Category Archives: Alternative Medicine

The complementary & alternative medicine market is expected to generate a revenue of USD 196.87 billion by 2025.

Factors such as the increase in adoption of alternative medicine by people combined with the government initiatives of a number of key countries to enhance reach is expected to help in expansion revenue generation avenues.

Complementary and alternative forms of therapy are used in the treatment of chronic ailments, long-term pain among others and are also used for additional vitamins and other dietary supplementation of regular diet. Moreover, with considerable increase in the costs of conventional medicine and inclination towards body wellness rather than pharmaceutical cure is likely to boost the market over the forecast period.

As of early 2016, approximately two thirds of the population in most of the developed and developing countries have reported using one or the other form of alternative or complementary form of medicine. There are certain countries that are moving towards the legalization of some alternative medicine therapies that are being backed with approved clinical data.

Further key findings from the report suggest:

Key Topics Covered:

1 Research Methodology

2 Executive Summary

3 Complementary & Alternative Medicine Market Variables, Trends & Scope

4 Complementary & Alternative Medicine: Intervention Scope Estimates & Trend Analysis

5 Complementary & Alternative Medicine: Distribution Method Estimates & Trend Analysis

6 Complementary & Alternative Medicine: Regional Estimates & Trend Analysis, by Intervention and Distribution Method

7 Competitive Landscape

For more information about this report visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/rwdxv6/alternative_and

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To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/global-19687-billion-alternative-and-complementary-medicine-market-analysis-and-segment-forecasts-2013-2025---research-and-markets-300455097.html

SOURCE Research and Markets

http://www.researchandmarkets.com

Excerpt from:

Global $196.87 Billion Alternative and Complementary Medicine Market Analysis and Segment Forecasts 2013-2025 ... - PR Newswire (press release)

MESA COUNTY, Colo. (KKCO) -- These days it seems like there's a quick fix for just about every ailment.

Some people swear by home remedies, like coconut oil to make your hair grow faster, or ginger to get rid of a cold.

But how safe are they, and do they really work?

For Jennifer Stephens, her interest in alternative medicine began when she started having some health issues a few years ago.

Her first instinct was to see a doctor.

But after a misdiagnosis, she decided to take matters into her own hands.

"So, I had actually sought out an integrative medicine doctor and looked at that as an alternative. And I found out indeed I did have an issue with my thyroid, said Stephens.

During the process, she also discovered essential oils.

He prescribed a natural thyroid medication and really had a conversation with me about synthetic vs natural," said Stephens.

One use and she was hooked. Stephens made it her mission to learn everything about essential oils.

However, safety remained her number one priority, especially for her family.

"What am I giving my daughter? What kinds of things am I giving her when she says I have a headache? Am I handing out Tylenol or an over-the-counter medication?" she asked.

That is when she found doTERRA.

"As a parent, I do my research, I have looked at doTERRA essential oils, which is the company I choose to use the oils from," she said. "They are certified pure, therapeutic grade, they are third party tested."

Thanks to the oils, the Stephens family embraced a more natural and healthier lifestyle.

They no longer turn to traditional medication for a quick fix.

"In our house, if we have a headache we will use peppermint and frankincense and lemon, and we layer oils on our forehead and probably on the back of our neck," Stephens said.

She also turned to oils when her 14-year-old daughter, Keeli, was struggling to keep her energy up during the day.

"I have a very boring class at the end of the day and it's very hard to stay awake," said Keeli.

After mixing and matching the right combination of oils, she says she's not only more alert, but actually doing better in class.

"Some of the positive side effects were how motivated I got during class, and how focused I was, especially reading books," said Keeli.

However, keep in mind, its not always a one-size-fits-all approach. "It's not matchy-matchy, so it's not if you have a headache you definitely do this thing, if you have a tummy ache you definitely do this thing," said April Schulte-Barclay, a doctor who specializes in acupuncture and oriental medicine.

She and her team work to treat the entire body, while trying to find the source of the problem.

"Lets say someone walks in and they have chronic headaches. It's very likely that from their primary care physician they've been prescribed some sort of pain relieving medication, but underneath those headaches is probably an imbalance, something that needs to be addressed," said Barclay.

