Report: More Americans Turn To Alternative Therapies
PUBLISHED 01/13/2005

One in every three Americans are turning to alternative therapy approaches, from acupuncture to herbs, and experts are calling for more stringent studies to determine what works and what does not, according to reports released Wednesday.

NewsCenter 5's Rhonda Mann reported that Karen Witham used to be stuck with allergies. After trying lots of sprays and pills, she turned to acupuncture.

"Since starting the acupuncture, my ears plugging up has decreased by about 75 percent. I wouldn't say everything's all perfect, but I definitely feel a lot better," she said.

New research shows 35 percent of Americans now use alternative therapies like acupuncture, massage and chiropractic adjustments -- making more visits to these types of practitioners than to their own doctors.

"It really underscores the need to have rigorous scientific investigation of these therapies in order to determine whether they're effective and whether they're safe and whether they're cost effective," Harvard researcher Hilary Tindle said.

One study by Harvard Medical School (news - web sites) found a 40 percent rise in the last five years in the number of people doing Yoga, and a 50 percent jump in the use of herbal supplements.

The research shows that of those who take herbs, just 5 percent see an herbalist, someone trained in herbal medicine, and that's cause for some concern.

"It's very important, for example, that patients taking medications that thin the blood such as coumodin or aspirin, these could interact negatively with herbs such as gingko," Boston Medical Center's Robert Saper said.

In a report also released Wednesday, the Institute of Medicine (news - web sites) recommended tougher federal regulations on the quality and claims of dietary supplements and called for the same testing standards for alternative techniques as exists for traditional ones. "We're definitely seeing more and more money going toward research, which is going to further people's education as to when to and when not to utilize these treatments," Pathways to Wellness spokeswoman Kristen Porter said.