Objective—This report presents selected estimates of complementary and
alternative medicine (CAM) use among U.S. adults and children, using data from
the 2007 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), conducted by the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) National Center for Health Statistics
(NCHS). Trends in adult use were assessed by comparing data from the 2007
and 2002 NHIS.

Methods—Estimates were derived from the Complementary and Alternative
Medicine supplements and Core components of the 2007 and 2002 NHIS.
Estimates were generated and comparisons conducted using the SUDAAN
statistical package to account for the complex sample design.

Results—In 2007, almost 4 out of 10 adults had used CAM therapy in the
past 12 months, with the most commonly used therapies being nonvitamin,
nonmineral, natural products (17.7%) and deep breathing exercises (12.7%).
American Indian or Alaska Native adults (50.3%) and white adults (43.1%) were
more likely to use CAM than Asian adults (39.9%) or black adults (25.5%).
Results from the 2007 NHIS found that approximately one in nine children
(11.8%) used CAM therapy in the past 12 months, with the most commonly used
therapies being nonvitamin, nonmineral, natural products (3.9%) and chiropractic
or osteopathic manipulation (2.8%). Children whose parent used CAM were
almost five times as likely (23.9%) to use CAM as children whose parent did not
use CAM (5.1%). For both adults and children in 2007, when worry about cost
delayed receipt of conventional care, individuals were more likely to use CAM
than when the cost of conventional care was not a worry. Between 2002 and
2007 increased use was seen among adults for acupuncture, deep breathing
exercises, massage therapy, meditation, naturopathy, and yoga. CAM use for
head or chest colds showed a marked decrease from 2002 to 2007 (9.5% to
2.0%).

Keywords: complementary, alternative medicine, fish oil, omega-3 DHA, EPA