The Growing 'Wellness' Revolution
A commentary by Edmond D. Macaraeg
United Church of God pastor, the Philippines
Side-effects
and other complications caused by drugs manufactured by the pharmaceutical
companies have produced a backlash. As a result, manufacturers of conventional
medicines are tracking the growing use of alternative therapies—primarily
by well-educated and affluent baby boomers (Journal of the American
Medical Association, "Trends in Alternative Medicine Use in
the United States," 1990-1997, Vol. 280, November 11, 1998, pp.
1569-75).
In 1990, these medical researchers first began documenting and analyzing
this emerging trend. Seven years later (1997), that earlier data was
compared with additional information collected. Again in 2004 more statistics
were gathered and compared to previous analyses. A growing trend toward
complementary and alternative therapies is definitely occurring in the
United States and several other Western nations.
Here are some of the statistics. In 1997, Americans made 627 million
visits to practitioners of alternative medicine and spent $27 billion
of their own money for such therapies, compared to only 386 million visits
to their traditional family doctor. That was an increase of 47.3% over
1990. The Harvard Medical School estimated that one out of every two
persons in the U.S. between the ages of 35 and 49 years used at least
one alternative therapy in 1997.
Similar trends toward alternative medicine in other Western nations
are reflected in these figures for: Australia (57%, Germany (46%), and
France (49%). The increased distribution of some alternative medicine
is indeed astounding. Between 1991 and 1997 the use of herbal medicines
in the United States grew by 380% and the use of vitamin therapy by 130%!
Why are people seeking these alternatives?
Conventional medicine and pharmaceutical companies concentrate more
on sickness management than on general 'wellness'. As
an example, the National Center for Health has been tracking America's
obesity problem for four decades. Its reports show that in the time frame
of 1962 to 2000 the number of obese Americans grew from 13% to an alarming
31%. Its statistics also show that in that period 63% of Americans were
overweight, while 31% were actually obese.
Childhood obesity in the U.S. has more than tripled in the past two
decades alone. The U.S. Surgeon General reports that obesity is responsible
for 300,000 deaths every year. Another study estimates that related costs
to this problem translate to about $1.5 trillion a year, or roughly one-seventh
of the U.S. economy.
In American hospitals over one million people are seriously injured
every year. Also, blood infections acquired in American hospitals cause
62,000 fatalities every year and bypass surgery results in 25,000 strokes
a year. Two million patients experience adverse drug reactions in hospitals
in the U.S. every year; and of these, over 100,000 die; making hospital-induced
adverse drug reactions the fourth leading cause of death after heart
disease, cancer, and strokes. Australia also has experienced a disturbing
increase in hospital-induced deaths.
Therefore, people are turning increasingly to alternative medicine
as simpler and safer. Of course, most believe that conventional medicine
works well in cases of trauma and emergencies, but much less effectively
when it comes to prevention, chronic diseases and the mental, emotional,
and spiritual needs of an individual. These are the areas where alternative
medicine is gaining acceptance, probably because it takes a holistic
approach to health problems.
As pharmaceutical companies work with conventional medical specialists
in developing and administering patented drugs a growing number of skilled
researchers, who are focusing on natural products and remedies in the
field of alternative medicine, are publishing the results of their studies
in mainstream journals. For example, the benefits of antioxidants have
been thoroughly documented at the Harvard Medical School and similar
prestigious institutions. It is also notable that a growing number of
conventional physicians are now beginning to embrace the use of some
natural therapies.
We all know that the design of human body (with a complete blueprint
programmed into its DNA) is very complex. What is so often overlooked
today is that it also is the product of a super intelligent Designer.
Could that Designer have given us other instructions to improve the
quality of our health and life—apart from conventional medicine
and the alternative therapies—that we may have missed?
Surprising as it may seem, the Holy Bible—considered by many
as an ancient and obsolete book—contains some of the most advanced
information concerning our health and well-being.
Modern research has already confirmed the validity of much of that
ancient 'wellness' information. It is information you need!
The more you know about and live according to your Designer's will,
the better will be your health and well-being.
 For
starters, request, read online or download now your free copies of: "Keys
to a Long, Healthy Life" in Making Life
Work and "The
Bible's Keys to Mental Health."
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