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The largest growth industry in health care in the United States according to an article by Brody in the New York Times is alternative medicine. It is estimated that 42% of American adults used some type of alternative care, including herbal therapy (17%), chiropractic (16%), massage therapy (14%), vitamin therapy (13%), yoga (5%), and acupuncture (2%) among other therapies. Patients with neurologic diseases and healthy individuals hoping to avoid neurologic diseases are seeking these remedies. Brody reported that among 1500 adults interviewed, 44% said they would use an alternative method if traditional medical care was not producing the desired results. Brody also says that "Americans are voting with their feet and pocketbooks. studies have shown that patients make more visits each year to alternative care practitioners than to primary care physicians, and most of them pay out of their own pockets for the care they receive. |
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