The University of Arizona’s Program in Integrative Medicine recently received a $2 million loan from its medical school in an effort to remain open. The program was suffering from a $1 million debt and was in fear of being closed. Founded by integrative guru Dr. Andrew Weil, the clinic was one of the first to combine traditional Western medicine with a complementary course, which considers mind-body-spirit, to form a unifying approach to healing.

In contrast, a 1997 Harvard University study found more than 40 percent of the population sought out integrative medicine as an alternative to traditional medical practices. And, an estimated $27 billion was spent on alternative care between 1993 and 1997. In response to this trend, 10 schools combined to form the Academic Consortium for Integrative Medicine, including Duke University, Stanford University, the University of California at San Francisco and the University of Arizona.