CAM and Conventional Medicine

News Note

By Darren Buford

Originally published in Body Sense magazine, August/Winter 2005.

More and more of you are turning to complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). According to Mayo Clinic Health Letter, Americans often choose CAM for a variety of reasons, including believing in its effectiveness in combination with conventional medicine, because it seems interesting to try, because it was suggested by their traditional medical professional, and because of its cost effectiveness in comparison with conventional medicine.

And, interestingly enough, the largest percentage of Americans turning to CAM use are those aged 50 and over, according to a study conducted by Ohio State University. Other groups likely to use CAM include African-Americans, widows, those dissatisfied with traditional care, and sufferers from chronic pain and illness.