Mainstream physicians give alternatives a try

Increasingly, doctors are looking beyond conventional care to treat their patients with alternative approaches such as herbs, acupuncture, and yoga. Studies also show that the number of Americans willing to try alternative treatments continues to increase. A 2007 survey by the federal government found that more than one-third of adults and nearly 12% of children in the United States used alternative therapies. And health insurers are beginning to recognize and pay for some alternative therapies, including acupuncture and herbal remedies, although Medicaid and Medicare do not cover them.