In the last decade, the alternative health care industry in Central New York has exploded. A few examples to consider:
Hematology/Oncology Associates, the region's largest cancer treatment facility, has an exam room available for patients who want massages or energy treatments, such as reiki.
Once the doctors realized that traditional medicine wasn't helping everyone at CNY Fertility Center, the area's largest fertility center, they began to offer "integrative fertility care," which includes both massage and acupuncture.
Syracuse's Crouse Hospital offers reiki. Rome Memorial Hospital offers harp-therapy. The syracuse V.A. Medical Center includes a "Center for Integrated Health."
The change is also reflected in various, local small health-related businesses: a pharmacist began Bare Bones Health & Wellness, in Manlius, to give out nutrition and lifestyle advice; a local nurse runs Speedy Greens, an organic restaurant, in Cicero, which also provides reflexology and reiki; a retired investment banker is now a reiki master at The Spring, in Fayetteville, a spiritual/cultural center.
Perhaps doctors, newfound openness to "alternative" medicine and therapies is because of an increase in their patients' interest. About 40% of Americans use some form of alternative medicine, according to a 2007 survey taken by the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine.
Source: Syracuse.com
News, articles, and views on the field of alternative health including naturopathy, herbal supplements, holisitc medicine,
homeopathy, magnetic therapy, energy healing, acupuncture, and others.
News and discussions regarding the use of, history of, and research on alternative medicines and therapies.
Showing posts with label alternative therapies. Show all posts
Showing posts with label alternative therapies. Show all posts
Nearly 40% of Americans Use Alternative Medicine Therapies
In the United States, a growing number of patients are turning to alternative and complementary medicine as part of their health care. According to the National Institutes of Health, almost 40 percent of American adults have used some type therapy that isn't considered traditional. More than 40 U.S. universities, including Stanford, UCLA, Duke and The George Washington University have integrative medicine centers.
With more Americans turning to alternative medicine, the U.S. government founded The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine as part of the National Institutes of Health. "Our job here at the National Institutes of Health is to bring really good science to these really interesting practices," says Dr. Josephine Briggs, the center's director.
Practices that are considered outside mainstream medicine, include the use of dietary supplements, meditation and yoga, as well as acupuncture, reiki - or therapeutic touch - and massage therapy. A survey by the NIH in 2007 indicated nearly four in 10 Americans use one of these practices, generally to treat pain.
Source: VOA News
With more Americans turning to alternative medicine, the U.S. government founded The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine as part of the National Institutes of Health. "Our job here at the National Institutes of Health is to bring really good science to these really interesting practices," says Dr. Josephine Briggs, the center's director.
Practices that are considered outside mainstream medicine, include the use of dietary supplements, meditation and yoga, as well as acupuncture, reiki - or therapeutic touch - and massage therapy. A survey by the NIH in 2007 indicated nearly four in 10 Americans use one of these practices, generally to treat pain.
Source: VOA News
Alternative and Complementary Medicine
Alternative medicine is any health practice that replaces, or isn't compatible with, "Western" medicine. Complementary medicine may involve alternative health practices, but is taken along side contemporary healing approaches. Alternative medicine implies using only non-traditional therapies and methods.
Alternative medicine includes a wide range of practices and therapies. Some of them are based on Ancient Chinese beliefs, like acupuncture and the use of natural herbal supplements. Others focus on Ayurvedic therapies including changes in diet, practicing yoga, and the emphsis of the connection between body, mind, and spirit. Body, mind and spirit healing is also defined as "holistic health", and it can be either alternative or complementary.
Other examples of alternative medicine and therapies include massage, meditation, energy healing (crystals and gemstones), magnetic (biomagnetic) therapy, naturopathy, exercise practices like Tai Chi, and aromatherapy, among others. Many people employ a form of alternative medicine when they take vitamins or natural herbal supplements without the direction of a physician. For example, many people who contract a cold use Cold-Eeze or Zicam, nutritional supplements, instead of going to see a doctor. With no traditional, or Western, medical advice, users of these supplements practice alternative medicine.
Alternative medicine users can often point to the fact that certain alternative practices have thousands of years of anecdotal evidence, suggesting that they are successful. The Western medical establishment generally opposes such practices, but as complementary medicine has continued to advance, there are now exist medical schools that teach alternative practices. Many physicians are now beginning to embrace complementary medicine and therapies because they provide more options for addressing a number of health conditions.
Many people turn to alternative health practices when the traditional Western medical community can offer them no treatment or cure for a particular condition. Anecdotal evidence suggests that some therapies may help improve quality of life for some of these people. Western doctors acknowledge many of the more established methods and therapies of alternative medicine, and recommend them for patients who they cannot treat with traditional medicine. While many physicians continue to remain skeptical, alternative medicine is often looked upon as a treatment of last resort.
Alternative medicine includes a wide range of practices and therapies. Some of them are based on Ancient Chinese beliefs, like acupuncture and the use of natural herbal supplements. Others focus on Ayurvedic therapies including changes in diet, practicing yoga, and the emphsis of the connection between body, mind, and spirit. Body, mind and spirit healing is also defined as "holistic health", and it can be either alternative or complementary.
Other examples of alternative medicine and therapies include massage, meditation, energy healing (crystals and gemstones), magnetic (biomagnetic) therapy, naturopathy, exercise practices like Tai Chi, and aromatherapy, among others. Many people employ a form of alternative medicine when they take vitamins or natural herbal supplements without the direction of a physician. For example, many people who contract a cold use Cold-Eeze or Zicam, nutritional supplements, instead of going to see a doctor. With no traditional, or Western, medical advice, users of these supplements practice alternative medicine.
Alternative medicine users can often point to the fact that certain alternative practices have thousands of years of anecdotal evidence, suggesting that they are successful. The Western medical establishment generally opposes such practices, but as complementary medicine has continued to advance, there are now exist medical schools that teach alternative practices. Many physicians are now beginning to embrace complementary medicine and therapies because they provide more options for addressing a number of health conditions.
Many people turn to alternative health practices when the traditional Western medical community can offer them no treatment or cure for a particular condition. Anecdotal evidence suggests that some therapies may help improve quality of life for some of these people. Western doctors acknowledge many of the more established methods and therapies of alternative medicine, and recommend them for patients who they cannot treat with traditional medicine. While many physicians continue to remain skeptical, alternative medicine is often looked upon as a treatment of last resort.
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