03.01.05
Nearly six million American adults turned to complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in the past year to treat conditions like depression and chronic pain because conventional medical treatment was too expensive, according to a national study released by the Center for Studying Health System Change (HSC), Washington, D.C. People using CAM because of cost concerns were four times as likely to be uninsured. In addition, they were almost twice as likely to have low incomes and were much more likely to report fair or poor health status and lack a regular place to go to receive medical care. Herbal remedies were by far the most widely used form of CAM among people with cost concerns; with two out of three (63%) choosing to use herbal remedies. According to the study, among the more popular herbal remedies were some known to cause side effects, including St. John’s Wort—used by one in eight of all CAM users citing cost concerns—and kava—used by one in 12.
In other news, researchers writing in the Annals of Oncology recently reported that more than one-third of cancer patients in Europe use complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). A descriptive survey was developed and data were collected from nearly 1000 participants in 14 countries across Europe. According to researchers, herbal medicines and remedies were the most commonly used CAM therapies, together with homeopathy, vitamins/minerals, medicinal teas, spiritual therapies and relaxation techniques. “A majority of those surveyed claimed to use CAM to increase the body’s ability to fight cancer or improve physical and emotional well-being, and many seem to have benefited from using CAM (even though the benefits were not necessarily related to the initial reason for using CAM),” researchers said. They concluded, “It is imperative that health professionals explore the use of CAM with their cancer patients, educate them about potentially beneficial therapies in light of the limited available evidence of effectiveness, and work towards an integrated model of healthcare provision.”
In other news, researchers writing in the Annals of Oncology recently reported that more than one-third of cancer patients in Europe use complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). A descriptive survey was developed and data were collected from nearly 1000 participants in 14 countries across Europe. According to researchers, herbal medicines and remedies were the most commonly used CAM therapies, together with homeopathy, vitamins/minerals, medicinal teas, spiritual therapies and relaxation techniques. “A majority of those surveyed claimed to use CAM to increase the body’s ability to fight cancer or improve physical and emotional well-being, and many seem to have benefited from using CAM (even though the benefits were not necessarily related to the initial reason for using CAM),” researchers said. They concluded, “It is imperative that health professionals explore the use of CAM with their cancer patients, educate them about potentially beneficial therapies in light of the limited available evidence of effectiveness, and work towards an integrated model of healthcare provision.”