Natural Standard: New Alternative Health And Medicine Database

Evidence-Based Medicine sounds like a "no brainer", but the concept really took off only within the last few decades.  A single medical research study rarely produces definitive results.  Evidence-based medicine attempts to collate all the best research studies, combining results statistically to thresh out what really is the best standard of practice for any given topic.

KCLS recently began subscribing to a new database called Natural Standard.  Produced by an international team of physicians, the information presented is evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine.  Treatment summaries do include conventional remedies (drugs, surgery, etc.), but the focus of the database is alternative, or integrative medicine. 

You might originally come to the database for treatment possibilities, but there is a wealth of additional information.  If you are familiar with "nutritional value" resources, you will be happy to see a link that provides this information.  You can also start out with a food or herb or supplement, and view therapeutic properties.

Evidence-based medicine defines levels of effectiveness derived from cost-benefit analysis and quality of evidence.  Natural Standard adopts a similar model, allowing users to view therapies with strong scientific evidence, moderate evidence, no evidence, etc.

Two other features (there are more) are particularly helpful:  "Tools" (symptoms, pharmacological interactions, etc.) and "Health Centers" (age/gender-specific information).

There's more - check it out!