A nationwide government survey of 31,000 adults found that almost four of every 10 (36 percent) U.S. adults age 18 or over use some form of complementary or alternative medicine (CAM). CAM, as defined by the National Center of Complementary and Alternative Medicine, is a group of diverse medical and healthcare systems, practices, and products that are not presently considered to be part of conventional medicine. Examples include meditation, herbal supplements, multivitamins, massage, and acupuncture.
When prayer used specifically for health reasons is included in the definition of CAM, the number of U.S. adults using some form of CAM nearly doubles, rising to 62 percent.
According to the survey, the 10 most commonly used CAM therapies and the approximate percent of U.S. adults using each therapy were:
| Natural products (such as herbs, other botanicals, and enzymes) |
18% |
| Deep breathing exercises |
13% |
| Meditation |
10% |
| Chiropractic & Osteopathic care |
9% |
| Massage |
9% |
| Yoga |
6% |
| Diet-based therapies (such as Atkins, macrobiotic, and Zone diets) |
4% |
| Progressive relaxation |
3% |
| Guided imagery |
3% |
| Homeopathic |
2% |
When prayer was factored into the list, the 10 most commonly used CAM therapies in the United States were:
| Prayer for own health |
43% |
| Prayer by others for the respondent's health |
24% |
| Natural products (such as herbs, other botanicals, and enzymes) |
18% |
| Deep breathing exercises |
13% |
| Meditation |
10% |
| Participation in prayer group for own health |
10% |
| Chiropractic & Osteopathic care |
9% |
| Massage |
9% |
| Yoga |
6% |
| Diet-based therapies (such as Atkins, macrobiotic, and Zone diets) |
4% |
Despite acupuncture’s relatively infrequent use by the public (1.5%), as a complementary therapy it has the highest level of acceptance and referral by traditional physician groups, including pediatricians.
Why People Use CAM
Key findings indicate that:
- 55 percent of adults said they were most likely to use CAM because they believed that it would help them when combined with conventional medical treatments
- 50 percent thought CAM would be interesting to try
- 26 percent used CAM because a conventional medical professional suggested they try it
- 13 percent used CAM because they felt that conventional medicine was too expensive
- 28 percent used CAM because they believed conventional medical treatments would not help them with their health problem, which is in contrast to previous findings that CAM users are not, in general, dissatisfied with conventional medicine
- 12 percent sought care from a licensed CAM practitioner, suggesting that most people who use CAM do so without consulting a practitioner
People most often used alternative methods of healthcare to treat back pain or problems, colds, neck pain or problems, joint pain or stiffness, and anxiety or depression.
Who Chooses CAM?
Overall, the survey revealed that CAM use was greater among women, people with higher education, those who had been hospitalized within the past year, and former smokers (compared to current smokers or those who had never smoked). In addition, African-American adults were more likely than white or Asian adults to use CAM when megavitamin therapy and prayer were included in the definition of CAM.
More U.S. studies into complementary and alternative medicine lie ahead. |
