| | | ‘Western’ Medicine!
Neuroscience XII Here are five references dealing with what might be called in broad terms, ‘Western’ medicine. Four of these offer something of a foil for the main focus of the information and ideas found generally on this website, viz. TCM. In doing so they provide a measure of balance and perspective from a somewhat more conventional ‘western’ view of medicine (current and historical). The fifth deals with the contemporary pharmaceutical industry, and has a whistle-blower feel about it.
The Western Medical Tradition: 800BC to 1800AD. (1995) Lawrence I. Conrad, Michael Neve, Vivian Nutton, Roy Porter, Andrew Wear. Members of the Wellcome Institute for the History of Medicine. Cambridge University Press.
Well researched and well written historical papers by leading academics in their field.
Introduction, Biographies and Chronological Tables.
Medicine in the Greek World, 800-50BC
Roman Medicine, 250BC to 200AD
Medicine in Late Antiquity and the Early Middle Ages
The Arab-Islamic Medical Tradition. Arab4a, Arab4b
Medicine in Medieval Western Europe, 1000-1500AD
MedWestEuro5a, MedWestEuro5b, MedWestEuro5c.
Medicine in Early Modern Europe, 1500-1700AD EModEur6a, EModEur6b, EModEur6c, EModEur6d, EModEur6e, EModEur6f.
The Eighteenth Century. C18th1, C18th2, C18th3.
Conclusion.
Hungerford, Carole Dr (2006) GOOD HEALTH in the 21st Century: a family doctor’s unconventional guide. Scribe, Melbourne.
Carole Hungerford, a general practitioner, is able to think for herself and expound on a whole range of issues relating to health, illness and medicine. There is plenty of food for thought here, and lots of good reliable information.
Preface, Contents, Notes, Appendices, Glossary, etc.
Hung1a. Hung1b.
Medicine and Progress. Hunger1.
The Politics of Health. Hunger2a. Hunger2b.
Health Processes. Hunger3a. Hunger3b.
Macronutrients and Minerals. Hunger4.
Vitamins and Essential Fatty Acids. Hunger5a. Hunger5b.
A Systematic Approach to Disease. Hunger6a. Hunger6b.
Some Fixed-Name Diseases (acne, arthritis, asthma, cancer, reproductive, dental, eyes)
Hunger7a. Hunger7b. Hunger7c.
Two Leading Causes of Death: Obesity and Cardiovascular Disease. Hunger8a. Hunger8b.
Mental Health and Neurological Disorders.
Hunger9a. Hunger9b.
Some Conclusions. Hunger10a. Hunger10b.
Neal, M. J. (1992) Medical Pharmacology at a Glance. 2nd Ed. Blackwell Science. Oxford.
Professor Neal’s text and diagrams provide a lucid overview and synopsis. Although now slightly out-dated, many principles and actions remain essentially the same.
Principles of drug action; Drug-receptor interactions; Drug absorption, distribution, excretion; Drug metabolism; Local anaesthetics; Neuromuscular junction; Autonomic nervous sytem; Cholinergic synapses; Sympathetic system; Ocular; Asthma, hayfever, anaphylaxis.
GIT peptic ulcer; GIT motility & secretions; Kidney-diuretics; Hypertension; Angina; Anti-arrhythmics; Heart failure; Blood coagulation; Anaemias; CNS Central transmitters; Gen. anaesthetics; Anxiolytics/hypnotics; Antiepileptics; Parkinsonism; Psychosis-neuroleptics.
Antidepressants; Opioid analgesics; Misuse and dependence; Non-steroidal Anti-inflammatory (NSAIDs); Corticosteroids; Sex hormones; Thyroid/ antithyroid; Antidiabetic; Antimicrobial on DNA; Antimicrobial on cell walls; Antimicrobial on protein synthesis; Antifungal/ antiviral; Antiprotozoal; Cancer.
Meares, Ainslie M. D. (1985) A Way of Doctoring. Hill of Content. Melbourne.
Meares1, Meares2
This delightful little book is a reflective meditation on patient/ doctor interaction. It is largely a series of case studies, taking the form of internal monologues from the point of view of the doctor, and contains considerable guiding wisdom. Dr Meares wrote ‘Relief Without Drugs’, and is greatly respected for his pioneering work using meditation in psychology and pain control, particularly with cancer patients.
Elliott, Carl (2010) White Coat, Black Hat. Adventures on the dark side of medicine. Beacon Press. Boston.
BlkHt1a, BlkHt1b, BlkHt2, BlkHt3, BlkHt4, BlkHt5, BlkHt6.
A contemporary bioethicist’s view of the current ‘business model’ state of the pharmaceutical industry (and medicine generally), and its progression to this point over the past 20-30 years. This book has something of the flavour of a whistle blower, and should be a ‘must read’ for anyone concerned about the direction and current state of modern ‘western’ medicine.
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