"For anyone who has ever wondered about the scientific evidence for the effectiveness of ... alternative therapies."-Susan Okie, Washington Post

Whether you are an ardent believer in alternative medicine, a skeptic, or simply baffled by the range of services and opinions, this book lays to rest doubts and contradictions with authority and clarity. In this groundbreaking analysis, more than thirty of the most popular treatments-including acupuncture, homeopathy, aromatherapy, reflexology, chiropractic, and herbal medicines-are examined for their proven benefits and potential dangers. What works and what doesn't? Whom can you trust, and who is ripping you off? While guiding the reader through a wide range of alternative cures, Trick or Treatment hones in on narrative case histories that illustrate the pros and cons of alternative medicine. Ultimately, in its scrutiny of alternative and complementary cures, this book strives to reassert the primacy of the scientific method as a means for determining public health practice and policy.