Complementary/Alternative Medicine: Who, What, Why and Where?
 Robert J. Flaherty, MD

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Where Can You Find Reliable CAM Information On the Web?
  • "Caveat Surfor"
    • Look at the URL
      • .gov, .edu - usually reliable
      • .org - sometimes reliable
      • .com, .net - usually not reliable
       
    • Red flags 
      • Sites selling anything (herbs, vitamins, crystals, books, etc.)
      • Uses testimonials and marketing hype
      • Eco-phrases:  "Nontoxic", "natural", "holistic"
      • Dark conspiracies against CAM or a particular practitioner
      • Unverifiable claims ("Millions have benefited...")
      • Bogus science (eg. homeopathy)
      • "Secret" science or "delivered wisdom" (eg. Dyanetics)
      • Sites broadly promoting CAM (too broad to be critical)