What is CAM?

Complementary and alternative medicine is a group of diverse medical and health care systems, practices, and products that are not generally considered part of conventional medicine.

How Many People Use CAM?

In the United States, approximately 38 percent of adults (about 4 in 10) and approximately 12 percent of children (about 1 in 9) are using some form of CAM.


Who Uses CAM Most?

People of all backgrounds use CAM. However, CAM use among adults is greater among women and those with higher levels of education and higher incomes. Figure 2 shows the percentage of people using CAM by age.

What CAM Therapies Used the Most?

Nonvitamin, nonmineral natural products are the most commonly used CAM therapy among adults.

CAM Therapies Included in the 2007 NHIS

Acupuncture*

Ayurveda*

Biofeedback*

Chelation therapy*

Chiropractic or osteopathic manipulation*

Deep breathing exercises

Diet-based therapies

Atkins diet

Macrobiotic diet

Ornish diet

Pritikin diet

South Beach diet

Vegetarian diet

Zone diet

Energy healing therapy/Reiki*

Guided imagery

Homeopathic treatment

Hypnosis*

Massage*

Meditation

Movement therapies

Alexander technique

Feldenkreis

Pilates

Trager psychophysical integration

Natural products (nonvitamin and nonmineral, such as herbs and other products from plants, enzymes, etc.)

Naturopathy*

Progressive relaxation

Qi gong

Tai chi

Traditional healers*

Botanica

Curandero

Espiritista

Hierbero or Yerbera

Native American healer/Medicine man

Shaman

Sobador

Yoga

An asterisk (*) indicates a practitioner-based therapy.

Health Conditions Prompting CAM Use

People use CAM for an array of diseases and conditions. American adults are most likely to use CAM for musculoskeletal problems such as back, neck, or joint pain. The use of CAM therapies for head or chest colds showed a substantial decrease from 2002 to 2007.

CAM Use Among Children

The 2007 NHIS asked selected adult respondents about CAM use by children in their households. Overall, approximately 12 percent of children use some form of CAM. Use is greater among:

Children whose parents used CAM (23.9%)

Adolescents aged 12-17 (16.4%), compared to younger children

White children (12.8%), compared to Hispanic children (7.9%) and black children (5.9%)

Children whose parents had higher education levels (more than high school: 14.7%)

Children with six or more health conditions (23.8%)

Children whose families delayed conventional care because of cost (16.9%)