BOOK REVIEWS 239
Cecil Helman was very impressed by the
Book Reviews
1. Aromatherapy science: a guide for healthcare
professionals
2. Suburban shaman: tales from medicine’s frontline
3. Obesity prevention and public health
4. The Health for All policy framework for the WHO
European region: 2005 update
1. Aromatherapy science: a guide
for healthcare professionals
By Maria Lis-Balchin. Published by
Pharmaceutical Press, London, 2006.
Paperback 462pp. Price
£45.00
ISBN 0–85369–578–4
DOI: 146642400608244
As with science, allopathic
medicine is concerned with
objectivity and reason.
Conversely, akin to religion,
alternative/complementary
medicine is based on
subjectivity and intuition.
Yet the human race has
almost always used both
approaches. The knowledge of both
allopathic and alternative therapies is
derived not only from clinical-trial based
research, which is expensive and not always
possible, but also from anecdotal
observations of actual practitioners.
Leaving the sibling rivalry aside, both
disciplines have existed and would survive
side by side, because of patient demand.
Recently, there has been an increased
interest in alternative medicine in Britain,
and abroad. This book is unique in that the
author, who is a research scholar and not a
practitioner, provides an analytical and
scientific evaluation of the aromatherapy
practices and principles, based on real
scientific evidence to date.
After giving an interesting account of
historical background, the text introduces a
reader to the science of smell and
aromatherapy practice today. It covers the
chemistry, bioactivity, uses and toxic side
effects of essential oils, which are the
essence of aromatherapy. It is emphasized
September 2006 Vol 126 No 5
Downloaded from rsh.sagepub.com at MCGILL UNIVERSITY LIBRARY on February 12, 2015
intensity of faith some Eastern people had
in their shaman. He believes that to be a
good doctor, a medical practitioner should
use communication skills with patients as if
he or she were a compassionate chameleon,
a shape-shifter and a shaman. Although it
is not an autobiography, he tells many
interesting stories to illustrate the message.
The book
contains 24
stories. Each story
gives a picture of
a different
practitioner of
alternative
medicine that the
that the body massage also augments the author has come
therapy. The author takes an objective across in his life.
look at the safety issues and clinical He describes how
studies listed in the bibliography. Each a well-built
chapter describes a practice 65-year-old man,
of aromatherapy popular who barks
among its practitioners and threateningly at
then includes a balanced him, turned out to be a retired lion tamer,
scientific comment, by the to show that it is prudent to listen to the
author, to help general readers whole story and avoid misunderstandings.
and health professionals. A In another story he recalls an elderly Indian
comparison of the antibacterial woman, who became very depressed and
and antifungal properties of felt very frightened by a curse she believed
commonly used essential oils, her ex-husband’s family had put upon her,
in an appendix, is of practical making her see everything in shades of
value. brown. Instead of referring her to a
A British scientist appraising psychiatrist, he let her see an Indian vaid,
a discipline of alternative medicine is a an Ayurvaidic practitioner. The vaid helped
refreshing progress in attitudes of the her to recovery, by listening and
population. Indeed, positive criticism is a counselling.
positive activity in science and politics. I Dr Helman emphasizes that listening and
think that the author has been very fair in detailed history taking by the doctor is the
her comments. Doctors, nurses, key to correct diagnosis and management.
pharmacists, alternative medical The stories in this book, and the message,
practitioners and medical libraries as well would make a fascinating read for general
as general readers would find this book a readers and health professionals.
useful resource. Bashir Qureshi
Bashir Qureshi General Practioner
General Practitioner
3. Obesity prevention and public
2. Suburban shaman: tales from health
medicine’s frontline Edited by David Crawford and Robert W
By Cecil Helman. Published by Jeffery. Published by Oxford University
Hammersmith Press, London, 2006. Press, New York, 2005. Hardback 338pp.
Paperback 198pp. Price £9.99 Price £49.50 ISBN 0–19–856600-X
ISBN 1–905–14008–8 DOI: 1466424006068247
DOI: 1466424006068246 Over recent decades there have been large
‘Shaman’ is the name given to a healer- increases in the prevalence of overweight
priest in Northern Asia, who works by and obesity in children and adults, in both
magic, spiritualism and sorcery. As an developed and developing countries. Thus,
eminent doctor and an anthropologist, the importance of this public health
Copyright © 2006 The Journal of The Royal Society for the Promotion of Health JRSH