According to a U.S. government survey released today, about 38 percent of adults and nearly 12 percent of children use some form of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), such as herbal supplements, meditation, acupuncture, and other “remedies” or preventive approaches not generally considered to be part of conventional medicine.

The results of the 2007 National Health Interview Survey 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,” said Dr. Josephine P. Briggs, director of the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM).

She encourages Americans to “openly talk to their doctor or other health care provider” about their CAM use to ensure safe and coordinated care.

The survey results are based on data from more than 23,300 interviews with American adults and more than 9,500 interviews with adults on behalf a child in their household.

By far, the most commonly used CAM therapies among US adults are “natural products,” such as herbal medicines, dietary supplements like glucosamine-chondroitin, fish oil, echinacea and ginseng, “which are used by over 40 million adults,” Dr. Richard L. Nahin of NCAAM said.

Following natural products, Americans who favor CAM are most apt to use deep breathing exercises (12.7 percent); meditation (9.4 percent); chiropractic or osteopathic manipulation (8.6 percent); massage (8.3 percent); and yoga (6.1 percent).

Adults use CAM most often to treat chronic painful conditions, including back pain, neck pain, joint pain or stiffness, and other musculoskeletal conditions, the survey shows.

Women and people aged 30 to 69 years are most likely to turn to CAM therapies. “There seems to be an inverted U pattern with individuals at younger age groups and older age groups, in general, using CAM less than those in the middle age groups from 40 to 60 years old,” Nahin noted.

“However, when you compare these data to 2002 data, the most substantial increase in CAM use occurred in the three oldest age groups - those from 60 to 85-plus,” he added.

Native Americans are the biggest users of CAM, at about 50 percent, followed by Whites, Asians, Blacks and Hispanics.

Overall, about 12 percent of American children, or 1 in 9, use CAM therapies. Children are five times more likely to use CAM if a parent or other relative uses CAM.

CAM therapies are most often used in children for back or neck pain, head or chest colds, anxiety or stress, other musculoskeletal problems, and to treat Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADD/ADHD). In general, the children used the same types of CAM therapies as adults.

By Megan Rauscher
NEW YORK (Reuters Health)