Validating Through Research
Bringing evidence-based research to the forefront is a solid means
to validate CAM therapies’ benefits. This was a challenge in the
early days when clinical research on alternative therapies was not
readily available both to the medical community and the public.
“But as patients continued to use alternative treatments in greater
numbers, more research began to take place, and many of these
have shown the value in helping people stay well, as well as, in
managing the symptoms or challenges related to a disease,” Dr.
Bauer says.
The growing interest in alternative medicine, which eventually
led to more clinical research, is echoed in studies by CDC
(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) which, in a study
conducted in 2002 and 2007, asked 30,000 adults whether they
use CAM therapies. The study shows that the percentage of
adults that use CAM has increased from 36 percent in 2002 to 38
percent in 2007.
According to Dr. Bauer, the data shows that a good number of
the population incorporates CAM into their health care. The
survey further shows that patients use CAM for very specific
reasons, the most popular of which is for back pain at 17 percent.
“As we look at the uses of CAM based in this study, the common
trend is that these are diseases that are chronic or non-curable. So
it shouldn’t surprise us that some people are looking for what else
is out there to treat their symptoms.”
The study also reveals that the number one choice among
American adults when it comes to the type of CAM therapy to
use is natural products like herbs and supplements. “We are a pill
culture in the United States, and we tend to think if it’s natural, it
should be safe,” he explains, adding that there are both challenges and opportunities in this area.
Overall though, there is a significant increase for massage
therapy, growing from five percent in 2002 to eight percent in
2007.
By the Numbers
42 million Number of Google search hits
on the keyword “Complementary Alternative
Medicine” as of May 4, 2010. The number of
Google search has steadily and significantly
increased every year.
9,985
Number of references to the word
“massage” on pubmed.gov as of August 11,
2011. Pubmed.gov is a National Library of
Medicine resource that compiles peer-reviewed
and high-quality research conducted in the
medical field.
Percentage of patients at Mayo
Clinic who say they use massage on
top of their regular medical treatment(s).
27%
Percentage of surveyed adults by
CDC in a 2007 study who say they
incorporate CAM into their health care. The
survey had 30,000 respondents.
38%
Growing Opportunities
The increase in demand for bodywork services, massage in particular, is consistent with data from the recently released ISPA 2011
U.S. Spa Industry Study which ranked massage services at 88
percent based on frequency of service offered within a spa;
second only to skin-care services at 94 percent.
So, amidst all these numbers and growing dialogues around
(CONTINUED ON PAGE 44)
GET FULL ACCESS TO MAYO CLINIC’S
Healing Enhancement Program study to learn more about
the research. Visit digital Pulse at experienceisp a.com to download the PDF or visit pubgov.med to research more
CAM studies.
42 PULSE
■
November 2011
Want to know more about the future of
wellness? Catch Dr. Bauer from 2 – 3:30
pm on Monday, Nov. 7 at the 2011 ISPA
Conference & Expo Professional
Development Sessions. He will be joined
by Barb Thomley, coordinator of the
Complementary and Integrative Medicine
Program at Mayo Clinic and this year's
recipient of the Ruth Stricker Spa and
Wellness Award.