Complementary and Alternative Medicine: Knowledge Production and Social Transformation

In: Health, Technology and Society Ser.

Abstract

Intro -- Series Editors' Preface -- Contents -- Notes on Contributors -- List of Figures -- 1: Introduction: Reconceptualising Complementary and Alternative Medicine as Knowledge Production and Social Transformation -- Introduction -- Current Sociological Understandings of CAM -- Reconceptualising CAM as Knowledge Production and Social Transformation: Engaging with STS -- Boundary Work and Social Worlds Frameworks in the Study of CAM -- CAM and Actor-Network Theory: Exploring Materiality and Relationality -- CAM as Epistemic Object -- Overview of the Volume -- Conclusion -- References -- Part I: Defining CAM: Boundaries Between and Within CAM and Biomedicine -- 2: Evidence-Based Alternative, 'Slanted Eyes' and Electric Circuits: Doing Chinese Medicine in the Post/Socialist Czech Republic -- Medical Acupuncture: Biomedicalising CM During Socialism -- Traditional CM: Cultivating Autonomy and Care with 'Slanted Eyes' -- TCM: Establishing an 'Evidence-Based' Alternative -- Conclusion -- References -- 3: The Incompatibility Between Social Worlds in Complementary and Alternative Medicine: The Case of Therapeutic Touch -- Introduction -- Theoretical and Methodological Issues -- Social Worlds in the Controversy over Therapeutic Touch -- Scepticism -- Medicine -- Nursing Research -- Nursing -- Therapeutic Touch -- Conclusion -- References -- 4: Qigong in Three Social Worlds: National Treasure, Social Signifier, or Breathing Exercise? -- Introduction -- Research Material and Methods -- Qigong as National Treasure -- Qigong as Social Signifier -- Qigong as Breathing Exercise -- Discussion -- References -- Part II: Doing CAM in Different Contexts: Politics, Regulation and Materiality.