News: More than half of doctors use alternative medicine

More than half of doctors at least "occasionally" use some form of complementary and alternative medicine in their practice, according to a July survey by physician staffing firm Jackson & Coker. CAM procedures include herbal medicine treatment, massage therapy and reflexology, and yoga and meditation. Several thousand physicians and health-care practitioners were sent the CAM survey, with a response of fewer than 300, according to Jackson & Coker. (Among respondents, 76 percent were MDs.) When asked how often they use some form of CAM procedures in their practice, 23 percent answered "frequently," 42 percent said "occasionally," and 30 percent reported "not at all." Looking forward, 30 percent said they intend to add procedures, 28 percent indicated they are considering it, and 31 percent do not plan to add the treatments.