Note elder law: Seniors in North Carolina rely heavily on folk remedies
A survey of older adults in rural North Carolina shows that they widelyuse
complementary medicine therapies, but tend to focus on folk or homeremedies, such as taking a daily “tonic” of vinegar or using Epsomsalts.
“What most people think about as complementary medicine – acupuncture,homeopathy and massage therapy – they aren’t using at all,” said ThomasArcury, Ph.D., lead researcher, from Wake Forest University School ofMedicine. “Their use is largely limited to home remedies, vitamins andminerals.”
The goal of the study, which is reported in the March issue ofJournal of Gerontology: Social Sciences, was to learn more about whatcomplementary and alternative medicine (CAM) therapies older adults areusing and why.
“We want to understand how people make decisions about managing theirhealth,” said Arcury. “If we understand how people are treatingthemselves, the information can be useful for physicians.”
Researchers found that the majority of participants don’t use CAM therapies to treat diabetes or other chronic diseases.
“They are using CAM for prevention or for treating symptoms (aheadache, a sore throat, a cut) but not for treating a chroniccondition,” wrote the authors. “CAM use among these rural older adultsis largely a form of self-care.”
Arcury said it is common to use some of the therapies, such as vinegar or honey, as a general “tonic.”
“I’ve talked to older adults who’ll tell you should take twotablespoons of vinegar every day in a glass of warm water because it’sgood for you,” he said. “They aren’t treating anything in particular.”
