Cancer: Your Guide to Complementary Therapies, Alternative Techniques, Conventional Treatments. - Review - book reviews

Nutrition Forum, Jan, 2000

Cancer: Your Guide to Complementary Therapies, Alternative Techniques, Conventional Treatments, by Philip Baron (Rockport, MA: Element Books, Inc., 1998), 136 pp., $5.95 paperback. ISBN 1-85230-799-4.

Published as one in a series called The Natural Way, this slender booklet steers the reader away from conventional mainstream medical practice. It is "approved by the British and American Holistic Medical Associations." Actually, it does a pretty good job in the first half explaining to the lay reader what cancer is and what the many causes may be. But even here, among the good, some outlandish statements appear. For example, to "eat against cancer" you should reduce sugar intake and eat organic foods as far as possible. Also, modern food-packaging materials are suspect and must be avoided.

The second half of the paperback is a subtle condemnation of modern medical practices in cancer treatment and an insistent argument for "natural approaches," namely, the "gentle alternatives" in cancer therapy. The following are briefly discussed, with the (false) claim that they are helpful: acupuncture/acupressure, aromatherapy, Ayurvedic medicine, homeopathy, herbalism, massage, naturopathy/hydrotherapy, nutritional therapy, reflexology, yoga, tai chi, hypnotherapy, faith healing, meditation/relaxation, psychotherapy, visualization or imagery, counseling, art, music, and drama therapy.

All in all, the information provided is largely promotional for the emerging profession of natural therapists and a broadside against science-based medical approaches in cancer research and treatment.