ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION Alternative therapies have long been accepted and practiced among Eastern and Middle Eastern cultures. The interest in Eastern medical approaches among Western cultures is growing and more Westerners are practicing and seeking out alternative therapies for the treatment of many physical conditions including Parkinson’s disease (PD). According to one survey, the use of complementary alternative medicine (CAM) in the United States increased by 45% from 1990 to 1996 with over 600 million visits per year and over 27 billion dollars spent by public consumers most of which was not reimbursed by insurance companies (1). This trend has also been observed among persons diagnosed with PD. One study surveyed 75 persons with PD and found that 48% regularly practiced some form of alternative therapy (2). More specifically, 48% practiced tai chi, 45% spiritual healing or prayer, 36% yoga, 36% massage therapy, 27% acupuncture, 24% meditation, and 15% herbal therapies. Similarly, another survey found 40% of PD patients practiced at least one alternative therapy specifically for the treatment of PD (3).
