A lot of people are in pain.
According to a government report released Wednesday, 54.5% of US adults live with a “musculoskeletal” pain disorder such a arthritis, lower back pain, sciatica, or other problems of the joints and muscles of the body.
Here are some highlights from the data:
– People with neck problems were by far the most likely to turn to alternative medicine, at a rate of 50.6%.
– Almost 25% of people with musculoskeletal pain disorders use natural supplements, compared to just 13.4% without.
– Almost 15% use what the report calls “mind and body” approaches, such as the exercise practices yoga or tai chi. That’s compared to 10.2% without.
– More than 18% saw alternative practitioners, like chiropractors and osteopathic manipulators, compared to just 6.9% of the general population. Chiropracty, osteopathy, and a third system known as the Alexander technique rely on the outdated belief that illness arises from misalignment of the body and can be treated by adjusting the body’s posture.
– And 5.3% used what the report calls “whole medical systems.” Those are practices like Ayurveda (traditional Indian medicine), acupuncture (a therapy involving puncturing the body with needles), homeopathy (a pseudoscience involving tiny doses of disease agents), naturopathy (a loosely-defined system of “natural” remedies), and traditional healers. Compare that to just 2.5% of those without such pain disorders.