The trend is unmistakable. We spend billions a year worldwide on herbal remedies. In the US the use of complementary and alternative medicine has doubled in the past decade. When Americans fall sick, they would rather turn first to an alternative therapist than a family doctor. In Britain, almost half the adult population admits to using an alternative therapy. More and more doctors are referring patients for alternative treatments or are offering them themselves.rnBut why? Many therapies that fall under the heading of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) have never been shown to work in scientific studies. And therapies such as homeopathy directly challenge our understanding of the world. If our science is right, they shouldn't work at all.
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