- ALLERGY, RESPIRATORY
- Climate Change Could Sting Allergy, Asthma Sufferers
- Herbal Remedy Could Halt Peanut Allergy
- Molecule in Skin May Link Eczema and Asthma
- ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE
- Relaxation Tapes or Mozart Lower Blood Pressure
- Quit Smoking the Holistic Way
- Naprapathy: A Hands-On Approach to Pain Management
- ANIMAL CARE
- Rest Easy. When It Comes to Swine Flu, Your Pet Is Safe
- Animals Respond to Acupuncture's Healing Touch
- Separation Anxiety, Canine-Style
- BONES & JOINTS
- Healthy adults have potential autoimmune disease-causing cells
- Tai Chi May Help Ward Off Knee Pain in Seniors
- Body Fat, Muscle Distribution Linked to RA Disability
- CANCER
- Vitamin D May Lower Colon Cancer Risk
- Adding Garlic Might Cut Cancer Risk
- Selenium, Omega-3s May Stave Off Colorectal Cancer
- CAREGIVING
- ER Less Likely to Diagnose Stroke in Younger Folks
- Older Caregivers Prone to Worse Sleep Patterns
- With Alzheimer's, Health-Care Costs Could Triple
- CIRCULATORY SYSTEM
- Vitamins Do Older Women Little Good
- Migraines in Pregnancy Boost Vascular Risks
- Exercise Extends Life of Kidney Patients
- COSMETIC
- Get Sugared!.... Its a sweet choice for hair removal
- New Genetic Links to Baldness Discovered
- Wrinkle Fillers Need Better Label Warnings: FDA Panel
- DENTAL, ORAL
- Good Oral Hygiene May Protect Against Heart Infections
- Amino Acid May Be Key to Strong Teeth
- Rheumatoid Arthritis May Harm Gums
- DIABETES
- Vitamin K Slows Insulin Resistance in Older Men
- 24 Million Americans Had Diabetes in 2007
- Study Shows Turmeric May Prevent Type 2 Diabetes
- DIET, NUTRITION
- Herb Shows Potential for Rheumatoid Arthriti
- TV Food Ads Promote Bad Diets
- Antioxidants Abound in Cereals, Popcorn, Whole-Grain Snacks
- DISABILITIES
- Review Finds Marijuana May Help MS Patients
- Could Your Cell Phone Help Shield You From Alzheimer's?
- ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH
- Gene Mutation May Cause Some Cases of Seasonal Affective Disorder
- Agent Orange Exposure Tied to Prostate Cancer Return
- Smog Tougher on the Obese
- EYE CARE, VISION
- Impotence Drugs Don't Harm Vision: Study
- Time Teaches Brain to Recognize Objects
- Eye Care Checkups Tied to Insurance Status
- FITNESS
- Mom and Baby Alike May Benefit From Exercise
- Exercise in Adolescence May Cut Risk of Deadly Brain Tumor
- Being Active an Hour a Day Puts Brakes on Weight Gain
- GASTROINTESTINAL PROBLEMS
- Olive Oil May Protect Against Bowel Disease
- Gum Chewing May Speed Colon Surgery Recovery
- New Yogurt May Ease Stomach Ulcers
- GENERAL HEALTH
- Living Alone Increases Odds of Developing Dementia
- Winter's Bitter Cold Poses Health Dangers
- Swine Flu May Pose Problems for Pregnant Women
- HEAD & NECK
- Ski Helmets Encouraged for All
- Many Children Will Outgrow Headaches
- Zen May Thicken Brain, Thwart Pain
- HEALTH & TECHNOLOGY
- Save Your Aging Brain, Try Surfing The Web
- Using Light Therapy to Silence Harmful Brain Activity
- 'Comfort Dogs' Come to Emotional Rescue
- HEART & CARDIOVASCULAR
- Research Shows Genetic Activity of Antioxidants
- Toothbrushing May Stave Off Heart Woes
- Most Fast-Food French Fries Cooked in Unhealthiest Oil
- INFECTIOUS DISEASE
- Viral Infection Might Trigger High Blood Pressure
- Swine Flu Is Now a Pandemic Says W.H.O.
