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Alternative Medicine for the Elderly pp 47–61Cite as

Alternative Medicines and the Elderly

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Abstract

The term alternative medicine is one that can cover a range of topics and can mean many things to different audiences. For this particular chapter, focus has been placed on the use of “medicinal products” within alternative medicine such as herbal products, homoeopathic remedies and aromatherapy agents [21]. This chapter will examine utilization patterns of such products in the elderly population, the types of products which are or could be used, and usage issues which can arise in this patient group, notably adverse effects and drug interactions. Recommendations are made by way of attempting to promote the more rational use of alternative medicines in the elderly.

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Authors
  1. J. C. McElnay
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  2. C. M. Hughes
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Geriatrics, University of Miami School of Medicine, Miami VA, Medical Center (11A), 1201 NW 16th St., 33125, Miami, FL, USA

    E. Paul Cherniack MD

  2. School of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey at Newark University Hospital, University of New Jersey-Newark, 150 Bergen Street, 07103, Newark, NJ, USA

    Neil Cherniack PhD

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McElnay, J.C., Hughes, C.M. (2003). Alternative Medicines and the Elderly. In: Cherniack, E.P., Cherniack, N. (eds) Alternative Medicine for the Elderly. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-05185-6_4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-05185-6_4

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-07913-9

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