Almost Half of Americans Use Alternative Medicine

Researchers at the National Institutes of Health say that nearly 40 percent of adults have used some type therapy that isn’t taught in medical schools. But more than 40 U.S. universities, including Stanford, UCLA, Duke and The George Washington University have integrative medicine centers.

With more Americans turning to alternatives, the U.S. government founded The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine as part of the National Institutes of Health.

“Our job here at the National Institutes of Health is to bring really good science to these really interesting practices,” says Dr. Josephine Briggs, the center’s director.

Practices that are considered outside mainstream medicine, like the use of dietary supplements, meditation and yoga, as well as chiropractic adjustments, acupuncture, reiki – or therapeutic touch – and massage. A survey by the NIH in 2007 indicated four in 10 Americans use one of these practices, most often to treat pain.

If nearly half the population uses so called alternative medicine, when will it be referred to as “conventional? ”

Dr. D.

Almost Half of Americans Use Alternative Medicine | American Life | English