The Web is teeming with information about every imaginable topic, yet it's often hard to distinguish between legitimate information and that which is bogus. Furthermore, it's not always obvious when a website is genuinely providing information as a public service, and when there is a profit motive behind the information presented. In other words, sometimes you can trust what you read and sometimes the information is slanted in order to get you to buy something.

In most cases, this conundrum is fairly inconsequential; when it comes to your health, though, you want to make sure that the information you're getting is both correct and unbiased. This is particularly true in the realm of alternative medicine, when separating out the snake oil salespeople from the straight shooters can make a significant difference in your health and well-being.

What are some of the hallmarks of a reputable alternative medicine site? First of all, it should be a true informational site. This means that the site shouldn't sell specific products or services. In other words, you shouldn't be able to spend a dime on the website.

Second, the site should be constantly evolving. Alternative medicine or complementary medicine continues to be an emerging field in the United States, so new information is always coming to the surface. The site you rely upon should be updated to reflect new information as it becomes available.

Third, the site should offer in-depth information about a realm of conditions and treatments. For example, you should be able to find helpful resources about everything from heart disease and cancer to skin care and fitness.

Fourth, there should be a mechanism for you to participate. For instance, you should be able to post comments, questions, or concerns about a particular form of treatment or condition.

Fifth, the site should value quality over quantity. For example, instead of having hundreds of reviews of mediocre books, an alternative medicine website should weed out the wheat from the chaff and only post reviews of books that meet a certain standard of excellence.

Sixth, the site should stress the concept of complementary medicine. This addresses an ongoing debate about the role of alternative remedies, namely, whether they are to be used as a substitute for traditional medicine or as an adjunct to it. A site that encourages you to embrace both traditional and alternative medicine is likely to be more objective than a website that promotes one over the other.

Seventh, if you're looking for a referral, the site should be able to provide you with free referrals to alternative providers for treating specific conditions like psoriasis, heart disease, cancer, and osteoporosis - with one caveat. The caveat is that the site shouldn't accept any compensation from the providers in exchange for the referrals.

The bottom line is that an alternative medicine website should provide you with the unbiased information you need to take charge of your own health. It should acknowledge that you know your body better than any health practitioner does, and that you can take steps to improve your own health and well-being. But most of all, it should offer straightforward information free of charge.