Did you know that about 38% of adults and 12% of children use health care approaches developed outside of mainstream Western, or conventional, medicine; or that over a decade ago (imagine what it would be today!), the total visits to CAM (Complementary and Alternative Medicine) providers exceeded the total number of visits to all primary-care physicians?

Among those who have used one or more CAM therapies, and seen their medical doctor in the same year, 63-72% did not tell their doctor.

Why?

42% because their doctor never asked

30 % said they did not know they should

19 % felt there was not enough time during the office visit

17 % didn’t think the doctor would know about the topic

12 % thought the doctor would be dismissive or tell them not to use CAM.

Integrative medicine, which makes use of all appropriate therapeutic approaches to achieve optimal health and healing, has to involve not only the practical and effective teamwork of a diverse array of providers, but also the marriage of approaches, conventional AND complementary (or CAM).

Sources:

1. Barnes PM, Bloom B, Nahin R. CDC National Health Statistics Report #12.Complementary and Alternative Medicine Use Among Adults and Children: United States, 2007.December 10, 2008

2. Institute of Medicine (US) Committee on the Use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine by the American Public. Washington (DC): National Academies Press (US); 2005. Information available at this URL: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK83794/

3. http://www.nbcnews.com/id/16826257/ns/health-alternative_medicine/t/most-dont-tell-doctors-about-alternative-meds/#.WBdrZ-ErLwc

Aline Defiglia LCSW is a licensed, clinical psychotherapist, coach and hypnotherapist who works with individuals and teams for personal and professional transformation. She lives in Chattanooga, TN with her family and works with clients in Chicago, Illinois, Tennessee and Atlanta, Georgia.