I would like to be 100% positive about alternative therapy; however after 30 years of consorting to both modalities; I still have to side with standard old fashion medical concepts. Chiropractic has a place in society, but first line diagnosis by MD?s is critical in most cases. Alternative medicine (Naturopathic) works as long as the patient maintains his/her confidence in the application. It is mind over matter in a way; whereby praying to an almighty being may stimulate the bodies defense mechanism using the special chemistry within the brain to overcome distress. People have been known to cure their ills using meditation, therefore; when we switch on the chemistry that opposes distress, we may conquer a difficult obstacle.
Manual manipulation by a Chiropractor can do more harm than good in many cases. Massage is respectable when applied correctly; but joint management can be down right treacherous and hazardous when applied improperly. Cervical manipulation, or twisting the neck; could cause spinal cord damage and/or arthritis of the joints. Only highly trained specialists who can diagnose patient orthopedic conditions by reading high-tech radiographs or other diagnostics; should be employed for bone and joint management. Chiropractors for the most part do not have the training and clinical experience to manage orthopedic treatment. They fall short of a Doctor of Osteopathic medicine who now practice 99.9% allopathic medicine.
A Massage Therapist can alleviate tension, muscle distress, and physical pain in a soothing approach and style that is virtuous the patient. They do not twist joints, and snap or crack tendons; therefore this form of alternative medicine is positive.
I do agree that 50% of the over-the-counter products have the potential to work favorably; when 50% of these products steal from the consumer without providing any benefit whatsoever. Know what you are taking, and look for clinical trials that prove the claims made by manufactures.
When my knee began hurting last year my family doctor sent me to an orthopedist, who said I was getting old and suggested drugs to ease the pain.
Then I visited a chiropractor who cleared things right up. No drugs, no waiting, and no co-pays. I just wrote a check.
Repeat that experience 354 million times per year and you have just part of what the NIH calls the Complementary and Alternative Medicine market, which it says was worth $33.9 billion in 2007.
That’s still a small part of the $2.2 trillion total health care market, but it’s growing over 6% per year. It’s now over 11% of our total out-of-pocket expenses for health care.
The NIH says all this proves we need to look more closely at the unproven claims of alternative practitioners. My chiropractor, Stephanie O’Brien, who recently moved to the building above in Scottdale, GA GA says not to bother. “We don’t want to be part of that.”
That may be the best answer to the question posed by ABC, which is why we spend so much on therapies that aren’t scientifically proven to work. Jumping through hoops is a hassle, and expensive. I know my back doesn’t hurt now.
CAM spending covers a broad swath of procedures and prescriptives, everything from dietary supplements whose uselessness is proven to a good massage, which at least makes you feel good.
The NIH divided its number into several pieces.
Some $14.8 billion went to things like fish oil pills, glucosamine, and St. John’s wort. That’s one-third of what we spent out-of-pocket on prescription drugs. About $11.9 billion went to services, like my chiropractor, along with reflexologists, massage therapists and others.
Most chiropractors also take a holistic approach to patient health, not the symptomatic attack of regular doctors, and that is also part of the appeal.
While chatting with Dr. O’Brien, just to let her know I would put her in this story, I mentioned that my feet were getting hot at night. She suggested exercise after dinner, said I’m sitting around all day writing blog posts and so blood is settling in my feet.
I’ll try that. Would my doctor make such a money-saving suggestion? Would yours?
