More Kiwis Turning To Alternative Therapies – Data | Scoop News – Scoop.co.nz

Thursday, 24 June 2021, 9:59 amPress Release: Life Centre Trust

Increasing numbers of Kiwis are following a global trendtowards alternative therapies in recent years, according tonew data.

Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM)is an umbrella term describing a diverse range of healthsystems, modalities, and practices that are not generallyconsidered part of conventional medicine. In New Zealand, itis estimated that there are around 70 CAM modalitiesavailable.[1]

NewGoogle search data shows local searches for alternativemedicine information were up as high as 108% last year,compared to 2019 levels. The data also shows there was acorresponding increase in searches related to anxiety overthe same period.[2]

Arecent study by Otago University researchers found growingacceptance of CAM among NZs healthcare professionals witharound 25% of GPs practising some form of CAM, and 82%referring patients to CAM practitioners.[3]

Localcomplementary therapy providers have also reported a surgein interest in CAM modalities from Kiwis struggling - inline with a global trend.

The growth in demand hasseen the opening of one of New Zealands largest wellbeingcentres - with hundreds of CAM patients set tobenefit.

The Life Centre will operate from tworefurbished inner city Auckland buildings covering 680sqmfrom later this month. Fifteen CAM practitioners will offerover 20 therapies - ranging from Ayurvedic massage tohomeopathy, kinesiology, counselling, naturopathy andReiki.

Director Adonia Wylie says The Life Centremission is to empower clients to embrace a vision of wholehealth and well-being.

In recent yearscomplementary and alternative medicine has begun to shed itswoo-woo image and is becoming increasingly moremainstream as the concept of holistic healthcare is betterunderstood.

We know that people turn tocomplementary therapies for a range of reasons including;their value of the emphasis on treating the whole person, abelief that complementary therapy will be more effective fortheir issue, and a belief that complementary treatments willenable them to take a more active part in maintaining theirown well-being.

What we have seen with the pandemicis a global surge in the levels of anxiety and stressrelated conditions and international studies which haveexplored the role of CAM in treating various psychologicalsymptoms, she says.[4]

Thecentre will be supported by a charitable trust funded by alegacy left by businessman and philanthropist Ashton Wylie.The Life Centre is also an educational facility, with roomsfor hire for workshops such as meditation, yoga andbreathwork.

For more information, visit thelifecentre.nz

Scoop Media

Become a member Find out more

See the rest here:

More Kiwis Turning To Alternative Therapies - Data | Scoop News - Scoop.co.nz