She tells me in some cases, a simple fix may end up doing more harm than good.

"So if we are dependent on medicine for too long, then we are usually ignoring a deeper problem that continues to fester and fester," said Barclay.

She says sometimes the best solution to a problem could be hiding in your pantry.

"For example, apple cider vinegar, raw, unfiltered apple cider vinegar, is really helpful to boost what I call your stomach chi, or your bodys ability to digest properly," said Barclay.

Barclay said you can take two tablespoons of the vinegar, mixed with 4 ounces of water. You can also add honeyfor your digestive remedy.

And it doesn't stop there.

Dr. Marie Collier works at St. Mary's.

She uses both traditional and alternative methods to treat her epilepsy patients.

"I have the knowledge and the training to integrate both," said Dr. Collier.

She says it's all about finding a balance, and she says it's always a good idea to get advice from the experts first.

"Doctor Google is a dangerous place I always recommend meeting with a medical professional and talking about your options, reviewing your medications," said Collier.

For moms like Stephensshe says it's good to remember, you're not the doctor.

"You can't just assume you knowI would suggest doing research, I think you have to go with a company that has put forth the effort to make sure they are educating people," she said.

Keep in mind, there are always risks, whether it's medication or a home remedy.

The experts say everybody responds differently, even to natural approaches.

Everyone we spoke with says the most important thing to do is consult your medical team before deciding on a treatment.

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SPECIAL REPORT: Sick of medicine? What about a home remedy? - KKCO-TV

DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Research and Markets has announced the addition of the "Alternative And Complementary Medicine Market Analysis By Intervention (Botanicals, Acupuncture, Mind, Body, and Yoga, Magnetic Intervention), By Distribution Method, And Segment Forecasts, 2013 - 2025" report to their offering.

The complementary & alternative medicine market is expected to generate a revenue of USD 196.87 billion by 2025.

Factors such as the increase in adoption of alternative medicine by people combined with the government initiatives of a number of key countries to enhance reach is expected to help in expansion revenue generation avenues.

Complementary and alternative forms of therapy are used in the treatment of chronic ailments, long-term pain among others and are also used for additional vitamins and other dietary supplementation of regular diet. Moreover, with considerable increase in the costs of conventional medicine and inclination towards body wellness rather than pharmaceutical cure is likely to boost the market over the forecast period.

As of early 2016, approximately two thirds of the population in most of the developed and developing countries have reported using one or the other form of alternative or complementary form of medicine. There are certain countries that are moving towards the legalization of some alternative medicine therapies that are being backed with approved clinical data.

Key Topics Covered:

1 Research Methodology

2 Executive Summary

3 Complementary & Alternative Medicine Market Variables, Trends & Scope

4 Complementary & Alternative Medicine: Intervention Scope Estimates & Trend Analysis

5 Complementary & Alternative Medicine: Distribution Method Estimates & Trend Analysis

6 Complementary & Alternative Medicine: Regional Estimates & Trend Analysis, by Intervention and Distribution Method

7 Competitive Landscape

For more information about this report visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/ckvvwb/alternative_and

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170504005726/en/

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Alternative And Complementary Medicine Market Analysis and ... - Yahoo Finance

wbur

With guest host Jane Clayson.

Alternative medicine expert Dr. Andrew Weil says we take too much medication, and its hurting us more than we know. He says there are better options.

Americans take more medication than ever before. Pills for just about everything. Sleep, headaches, the common cold. Dr. Andrew Weil, says there are plenty of other safer and more effective options to cure what ails you. For decades, hes been spreading the word with books, lectures. He's a media sensation. Hes also controversial. This hour On Point, a big rethink with Dr. Andrew Weil.

Dr. Andrew Weil, integrative medicine pioneer and author. Director of the University of Arizona's Center for Integrative Medicine, where he is also a professor of medicine, public health and integrative rheumatology. His newest book is "Mind Over Meds:Know When Drugs Are Necessary, When Alternatives Are Better and When to Let Your Body Heal on Its Own." Also author of "The Natural Mind" and "Spontaneous Healing," among many others. (@DrWeil)

Dr. Pieter Cohen, general internist at the Cambridge Health Alliance in Somerville, MA. Assistant professor of medicine at the Harvard Medical School. Co-founder of Updates in Slow Medicine.

