Using alternative therapies : a qualitative analysis

PREFACE VIII ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS X INTRODUCTION 1 THE STUDY THE STRUCTURE OF THE BOOK CHAPTER ONE 12 What Are Alternative Therapies and Who Uses Them? WHAT ARE ALTERNATIVE THERAPIES? WHO USES ALTERNATIVE THERAPIES? Is There An Alternative Therapy Type? CHAPTER TWO 26 How People Use Alternative Therapies ALTERNATIVE HEALTH CARE NETWORKS Friends The Media Family Commercial Outlets Public and Private Institutions Alternative Practitioners and Alternative Health Centres Allopaths Non-Mainstream Spiritual Groups The Work Place ENTRÉES INTO ALTERNATIVE HEALTH CARE RECONCEPTUALIZING THE HEALTH CARE SYSTEM CHAPTER THREE 42 Why People Turn to Alternative Therapies MOTIVATING FACTORS Control Holism Dissatisfaction INDIVIDUAL PROBLEMS, ALTERNATIVE SOLUTIONS Physical Problems Personal Problems THE WIDER SOCIO-CULTURAL CONTEXT Table of Contents CHAPTER FOUR 54 An Alternative Model of Healing THE FOCUS AND PURPOSE OF THERAPY Chronic vs. Acute Holistic vs. Dualistic Individualistic vs. Generic Preventative vs. Curative Natural vs. Chemical Slow and Gentle vs. Fast and Brutal Non-Invasive vs. Invasive THE NATURE OF THE CLIENT/PRACTITIONER RELATIONSHIP Attitude Time Caring ALTERNATIVE HEALING TECHNIQUES Self-Healing Healing Energy CHAPTER FIVE 67 An Alternative Model of Health ALTERNATIVE HEALTH AS PROCESS Holism Balance Control THE IMPLICATIONS OF ALTERNATIVE HEALTH BELIEFS CHAPTER SIX 81 Alternative Healing and the Self ADOPTING A HEALER IDENTITY CHANGES IN SELF-PERCEPTION Changes in Personality Changes in Value Systems HEALING THE SELF CHAPTER SEVEN 95 Using Alternative Therapies: A Deviant Identity BIOGRAPHIES, ACCOUNTS, AND RETROSPECTIVE REINTERPRETATION ALTERNATIVE THERAPY USE AS DEVIANT BEHAVIOUR MANAGING THE STIGMA OF USING ALTERNATIVE THERAPIES Accounting for Stigma Stigma Management Via Retrospective Reinterpretation CONCLUSION 111 IMPLICATIONS FOR HEALTH POLICY SUGGESTIONS FOR FUTURE RESEARCH APPENDIX: THE THERAPIES 127 ACUPRESSURE ACUPUNCTURE AROMATHERAPY ASTROLOGICAL HEALING BAGUA CHINESE HERBAL MEDICINE CHIROPRACTIC CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MEDICINE CREATIVE VISUALISATION CRYSTAL HEALING EAR CANDLING FASTING FELDENKRAIS METHOD HERBAL MEDICINE HOMEOPATHY HYPNOTHERAPY IRIDOLOGY MASSAGE MEDITATION MIDWIFERY NATUROPATHY PSYCHIC HEALING REFLEXOLOGY REIKI THE RESULTS SYSTEM THERAPEUTIC TOUCH VITAMIN THERAPY YOGA REFERENCES 139 INDEX 152