"Proponents of [alternative] therapies all have their theories about how they work," writes Melanie Warner in The Magic Feather Effect: The Science of Alternative Medicine and the Surprising Power of Belief, "and for this book I will spend time hearing them." The open-minded Warner (Pandora's Lunchbox) more than makes good on that promise. Her research takes her to the offices of self-proclaimed energy healers, to acupuncturists and chiropractors, and to some of the most prestigious research clinics in the United States to discover what effects, if any, alternative medicine has on the human healing process.
What she discovers is illuminating: many patients of alternative medicine have found relief; some have even found cures, but not necessarily for the reasons they think. Warner uncovers the power of the so-called "placebo effect," which is rooted in the power of belief: if a patient believes she'll get better, she does, at least temporarily. Warner shows that the placebo effect arises, in part, from the brain's complex interpretation of pain. The section on how an injured soldier's response to pain changes once he leaves a battle zone for a hospital is especially enlightening.
Warner displays a genuine curiosity and sensitivity throughout and gives space to many alternative medicine practitioners to argue that their approaches are effective for reasons beyond the placebo effect. Compelling, thoughtful and great fun to read, The Magic Feather Effect reveals that perhaps there's much more to our self-healing systems than even some licensed medical professionals realize. --Amy Brady, freelance writer and editor