Scientific Review of Alternative Medicine

Scientific Review of Alternative Medicine (SRAM) was a peer-reviewed journal dedicated to the critical analysis of alternative medicine. Launched in 1997, SRAM aimed to apply rigorous scientific standards to the examination of the efficacy, safety, and mechanisms of action of various alternative medicine practices. The journal ceased publication in 2013.

Overview

The Scientific Review of Alternative Medicine was established with the goal of providing a platform for the scientific evaluation of alternative medicine practices, which include a wide range of health care practices, products, and therapies that are not generally considered part of conventional medicine. The journal sought to differentiate itself by exclusively focusing on evidence-based assessments of alternative medicine, contrasting with the more anecdotal or testimonial evidence often cited in support of these practices.

Content and Impact

SRAM published articles that included clinical trials, systematic reviews, meta-analyses, and methodological critiques related to alternative medicine. The journal was known for its critical stance, often highlighting the lack of scientific evidence supporting many alternative medicine modalities. It played a significant role in fostering a more skeptical and evidence-based approach to alternative medicine within the scientific and medical communities.

Criticism and Controversy

The Scientific Review of Alternative Medicine faced criticism from proponents of alternative medicine, who accused it of bias and a failure to appreciate the value and potential benefits of non-conventional therapies. Critics argued that the journal's stringent standards for evidence were not appropriate for evaluating holistic and non-traditional forms of healing. Despite these criticisms, SRAM maintained that its primary allegiance was to scientific rigor and patient safety.

Legacy

Although Scientific Review of Alternative Medicine ceased publication, its archives remain a valuable resource for researchers, healthcare professionals, and skeptics seeking a scientific perspective on alternative medicine. The journal's efforts to uphold scientific standards in the evaluation of alternative therapies have had a lasting impact on the discourse surrounding these practices, encouraging a more critical and evidence-based approach.

See Also

• Evidence-based medicine
• Alternative medicine
• Peer review
• Clinical trial