New York Times: How Many Pills Are Too Many? "The idea of dropping unnecessary medications started cropping up in the medical literature a decade ago. In recent years, evidence has mounted about the dangers of taking multiple, perhaps unnecessary, medications."

Parade: Sunday With: Dr. Andrew Weil "Dr.Andrew Weil encountered his fair share of skepticism when he opened his Center for Integrative Medicine in 1994 to help bridge the gap between conventional evidence-based medicine and alternative therapies. Now, as Americans are increasingly interested in taking a 360-approach to their health, products bearing Weils name, from a skincare line to comfort shoes, fly off the shelves."

STAT News:Medicine with a side of mysticism: Top hospitals promote unproven therapies "Theyre among the nations premier medical centers, at the leading edge of scientific research. Yet hospitals affiliated with Yale, Duke, Johns Hopkins, and other top medical research centers also aggressively promote alternative therapies with little or no scientific backing. They offer 'energy healing' to help treat multiple sclerosis, acupuncture for infertility, and homeopathic bee venom for fibromyalgia. A public forum hosted by the University of Floridas hospital even promises to explain how herbal therapy can reverse Alzheimers. (It cant.)"

This program aired on May 3, 2017.

See more here:

A Prescription To Reduce Our Prescriptions | On Point - WBUR - WBUR

The complementary & alternative medicine market is expected to generate a revenue of USD 196.87 billion by 2025, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc.

As of early 2016, approximately two thirds of the population in most of the developed and developing countries have reported using one or the other form of alternative or complementary form of medicine.

Some of the key players and wellness institutes active in the market are Pacific Nutritional Inc, Herb Pharm, Herbal Hill

The complementary & alternative medicine market is expected to generate a revenue of USD 196.87 billion by 2025, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc.

Factors such as the increase in adoption of alternative medicine by people combined with the government initiatives of a number of key countries to enhance reach is expected to help in expansion revenue generation avenues.

Complementary and alternative forms of therapy are used in the treatment of chronic ailments, long-term pain among others and are also used for additional vitamins and other dietary supplementation of regular diet. Moreover, with considerable increase in the costs of conventional medicine and inclination towards body wellness rather than pharmaceutical cure is likely to boost the market over the forecast period.

As of early 2016, approximately two thirds of the population in most of the developed and developing countries have reported using one or the other form of alternative or complementary form of medicine. There are certain countries that are moving towards the legalization of some alternative medicine therapies that are being backed with approved clinical data.

Further key findings from the report suggest: - The market is driven by high adoption rates of herbal dietary supplements other wellness therapies like yoga, acupuncture - Usage of botanicals has become the most prominent form of alternative medicine as the segment was observed to account for generation of the largest share of revenue - Europe and the Asia Pacific regions emerge as clear hotspots for these forms of therapies and combine to generate the major share of market revenue - Developing regions such as Latin America and Middle East Asia are set to witness considerable growth in demand over the forecast period driven by the expensive nature of conventional medicine and lack thereof is certain countries

Read the full report: http://www.reportlinker.com/p04838577/Alternative-And-Complementary-Medicine-Market-Analysis-By-Intervention-Botanicals-Acupuncture-Mind-Body-and-Yoga-Magnetic-Intervention-By-Distribution-Method-And-Segment-Forecasts.html

About Reportlinker ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place.

http://www.reportlinker.com

__________________________ Contact Clare: clare@reportlinker.com US: (339)-368-6001 Intl: +1 339-368-6001

To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/complementary--alternative-medicine-market-is-expected-to-grow-to-19687-billion-usd-by-2025-300449829.html

SOURCE Reportlinker

http://www.reportlinker.com

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Complementary & Alternative Medicine Market is expected to grow ... - PR Newswire (press release)

Ilona Wojdylo, from centre, is surrounded by her children Christian, from left, Patrick, and Jessica May 1,2017. The family is raising money to help send Ilona to Mexico to receive alternative medicine cancer treatments. Jason Kryk / Windsor Star

Ilona Wojdylo has endured a slewoftraditional treatments for breast and spinal cancer over the years, with limitedsuccess.

