e5b5b3f8-642c-4ba6-b367-b570047fb865.jpg?v=1740068480","url":"https:\/\/www.whiterainbookhouse.com\/products\/snake-oil-science-r-barker-bausell-9780195313680","provider":"WR Book House","version":"1.0","type":"link"}