Alternative Medicine Here to Stay
A new study by Harvard Medical School researchers, looking at trends over the past half-century, suggests that the move toward patients using complementary and alternative medicines (CAM) is indeed here to stay for the foreseeable future.
The study, which was published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, examined trends in the use of 20 different CAMs, covering everything from acupuncture to yoga. "The findings really dispel two ideas, said Dr. Ronald Kessler. "Namely that complementary and alternative medicine is just a passing fad, and that it is used by one particular segment of society."
The researchers found that the use of alternative treatments was independent of gender, ethnicity, and level of education. Regional trends and city versus rural differences were also absent. Furthermore, most of the 20 therapies have steadily increased in popularity since the 1960s, with the largest overall growth rate occurring during the transition from the 1960s to the 1970s.
The data, which was compiled from over 2,000 interviews, did show a trend towards the use of these therapies in younger respondents. By age 33, 7 out of 10 post-baby boomers (born 1965-79) had used some type of CAM, compared to 5 out of 10 baby boomers (born 1945-64), and 3 out of 10 pre-baby boomers (born before 1945). However, in all age groups the use of CAMs has steadily increased since the 1950s.
The findings further suggested that most CAM therapies are used-at least in part-as preventative measures or included within an overall health and fitness program.
Interestingly, in the 1960s, four particular therapies increased markedly-commercial diet programs, lifestyle diet therapy, megavitamin therapy, and self-help groups. The 1970s showed increased use of biofeedback, energy healing, herbal medicine, and imagery. During the 1980s, massage and naturopathy increased, while yoga decreased in popularity. The 1990s showed particular increased adoption of aromatherapy, energy healing, herbal medicine, massage, and yoga.
The authors cautioned that while the data indicates that the demand for alternative medicine will continue and may well grow, their analysis cannot predict dramatic events that may tip prevalence patterns in one direction or another.
SOURCES:
Annals of Internal Medicine, August 21, 2001
Harvard Medical School (www.hms.harvard.edu)