After shedding50 of her 150 pounds and sufferingworsening posture, now with Stage 4 spinal cancer and little hope for treatment in Canada, the 47-year-old Windsor womanwill soon try a controversial route that more and more people believe in: alternative medicine.

She will head for three weeks to a healthfacility in Mexico that offers a long list of treatments allowed in Canada only as complementary, not as replacement, for traditionalchemotherapy and radiation. Still, many people swear by the less-intrusive-but-less-proven approach.

Im very excited, Wojdylo said. Im sick and tired of being sick. I cannot wait to leave.

She will spend three weeks at the CHIPSA Hospital in Tijuana, from May 15 to June 6, thanks to a GoFundMe campaign that raised $26,000-plus in three weeks, suggestingthat a lot of people support alternative medicine.

But the treatment is expensive: $38,000, not including travel costs. So she still has a ways to go to cover the tab. Nevertheless, it costs less than it mightinCanada and the U.S. and shes encouraged by the support so far.

Im so emotional, Wojdylo said. I was a basket case for a week. I was bawling. I couldnt believe how nice people are.

Besides friends and family, Wojdylo has received support from complete strangers, including from across North America and as far away as Australia.

She has heard from sevenpeople around the world who say CHIPSA helpedsaved their lives.

So after undergoing traditional treatment here that included chemotherapy, radiation and tamoxifen all of which made her sick, lose her hair, and feel tired she will try a smorgasbord oftreatment in Mexico.

Some are more accepted than others, such as immunotherapy.

In the last few decades immunotherapy has become an important part of treating some types of cancer, reads the American Cancer Society website. Newer types of immune treatments are now being studied, and theyll impact how we treat cancer in the future.

Ilona Wojdylo who is battling cancer, is pictured at her home on May 1, 2017. Wojdylo is raising money to help send her to Mexico to receive alternative medicine treatments. Jason Kryk / Windsor Star

She will also receive insulin potentiation therapy, where insulin helps target cancer cells in what some call low-dose chemotherapy. Invented in 1932, its still considered experimental, though a number of facilities claim positive results.

Wojdylowill also undergovitamin C and K3 treatment. Shell also tryhyperbaric oxygen treatment, and thermotherapy (high-temperature treatment), both of which reportedly kill cancer cells, and even coffee enemas, which are said to removetoxins fromthe system. Plus,she will experiencea lifestyle change, including with a daily mixture of raw juices, and will learn to cook healthy foods.

Finally, the facility offersrelaxation techniques, such as yoga and art therapy, and a pool not to mention Mexican sun.

From an established Canadian perspective, however, these therapies remainlargely unproven.

The big problem is the evidence, said Dr. Caroline Hamm, an oncologist at Windsor Regional Hospital. We have evidence around everything we say at the hospital. But if you go down to Mexico, theres no one overseeing this, saying, What are the trials? What are the benefits? What is the likelihood of response?

They can say whatever they want. So maybe it could work. But theres no proof its going to be beneficial.

Hamm said patients considering alternative medicineshould consider everything, including success rates and finances since such treatment is not covered by Canadian medicare.

People grab on to ideas, and I so understand it, said Hamm, who worriesabout possible false hope. Nobody wants to die. I just think its important that people understand all the ramifications. I dont know that I have heard anything clear that I would trust coming out of some of the clinics in Mexico.

Hamm said as an example, it seems like a majority of cancer patients in Windsor have tried dandelion rootextract, but most people dont respond to it. Some do, but limited success hardly makes fora surefire bet.

Besides, Hamm said,approved treatments in Canada have evolved.

There is a lot of excitement right now in oncology with all the treatments that have become available, Hamm said. There are a whole bunch of new immuno-oncology drugs and targeted therapies that are just incredible. And there are virtually no side effects.

There truly is a revolution of cancer therapy going on.

Chemotherapy and radiation are also still used because they often work though they cause nausea, fatigue and hair loss. But anti-nausea drugs are better than ever and, as Hamm says, side-effects ofchemo and radiation are better than side-effects of cancer.

Naturopathic doctors say many complementary treatments improve wellness for cancer patients.

