E-Newsletter:
Top 10 CAM Therapies (01/08)
Happy New Year! January's newsletter is a few days behind, but that gave me the opportunity to get the latest U.S. News and World Report, which features a cover story on complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). It even has a box about Reiki. I don't agree with all their information on Reiki, but I'm glad to see CAM getting the attention it deserves. To read the U.S. News report, go to their health page and scroll down to the headline "Top Hospitals Embrace Alternative Care."
I found a note reminding myself I wanted to write about the top 10 CAM therapies. Unfortunately the most recent study into CAM popularity in the United States was done using 2002 data.* I still found the list fascinating, even if it's not up-to-date:
1. Prayer for One's Own Health (43.0%**)
In a country where 80% of the population self-identifies as religious, it's no surprise that prayer is so popular. Prayer is free, there's no training required and it's always available.
2. Prayer by Others for One's Own Health (24.4%)
I hope that we are not so selfish that we pray for our own health nearly twice as much as we pray for the health of others. I'll assume that survey respondents were not aware of all the prayers that were said for them, and estimated low.
3. Nonvitamin, Nonmineral Natural Products (18.9%)
These products included herbs, animal-based supplements like glucosamine and fish oil and "functional foods" such as garlic. In 2002, the most popular were echinacea, ginseng, gingko biloba and garlic supplements.
4. Deep Breathing Exercises (11.6%)
Deep breathing exercises are an effective way to relax, slow your heart and reduce stress. (We featured them on our PRIDE Parade handout this summer.) I am a little surprised that something so simple made it onto the CAM survey, though!
5. Participation in a Prayer Group for One's Own Health (9.6%)
Double-blind studies on the efficacy of group prayer on health outcomes have shown it's effective. Assuming that some of the people in the control groups are praying for themselves (43%?), and have friends and family praying for them (24%?), this leaves researchers wondering why the groups' prayers are answered more often than prayers for the control group.
6. Meditation (7.6%)
Meditation is easier done than said! Generally meditation is sitting still in a quiet place and focusing inward or on a single thought or object, or attempting to clear one's mind. Qi Gong practitioners focus on the flow of energy as they meditate. But there are also forms of moving meditation, like Tai Chi and Yoga. (Although the CDC report counts those separately.) Most of the Eastern and Western religions have meditative practices, and often prayer beads or rosaries are used. Like deep breathing exercises, meditation is effective in slowing the heart and lowering stress levels.
7. Chiropractic Care (7.5%)
Chiropractic treatment was founded over 100 years ago, but only in the last 20 years has its efficacy and legitimacy been recognized by physicians. Traditionalists hold that chiropractic is a philosophy, and that the alignment of the spine effects the nervous system and, thus, the rest of the body. Other chiropractors focus only on spinal manipulations as a treatment for back and neck pain and headaches. Interestingly, 19.9% of respondents had ever used chiropractic care, but only 7.5% had used it within the past 12 months.
8. Yoga (5.1%)
Yoga is a set of meditation styles originating in India. In the U.S., yoga most often refers to Hatha Yoga, a set of asanas (postures) used for exercise as well as meditation. Other styles of Yoga include Karma Yoga (yoga of action), Jnana Yoga (yoga of knowledge), Bhakti Yoga (yoga of devotion) and Raja Yoga (meditative yoga in the quest for Nirvana).
9. Massage (5.0%)
There are at least 80 types of massage. Some, like Shiatsu, have their origins in ancient Eastern practices, while others, like Sports Massage, have been developed by Western physicians and athletic trainers. Massage consistently lowers heart rates, stress levels and pain. In 2007 The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine reported that massage is the most used CAM modality in hospitals.
10. Diet-Based Therapies (3.5%)
The CDC found that 1.7% of respondents followed the Atkins diet and 1.6% followed a vegetarian diet.
Where's Reiki? Energy healing, including Reiki, ranked 18th most popular within the past year and 19th most popular ever among survey respondents. (Hypnosis, apparently, is a thing of the past.) Bring those numbers up with a Reiki session from Erik LaBelle, Reiki Master/Teacher. Call Erik at 312-504-7693 now!
*Barnes P, Powell-Griner E, McFann K, Nahin R. CDC Advance Data Report #343. Complementary and alternative medicine use among adults: United States, 2002. May 27, 2004. Available at nccam.nih.gov/news/camstats.htm.
**Percent of survey respondents who had used this CAM therapy in the past 12 months.
Anna Schibrowsky
Chicago Healing Studio
