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Alternative Therapy

Alternative therapy is a group of diverse health and medical systems, products, and practices that are not currently considered conventional medicine. While complementary therapy involves treatments performed in conjunction with conventional medical practices, alternative therapy is used in lieu of traditional treatments. According to official statistics, one out of every three Americans has used a complementary or alternative therapy in the last year.

With thousands of people suffering serious side effects from prescription medicines and over 80,000 cases of medical malpractice each year, it is no wonder that people are beginning to explore alternative therapy more than ever. According to government-sponsored National Center for Complementary and Alterative Medicine, thirty percent of all alternative therapy patients seek alternative therapy because traditional medicine has failed to treat their condition.

In addition to seeking salvation from failed medical experiences, people seek alternative therapy for a number of reasons. According to the NCCAM, approximately half of Americans who use alternative therapy do so in combination with traditional medicine. Half of all consumers believe that alternative therapy would be interesting to try. Some try alterative therapy at the suggestion of their doctor. Others use alternative therapy because traditional treatments are too expensive. Some seek alternative therapy for its appealing approach to health and healing.

According to NCCAM, women, people with advanced education, those who have been hospitalized in the last year, and former smokers are most likely to seek alternative therapy. Americans are most likely to seek alternative therapy for head, neck, back, or joint pain; arthritis; anxiety and depression, gastrointestinal problems, and sleeping disorders. Interestingly, these are conditions for which medications (many dangerous) are prescribed and those that are most commonly misdiagnosed by physicians.

There are a variety of systems, products, and practices under the broad category of alternative therapy. Chiropractic, meditation, acupuncture, natural supplements, massage, homeopathy, and yoga are some of the most frequently sought alternative therapies. Many people have discovered the benefits of alternative therapy. Not only are some therapies effective in treating one's ailment, many provide additional health benefits.

If you are interested in alternative therapy, it is important to do your homework. Gather as much information as possible about the procedures that interest you. If your alternative therapy is practitioner based, learn about the certification and training process required or recommended for these alternative therapy professionals. Many states supply information about practitioner requirements and host a consumer database with important practitioner information i.e. if your desired practitioner has any past actions against them.


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More Alternative-therapy Resources

March 22, 2007 - Alternative Medicine May Help With Allergies