[Prudence]

I think that there are some smaller studies going on in my own department, but I've been out of the loop now for long enough that I can't remember. They'd be actual, real-life studies. Oooh! I remember one now. One of the post-docs was doing something with orange oil and chemo nausea, I think. But I don't remember details.

I think part of what makes alternative medicine popular is that it often addresses that which conventional medicine won't - which is, I think, also why the nurses were getting into it. Obviously there are exceptions, but docs tend to be about fixing the big, immediate problem. Tumor, heart failure, gaping wounds - all attractive doctoring opportunities.

The less exciting stuff? Not so much interest. Get cramps so bad you miss work one day a month and going on the pill didn't help? Oh well - not life threatening. Chronic fatigue that leaves you nodding off when you should be watching baby and exciting causes ruled out? Oh well - drink some coffee. Mystery non-migraine yet debilitating headaches and nothing showed up on the MRI? Oh well - pull down the shades and wait it out. Rare non-lethal condition that causes chronic respiratory problems and giant purple skin lesions? Take some prednisone for the coughing and go away.

None of those people are actually seeing alternative medical providers, because insurance doesn't cover that sort of thing, but maybe they should.

Pharmaceutical companies don't fund research into the non-exciting stuff. Docs aren't interested in getting patients from "okay, but...." to "healthy." That leaves a choice of putting up with not being totally well or going alternative for some treatments.