Complementary and Alternative Medicine Resource Guide

Librarian
Name: Ginny Stone
Phone: (804) 828-1881
Email: vstone@vcu.edu

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

General Information Databases

  • 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. 
  • Health Reference Center-Academic (1995 - present) VCU
    Search for health sciences related research and articles.
  • 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.

electronic books

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.

internet guides

General Information

Consumer and Patient Resources

Fraud and Quackery Resources

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.
  • Herbal Links
    Created by the Drug Information Service of the University of Iowa College of Pharmacy, the site provides herbal medicine information for pharmacists. The directory provides pharmacy information ratings, information quality ratings, and web site design ratings and links.
  • 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.
  • Institute for Nutraceutical Advancement
    An international, sponsor-supported, project designed to select, validate and publish scientific methods for use in analyzing raw botanical materials. The site includes information for consumers.
  • 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 resources

Research Funding

University & Foundation Centers for CAM Study & Research

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.