Tayla Holman Blog,Health & wellness Medical Monday – More Americans Want Alternative and Integrative Therapies

Medical Monday – More Americans Want Alternative and Integrative Therapies

There was an article on the Washington Post’s website today about how more Americans are trying alternative/integrative medicine and how hospitals are trying to capitalize on that interest. According to the American Hospital Association and the Samueli Institute, 42 percent of 714 hospitals offered some form of complementary medicine in 2010. In 2005, it was only 27 percent.

I’ve long been a proponent of alternative medicine. As an Usui Reiki Master, I’ve experienced firsthand the amazing healing power of Reiki and other forms of CAM (complementary and alternative medicine). I also wrote a lengthy article about alternative medicine for my feature writing class last year, for which I interviewed three Reiki practitioners about the increase in the number of Americans who had tried at least one form of CAM. Unfortunately, because most healthcare providers don’t cover CAM, anyone interested in trying integrative or alternative medicine will have to pay for it out of pocket. But surveys such as the one conducted by the AHA and Samueli Institute seem to hint that this will change in the not-too-distant future.

I think our current healthcare system is in need of a major overhaul. And I would love to see CAM offered in more hospitals, and covered by health insurance. I think that if taxpayers continue to show an interest in alternative therapies, the hospitals will have to respond to what the people want. Or maybe I’m being a little idealistic.

What do you guys think? Have you tried alternative or integrative medicine, or would you in the future?

4 thoughts on “Medical Monday – More Americans Want Alternative and Integrative Therapies”

  1. Tayla, I’m so glad you read the story in the Washington Post on the survey we did with the AHA regarding CAM therapies in hospitals. Yes, complementary and integrative care is on the rise! We’re working hard on research and policy that moves us toward a more sustainable, holistic landscape of care that includes the best of traditional and complementary care. Good luck with your studies. It sounds like you’re doing great work. Cheers, Kate Chase (Marketing and Communications Team @ Samueli Institute)

  2. Thank you, Kate! I read up on the Institute after reading the article, and I think what you all are doing there is great. It is exactly what I’m hoping to achieve by writing and talking about the benefits of CAM, and I hope we see this much-needed change to our healthcare system very soon!

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