Americans Spend $30 Billion a Year on Alternative Medicine

[HuckleB]

http://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/americans-spend-30-billion-year-alternative-medicine-n596976

"Americans seem to believe in alternative medicine, shelling out more than $30 billion in 2012 alone for treatments ranging from acupuncture to homeopathy, federal researchers reported on Wednesday.

They found that 59 million Americans paid for some sort of alternative or complementary treatment in 2012 — an average of $500 per person. That's even though there is little evidence some of these approaches work.

"Substantial numbers of Americans spent billions of dollars out of pocket on these approaches, an indication that users believe enough in the value of these approaches to pay for them," the team at the National Center for Health Statistics reported.

"These expenditures, although a small fraction of total health care spending in the U.S., constitute a substantial part of out-of-pocket health care costs and are comparable to out-of-pocket costs for conventional physician services and prescription drug use."

..."

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But, you know, it's no big deal.

[Orrex]

1. When Big Pharma makes a profit, it's a pure evil

But when Alt-Med does it, it's a pure good, because of reasons.

[astral]

2. Broad-brushing it a bit, aren't you?

Is using prune juice for constipation an alternative therapy? How about using natural (legal) substances, just because they happen to be good for you (or your doctor simplay says, there is no cause, there is no cure, the only solution is to treat the symptoms)?

Like using lemons, vinegar, cayenne pepper, fasting, colon cleansing with clay and psyllium husks and flax, using turmeric or cinnamon or clove or a million other 'alternatives' which simply avoid having to go to the No Cause No Cure doctor?

How about having some reasonable balanced discussion and learning experiences? I have had sickness the doctors said there is no cause or cure, and sickness the doctors said didn't exist, and finding natural solutions by Surfing the Net may be the reason I seem to have recovered.

Use of doctors and the medical profession has its place, to be sure, but they VERY SELDOM can (or will) tell a patient about nutrition / supplement options, such as the life-saving need to use COQ10 when taking cholesterol or blood pressure drugs.

[HubbleSN]

3. Regulations are definitely needed in this area.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

4. Is that all?

[progressoid]

5. This part is interesting:

And less-affluent people spend a higher proportion of their income on these treatments. “While the mean per user out-of-pocket expenditure for complementary health approaches was $435 for persons with family incomes less than $25,000, those with family incomes of $100,000 or more had mean per user expenditures of $590,” the team wrote.

[sigpooie]

6. From someone who has used Natural since the 1960s

My great grandmother back in the 1960s started me with plants that were in my area. Things like gum tree leaves or bark for scrapes and bruises, Grapes for blood flow, Blackberry's for overall blood and nerves, Watermelons for virility and strength, vitamins to make up for all the crap we ate that would block or kill the nutrients the food should have given us. She taught us about essential oils before it was cool. I have used these in my home and business with great success. She was a full blooded native american and made a living for over 50 years selling these cures and foods to people in or around South Ark and Parts of Texas. I have met and still know people in there 80s and 90s now, that still go by what she told them to do for issues.
I have been on a regiment of Pharmaceutical grade vitamins and a balanced amino supplement since 1984. I am living proof to the only data that matters, I feel better , I am stronger than people 30 years younger, my bones are strong, and I am very active for a 60 year old running my own screen printing business and rebuilding hot tubs for a hobby.
This regiment is easy to study. My grade scale includes 1. I feel great , 2. I feel ok, 3. I feel bad. When I take these, which I assure your are very good high quality supplements, which I pay a few dollars more than store grade for, I feel my body getting what it needs where it needs it. I spend about 50 bucks for 2 months worth.
The other thing you should ask me about or look up is Ionic Silver . I have been using this since 1980. I make my own and have found it one of the best natural killers of viruses, bacteria, and other foreign matter that does not belong in you. I don't need a study to prove this one works. I have cured Parvo and infections in dogs and cats for 30 years for neighbors, friends and relatives. I have helped others stop infections there doctors could not cure including Staph . I have used this to keep my pool and hot tub algae and germ free, and I have used it to stop black mold. It cost me about 32 cents a gallon to make..
So please don't waste your time telling me that this stuff does not work. I know it does an I have tried the medical shit our doctors sell for some fat f--k who does not care if it hurts you.

[Ron Obvious]

7. You know what they call alternative medicine that's actually proven to work?

Medicine.