- Grapefruit Compound Inhibits Hepatitis C Virus
- KID'S HEALTH
- Heart Defects in Newborns Linked to Antidepressants
- Meaningful Conversations Boost Kids' Language Skills
- Mom's Extra Pregnancy Pounds May Raise Child's Heart Risks
- MEN'S HEALTH
- The Dark Side of Vegetarianism
- Drinking Green Tea May Slow Prostate Cancer
- Exercise May Prevent Prostate Cancer: Study Shows
- MENTAL HEALTH
- Bullying Seems to Affect Kids Years Later
- Music Soothes Anxiety as Well as Massage Does
- Massage Fosters Healing in Bereaved Relatives
- PAIN
- 'Cell Phone Elbow' -- A New Ill for the Wired Age
- Alleviating Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Acupuncture, Real or Fake, Eases Back Pain
- PREGNANCY
- Obesity May Affect Fertility in Young Womene
- Woman in America Are Delaying Motherhood, Study Says
- Before Conceiving, Take Folic Acid for One Full Year
- SENIORS
- Tai Chi May Help Ease Fibromyalgia
- High-Impact Activity May Be Good for Old Bones
- Community Exercise Programs Boost Seniors' Strength
U.S. Spends Billions On Alternative Medicine
By eHolistic.com Published: 07/30/2009
THURSDAY, July 30 (HealthDay News) -- Americans spent $33.9 billion out-of-pocket on complementary and alternative medicine in 2007 alone, U.S. health officials report.
CAM includes medical practices and products, such as herbal supplements, meditation, chiropractic and acupuncture, which are not part of conventional medicine.
"The bottom line is that Americans spend a lot of money on CAM products, classes or materials or practitioner visits," Dr. Josephine P. Briggs, director of the U.S. National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, said during a morning teleconference Thursday.
The main reasons Americans turn to alternative medicine is for pain relief and to contribute to their health and well-being, Briggs added.
Briggs noted the survey was done to find out which areas of CAM warrant research by the U.S. National Institutes of Health. The survey was done without regard as to whether any of these alternative or complementary approaches actually work, she said.
In the United States, CAM accounts for 1.5 percent of all health-care costs in the United States, but 11.2 percent of all out-of-pocket costs. Total health-care spending in the United States totals $2.2 trillion and out-of-pocket costs for conventional medicine comprise $286.6 billion, according to the report.
In all, about 38 percent of adults use some type of CAM.
"Two-thirds of the money spent on CAM is spent on self-care therapies," report author Richard L. Nahin, acting director of the Division of Extramural Research at U.S. National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, said during the teleconference.
Self-care therapies are things you can do on your own without having to see a health-care provider, Nahin explained.
Out of the $33.9 billion spent out-of-pocket on CAM, about $22 billion went toward self-care costs. Most of the money ($14.8 billion) went to buy non-vitamin, non-mineral natural products such as fish oil, glucosamine and echinacea, according to the report. That's equivalent to about one-third of total out-of-pocket spending on prescription drugs, the researchers noted.
In addition, $11.9 billion went to some 354.2 million visits to CAM practitioners such as acupuncturists, chiropractors, massage therapists and homeopaths, which is about one-quarter of total out-of-pocket spending on physician visits.
Of the 20 conditions for which people use CAM, nine are associated with chronic pain, Nahin said.
"These data clearly show us that Americans use CAM to treat these conditions, often which are very hard to treat with regular medical approaches," he said.
The report used data from U.S. 2007 National Health Interview Survey.
The report was prepared by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Center for Health Statistics.
Dr. David L. Katz, director of the Prevention Research Center at Yale University School of Medicine and director of the Integrative Medicine Center at Griffin Hospital in Derby, Conn., said "this report lends support to the growing field of integrative medicine, which strives to blend conventional and complementary practices thoughtfully and in light of the available evidence."
"The data reported here indicate that CAM remains very popular and its use constitutes a major portion of total health-care utilization in the U.S.," Katz said. "This is important, as it suggests that many patients have needs or preferences not met by the prevailing practices of conventional medicine alone."
The data also suggest that patients are increasingly informed about the evidence base for alternative medicine practices, and are shifting toward those that are better-substantiated and that's a positive trend, Katz said.
"The persistent popularity of CAM despite the associated out-of-pocket costs attest to its important potential to address health-care needs otherwise unmet," Katz said. "Responsible use of science and responsiveness to the needs and preferences of patients need not be mutually exclusive."
"But there is the risk of using poorly regulated and unsubstantiated potions and practices more likely to harm than help," he added.
SOURCES: July 30, 2009, teleconference with Josephine P. Briggs, M.D., director, and Richard L. Nahin, Ph.D., M.P.H., acting director, Division of Extramural Research, U.S. National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, Bethesda, Md.; David L. Katz, M.D., M.P.H., director, Prevention Research Center, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Conn., and director, Integrative Medicine Center, Griffin Hospital, Derby, Conn.; July 30, 2009, report, Costs of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) and Frequency of Visits to CAM Practitioners: United States, 2007
