Click on the conditions to see conventional and alternative treatments. When he visited his regular doctor four days later, Mathes got a prescription for painkillers, and little else. You could look at my back and see all the muscles in spasm. Not only was the treatment inadequate, but Mathes felt his doctor gave him the brush-off, cutting his appointment short to go meet with representatives of a drug company. He says he saw substantial improvements in two weeks.
Mathes is part of a larger trend that's profoundly changing health care in the United States.
Some choose alternative therapies because they're worried about the side effects of heavy-duty medications. Others simply appreciate the extra care and attention. While a typical visit to an M.D. lasts only a few minutes, a naturopathic doctor may give you a half-hour or longer. Despite its popularity, however, alternative medicine is still confusing for many people.