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