Ever wonder how many people are utilizing avenues of healing that are outside the realm of conventional medicine? As it turns out, that number is rapidly increasing here in the United States, as more and more people discover the benefits of using complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), such as acupuncture, massage and chiropractic.
Whether used as stand-alone techniques or in addition to conventional medicine, it's clear that these therapies, some of which rooted in ancient traditions, aren't going anywhere.
In December 2008, the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) and the National Center for Health Statistics released new findings on Americans' use of CAM therapies.
The findings come from the 2007 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS).
The CAM section of the survey collected data from 23,393 adults aged 18 years or older and 9,417 children aged 17 years and under, providing insight into a range of demographics.
According to the survey, approximately 38 percent of adults (about 4 in 10) in the US and approximately 12 percent of children (about 1 in 9) are using some form(s) of CAM.
Therapies included in the survey were acupuncture, ayurveda, biofeedback, chiropractic, deep breathing exercises, diet-based therapies, energy healing therapies, homeopathy, hypnosis, massage, meditation, movement-based therapies, natural products (herbs, enzymes, etc.
), tai chi, traditional healing techniques (Botanica, Shamanism), yoga, and many others.
You may have seen this trend manifest itself in or around your own area.
In fact, it may have existed where you live for quite some time now.
On the other hand, you may live in an area from which you would have to drive anywhere from 30 minutes to three hours to find, say, the nearest acupuncturist.
For folks who live in cities and towns teeming with complementary and alternative healing opportunities, such as Asheville, NC, acupuncture services are pretty easy to come by.
From large cities like Seattle to small cities like Asheville, acupuncture and other such services are not at all unusual.
In fact, one can find a great wealth of knowledge and expertise surrounding these and other CAM techniques.
Many localities in between Seattle and Asheville have yet to catch on yet, but you can bet that the trend will soon reach them to some degree as well.
The availability and range of alternative medical practitioners tend to increase the more a given area lends itself to such demands, and in a nation where more people are turning to these therapies each year, such services are becoming more pervasive no matter where you live.
Whether it's homeopathy or acupuncture, Asheville NC or Nashville TN, it's comforting to know that big cities aren't the only places with so many options for complementary and alternative medicine.
And, as CAM therapies gain wider acceptance in scientific and medical communities, and with the expansion of communication and knowledge via technologies like the Internet, the scope of these modalities can only widen, a phenomenon that seems particularly necessary in the face of rising health care and insurance costs.
If you're interested in learning more about acupuncture, find a local provider.
Whether used as stand-alone techniques or in addition to conventional medicine, it's clear that these therapies, some of which rooted in ancient traditions, aren't going anywhere.
In December 2008, the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) and the National Center for Health Statistics released new findings on Americans' use of CAM therapies.
The findings come from the 2007 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS).
The CAM section of the survey collected data from 23,393 adults aged 18 years or older and 9,417 children aged 17 years and under, providing insight into a range of demographics.
According to the survey, approximately 38 percent of adults (about 4 in 10) in the US and approximately 12 percent of children (about 1 in 9) are using some form(s) of CAM.
Therapies included in the survey were acupuncture, ayurveda, biofeedback, chiropractic, deep breathing exercises, diet-based therapies, energy healing therapies, homeopathy, hypnosis, massage, meditation, movement-based therapies, natural products (herbs, enzymes, etc.
), tai chi, traditional healing techniques (Botanica, Shamanism), yoga, and many others.
You may have seen this trend manifest itself in or around your own area.
In fact, it may have existed where you live for quite some time now.
On the other hand, you may live in an area from which you would have to drive anywhere from 30 minutes to three hours to find, say, the nearest acupuncturist.
For folks who live in cities and towns teeming with complementary and alternative healing opportunities, such as Asheville, NC, acupuncture services are pretty easy to come by.
From large cities like Seattle to small cities like Asheville, acupuncture and other such services are not at all unusual.
In fact, one can find a great wealth of knowledge and expertise surrounding these and other CAM techniques.
Many localities in between Seattle and Asheville have yet to catch on yet, but you can bet that the trend will soon reach them to some degree as well.
The availability and range of alternative medical practitioners tend to increase the more a given area lends itself to such demands, and in a nation where more people are turning to these therapies each year, such services are becoming more pervasive no matter where you live.
Whether it's homeopathy or acupuncture, Asheville NC or Nashville TN, it's comforting to know that big cities aren't the only places with so many options for complementary and alternative medicine.
And, as CAM therapies gain wider acceptance in scientific and medical communities, and with the expansion of communication and knowledge via technologies like the Internet, the scope of these modalities can only widen, a phenomenon that seems particularly necessary in the face of rising health care and insurance costs.
If you're interested in learning more about acupuncture, find a local provider.
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