Researchers surveyed over 4,000 German adults to understand how traditional and alternative medicine use relates to overall health and quality of life. They found that people currently using these treatments reported lower quality of life scores compared to non-users. However, this doesn’t mean the treatments cause lower quality of life. Instead, it likely means people with more health problems are more likely to try alternative treatments. The study also found that factors like age, income, and type of health condition significantly affect how people rate their overall well-being.

The Quick Take

  • What they studied: Whether using traditional, complementary, or alternative medicine is connected to how people feel about their overall health and quality of life
  • Who participated: 4,065 German adults aged 18-75 who completed an online survey in 2022. About one-third had used alternative medicine in the past year
  • Key finding: People who used alternative medicine in the past year reported lower quality of life scores (0.82 out of 1.0) compared to those who didn’t use it (0.87 out of 1.0). However, these users also reported having more health problems overall
  • What it means for you: If you’re considering alternative medicine, know that people using it tend to have more existing health issues. The lower quality of life scores likely reflect their health conditions, not problems caused by the treatments themselves. Talk to your doctor about whether alternative treatments might help your specific situation

The Research Details

This was a cross-sectional survey, which means researchers asked people questions at one point in time rather than following them over months or years. All 4,065 participants completed an online questionnaire in 2022 about their health, medicine use, diet, income, and overall well-being. Researchers used two standard tools to measure quality of life: the EQ-5D-5L (which asks about mobility, self-care, daily activities, pain, and mood) and the EQ VAS (where people rate their health from 0 to 100). They then compared quality of life scores across different groups based on age, gender, income, alternative medicine use, health conditions, and social class.

This approach is useful for understanding patterns in large populations and identifying which groups might need more healthcare attention. By surveying many people at once, researchers can see connections between different factors and health outcomes. However, because it’s a snapshot in time, we can’t prove that one thing causes another—only that they’re related.

The study used well-established, internationally recognized tools for measuring quality of life that have been tested many times. The large sample size (over 4,000 people) makes the results more reliable. However, because people self-reported their information online, some answers might not be completely accurate. The study was also conducted only in Germany, so results might differ in other countries with different healthcare systems

What the Results Show

On average, survey participants rated their health quality at 68 out of 100 on the visual scale and 0.85 out of 1.0 on the detailed health index. People who had used alternative medicine in the past 12 months had lower quality of life scores (0.82) compared to those who never used it (0.87). This difference was statistically significant, meaning it’s unlikely to be due to chance. Importantly, 88% of recent alternative medicine users reported having chronic health conditions, compared to only 69% of non-users. This suggests people with more health problems are more likely to seek alternative treatments.

Women and older adults reported lower quality of life than men and younger people. People with lower incomes also reported worse health outcomes. Among specific health conditions, muscle and bone disorders were most common (affecting 36% of participants) and were linked to notably lower quality of life scores. Neurological conditions like migraines or nerve pain were associated with the lowest quality of life, while allergies had the least impact. Interestingly, diet mattered too: people who ate fish but not meat (pescatarians) reported the highest quality of life, while those eating only raw foods reported the lowest. Social class also played a role, with people in more economically secure groups reporting better health outcomes.

This finding aligns with previous research showing that people with chronic diseases are more likely to use complementary treatments. The study confirms what many healthcare researchers have observed: alternative medicine users tend to have more health problems, not fewer. The connection between socioeconomic status and health quality of life is well-established in medical research and was confirmed again in this German population.

This study shows associations but cannot prove cause and effect. We can’t say whether alternative medicine use causes lower quality of life or whether people with lower quality of life are simply more likely to try alternative treatments. The survey relied on people’s memories and honest reporting, which can be inaccurate. Results are specific to Germany and may not apply to other countries. The study didn’t measure whether alternative treatments actually helped people’s conditions or improved their quality of life over time

The Bottom Line

If you have a chronic health condition and are considering alternative medicine, discuss it with your doctor first (moderate confidence). Alternative treatments may help some conditions, but the evidence varies widely depending on the specific treatment and condition. Don’t replace proven medical treatments with alternative ones without medical guidance (high confidence). If you use alternative medicine alongside conventional treatment, keep your doctor informed (high confidence)

This research is relevant for anyone considering alternative medicine, especially those with chronic conditions like arthritis, back pain, or nerve problems. Healthcare providers should be aware that patients with ongoing health issues are likely to seek these treatments. People interested in understanding health disparities and how socioeconomic factors affect health should pay attention to these findings. This is less directly relevant to people with acute, short-term illnesses

Quality of life improvements, if they occur, typically take weeks to months to become noticeable. This study was a snapshot, so we don’t know how long people need to use alternative treatments to see benefits. If you try an alternative treatment, give it a reasonable timeframe (usually 4-12 weeks depending on the condition) before deciding if it’s working, and monitor your symptoms carefully

Want to Apply This Research?

  • Track your quality of life weekly using a simple 0-100 scale rating how you feel overall, plus specific symptoms (pain level, energy, mood, sleep quality). Note which treatments or lifestyle changes you’re using each week to identify patterns
  • If you use alternative medicine, log it in the app along with your health conditions and symptoms. This creates a personal record showing whether treatments correlate with symptom improvement. Share this data with your doctor to have informed conversations about your care
  • Maintain a monthly quality of life summary tracking your top 3-5 health concerns and how they’re changing. Compare this to your treatment log to see which approaches seem most helpful for your specific situation. Review trends quarterly with your healthcare provider

This research describes associations between alternative medicine use and quality of life but does not prove that one causes the other. The findings are specific to Germany and may not apply to other populations. This study should not be used to make decisions about your personal healthcare. Always consult with a qualified healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing any medical treatment, including alternative or complementary therapies. Do not use alternative treatments as a replacement for proven medical care without discussing it with your doctor first. If you have a chronic health condition, work with your healthcare team to develop a comprehensive treatment plan