Why Patients Use Alternative Medicine

The majority of alternative medicine users appear to turn to it not so much because they feel dissatisfied with conventional medicine, but largely because they find these health-care alternatives to be more congruent with their own values, beliefs, and philosophical orientations toward health and life. Also, they are more educated and more likely to report their health status. 

Herbs and related products are commonly used by patients who also seek conventional health care. All physicians, regardless of specialty or interest, care for patients who use products that are neither prescribed nor recommended. 

The earliest evidence of human use of plants for healing dates to the Neanderthal period. In the 16th century, botanical gardens were created to grow medicinal plants for medical schools. Herbal medicine practice flourished until the 17th century, when more scientific pharmacological remedies were favored (see Thomas, 1997 Fontanarosa, 2000 and General References). 

Short descriptions of alternative medicine methods follow. 

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Astin JA. Why patients use alternative medicine results of a national study. JAMA 1998 279(19) 1548-1553. 

Reasons given by patients as to why alternative medicine is used include the following the perception... 

Ten years ago I worked as a consultant to a dozen medical practitioners. Now, I regularly consult with more than 120 physicians. Why In part, it is because I am better known The more important reason is that most physicians know very little about herbal medicine, and their patients, in large numbers, are now taking herbal products. In fact, a recent consumer research survey released in 1998 reported that 42 percent of the people polled used some form of alternative medicine. The survey also noted that 75 percent of the people said they would be likely to use herbal medicine, and 74 percent of those reporting the use of alternative medical said they used it along with conventional health care. Of those people, 61 percent reported that their physicians were aware of these complementary treatments. 

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