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."