Health Care Practitioners Recommend CAM

Posted November 11, 2011 by Acupuncture & Massage College & filed under Holistic Medicine

More than 30 percent of people use some form of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) and that number continues to rise, attributed mostly to increases in the use of mind-body therapies like yoga, meditation and deep breathing exercises.

Prior research suggests that mind-body therapies, while used by millions of individuals, are still on the fringe of mainstream medical care in America. New research suggests that attitudes are changing.

In a study from Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) and Harvard Medical School, researchers found that one in thirty Americans using mind-body therapies had been referred by a medical provider.

“There’s good evidence to support using mind-body therapies clinically,” says lead author Aditi Nerurkar, M.D., of the BIDMC and Harvard School. “Still, we didn’t expect to see provider referral rates that were quite so high.” Results of the study appear in the Archives of Internal Medicine.

CAM facts:

  • One in four hospitals now offer CAM services to patients.
  • CAM focuses on prevention as well as illness treatment.
  • CAM emphasizes the body’s inherent healing ability.
  • CAM therapies favor a holistic approach.

Individuals tend to prefer acupuncture, massage and other CAM modalities over Western medicine treatment when uncertain about the cause of an illness, because holistic medicine tolerates diagnosis uncertainty better than Western medicine. People often choose a CAM therapy over a conventional treatment because of beliefs that CAM offers an underlying cure versus symptom alleviation by Western medicine.

Acupuncture & Massage College’s Community Clinic offers acupuncture, massage therapy and herbal medicine for the treatment of a wide range of health conditions as well as for overall wellness. To schedule an appointment call (305) 595-9500. For information about AMC’s Oriental Medicine and Massage Therapy programs ask for Joe Calareso, Admissions Director.
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