A rapidly growing segment of the population is more than willing to put its money and its health in the hands of acupuncturists, herbalists, aromatherapists, energy healers, and

This month London's King's Fund announced its plan to support researchers in the study of the ways in which orthodox, complementary, and traditional medicine can be used together in medical practice.

The Fund — an independent foundation that handles research, policy analysis, and development activities in the health sector in and around London — is offering researchers £150,000 to see if integrated care encourages people to take more responsibility for their own health and well-being and also to find out if complementary and traditional (i.e. spiritual and/or indigenous) practices can be more efficiently integrated into every day medicine.