Parents aren't the only ones using herbal medicine. As Americans become increasingly intrigued by alternative therapies, conventional pediatricians are finding that many of their patients have used, or are currently using, some form of herb-based medication.

Hospitals are catching on. Slowly. A recent study from Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston found that patients with lower back pain experienced less discomfort when given a combination of conventional and CAM treatments than with conventional treatment alone.

Massage therapy, acupuncture, hypnosis - these are the usual alternative health contenders, but what about the therapies that don't make the news?

ROLFING

Sometimes rolfing is mistakenly classified under massage therapy, but this is not like any massage that you have experienced. Unlike Swedish massage, which aims to relive tension in the surface muscles, rolfing "works on the web-like complex of connective tissue (fascia) to release, realign and balance the whole body" (or so says the Rolf Institute of Structural Integration). Practitioners often use their knees, elbows, and gravity to facilitate this release. The experience, I can attest, swings actively between great opening and relief to deep, somewhat tortuous pain (all for the good of the work).

It's stressful being a mom, even when you're mothering adult kids who never call. Once you give birth (I wouldn't know, but so I hear) a switch is flipped that never allows the thought of your child(ren) to be far from your mind — and heart. So this Mother's day you can treat the woman who brought you into this world with the same old one-two combination: brunch and jewelry or lunch and flowers, but why not make this year different? Help your mom help herself with a gift that's all about health, healing, and much-needed relaxation.

An naturopath, otolaryngologist, and aromatherapist walk into a bar.

Just kidding.

In this month's Natural Health, a naturopath, otolaryngologist, and aromatherapist share their thoughts on treating a sinus infection. I always enjoy comparing and contrasting the viewpoints of different healthcare practitioners and these three are particularly diverse with recommendations spanning over-the-counter drugs to an essential oil rubdown. See which one works for you.

Just because you're royalty doesn't mean you can't be open-minded. In the next issue of Men's Health (UK edition), Prince Charles shares his surprising thoughts on staying healthy.

When asked for tips on getting young men to take better care of themselves the Prince answered, "Via the ladies, I'd have thought. It's funny, the influence that women can have on getting us men sorted out is enormous."

CAM has entered new territory. The first randomized study of the effect of complementary and alternative therapies on heart surgery patients was recently held at Minneapolis Heart Institute at Abbott Northwestern Hospital and the results are looking good.

This is the year of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). I can feel it. Last year may have seemed like CAM's big moment with over half of the adult population (62 percent

Nevada is the first state to create a review board for the practice of alternative medicine. Now the city of sin may have a new focus. The President of the Nevada Institutional Review Board