According to msnbc.com, Americans spent $34 billion yearly on alternative medicine, out of pocket expense, according to the first national estimate reckoning. This means that although there is access to traditional western medicine therapies covered by insurances, people are choosing to spend their own dollars elsewhere. When I went to China a few years ago, in part to attend an international symposium that presented research from around the world on Traditional Chinese Medicine, one doctor from Italy talked about how in that country which has socialized medicine people chose also to spend their own money on alternative therapies. He was very interested that not just rich Italians wanted an option different from what was free and readily available.

This supports the concept of supply and demand. People want options and are willing to pay for them, IF THEY WORK. There are many fads that come and go and the key here is they do go if they do not produce the desired effect. So that must mean that the thousands of years of research, trial and error, and getting it right has been effective to help people get better.

I believe there is a place for both Eastern and Western medicine, but we need to have educated, qualified people doing the therapies; both licensed acupuncturists and medical doctors. Luckily (or is it forsight?) we require rigid standards to be met by practitioners of both disciplines, ensuring that people will get quality care.

It is my goal to provide the safest, most effective and most economical alternative health care to those who come to request my help. Call 331-2931 for a free consult to see how we can help you and to answer any questions you may have.