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Americans Spend Billions on Alternative Medicine
Learn Why Alternative Medicine Has Become a Huge Industry
Learn Why Alternative Medicine Has Become a Huge Industry
Alternative Medicine Schools | Wellness Community Bulletin
By the Natural Healers career research team – Your link to Alternative Medicine news, careers, trends and programs.
| | Alternative medicine has become a billion dollar industry because it offers an alternative to traditional health care. Debates surrounding health insurance and health care costs continue to escalate for the American public. But what is it that most Americans think of when they talk about health care? |
Alternative medicine has become an increasingly popular choice for Americans seeking preventive care. As ABC News reports, one out of every three Americans has tried alternative medicine. What's more, we spent $34 billion on alternative medicine treatments in 2007 alone.
The Associated Press indicates that that the top alternative medicine therapies for Americans include chiropractic, massage, acupuncture and herbal remedies. And that $34 billion we spent represents more than one-tenth of our out-of-pocket health care dollars.
Researchers speculate that the recession might be playing a role in consumer health care choices because alternative medicine tends to be less expensive than mainstream medicine. Plus, self-care practices, including yoga, meditation and herbal supplements, have gained significant ground as means for avoiding illness—and those doctor visits—as much as possible.
Certainly, Western medicine is in no danger of being replaced any time soon. But alternative medicine continues to forge its path in the mainstream as a legitimate and economical means for maintaining wellness in the midst of our hectic lives.
Find an Alternative Medicine and Natural Health Degree Program Today – Today Is a Great Time to Get Your Alternative Medicine Degree!
Source:
ABC News Internet Ventures, 2009
NCCAM National Institutes of Health, 2009
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