Complementary Medicines - What do you need to know?
Abstract
During the last two decades the reliance on and use of complementary medicine has increased dramatically. A survey completed in 1997 showed that Americans
made 386 million visits to their (orthodox or allopathic or conventional) family doctor. In contrast, Americans made 627 million visits to alternative medicine practitioners and spent $27 billion of their own money to pay for these visits and the ensuing
treatments. This represented a 47.3% growth in the use of alternative medicines in the USA. In particular the use of herbal medicines grew by 380% and the use of vitamins by 130%. The trend of increased use of alternative and complementary medicines has continued globally. In Australia 57% of the population now use alternate medicines, Germany 46% and
France 49%.
made 386 million visits to their (orthodox or allopathic or conventional) family doctor. In contrast, Americans made 627 million visits to alternative medicine practitioners and spent $27 billion of their own money to pay for these visits and the ensuing
treatments. This represented a 47.3% growth in the use of alternative medicines in the USA. In particular the use of herbal medicines grew by 380% and the use of vitamins by 130%. The trend of increased use of alternative and complementary medicines has continued globally. In Australia 57% of the population now use alternate medicines, Germany 46% and
France 49%.