In a case where a patient has actually gone through all the different lines of conventional treatment, its understandable that the patient would seek treatment in different jurisdictionsor outside the conventional framework, said Dr. Eric Marsden, a naturopathic doctor involved ingovernment and public relations with the Ontario Association of Naturopathic Doctors. Where we get really concerned iswhen patients are trying to avoid conventional treatments.

Marsden said a fewfacilities in places like Mexico and Germany provide quality care, but manydont, so its a buyer-beware situation.

He saida number of treatments Wojdylo will undergo have some research behind them, but are not as proven as other methods.

His Marsden Centre in Vaughan, Ont., also provides alternative treatments such as thermotherapy and vitamin C treatments, and promotes healthy living as a way to improve wellness.

Patients come here and say, I want an alternative,' he said, adding that patients should always try conventional treatment as well. My point is, why are we dogmatic? I say most important is treatment that works, whether its natural or otherwise.

In Wojdylos case, traditional treatment hasnt cured her.

To fightbreast cancer in 2003 she underwent six chemoand 21 radiation sessions, which was tough but seemed to work. Yetwhen Wojdylo slipped onchurch steps in 2015 her world came crashing down with her.

She had just delivered bouquetsfrom the family-owned K. Michaels Flowers to a wedding.

The crash landing hurt, but not as much as her back did within two days. The pain keptintensifying and soon she could barely walk. It turns out, she fractured a vertebra missing 90 per cent of the bone because of a tumour.

The breast cancer she thought she beatin 2003 hadmetastasized to her spine.

She went through fivemore radiation sessions. It didnt kill all the rogue cells though it took its toll on her.

I felt terrible, said the Polish-born woman who came to Canada in 1990 speaking no English. I was tired. I am 47 now and as you age it gets even harder. I had such fatigue.

So her three adult children support her Mexican journey.

At this point you might as well do it because theres nothing thats really helping here, her daughter Jessica, 23, said. So its a risk worth taking.

How hopeful is Wojdylo?

Oh, 100 per cent, she said, noting that she watched a video of an American woman in hospice care who went for treatment in Mexico for a brain tumour and left much healthier.

When I looked at that video it took me a second to make thedecision to go.

cpearson@postmedia.com

Cancercampaign

To donate to Ilona Wojdylos fund-raising campaign for alternative cancer treatment in Mexico, visit her GoFund Me page listed under Ilonaw.

Continued here:

Traditional treatment not working, Windsor woman seeks alternative care in Mexico - Windsor Star

NEW YORK, May 2, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Highlights

The complementary & alternative medicine market is expected to generate a revenue of USD 196.87 billion by 2025, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc.

As of early 2016, approximately two thirds of the population in most of the developed and developing countries have reported using one or the other form of alternative or complementary form of medicine.

Some of the key players and wellness institutes active in the market are Pacific Nutritional Inc, Herb Pharm, Herbal Hill

The complementary & alternative medicine market is expected to generate a revenue of USD 196.87 billion by 2025, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc.

Factors such as the increase in adoption of alternative medicine by people combined with the government initiatives of a number of key countries to enhance reach is expected to help in expansion revenue generation avenues.

Complementary and alternative forms of therapy are used in the treatment of chronic ailments, long-term pain among others and are also used for additional vitamins and other dietary supplementation of regular diet. Moreover, with considerable increase in the costs of conventional medicine and inclination towards body wellness rather than pharmaceutical cure is likely to boost the market over the forecast period.

As of early 2016, approximately two thirds of the population in most of the developed and developing countries have reported using one or the other form of alternative or complementary form of medicine. There are certain countries that are moving towards the legalization of some alternative medicine therapies that are being backed with approved clinical data.

