BILLIONS SPENT EACH YEAR ON ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE

Back Pain Leading Cause of Need for Alternative Medicine

An estimated $34 billion is spent on herbal supplements, chiropractic visits, meditation, and other forms of complementary and alternative medicines (CAM) according to a recent report by the CDCs National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS). These numbers show that Americans spend almost a third as much money out-of pocket on herbal supplements and other alternative medicines as they do on prescription drugs.

According to the report, chronic back pain is by far the biggest reason that people turn to alternative treatments. The biggest single expenditure was for non-vitamin, non-mineral herbal supplements and other products (almost $15 billion) followed by practitioner visits ($12 billion), stretching and meditation-related classes such as yoga, tai chi, and qigong ($4 billion), homeopathic medicines ($2.9 billion) and relaxation techniques ($0.2 billion).

The report shows that people believe in alternative medicines. In 2007, 38 million adults made an estimated 354 million visits to CAM practitioners, at an estimated cost of almost $12 billion dollars. Visits to acupuncturists increased from 27 visits per 1,000 adults in 1997 to 79 visits per 1,000 adults in 2007.

Now, I didn't think chiropractic care was considered "alternative" in nature. Many of my clients feel that chiropractic care is their only choice after being injured in a car accident because of the results they and their friends and family experienced in the past.

If you or a loved one is injured in a Florida car accident, motorcycle accident, or other personal injury matter, talk to your family doctor or chiropractor about your alternative choices. All 38 million adults who used alternative care in 2007 cannot be wrong.

For information about your legal rights after a Florida automobile or motorcycle accident, click here to schedule a free case consultation with Personal Injury Attorney Matthew Noyes. Remember, insurance companies have attorney working for them--so should you!

For more articles important to you or your family after a car accident, motorcycle accident, workers' compensation injury or other personal injury matter, read and post on Personal Injury Matthew Noyes' web blog, Noyes Legal News--Helpful Information About Florida Car Accidents and Workers' Compensation Claims.