Complementary Medicine Research: A snapshot

Nationally, an estimated $2.3 billion was spent in 2000 by Australians on complementary medicine (CM) products and therapists. Half to three quarters of Australians use a CM product each year and between 15-30% visit a practitioner. The growing utilisation of products and therapists has led to an increased focus by Government, conventional medical and complementary medicine practitioners and the public on the evidence base for the efficacy and safety of products and therapies. There is also significant interest in the evidence for CM products and therapies to address the burden of disease. In 2005, the NSW Office for Science and Medical Research commissioned a short review of complementary medicine research in NSW, which was undertaken by Professor Alan Bensoussan from the Centre for Complementary Medicine Research at the University of Western Sydney and Professor Stephen Myers from Southern Cross University. The review was undertaken to gain an understanding of current research activities relating to complementary medicine and opportunities to further research and development where its role and efficacy is proven. To place research into complementary medicine in context, Professors Bensoussan and Myers provided an overview of the size and value of the complementary medicine industry; workforce profile, training and regulation; use and evidence for efficacy. This paper provides a summary of the review findings. It is provided to participants in the November 2006 Complementary Medicine: Future Directions Forum to aid discussion in developing strategies to build industry and research capacity in NSW and more broadly; across Australia.