| Alternative Answers (Jan-Feb 08) |
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| Written by Einav Keet | |||||||
Page 1 of 5 Acupuncture, homeopathy, reiki. Bravo if these terms have become part of your health lexicon. You’ve probably learned to pronounce them, have friends that dabble in them, and you might even have a vague image of what they actually represent: needles, herbs—and still no idea on that last one.
Whether it’s because of an aversion to those lengthy lists of pharmaceutical side effects or as an extension of the growing green movement, people are increasingly looking to alleviate their ailments with complementary and alternative medicine. “I believe that people are getting frustrated with the impersonal ways of Western medicine,” says Linda Sparrowe, editor-in-chief of the Boulder-based national magazine, Natural Solutions (formerly titled Alternative Medicine.) “They want to be heard, they want to take more responsibility for their own health and they want to feel like they are entering into a partnership with their health care providers. I also think people are beginning to see ‘alternatives’ as complementary to and not in competition with conventional medicine.” A 2002 report from the National Institutes of Health’s National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine found that more than 36 percent of adults in the United States treat their pains, colds, anxiety and other conditions with CAM(Complementary and Alternative Medicine) massage.While the cost of these treatments varies widely, Americans are spending more than $20 billion annually in out-of-pocket costs for these alternatives, showing a more than passing curiosity in non-conventional medical treatments. When it comes to the crunch factor, Denver residents know they score high with bountiful natural foods markets and outdoor activities available, but the Denver area also provides a hotspot for alternative health professionals and enthusiasts alike. For newbies though, venturing into the world of alternative and complementary health care can be a bit like visiting a foreign country, but a brief travel guide can help you go holistic. |
That’s okay. The medical industry often clumps general good diet and exercise with what is to many the ambiguous realm of alternative health care. The range of practices that make up this wide-reaching category though are each quite distinct, have roots in ancient cultures and involve years of training on the part of the practitioners.