Further key findings from the report suggest: - The market is driven by high adoption rates of herbal dietary supplements other wellness therapies like yoga, acupuncture - Usage of botanicals has become the most prominent form of alternative medicine as the segment was observed to account for generation of the largest share of revenue - Europe and the Asia Pacific regions emerge as clear hotspots for these forms of therapies and combine to generate the major share of market revenue - Developing regions such as Latin America and Middle East Asia are set to witness considerable growth in demand over the forecast period driven by the expensive nature of conventional medicine and lack thereof is certain countries

Read the full report: http://www.reportlinker.com/p04838577/Alternative-And-Complementary-Medicine-Market-Analysis-By-Intervention-Botanicals-Acupuncture-Mind-Body-and-Yoga-Magnetic-Intervention-By-Distribution-Method-And-Segment-Forecasts.html

About Reportlinker ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place.

http://www.reportlinker.com

__________________________ Contact Clare: clare@reportlinker.com US: (339)-368-6001 Intl: +1 339-368-6001

To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/complementary--alternative-medicine-market-is-expected-to-grow-to-19687-billion-usd-by-2025-300449829.html

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Complementary & Alternative Medicine Market is expected to grow to 196.87 Billion USD by 2025 - Yahoo Finance

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (KSAZ) - A Scottsdale Medical Marijuana Certification Center is setting up for a fair this weekend to spread the word about alternative medicine.

"Green Star Doctors" is opening its doors for a free event called "Indica-Life" on Saturday. It is an effort to share alternative healing methods with patients.

The center will have Chiropractors and holistic medicine practitioners, along with artwork, speakers, and live music from the Phoenix Afro-Beat Orchestra.

No marijuana or alcohol will be at the event.

"I have a lot of different patients that are in pain, and I notice they could use healing methods that maybe they're not aware of," said Liz Valentine with Green Star Doctors. "I know how much they need just more options. Something that less invasive. No pills, no surgery, no shots."

The event happens at Green Star Doctors, south of Scottsdale and Thomas, from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., and it is open to all ages.

INDICAlife : Body Mind and Soul Cannabis Awareness Fair https://www.facebook.com/events/1889616241315350/?active_tab=about

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Scottsdale Medical Marijuana certification setting up alternative medicine fair - FOX 10 News Phoenix

Five years ago, Bronnie Ware was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis.

The then 45-year-old decided to take a "natural" approach to healing.

For two and a half years, Ware tried a variety of alternative remedies, including herbs from naturopaths and an alkaline-based diet, to manage the autoimmune disease that causes pain and swelling of the joints.

Her well-intentioned approach only saw her deteriorate.

"It got to the point where my one-and-a-half-year-old daughter was helping me get dressed," explains the single mother and internationally best-selling author of Five Regrets of the Dying.

She struggled to walk more than 30 metres at a time and couldn't get up and down from the floor.

"I was in horrific pain," Ware says. "I was exhausted."

Eventually she was forced to admit that her rigid resistance to conventional medicine was backfiring. She went to a GP who also practised alternative therapies including acupuncture and Ayurveda (India's traditional medicine system which incorporates nutrition, yoga, acupuncture, massage and herbal medicine).

"He said, 'OK, I understand where you're coming from but your body is in too much trauma to come back on its own now it's too far gone, you really need to try these immuno-suppressant drugs'," Ware recalls. "Reluctantly I did."

Despite her reluctance, the medicine helped.

"They gave me a lot of mobility back and freedom and it gave me a sense of hope again," she says.

"It's been a huge journey of surrendering my very rigid beliefs that this is the only way to go. The pharmaceutical medicines did have a lot of side effects but they also had a lot of other benefits that brought me back to a place where I could actually heal from."

Up to 70 per cent of Australians use complementary and alternative medicines (CAM) and about 24 per cent of adults with a chronic health condition regularly use complementary medicines to help them treat their condition, in particular for arthritis and osteoporosis.

With each year, the $4 billion industry grows. In fact, the number of people visiting a complementary health professional (most commonly a chiropractor, naturopath or acupuncturist) has increased more than 51 per cent in 10 years.

"There are some conditions where medical treatment is, in my view as a GP, non-negotiable. I think rheumatoid arthritis is one of those examples," says Dr Kerryn Phelps, who adds that delaying treatment can cause irreparable joint damage.

"Cancer treatments are another situation where I quite often have people saying 'I'm just going to battle this with the power of my mind and diet' when they've literally got no chance of surviving without chemotherapy."

Phelps, the author of The Cancer Recovery Guide, adds that there is a place for 'adjunctive therapies' as she prefers to call them. "There are many instances where recovery can be enhanced by adjunctive treatments."

