In an Australian study it has been revealed that every fourth Australian is hiding the fact of alternate treatment from there doctors and risking their health.
The alternate forms of treatment have become so popular that half the population practices it!A study of more than 3000 South Australians to provide a snapshot of alternative medicine use was conducted led by University of Adelaide obstetrics and gynaecology department Professor Alastair MacLennan.
The finding were published in the Medical Journal of Australia reveal that one third of adults are happy to give alternative treatments to their children and most pregnant women assume they are safe to use. A "typical" user of complementary and alternative medicines is an educated woman aged 25-44, who lives in a city and earns a high income.
Younger respondents were more likely to believe such treatments helped their immune system and older respondents used them for chronic problems such as joint pains or circulation. Women often try herbal medicines around their menopause.
In the words of Adelaide, Happy Valley naturopath Julie Varnhagen "A lot of doctors, I'm sure, think we're fish-slapping, beetroot-drinking, weird whackos and do everything to the extreme," she said.
"We don't tell anyone to go off anything," she said. "We let them make up their own mind."
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