People living with chronic pain will try almost anything they can to relieve it. Not surprisingly, more and more older adults suffering from chronic illnesses are realizing conventional medicine isn't always the answer to their problems and are turning to alternative medicine such as:

• Chiropractor
• Acupuncture
• Massage therapy
• Breathing exercises
• Herbal medicine
• Meditation

The biggest concern in using alternative medicine, however, is that such methods have not been tested for safety and effectiveness, yet a large number of older adults are using them.

And the Survey Says ...

In a study conducted by researchers at Ohio State University, results indicated the acceptance of alternative medicine among older adults was profound. In fact, more than 70 percent of older adults used some kind of alternative medicine (such as acupuncture and herbal medicines) in 2000. Such results were surprising, considering a 2002 study found a lower acceptance rate -- 62 percent -- among all adults.

Using data from the 2000 Health and Retirement Survey, which included almost 850 patients aged 50 and over, researchers found:

• About 43 percent of the respondents had used a chiropractor, which was the most commonly used form of alternative medicine; acupuncture was least used.

• Blacks, widows and more religious people tended to use alternative medicine more often than other older adults.

• Baby boomers were more likely to use alternative medicine if they were in poor health and reported more problems with daily activities.

• For those who described their health as "poor," 65 percent said they used some form of alternative medicine they considered preventive or curative, a higher percentage than among any other group; almost the same number of respondents who were not satisfied with their health care also tried alternative therapies classified as preventive or curative.

The above data solidifies the fact that the current state of conventional health care in the United States is flawed ... it's only a matter of time until the entire country is aware of its detrimental influence.

Ohio State University April 9, 2005

Dr. Mercola's Comments:

Yet another positive sign that change is on the horizon. Seventy-one percent of people over the age of 50 is a substantial number. The U.S. population is finally starting to realize that the conventional medical system is a sinking ship. Not surprisingly, chiropractic medicine leads the way. Its popularity continues to rise with the more and more research coming out these days that supports its effectiveness. This study's results were not completely rosy, however. One saddening statistic showed that Baby Boomers were most likely to use alternative medicine if they were in poor health or reported more problems with their daily activities, meaning they waited until they were already sick to take action. I am fond of telling my patients that my main goal in treating them is for them to eventually stop needing to see me, or, better yet, follow the health principles mentioned on the site and perhaps never need to see me at all. If you have a friend or relative who would benefit from natural therapies, an outstanding resource for them to consider would be a copy of the Total Health Program. Related Articles: More Than One-Third of U.S. Uses Natural Medicine Alternative Vs. Conventional: Why Don't Doctors Get It Natural Healing Making Headway in the United States