Most individuals have used alternative medicine in some form at some point in their life, such as going to the chiropractor or drinking peppermint tea for a congested nose. According to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, alternative medicine is a collection of treatments that are practiced separately from conventional medicine.
Statistics
About 38 percent of adults in the United states used complementary and alternative medicine in 2007, according to a study conducted by the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. The groups that use these methods of therapy include women, those who have completed higher levels of education, and those who hold higher-paying jobs. Alternative medicine is used to treat a wide variety of physical issues such as infections, pain, chronic diseases, or to maintain and support health.
Types
Herbal treatments and other dietary supplements are common types of alternative medicine; however, the spectrum includes a wide variety of other approaches as well. The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine has categorized these types of alternative medicine into categories: whole-medical systems which include methods that do not focus on one type of therapy, but involve a collection of treatments; mind-body medicine, or the practice of activities such as yoga, prayer or meditation; biologically-based practices of natural supplements such as herbs or vitamins; manipulative and body-based practices which include chiropractic and massage therapies; and energy medicine which focuses on engaging energy fields to help heal the body.
Research
The Mayo Clinic states that many aspects of alternative medicine have not been explored because the government and drug companies do not generally fund this type of research. Institutions such as the National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements and the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine have been researching the safety and effectiveness of alternative therapies, however, and scientific documentation is growing.
Integrative Medicine
Many treatments used in alternative medicine can be combined with traditional medical approaches. This type of medicine is called integrative medicine, and involves pursuing mainstream treatments for diseases as well as utilizing alternative therapies. The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine states that this approach focuses on methods of alternative medicine that have been shown to be safe and effective.
Warning
Because some dietary supplements can have adverse interactions with medications or have other negative effects on your health, the Mayo Clinic recommends consulting with your health care provider before beginning any type of alternative treatment, and to maintain your prescribed schedule of medication or other medically established treatments.
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