When I was checking more recent numbers of the useage of Alternative Medicine than 1997, I concluded that one of the big reasons for the uptick in "visits to alternative medical practioners" is for massage, or now popularily referred to as massage "therapy" (along with chiropractic)
I guess I don't understand why this particular item is even considered alternative. My dad used to get massages at his YMCA in the 1940ties for his sports-caused aches & pains, as I'm sure did many of the physician members of that organization.
And "prayer" & "support group participation" seem really odd to include in AM numbers too.
When I was checking more recent numbers of the useage of Alternative Medicine than 1997, I concluded that one of the big reasons for the uptick in "visits to alternative medical practioners" is for massage, or now popularily referred to as massage "therapy" (along with chiropractic)
I guess I don't understand why this particular item is even considered alternative. My dad used to get massages at his YMCA in the 1940ties for his sports-caused aches & pains, as I'm sure did many of the physician members of that organization.
Massage counts as an alternative which shows that not all alternatives are hair-brained schemes. Some have merit and have become popularly accepted for that reason. Some don't have merit and yet still become popular.
Think of it this way, would a Chinese gentleman of your father's age have considered acupuncture "alternative"?
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And "prayer"
Perhaps to alternative dieties?
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& "support group participation" seem really odd to include in AM numbers too.
I agree, but it is interesting to see how the alties try to turn Misc.Health.Alternative into a support group in direct violation of the MHA 10 Commandments.
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Quoted message said:
When I was checking more recent numbers of the useage of Alternative Medicine than 1997, I concluded that one of the big reasons for the uptick in "visits to alternative medical practioners" is for massage, or now popularily referred to as massage "therapy" (along with chiropractic)
I guess I don't understand why this particular item is even considered alternative. My dad used to get massages at his YMCA in the 1940ties for his sports-caused aches & pains, as I'm sure did many of the physician members of that organization.
And "prayer" & "support group participation" seem really odd to include in AM numbers too.
The figures are further inflated by visits to chiropractors for back problems, which is by no means a new component in any "upsurge" in the use of alternative medicine, and may have some legitimacy.
What the figures also don't show is that only a very small percentage of the population entrust their whole medical care to alternatives (probably almost none when push comes to shove) so all this usage of alternatives is in addition to normal medical care. It reinforces something that health economists have been saying for years- that there is a potentially inexhaustible demand for medical treatments.
No I think the reason "massage" was able to be put in with the "alternative medicine" group is, unlike years ago when it was simply a plain-jane-classical swedish-massage-rubdown, it has taken on a metaphysical/spiritual aura (Thai, Reiki, Shiatsu, Esalen, Isis) in the US. whether it deserves it or not. Didn't people used to go to church for this stuff?
Masage is a natural therapy and not considered "alternative" to natural therapy. Drugs and surgery are alternative medicine.
<[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
When I was checking more recent numbers of the useage of Alternative Medicine than 1997, I concluded that one of the big reasons for the uptick in "visits to alternative medical practioners" is for massage, or now popularily referred to as massage "therapy" (along with chiropractic)
I guess I don't understand why this particular item is even considered alternative. My dad used to get massages at his YMCA in the 1940ties for his sports-caused aches & pains, as I'm sure did many of the physician members of that organization.
And "prayer" & "support group participation" seem really odd to include in AM numbers too.
