Complementary and Alternative Medicine Use
January 14th, 2009
Approximately 38 percent of adults in the United States use some form of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), according to a new nationwide government survey. CAM is a group of diverse medical and health care systems, practices and products such as herbal supplements, meditation, chiropractic, and acupuncture that are not generally considered to be part of conventional medicine.
The survey, conducted as part of the 2007 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), an annual study in which tens of thousands of Americans are interviewed about their health- and illness-related experiences, was developed by the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM), a part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
The survey included questions on 36 types of CAM therapies commonly used in the United States—10 types of provider-based therapies, such as acupuncture and chiropractic, and 26 other therapies that do not require a provider, such as herbal supplements and meditation.
“The 2007 NHIS provides the most current, comprehensive, and reliable source of information on Americans’ use of CAM,” said Josephine P. Briggs, M.D., director of NCCAM. “These statistics confirm that CAM practices are a frequently used component of Americans’ health care regimens, and reinforce the need for rigorous research to study the safety and effectiveness of these therapies. The data also point out the need for patients and health care providers to openly discuss CAM use to ensure safe and coordinated care.”
The 2007 survey results are based on data from more than 23,300 interviews with American adults.
The most commonly used CAM therapies among U.S. adults were:
∑ Nonvitamin, nonmineral, natural products (17.7 percent), most common were fish oil/omega 3/DHA, glucosamine, echinacea, flaxseed oil or pills, and ginseng
∑ Deep breathing exercises (12.7 percent)
∑ Meditation (9.4 percent)
∑ Chiropractic or osteopathic manipulation (8.6 percent)
∑ Massage (8.3 percent)
∑ Yoga (6.1 percent)
Adults used CAM most often to treat pain including back pain or problems, neck pain or problems, joint pain or stiffness/other joint condition, arthritis, and other musculoskeletal conditions.
In 2007, CAM use among adults was greater among:
∑ Women (42.8 percent, compared to men 33.5 percent)
∑ Those aged 30-69 (30-39 years: 39.6 percent, 40-49 years: 40.1 percent, 50-59 years: 44.1 percent, 60-69 years: 41.0 percent)
∑ Those with higher levels of education (masters, doctorate or professional: 55.4 percent)
∑ Those living in the West (44.6 percent)
∑ Those who have quit smoking (48.1 percent)
“The survey results provide information on trends and a rich set of data for investigating who in America is using CAM, the practices they use, and why,” said Richard L. Nahin, Ph.D., MPH, acting director of NCCAM’s Division of Extramural Research. “Future analyses of these data may help explain some of the observed variation in the use of individual CAM therapies and provide greater insights into CAM use patterns among Americans.”
For information about acupuncture for health and wellness call Dr. Richard Browne, Acupuncture Physician, at (305) 595-9500.
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