ABSTRACT
It was surprising news in 1998 when it was reported that 42% of adults had used some alternative therapy1,2. About 60%—$12 of $21 billion-spent on such therapies in the US in 1997 was in the form of cash payments. In 1997, 18.4% of prescription users also took herbal remedies and/or high dose vitamins; less than 40% of patients disclosed this use to physicians1,2. In 1998, those numbers were astounding, but today, our own awareness of what is happening makes these numbers less surprising. This is now a worldwide phenomenon. The growth of sales has slowed, but overall sales remain at a high level. Unfortunately, most studies of alternative therapy treatments are of short duration, and safety data on long-term use are lacking.