There are also instances where pharmaceuticals are not the best option.

"There are lots of conditions where pharmaceutical treatments can be minimised or even eliminated if people take the right lifestyle measures," Phelps says, pointing to Type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular risk factors and osteoarthritis.

"The thoughts around pharmaceutical and medical treatments changes with time and as we understand more about side effects."

Those wanting to explore different treatments should find a doctor who has an understanding of "a broad range" of options, Phelps advises.

"Someone who can direct them to appropriately trained allied health practitioners ... and who has an understanding of when medicine is the most appropriate treatment and how to combine those things."

Along with conventional treatment, Ware continued to care for her diet and use CAM, including a "prescription" from an Ayurvedic doctor to do something "really fun" each week.

"She said that stress is far more detrimental to our body than anything we can do with our diet so it's much better to eat a chocolate when you're happy than have a green juice every day when you're stressed," Ware says. "We have so much pressure and stress we sometimes lose the fact that life is to be enjoyed. We need joy and lightness to balance the stress and pressure on ourselves."

Ware, who details her journey in her new book Bloom, says she now has a very different attitude to health, one that embraces both the conventional and CAM.

"I was very rigid that 'I'm going to find the natural path to this' and it was just causing me so much stress so I've let go of all that nonsense now," says Ware, who is now off the meds.

"I went to some pretty low places with RA and I still live with RA but I'm jumping on a trampoline now and riding a pushbike and travelling and I've got my life back."

To launch Bloom, Ware will be touring Australia in May. For more information and tickets, go to talkingsticks.com.au

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'I was in horrific pain': Alternative remedies for rheumatoid arthritis ... - The Sydney Morning Herald

Americans love alternative medicine: Between30 and 40 percent of U.S. adults seek complementarytreatments each year. But should we consider them for our animals,too? While these treatments may bring relief, "it has really been aproblem to try to prove in scientific studies that they aretherapeutically beneficial," says Alicia Karas, DVM, an assistantprofessor at the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine atTufts University, who is also a veterinary acupuncturist and ananesthesia and pain-medicine specialist. Heres what theexperts say about the following options.

"There are very few side effects from acupuncture, so it can be used in conjunction with a number of different therapies," says Christine Swanson, DVM, of BluePearl Specialty & Emergency Pet Hospital in Grand Rapids, Michigan, who is board-certified in veterinary oncology and trained in veterinary acupuncture and integrative medicine. Swanson has found acupuncture to be effective for chronic conditions such as arthritis, back pain, and neurological conditions.

While research is promising, its hard to measure the success of treatment, because patients cant describe how theyre feeling. Theres also a "caregiver placebo effect," in which owners (and even vets) may perceive a treatment to be helping when its actually not. "Thats why its important for veterinarians to do a thorough examination to determine the effectiveness of the treatment, says Swanson. Both Swanson and Karas emphasize that acupuncture, like other alternative therapies, can supplement but shouldnt replace conventional diagnostic and treatment methods, such as X-rays, medication, and surgery.

Like chiropractors who treat humans, veterinary practitioners face skepticism from the mainstream medical community, since their evidence of success is overwhelmingly anecdotaland many neurologists dont recommend spinal manipulative therapy. Supporters argue that chiropractors can produce results when conventional diagnosis and treatment come up short. "Chiropractors can really help with older dogs," says Karas. "They dont just manipulate the spine; they handle the digits and the hips and do tail and jaw traction." If you want to give this treatment a try, look for a practitioner whos certified by the American Veterinary Chiropractic Association.

RELATED: What's Your Pet Trying to Tell You? Here's How to Read Their Body Language

Massageor the use of fingers, hands, and machines to manipulate soft tissuescan address pain from injuries and surgery, provide relief from inflammatory conditions such as arthritis, and help rehabilitate animals like dogs and horses that have been sidelined from sports. As with other therapies, be sure to check first with your pets primary care doctor. If your veterinarian seems to not be open to it, you can say, Well, Id like to see somebody who is,"says Karas. Bottom line, she adds: Hope should always go hand in hand with realism. "Although benefits can occur, dont expect miracles."

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Acupuncture for Your Cat? What to Know About Alternative Medicine for Pets - Health.com