Suzanne M. Shultz

Honey as a Remedy

Honey is an alternative therapy firmly rooted in ancient medical armamentarium. Many of its curative properties are being revived today. Only a few rigorous scientific studies support the therapeutic value of honey, and those few studies have enrolled very small numbers of patients. It is time to take a critical look at the curative properties of this nonirritating, nontoxic, and inexpensive alternative.

Conserving Digital Resources: Issues and Future Access

This article explores the need for and the problems with digital preservation. Digital documents are much more easily discovered and shared than their analog counterparts, but not only is there a mistaken belief that digital preservation will occur without conscious intervention, there are also outstanding technical issues to be resolved. Even when these problems are recognized, it is unclear what materials should be preserved. Medical librarians have an important role to play in these decisions and should engage with their communities and play an active role in the process.

Highlights in Complementary and Alternative Medicine

Since its beginning in 1997, the Journal of Consumer Health on the Internet (previously titled Health Care on the Internet) has carried a column on alternative and complementary therapies. Much has changed over the past 15 years. This commentary will review some of the historically significant developments in alternative medicine research and practice.

The last confederate casualty at Gettysburg: a case report and review of similar historic cases.

“I am in the 7th Virginia Company F. This unit was originally part of Kemper’s brigade, I believe, and made the charge on Cemetery Ridge on July 3, 1863, suffering heavy casualtie s...I was in the First Company of the Third Regiment of the Army of Northern Virginia. We were on the far right Confederate flank and being First Company were deployed as skirmishers. (A skirmish line is a staggered formation where there are five paces between each man; it is used as a screen or probe for a larger force.) We entered a patch of woods, fired for a time on the extreme right flank of the Union line, reformed our battalion and were again deployed as skirmishers. We advanced ahead this time. Our captain ordered us to the edge of the woods where we fired repeatedly at Union cavalrymen in front of us. Some were mounted; others dismounting as we approached. We broke from the wood line and ran towards the disorganized cavalrymen. I fired my rifle and continued on a few steps. I paused, realizing that I was in the midst of the Union cavalrymen with the other men of my unit coming up behind me. “At that moment, I was struck a tremendous blow behind and below my left ear. I never saw who fired the shot. My neck and shoulder on that side were paralyzed from the pain. I put a hand to my neck, felt the blood, and realized it was more than just a powder burn. I rose to my knees and attempted to shout, “Medic! ”...b ut my voice would not function and all I could manage was a

A Review of: “Older Americans Information Directory 2010/2011.”

Journal of Consumer Health on the Internet considers for review books of interest to librarians and health care consumers. This column will concentrate on reviews of resources or recent books about consumer health care information available on the Internet. Books available online and in print about Internet resources will also be reviewed. In addition, titles that assist the new Internet user with getting started on accessing Internet resources will occasionally be included. It is the purpose of each review to provide a detailed description and critical evaluation of the work. Recommendations for purchase are also included. Reviews reflect the opinions of the reviewer, not of the editors or publisher of the Journal of Consumer Health on the Internet. Persons interested in becoming a book reviewer or suggesting titles for review in Journal of Consumer Health on the Internet should contact the Book Review Editor: Barbara M. Bibel, reference librarian, Oakland Public Library, Oakland, CA (bbibel@gmail.com).

Bezoars: A Not-So-Magical Therapy from the Past

Bezoars are commonly viewed by the modern orthodox medical community as gastrointestinal anomalies requiring treatment. However, that was not always the case. In the past, they were widely regarded as a remedy by all levels of society, including the well-to-do and even royalty. Several bezoar stones were discovered among the cherished items reclaimed from the sunken Spanish treasure ship, Nuestra Senora de Atocha. Today, especially in rural areas, medical powers are still ascribed to bezoar stones. This column reviews a small assortment of Web sites on traditional medical uses of bezoars.

The Uses of History in a Hospital Library

This article highlights the contribution that historical information can make to the depth and interest of current medical practice and scholarship. Included are some suggested historical resources that may help shed light on a projects medical and scientific antecedents.

ALTERNATIVE AND COMPLEMENTARY THERAPIES

Vodou folk medicine practices and healing arts are inextricably bound to the beliefs of the ancient Vodou religion and are expressed as attempts to achieve a balance between the physical and spiritual worlds. This column provides a sample of useful Internet sites on Vodou healing traditions. doi:10.1300/J381v11n03_08 [Article copies available for a fee from The Haworth Document Delivery Service: 1-800-HAWORTH. E-mail address: <docdelivery@haworthpress.com> Website: <http://www.HaworthPress.com>

Glucosamine/Chondroitin: Still Waiting for an Answer

Abstract Results of the four-year study entitled the Glucosamine/ chondroitin Arthritis Intervention Trial (GAIT) provided partial answers to those seeking relief from arthritis pain. Scientists will continue studying the efficacy of these substances as pain remedy and cartilage rejuvenator.

Alternative medicine for seniors

high qual ity and can be con sid ered as “core” sites for ac cess ing health care in for ma tion. The sites may be grouped by sub ject con tent or by source of in for ma tion. The se lec tion of a Web site as a HCI Ed i tor’s Se lect Site is very much a per sonal choice of the Col umn Ed i tor. It is based on ex pe ri ence and us age of the Internet for find ing health care in f or ma tion. How ever, in the se lec tion of each site, cri te ria for eval u a tion in clude rep u ta tion of the pro ducer/pub lisher of the site, sta bil ity of the site, ease of use, qual ity/ac cu racy of in for ma tion, avail abil i ty of links (qual ity of link se lec tion, do they work), and fre quency of up dates. While us ers must al ways check for changes in URLs–a con stant prob lem on the Internet–the sites se lected have ex hib ited sta bil ity in pro vid ing long-term ac cess to qual ity in for ma tion. In for ma tion about each site will in clude a de scrip tion of the con tent of the Web page, along with an eval u a tion of searchability of the site and a rat ing (5-star, high est through 1-star, low est) . Please note that only su pe rior sites will be in cluded as a Se lect Site and that the “star” sys tem of rat ing di f fer en ti ates among these top sites; a “1-star” rated site is still ex cel lent. Rea sons for a lower rat ing wil l al ways be noted. The main page of each site will be re pro duced and URLs to book mark will be noted. HCI Ed i tor’s Se lect Sites will be printed on two fac ing pages so that they may be pho to cop ied onto one page for use as “cheat sheets” be side the com puter ter mi nal (sin gle cop ies only, please; for mul ti pl e cop ies, con tact The Haworth Press, Inc.) . Sug ges tions for Web sites to in clude as HCI Ed i tor’s Se lect Sites are wel come.