Why Many Chiropractors Offer Herbs

Great article about herbs and the opportunity they present for healthcare practitioners.  This article was originally published in Dynamic Chiropractic Insights.



By Donald M. Petersen Jr., BS, HCD(hc), FICC(h), Publisher
According to a previous survey, approximately one-third of chiropractors in the United States recommend herbs to their patients.1 While more recent studies differ, it appears that this number has grown to approximately 40 percent of the profession.


Herbs are typically not part of practice for most doctors of chiropractic. Whereas nutrition is a component of most chiropractic curriculum, herbs are not. The results of this study demonstrate that almost all (96 percent) of DCs who utilize herbs in their practice are comfortable with the philosophy behind the herbal products they offer their patients. Approximately half recommend herbs based upon a condition type, with more than 40 percent offering herbs from three or more different companies. These doctors also see herbs as having broad applications as more than 40 percent offer herbs to at least half of their patients. The following results give greater understanding to why these chiropractors are recommending and offering herbs.


Herbs for Specific Types of Conditions


Doctors who recommend and sell herbs to their patients do so to address a variety of condition types: immune system, stress/anxiety/sleep, musculoskeletal health, women's health and functional support for specific organs. The recommendation percentages for each condition type break down surprisingly even, with between 46 percent and 55 percent recommending herbs for each condition type. Likewise, the sales percentages hover right around one-third of chiropractors selling herbs for each condition type.


It is interesting to note that doctors are most likely to recommend herbs to a patient to support their immune system and least likely to recommend herbs for musculoskeletal health. 


Conversely, more doctors sell herbs for musculoskeletal health than for any other condition type. A future study should be considered to examine the preferences between nutrition and herbs when addressing musculoskeletal health as well as other condition types.


Choices


As is the case with many products offered to patients, 42 percent of DCs purchase from "three or more" herb companies, with only 19 percent purchasing from a single vendor. This is likely one of the reason why there are so many herbal products companies serving the profession. A total of 18 herbal companies were identified as having chiropractic clients who offer their products.


Recommendation and Sales


Of those DCs who recommend herbal products to their patients, 41 percent recommend them to at least half of their patient population, with 11 percent recommending herbs to "almost all" of their patients. A similar question in a previous survey found that approximately 65 percent of DCs recommend nutritional products to at least half of their patients, with 35 percent recommending them to almost all.2


When asked what percentage of their patients purchased herbal products from them, 21 percent of DCs stated that at least half had purchased herbs from them, with 5 percent stating that purchases were made by "almost all" of their patients. By comparison, a previous survey revealed that 40 percent of DCs sold nutritional products to at least half of their patients, with 12 percent selling to almost all of their patients.


While the percentages of chiropractors recommending and selling herbal products lags behind those recommending and selling nutritional products, some of the same relationships exist between the percentages. Clearly, the percentage of DCs that sell nutritional products to half or almost all of their patients is approximately twice the percentages that sell herbal products.
DCs are less likely to want to recommend herbs to "almost all" of their patients, but confident in recommending herbs to at least half of them. It will be interesting to see if how these percentages change as more herbal studies are published.






















While the percentages of chiropractors recommending and selling herbal products lags behind those recommending and selling nutritional products, some of the same relationships exist between the percentages. Clearly, the percentage of DCs that sell nutritional products to half or almost all of their patients is approximately twice the percentages that sell herbal products.


DCs are less likely to want to recommend herbs to "almost all" of their patients, but confident in recommending herbs to at least half of them. It will be interesting to see if how these percentages change as more herbal studies are published.

Quality and Philosophy


Seventy-nine percent of DCs "totally agree" that they are confident in the quality of the herbal products offered to the profession, with another 18 percent who partially agree. This leaves only 4 percent who might be considered skeptical. This reflects a level of confidence that is on par with that shown for nutritional supplements.


A total of 96 percent of DCs (64 percent totally agree and 32 percent somewhat agree) believe in the philosophy of the vendors who supply their herbal products. Again, this is very similar to the agreement in the nutritional philosophy that is shared by the U.S. chiropractic profession with its many vendors. These results suggest that herbal products and nutritional products may be viewed very similarly by doctors. A future study should examine how doctors view their nutritional philosophy and their herbal philosophy as they address patient needs.


Summary


Doctors of chiropractic in the United States have a significant number of vendors providing numerous choices of herbal products for their patients. A little less than half (42 percent) of chiropractors are purchasing herbal products from three or more companies. The confidence in product quality combined with an appreciation for the herbal philosophy seems to have resulted in an environment where DCs can effectively utilize herbs in their practice. The variety of condition types that DCs are addressing with herbal recommendations and sales are similar to those that could be addressed with nutritional supplementation.


While more doctors are recommending and selling nutritional products to more of their patients, the percentage that are offering herbal products appears to be substantial. DCs that are not currently offering herbal products may want to look at these as another service to their patients, especially as new studies are published.


References


Product Recommendation Survey. MPA Media, completed June 2006.
Nutritional Supplement Survey. MPA Media, completed Sept. 16, 2009.

The ALCAT Laboratory becomes first to test for compatibility of functional foods and medicinal herbs

New offerings reflect a change in diet and attitude toward wellness

Deerfield Beach, FL – Millions of people use herbs and functional foods to treat countless ailments, from hiccups and hemorrhoids, to balance hormones and stimulate libido. They may work well as natural remedies, but are they safe for everyone?

The ALCAT Laboratory has introduced compatibility testing to over 130 new functional foods and medicinal herbs to already industry-leading lineup of items available for testing.

The ALCAT Test, a functional blood test, measures white blood cell responses to different foods, chemicals, functional foods, herbs, molds, food colorings and food additives, and other substances. These cellular responses have been linked to a multitude of different chronic inflammatory diseases, such as migraines, digestive disorders, obesity, chronic fatigue, aching joints, skin disorders, autism and many more.

“These new herb and functional food panels represent a response to a demand for such testing arising from the shift in the diets of people in the United States and abroad,” said Roger Deutsch, President and CEO of Cell Science Systems and author of the book Your Hidden Food Allergies Are Making You Fat. “With more people looking to use these items to treat and prevent ailments, we thought it was imperative to expand the number of items we test for to make sure the things we are taking to help us are not actually harming us.”

The 130 items will be split up into three groups: 50 Functional Foods and Medicinal Herbs, 50 Female Herbs and 40 Male Herbs. The first panel is meant to give general coverage to the consumed items within that panel; things like wheat grass juice, St. Johns’ wort, spirulina, bee pollen, echinacea, etc. The latter two are gender specific and contain items commonly found in natural male and female enhancement products. For example, the 50 Female Herbs panel contains items that are commonly used to treat the symptoms of menopause.

According to the Nutrition Business Journal, supplement sales were over $25 billion in 2008, which is strong evidence that there is a growing shift towards using herbal, natural remedies.

“The body can handle only so much toxicity,” continued Deutsch. “Whether your body just isn’t compatible with an item or it develops a sensitivity over time, it is so important to eliminate the items from your body that are causing these inflammatory reactions.”

To learn more about the ALCAT Test please visit www.ALCAT.com or call 800-872-5228 for more information.

Cell Science Systems (CSS) is a life sciences company and the worldwide market leader in food sensitivity testing as the manufacturer of the ALCAT Test. ALCAT identifies cellular reactions to over 350 foods and chemicals. These inflammatory reactions are linked to chronic health problems like obesity and diabetes, as well as skin, heart, joint, and digestive disorders. Located in Deerfield Beach, Florida, CSS is a FDA-inspected and registered, ISO certified, cGMP medical device manufacturer and operates a CLIA-certified laboratory.