Important Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) Facts and Statistics

The following statistical data¹ regarding Complementary and Alternative Medicine is based on a nationally represented, random sample of adult Americans and may help to provide a better understanding for the reasons of a patient’s non-disclosure of herbal dietary supplement use. Of those surveyed:

79% perceived the combination of CAM and conventional therapies to be superior to either alone
70% typically saw a medical doctor before or concurrent with their visits to a CAM provider
63% - 72% did not disclose their CAM therapy to their medical doctor

Primary reasons for non-disclosure were:

61% believe it wasn’t important for the doctor to know
60% stated that their doctor never asked
31% felt it was none of the doctor’s business
20% believed that their doctor would not understand
14% thought their doctor would disapprove of or discourage their complementary or alternative medicine use

In order to respond to each patient’s needs effectively, Dr. Bernd Wollschlaeger, MD, clinical associate professor of medicine and family practice at the University of Miami (FL) School of Medicine has “learned how to guide patients through this process and not to encourage or discourage their [herbal dietary supplement] use.” “After all,” he adds, “they will use them whether I want them to or not.”

The majority of alternative medicine users appear to be doing so not so much as a result of being dissatisfied with conventional medicine, but largely because they find the alternatives to be more congruent with their own values, beliefs and philosophical orientation towards health in life.² Despite their concerns, doctors shouldn’t reject supplements out-of-hand, said Dr. O’Brien. “What a smart physician does is be open-minded and take the best of both worlds and combine that in a manner that fits the needs of the individual patient.”

Page References

1. Perceptions about complementary therapies relative to conventional therapies among adults who use both: results from a national survey.
Eisenberg DM, Kessler RC, Van Rompay MI, Kaptchuk TJ, Wilkey SA, Appel S et al.
Ann Intern Med. 2001;135:344-51.

2. Why patients use alternative medicine: results of a national study. JAMA.
Astin JA.
1998;279:1548-53.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I distribute Clarocet products through my professional practice?
Has Clarocet been clinically tested?
When will my patient feel the benefits of Clarocet?
Can my patient take Clarocet with other prescription drugs?