TPG Survey Shows High Percentage of CAM Usage

Last month, The Peterson Group, a non-profit organization studying the effects of Complementary, Alternative and Integrative medicines, conducted a survey on CAM usage to its hundreds of members listed in the online community.

Last month, The Peterson Group, a non-profit organization studying the effects of Complementary, Alternative and Integrative medicines, conducted a survey on CAM usage to its hundreds of members listed in the online community. 

Out of 148 answers, 85% of the respondents admit to using different forms of Alternative medicines. A more detailed result is as follows:

• Older respondents aged 50 and above use herbal medicines even without prescription

• Teens and young adults are fond of using supplements which promise weight loss, height increase and other physical aids

• Supplements which is said to contain certain chemicals against disease are mostly used by wives and mothers as alternatives to prescribed medicines as prevention for infection

• Women are likely to purchase supplements and/or complementary and alternative medicines online than men

• Most users come from developing countries. Those which stood out came from Beijing, China, Jakarta, Indonesia and Cambodia. The largest minority of users came from Seoul, South Korea

• Only 15% of users have complaints on experiencing side effects 

• 10% of the remaining non-users of CAM believe that respondents who claim to be healed are only experiencing placebo effect. 

• Children whose parents use alternative medicines are most likely to use it themselves.

The Peterson Group’s survey has contributed to the further studies related to the increasing patronage of complementary, alternative and integrative medicines and it has also became a medium of information on both the good effects and bad news regarding the use of these health and wellness products.

Last month, chemist and a member of TPG released a warning to fellow members and citizens that the over excessive use of supplements and other CAM can result to malfunction of metabolic chemicals in our body and may result to various diseases or illness. Also, more results show that fraud supplements claiming results of as fast as 24 hours are rampant nowadays.

Moreover, TPG has also been receiving good feedbacks from people who have visited the website. An anonymous person claiming to be a doctor also emailed a statement to The Peterson Group’s email and wrote, “Your latest survey result is one of the most comprehensive and concise that I have read. The survey also suggests that more and more people are paying attention to what they are taking and we, as doctors, are very much thankful for that. Please continue the good work”.

Another one said, “Please continue to conduct surveys like this. You have been the most unbiased that I have met so far. Your opinions on the usage of CAM are also based on facts which are mostly what people need nowadays. All the best.”