Pooling together the recommendations of readers of this blog (thank you for sharing!) and my own suggestions for outstanding websites on research information regarding complementary therapies, here is a list of seven:
1. www.berniesiegelmd.com (support, positive spirit-based approach)
As a physician who has cared for and counseled innumerable people whose mortality has been threatened by illness, Bernie embraces a philosophy of living and dying that stands at the forefront of the medical ethics and spiritual issues our Society grapples with today. In May 2011, Bernie was honored by the Watkins Review of London, England, as one of the Top 20 Spiritually Influential Living People on the Planet. He continues to break new ground in the field of healing, supporting changes in medical education to “humanize” medical practice.
Source: http://www.berniesiegelmd.com
This is a commercial website that offers support as well. We normally do not recommend commercial websites/products. However, many readers have found Dr. Siegel’s books helpful in developing a positive attitude toward cancer and mortality. His books are widely available at many public libraries and so our readers do not have to purchase anything.
2. www.eckharttolle.com (support, positive spirit-based approach, free online videos of Tolle’s talks, online courses, interviews, newsletter)
Eckhart is a spiritual teacher and author who was born in Germany and educated at the Universities of London and Cambridge. At the age of 29, a profound inner transformation radically changed the course of his life. The next few years were devoted to understanding, integrating and deepening that transformation, which marked the beginning of an intense inward journey. Later, he began to work in London with individuals and small groups as a counselor and spiritual teacher. Since 1995 he has lived in Vancouver, Canada. Eckhart Tolle is the author of the #1 New York Timesbestseller The Power of Now (translated into 33 languages) and the highly acclaimed follow-up A New Earth, which are widely regarded as two of the most influential spiritual books of our time.
This is a commercial website. Again, this blog does not normally recommend commercial sites. However, Tolle is a best-selling author whose books are widely available at most public libraries and readers do not have to purchase them. In addition, the site does offer a considerable amount of free, helpful content.
Source:www.eckharttolle.com
3. www.insightmeditationcenter.org (meditation instruction based on vipassana, audio and printed transcripts)
The Insight Meditation Center (IMC) is a community-based urban meditation center for the practice of vipassana or insight meditation guided by Gil Fronsdal and Andrea Fella.
The site offers support and some free online transcripts and beginner’s classes on insight meditation.
Source: http://www.insightmeditationcenter.org
4. www.mahasriyoga. com (meditation and breathing instructions; numerous Yoga Nidras, guided meditations, breathing/pranayama online audio tracks)
This non-commercial website has numerous online Yoga Nidras, guided meditations, breathing, and pranayama tracks (including Gujarati tracks). It also features in-depth yoga and meditation book reviews. There is a good selection of vegetarian, vegan, low-carb, and gluten-free recipes.
Source: www. mahasriyoga.com
5. www.nccam.nih.gov (research)
The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) is the Federal Government’s lead agency for scientific research on the diverse medical and health care systems, practices, and products that are not generally considered part of conventional medicine.
Source: http://www.nccam.nih.gov
This is perhaps the best website for research and evaluations of different therapies.
6. www.pedcam.ca (research and support)
Created in 2004, the Pediatric Complementary and Alternative Medicine Research and Education (PedCAM) Network is a Canadian network that aims at disseminating a wide range of CAM information and building collaborative relationships between researchers, educators, clinicians, and policy-makers, both nationally and internationally. PedCAM is an academic, non-commercial organization, housed within the Complementary and Alternative Research and Education program, Department of Pediatrics, University of Alberta.
Source: http://www.pedcam.ca
The Research Council for Complementary Medicine (RCCM) is a UK-based charity founded in 1983, dedicated to developing high quality research in CAM.
Source: http://www.rccm.org.uk
The site provides links to many research journals.
This selection covers research, support and positive approach, as well as free online mind-body therapy audio tracks. Readers do not have to spend hundreds of dollars to have access to excellent guided and mindfulness meditations. Our selection also reflects the global readership of this blog and how patients and families are able to access the best information from around the world.
Mahasri Yoga 