In How to Talk With Your Doctor Dr. Hoffman provides patients with the tools and knowledge they need to communicate better with their physicians about using the best high-tech and alternative treatments, while helping doctors balance their skepticism of complementary and alternative approaches with open-mindedness.

Dr. Hoffman begins by explaining to patients how doctors are trained, why they resist non-conventional approaches, and how the growing interest in alternative treatments is changing the practice of medicine. He then offers a blueprint for patients and for doctors for maintaining optimum health and dealing with chronic illness. Among the broad range of topics he discusses are:

H Why the traditional annual physical exam is not effective. H Important medical tests that are frequently ignored by mainstream medicine. H Complementary and conventional options for preventing and treating specific conditions, including heart disease, cancer, arthritis, and cognitive diseases like Alzheimer’s disease. H Natural interventions—with little risk and small expense, instead of rushing to drugs and surgery—for ailments like chronic fatigue syndrome, andropause, menopause, sexual dysfunction, fibromyalgia, reflux disease, and irritable bowel syndrome.

Dr. Hoffman’s goal is to foster more open dialogue between patients and their physicians, with more integration of conventional and complementary treatment options. The result can be the most effective therapies medicine has to offer. A resource section lists products, Web sites, and organizations that help promote that dialogue and medical collaboration.