Popularity of Acupuncture & Other CAM Therapies

The number of people utilizing avenues of healing that are outside the
realm of conventional medicine is rapidly increasing here in the
United States, as more and more people discover the benefits of using
complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), such as acupuncture,
massage and chiropractic. Whether used as stand-alone techniques or in
addition to conventional medicine, it's clear that these therapies,
some of which rooted in ancient traditions, aren't going anywhere. The
National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) and
the National Center for Health Statistics released new findings in
December 2008 on Americans' use of CAM therapies. The findings come
from the 2007 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS). The CAM section
of the survey collected data from 23,393 adults aged 18 years or older
and 9,417 children aged 17 years and under, providing insight into a
range of demographics. You may have seen this trend manifest itself in
or around your own area. In fact, it may have existed where you live
for quite some time now. On the other hand, you may live in an area
from which you would have to drive anywhere from 30 minutes to three
hours to find, say, the nearest acupuncturist. For folks who live in
cities and towns teeming with complementary and alternative healing
opportunities, such as Asheville, NC, acupuncture services are pretty
easy to come by. From large cities like Seattle to small cities like
Asheville, acupuncture and other such services are not at all unusual.
In fact, one can find a great wealth of knowledge and expertise
surrounding these and other CAM techniques. Many localities in between
Seattle and Asheville have yet to catch on yet, but you can bet that
the trend will soon reach them to some degree as well. According to
the survey, approximately 38 percent of adults (about 4 in 10) in the
US and approximately 12 percent of children (about 1 in 9) are using
some form(s) of CAM. Therapies included in the survey were
acupuncture, ayurveda, biofeedback, chiropractic, deep breathing
exercises, diet-based therapies, energy healing therapies, homeopathy,
hypnosis, massage, meditation, movement-based therapies, natural
products (herbs, enzymes, etc.), tai chi, traditional healing
techniques (Botanica, Shamanism), yoga, and many others. Whether it's
homeopathy or acupuncture, Asheville NC or Nashville TN, it's
comforting to know that big cities aren't the only places with so many
options for complementary and alternative medicine. The availability
and range of alternative medical practitioners tend to increase the
more a given area lends itself to such demands, and in a nation where
more people are turning to these therapies each year, such services
are becoming more pervasive no matter where you live. And, as CAM
therapies gain wider acceptance in scientific and medical communities,
and with the expansion of communication and knowledge via technologies
like the Internet, the scope of these modalities can only widen, a
phenomenon that seems particularly necessary in the face of rising
health care and insurance costs. If you're interested in learning more
about acupuncture, find a local provider.