It is estimated that 20–50% of the European population use complementary or alternative therapy to treat disease or to help prevent its onset.
A more recent study has found that the number of patients using complementary medicine in Europe is about 25%.
Percent of population using complementary and alternative medicine in Europe
Austria = 35%
Belgium 25%
Czech Republic = 25%
Denmark = 32%
Estonia = 35%
Finland = 35%
Germany = 40%
Hungary = 10%
Ireland = 19%
Israel = 15%
Lithuania = 33%
Netherlands = 14%
Norway = 29%
Poland = 13%
Portugal = 14%
Slovenia = 23%
Spain = 17%
Sweden = 32%
Switzerland = 39%
UK = 21%
In terms of licensing and regulation of complementary and alternative medicine every country is unique.
For example, Germany has the Heilpraktiker (health practitioner) system. This was introduced in 1939, it licenses practitioners who are not members of recognized health professions to practice once they have passed an examination in basic medical knowledge and are registered with the government.
Here are comments by the authors
In the present study, the use of CAM varied greatly by country.
and
The variation can be partly explained by regulations governing the use of CAM and the inclusion of CAM in biomedical practice and health insurance. For example, in Germany and Switzerland, some forms of CAM are covered by insurance. In Austria, where CAM use is high, general practitioners receive training in CAM methods. Some country-level differences may also be cultural.
Reference
Fisher P and Ward A. British Medical Journal (BMJ). 1994; Volume 309 (Issue 6947): Pages 107–111.
Kemppainen LM, et al. Use of complementary and alternative medicine in Europe: Health-related and sociodemographic determinants. Public Health. 2017: 1403494817733869.
His research on plant medicine has led to more than 45 publications and abstracts.This research has been presented at international meetings in the USA, France, Turkey, Peru, Israel, Austria, and Italy.
Categories: FDA, Plant Medicine, Quality Control