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