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Affordable Healthcare Options

Apr 22, 2010 | By Martin Hughes, D.C.
Affordable Healthcare Options
Photo Credit Chinese tea with mint image by lefebvre_jonathan from Fotolia.com

According to the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP), complementary alternative treatments--such as naturopathy, chiropractic therapy, acupuncture and classical Chinese medicine--can be less expensive than--and sometimes equally effective as--conventional medical care for some chronic ailments. The AARP suggests that a 65-year-old couple retiring today should have at least $200,000 saved to cover out-of-pocket medical expenses over the course of their retirement. Using complementary alternative medicine could save you money.

Naturopathy

Naturopathy is a system of medicine that integrates conventional medical sciences with a holistic healing approach. One of the principle goals of naturopathy is to understand your underlying cause of sickness, disease and/or symptoms. This involves an approach that addresses your body, mind, spirit and environment. The American Association of Naturopathic Physicians (AANP) cites a study by Dr. Patricia Herman, a naturopathic doctor, titled "Is Complementary and Alternative (CAM) Medicine Cost Effective? A Systematic Review," as evidence that CAM therapies--including naturopathic medicine--can be cost-effective, although the AANP notes that more studies are needed to corroborate these findings. A standard visit with a medically-trained naturopathic physician involves a history, physical examination and condition-appropriate treatment. Standard courses of treatment recommended by naturopathic physicians typically are sustainable, affordable and minimize your number of office visits, depending on the complexity of your case.

Chiropractic

Chiropractic is a system of manual medicine that uses gentle forces delivered to joints and tissues to promote the healing of acute and chronic complaints of the nervous and musculoskeletal systems. A chiropractor may employ various techniques to achieve desired aims, including spinal and extremity manipulation, soft tissue work and physiotherapy modalities such as electrical stimulation, ultrasound and cold laser. A study published in the Nov. 19, 2004 edition of the "British Medical Journal" on back pain and spinal manipulation concludes that spinal manipulation is a cost-effective addition to "best care" for back pain in general practice, and that manipulation alone probably gives you better value for your money than manipulation followed by exercise. Another study published in the October 2005 edition of the "Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics" concludes that chiropractic patients with chronic low-back pain showed an advantage over medical patients in pain, disability and satisfaction outcome markers, without additional costs.

Acupuncture and Classical Chinese Medicine

Acupuncture is an ancient Chinese medical practice that involves the gentle insertion of tiny sterile needles into your body at specific points to promote positive health changes or a reduction in pain or discomfort. The points selected for needling depend on your symptoms, and have been parsed by over 2,000 years of research. The needles help improve the flow of energy, or Qi, throughout your body's 15 principle meridians. Acupuncture is just one of many therapies that belong to the field of classical Chinese medicine. According to a study published in the April 2008 edition of "Cephalalgia," acupuncture is a cost-effective treatment in patients with primary headache, based on international cost-effectiveness threshold values. Another study concerning acupuncture and the treatment of allergic rhinitis published in the Mar. 1, 2009 edition of the "American Journal of Epidemiology" concludes that acupuncture, in addition to routine care, was beneficial and, according to international benchmarks, cost-effective.

References

Article reviewed by Roman Tsivkin Last updated on: Apr 22, 2010

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