Originally published December 14 2005
Integrative medicine growing more popular at an impressive rate
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
Delaware Online reviews the growing popularity of alternative and complementary therapies, which have grown in response to patient demand.
Christiana Care Health System offers acupuncture, Chinese movement therapies such as qigong and tai chi, massage, and exercise and nutrition counseling through its Preventive Medicine and Rehabilitation Institute.
The Helen F. Graham Cancer Center offers numerous integrative therapies to patients during cancer treatment.
And the health system sponsors a committee to evaluate alternative and complementary therapies.
Many patients with chronic diseases find the ability of conventional medicine to be lacking when it comes to coping effectively with their conditions.
People suffering from problems such as low back pain, fibromyalgia, irritable bowel syndrome, premenstrual syndrome, migraines and arthritis are also frequent users of integrative therapies.
As conventional medicine has become more technology-based and physicians seem to have less time to spend with their patients, many consumers of integrative medicine welcome the person-centered approach it offers.
Other factors behind the growth of integrative medicine include the desire of many patients to incorpor- ate nutrition, exercise and mental well-being into their lifestyles, as well as a desire to reduce the amount of medications they take and to emphasize preventive health care.
As patient demand has grown, so has scientific scrutiny.
This is proving both a boon and a bane to integrative therapies.
Recent studies in prestigious medical journals support the use of the therapies mentioned at the beginning of this column.
On the other hand, there is insufficient scientific evidence to support the use of chelation therapy, an intravenous therapy intended to improve arterial blockages, in patients with coronary artery disease.
The federal government is playing a role through the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, supported by the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Md.
The center evaluates alternative and complementary treatments, and informs the public about their safety and effectiveness.
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