It's success in managing the symptoms of chronic or long term illnesses such as cancer and chronic pain has been much less successful. Those with chronic illnesses who support alternative therapies say that these approaches give them hope and relief where modern medicine was not successful. Another reason why people use alternative therapies is that these therapies provide them with a greater sense of personal control over their own health. Many alternative therapies stress the importance of personal action and include the individual in all aspects of the treatment. Through alternative therapies people have gained greater awareness of their bodies and minds.
Individuals derive a great deal of satisfaction by being involved in the treatment.
It is not only the public who are supporting alternative therapies but physicians are slowly acknowledging that these approaches can complement traditional western medicine. One survey indicates that 50 percent of family physicians either prescribe alternative therapies or have tried them themselves. Alternative therapies are gaining more followers but there are many who doubt the effectiveness of these approaches. Those who doubt the effectiveness of alternative therapies claim that there is not yet enough strict research in this area. It is true that in North America research in this field is in its infancy, but things are changing quickly.