DOCTORS ACKNOWLEDGE POPULARITY OF ALTERNATIVE MEDICINES THERE WERE MORE VISITS IN 1997 TO ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE PRACTITIONERS THAN TO PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIANS

Roanoke Times & World News; 11/11/98

 Growing numbers of Americans, frustrated by long-term, debilitating problems such as back pain, are seeking nontraditional help. After decades of resistance, the nation's medical establishment is beginning to recognize an explosion in the practice of alternative medicine. Four out of 10 Americans used alternative medicine last year to treat mainly chronic conditions, spending an estimated $27 billion out of pocket for alternative therapies, according to a study released Tuesday. There were more visits in 1997 to alternative medicine practitioners than to primary care physicians, and more money was spent on alternative medicine than on patients' expenses for hospitalizations. But only 40 percent of patients told their doctors about their use of alternative therapies last year, and about 15 million Americans used prescription drugs and herbal remedies at the same time, said David Eisenberg of Boston's Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, who prepared the study. One in five adults who take prescription medication as well as herbs or high-dose vitamins might be at risk for adverse reactions, Eisenberg reported in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA). Eisenberg's article was one of several in the latest issue of the journal that explore the phenomenon of alternative medicine - its potential and its problems. The JAMA articles reflect a growing recognition by mainstream medical practitioners that the use of alternative medicine is a genuine trend that might have positive consequences for society and for medicine. Still, many doctors see dangers in the public's acceptance of nontraditional therapies such as herbal medicines, biofeedback, homeopathy and acupuncture. "Of course, there are some physical dangers to this," said Dr. Wallace Sampson, who, until his recent retirement, taught a Stanford University course that challenged alternative medicine. "Some people don't {tell their doctors} because they know they're not doing the right thing. They're not following their doctor's instructions, and that's all it is." But bridging the communication gap between patient and caregiver can lead to more responsible use of alternative medicines, Eisenberg said. "I think the American public does not wish to seek this {treatment} in a clandestine or secretive way," he said. "They want to seek it in conjunction with their physicians but some patients are fearful their doctor will disapprove." But data collected from the burgeoning herbal drug industry and from research conducted by the Office of Alternative Medicine at the National Institutes of Health indicate that growing numbers of Americans, frustrated by long-term, debilitating problems such as back pain or serious diseases such as cancer, are seeking nontraditional help.