More Americans are exploring alternative health care options

By Jennifer Reading

America may be in the midst of a health care revolution as some Americans seek more options and are willing to explore alternative health care practices. This explains growing popularity of complementary and alternative therapies.

About four out of 10 Americans now say they use some form of complementary or alternative therapy, according to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine's (NCCAM) 2008 study. The highest usage was found among women and people with higher educations and incomes.

Complementary therapies are used in conjunction with traditional medicine while alternative therapies are used in place of standard medical care.

The therapies that showed significant growth over the past five years included deep breathing, meditation, massage and yoga. While these four therapies may provide several healthy benefits, one symptom they all combat is stress.

Stress is a part of the American culture, but the American Psychological Association found that it's starting to take its toll. A national survey conducted by the association in 2007 found nearly half of all Americans say that their stress levels have increased over the past five years. One-third of Americans reported living with extreme stress.

Stress is the root of several common health problems. Mental stress can manifest itself through physical symptoms like headaches, muscles tension, acne, peptic ulcers or weakened immune systems. In fact, the American Institute of Stress indicated that an estimated 75 to 90 percent of all primary-care physician visits are related to stress.

But the study conducted by the American Psychological Association shows that Americans are fighting back in their quest to regain healthy stress levels. Sixty-four percent say they are taking steps to try to reduce stress in their lives.

NCCAM's study showed 83 million adults in the United States use complementary and alternative therapies to treat many stress-related conditions.

The American Institute of Stress reports there are many ways to reduce stress, but since it affects everyone differently, there is no one cure-all. However, several of the Institute's suggested stress-relieving options are alternative therapies like meditation, prayer, yoga, tai chi, deep breathing, massage, acupuncture, acupressure, biofeedback, reiki and other bodywork techniques.

The NCCAM has divided complementary and alternative medicine into five main categories including alternative medical systems, mind-body medicine, biological based therapies, manipulative and body-based manipulation and energy therapies.

Alternative Medical Systems

Alternative medical systems are whole medical systems of theory and practice which have either evolved before or separately from conventional, Western medicine. Ayurvedic medicine and traditional Chinese medicine are the most well known non-Western systems of care.

Acupuncture

Acupuncture is part of traditional Chinese medicine and is one of the oldest healing practices in the world. Thin, metal needles are inserted into the skin at specific points to remove blockages of qi and restore health.

Click the play button to hear acupuncturist Lisa Bernazani explain the technique:



Homeopathic and Naturopathic Medicine

Homeopathic and naturopathic practices are complete systems which evolved from Western culture. Homeopathy originated in Europe, but has been practiced in the United States for more than 200 years. The practice tries to help the body heal itself with small doses of a diluted substance which in higher doses would cause the symptom or illness.

Click the play button to hear June Riedlinger, ND, describe her primary role as a life counselor:



Naturopathy also originated in Europe but incorporates ancient and modern therapies from other traditions. The practice focuses on promoting health rather than fighting illness.

Practitioners take a more comprehensive approach to patient care by considering a variety of factors before making a diagnosis, including physical, emotional, genetic, environmental and social factors.

Mind/Body Medicine

Mind-body medicine focuses on how the mind and body interact. These therapies use variety of techniques which promote the mind's ability to affect bodily functions and symptoms. Some popular mind-body interventions include: meditation, yoga, tai chi, guided imagery, biofeedback, hypnotherapy and prayer.

Yoga

Yoga is an ancient mind/body practice originating in India. It typically combines physical postures, breathing techniques and meditation. People use yoga for both fitness and relaxation.

There are many schools of yoga, but in the United States, Hatha yoga is the most widely practiced. There are many major styles of Hatha yoga including Iyengar, Ashtanga, Vinyasa, Kundalini and Bikram.

Click on the play button to hear yoga instructor, Peentz Dubble, explain what makes Iyengar style of yoga different from other styles:



Biologicallly Based Therapies

Biologically based practices incorporate dietary supplements, functional foods and other natural substances into a patient's diet.

Dietary supplements are products which contain vitamins, minerals, herbs, botanicals, amino acids, enzymes, probiotics or other ingredients which supplement a person's diet.

NCCAM's study shows the top 10 most frequently used dietary supplements by Americans.

Manipulative and Body-based Methods

Manipulative and body-based practices are based on the structures and systems of the body including bones and joints, soft tissues and the circulatory and lymphatic systems.

Methods, such as massage therapy and chiropractic manipulation, are based upon strategic movement of these body parts.

Energy Therapies

Energy medicine is based on the theory that manipulating energy fields can alter a person's health. The practice works with magnetic fields and biofields.

Biofield therapy works with the idea that people have a subtle form of energy and energy medicine practitioners believe that illness stems from disturbances in these energy fields.

Magnet therapy uses magnets or magnetic devices to treat symptoms of pain and disease. Energy therapy practices include magnet therapy, healing touch and reiki.

Practitioners run their hands over a patient's body to pinpoint imbalances in the body's energy field.