There is an increasing acceptance that Holistic Health Care [HHC] is more effective than Traditional Western Medicine. Humans are complex, multi-dimensional beings who respond to positive stimulus on all levels–mind, body and spirit–and that to leave one aspect out also denies the others. Wellness is more than physical. Healthy and fulfilled individuals make better contributions to themselves and the world. lotus365app
Holistic Health Care practices seek to work with the entire being so that all aspects of life are positive, productive and balanced. The society of the future realizes that being healthy and self-realized, results in a happier life.
A growing number of medical schools have begun teaching courses in Holistic Health Care; more private insurance plans have begun to recognize the utility of some forms of HHC and have offered coverage in conjunction with conventional treatments; and, in 1992, a Congressional mandate established the Office of Alternative Medicine, a small entity within the National Institutes of Health that was chartered to assess alternative therapies. Its annual budget has grown every year since 1993 and, between 1997 and 1998, increased from $12 million to $20 million.
According to a nationwide government survey released in May 2004, 36 percent of U.S. adults aged 18 years and over use some form of HHC. NCCAM, National Institutes of Health A Prevention Magazine 2002 survey of consumer use of dietary supplements revealed that an estimated 158 million consumers use dietary supplements and spend approximately $8.5 billion per year. An estimated 22.8 million consumers use herbal remedies instead of prescription medicine, and an estimated 19.6 million use them with a prescription product. Similarly, an estimated 30.3 million use herbals instead of an over-the-counter drug (OTC), while approximately 19 million use herbals and OTC’s
In 2002, Geoffrey Cowley, Senior Editor of NEWSWEEK reported, “We make more visits to non-conventional healers (some 600 million a year) than we do to MDs, and we spend more of our own money for the privilege–about $30 billion a year by recent estimates.”
Use of Holistic Health Care in the U.S:
In the United States, 36% of adults are using some form of Holistic Health Care. When megavitamin therapy and prayer specifically for health reasons are included, that number rises to 62%.
Lifestyles of Health and Sustainability (LOHAS) describes a $228.9 billion U.S. marketplace for goods and services focused on health, the environment, social justice, personal development and sustainable living. The consumers attracted to this market have been collectively referred to as Cultural Creatives and represent a sizable group in this country. Approximately 36 percent of the adults in the U.S., or 60 million people, are currently embracing a holistic lifestyle. lotus365app
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