These helpful Internet sites provide assistance in researching health and medicine and are not intended to take the place of the advice or instructions from a healthcare professional. These Internet sites are not connected with the Oak Park Public Library. More assistance in finding reference resources is available at the Information Services Desk on the Third Floor of the Main Library.

Online Tools

FirstSearch offers access to thousands of health-related journals and access to Medline (The National Library of Medicine's online medical journal resource). Search by disease, condition, or journal title. Also available for use at the Oak Park Public Library.

Gale Virtual Reference Library includes Encyclopedia of Medicine, Encyclopedia of Cancer, Encyclopedia of Alternative Medicine, and many more. Easily searched. Also available for use at the Oak Park Public Library.

MasterFile Elite includes thousands of popular magazines as well as specialized journals (JAMA). Provides suggestions on narrowing your health-related search. From home use the Visual Search tool to fully understand diseases and ramifications. Also available for use at the Oak Park Public Library.

ProQuest Information and Learning Company includes thousands of journals, from popular to professional and the area between. Easily searchable. A great way to read about what's going on with a condition and its treatment. Also available for use at the Oak Park Public Library.

Books
Found in the reference and circulating shelves in the 610s, including in Refererence: Consumer Drug Reference (from Consumer's Union), Physician's Desk Reference, Merck Index, Conn's Current Therapy, Magill's Medical Guide, Gray's Anatomy, and thousands of circulating books covering specific diseases, general approaches to health and well-being, menopause, prenatal health, prostate health, exercise, etc.

Internet Sites
Not all health-related websites are unbiased; always carefully evaluate websites for biases, inaccuracies, and ulterior motives. Most of these websites provide extensive links to other useful websites; the "search" box can be very helpful in making the best use of these sites.

AIDS info offers full information on AIDS treatment, prevention, clinical trials, research, and more. Provided by the US Department of Health and Human Services.

Atlas of the Body offers great insights into how the body works, and why it doesn't, when it doesn't! Provided by the American Medical Association.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) offers vast amounts of information and links to resources. Your government dollars at work protecting, enhancing health.

Consumer and Patient Health Information Section (CAPHIS) lists top 100 medical and health-related links. Well-organized and easy to use. Part of the American Medical Association.

Drug Digest aims to empower consumers to make informed choices about drug and treatment options. Noncommercial consumer health and information site. Easy to use and understand.

Household Product Database offers health and safety information on household products. Includes manufacturers' contact information, product ingredients, dangers, etc.

Lab Tests Online includes appropriate tests by condition, explanations of the tests, and how to read and understand results. Many useful links. Provided by the professionals who do the testing.

Mayo Clinic is a great site for beginning your research. Offers extensive information on diseases and conditions and helpful health tools to understand processes and inform about treatment plans.

Medicare is the basic Medicare information page with information, answers, directions, help on determining the Medicare Part D drug plan possibilities. Information in English and Spanish. Provided by the US Department of Health and Human Services.

National Institutes of Health (NIH) is the primary federal agency for conducting and supporting research in medicine, and includes 27 institutes and centers. Site has links to anything and everything health-related. Read it for basics or deep details. Includes:

• NIH Senior Health is designed specifically for use by seniors, has adjustable text size, adjustable contrast, speech option, easy site index, and great navigation options.
• National Cancer Institute offers clear, accessible information on cancers of all kinds. Includes basic descriptions, treatments, and extensive clinical trial explanations and information.
• National Library of Medicine (NLM) is the world's largest medical library. Site includes links to two free online biomedical publication databases - Medline and Pubmed (and a PubMed tutorial). Also offers vast amounts of information including a medical encyclopedia and dictionary, recent health news, medical directories, drug information, and much more.

Books
The Library has many circulating and reference books on a wide variety of complementary and alternative approaches to health, healing, and well-being.

Internet Sites
Not all health-related websites are unbiased; always carefully evaluate websites for biases, inaccuracies, and ulterior motives.

Alternative Medicine Foundation, a nonprofit organization, offers this gateway to information for public and healthcare professionals, and clearinghouse for events and workshops.

Alternative Medicine Home Page provides links to information sources on unconventional, complementary, alternative, integrative therapies. A medical librarian at University of Pittsburgh assembled this great site.

National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, a part of the National Institute for Health, offers extensive information on supplements, diseases, conditions; hotline help; clinical trials; and, many useful links.

R & H Rosenthal Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine is a comprehensive and authoritative listing of complementary and alternative medicine resources from Columbia University, NYC.

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