Complementary and Alternative Medicine Resource Guide
VCU Available on both campuses OR off-campus via a non-VCU Internet account with proper setup OR off-campus via a VCU computer account. Also see Help for off campus users for more information on remote access
- AMED VCU
AMED is a database of citations on alternative medicine produced by the British Library Health Care Information Service. It provides citations and abstracts to articles on complementary medicine, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, palliative care, rehabilitation and podiatry. - CAM on PubMed VCU
CAM on PubMed allows users to easily find journal citations related to complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). By clicking on the "CAM on PubMed" logo, a literature search will automatically be limited to the CAM subset of PubMed. - CINAHL: Cumulative Index to Nursing & Allied Health Literature (1983 - present) VCU
A database of research from publications in the fields of nursing and allied health. It also indexes alternative medicine journals. - Cochrane Library VCU
Database of systematic reviews of the effects of healthcare, including complementary and alternative medicine. Includes Database of Systematic Reviews, Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effectiveness, Controlled Trials Register, and Review Methodology. - IPA: International Pharmaceutical Abstracts (1970 - present) VCU
The database indexes the pharmaceutical literature. It includes coverage of clinical and technical drug information, pharmacy practice, pharmaceutical education, and legal aspects of pharmacy and drugs. - MD Consult VCU
The resource provides an online clinical library online that includes reference books, journals, and patient education materials. Enter through the Generic Edition, or set up your own Personal Edition. - MICROMEDEX Healthcare Series VCU
The AltMedDex component offers evidence-based, clinical information on herbal, vitamin, mineral and other dietary supplements. Toxicological information is also available from the POISONDEX system.
herbal and botanical information databases
- BIOSIS Previews (1969 - present) VCU
The foremost reference database in the life sciences; provides abstracts of literature in biological and biomedical areas. It includes Biological Abstracts, Biological Abstracts/RRM, and BioResearch Index. - CSA Internet Database Service VCU -- Databases from Cambridge
Scientific Abstracts Internet Database Service include the following:
- AGRICOLA VCU: records cover all aspects of agriculture
- AIDS and Cancer Research Abstracts VCU: Bibliographic data for basic science research and clinical applications related to AIDS, immunology, virology, and cancer genetics
- Biological Sciences VCU: abstracts of a wide variety of research in biomedicine, biotechnology, zoology, and ecology, and some aspects of agriculture and veterinary science
- Biology Digest VCU: about 20,000 abstracts of life sciences literature
- Biotechnology and Bioengineering Abstracts VCU: bibliographic coverage of research, applications, regulatory developments, and new patents across all areas of biotechnology and bioengineering
- Conference Papers Index VCU: citations to papers and poster sessions presented at major scientific meetings. Emphasis since 1995 on life sciences, environmental sciences, and aquatic sciences
- Plant Science VCU: abstracts of information focusing on all aspects of plant science
- IBIDS Database
The International Bibliographic Information on Dietary Supplements (IBIDS) database contains bibliographic records, including abstracts on the topic of dietary supplements, including vitamins, minerals, herbal and botanical supplements.
netLibrary VCU
A collection of over 13,000 electronic books from leading university, trade and professional publishers available via the Internet 24 hours a day. For full access, VCU faculty, students and staff must first create free individual user accounts.
Create a netLibrary user account
Some possible titles include:
- Complementary and Alternative Medicine in the United States
- The Encyclopedia of Complementary and Alternative Medicine
- Exploring Complementary and Alternative Medicine
- Researching Complementary and Alternative Medicine
VCU E-Books Page
Link to VCU Libraries' growing collection of electronic books.
General Information
- Alternative Medicine Foundation
This site provides evidence-based information for professionals and health consumers. Some services are fee based. - Alternative Medicine HomePage
Created at the Falk Library of the Health Sciences at the University of Pittsburgh, this site provides links to databases, Internet resources, practitioners' directories and government resources. - National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM)
Web site for the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine at the National Institutes of Health. The NCCAM explores complementary and alternative healing practices in the context of scientific practices, trains CAM researchers, and disseminates information.
Consumer and Patient Resources
- Alternative Medicine - MEDLINEplus Health Information
Consumer health information in both English and Spanish compiled by the National Library of Medicine. The page provides the latest news, interactive tutorials, research, clinical trials, and other information. - Complementary and Alternative Medicine--National Cancer Institute
The site provides evidence based PDQ® Cancer Information Summaries for patients and health care providers on frequently used cancer therapies. - Dietary Supplements Labels Database
This National Library of Medicine resource offers information about ingredients in more than two thousand selected brands of dietary supplements. The database also provides links to health information, fact sheets, and research-related resources. - Intellihealth: Complementary and Alternative Medicine
Herbal medicine and supplement information provided by the Natural Standard and Harvard Medical School. Descriptions include evidence, unproven uses, potential dangers, interactions, and resources. - MedlinePlus Herbs and Supplements
Information from the Natural Standard includes evidence-based information on the effectiveness, dosing, and safety of herbal products and supplements. Each description includes selected references. - Noah--Complementary and Alternative Medicine
The site provides links to information on alternative healing approaches and resources. Part of the New York Online Access to Health project, the site also provides information in Spanish. - see also: Sloan-Kettering: About Herbs, Botanicals, and Other Products
Fraud and Quackery Resources
- Alternative Medicine Fraud & Quackery Resources
List of resources from the University of Pittsburgh - The National Council Against Health Fraud
The NCAHF is a private nonprofit, voluntary health agency that focuses upon health misinformation, fraud, and quackery as public health problems. - Quackwatch
Comprehensive guide to health fraud and quackery maintained by Stephen Barrett, M.D. - The Skeptic's Dictionary: "alternative" medicine
Maintained by Robert T. Carrol, the dictionary provides definitions, essays, and discussions from a skeptic's point of view.
Herbal and Dietary Supplement Resources
- Office of Dietary Supplements, National Institute of Health
The ODS supports research and disseminates research results in the area of dietary supplements. The site includes health information and links to related databases. - American Botanical Council Online
Sponsored by the American Botanical Council (ABC), the site includes links to the organization's herbal information and educational resources. - Dietary Supplements - USFDA Center for Food Safety & Applied Nutrition
The site provides an overview of the FDA's oversight efforts including links to adverse effects and warnings. The page also provides links for consumer education and general information. - Medicinal Herb Garden - University of Washington
The Medicinal Herb Garden is a resource for herbalists, medics, and botanists. The site links users to images, as well as corresponding MEDLINE citations and entries to the Plants for a Future database. - Sloan-Kettering: About Herbs, Botanicals, and Other Products
The site provides evidence-based information for health professionals and consumers on the therapeutic uses and effects of herbal medicines and dietary supplements. Maintained by the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, the site emphasizes cancer therapies.
Research Funding
- CARDS Database
Provided by the Office of Dietary Supplements, the Computer Acccess to Research on Dietary Supplements database provides access to information on federally funded research projects. Information in the database is useful to researchers, policy makers, and consumers. - Research--National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM)
Information on federal grants and funding resources from the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine at the National Institutes of Health.
University & Foundation Centers for CAM Study & Research
- Botanical Center for Age-Related Diseases
- Center for Arthritis and Traditional Chinese Medicine
- Center for CAM Research in Aging and Women's Health
- Center for Phytomedicine Research
- NCCAM Research Centers Program Descriptions
The VCU Libraries cautions users not to seek the therapies described on these pages without the consultation of a licensed healthcare provider. Inclusion of a treatment or resource on this webliography does not imply endorsement.