Use of Alternative Medicine on the Rise

ANNARBOR, Mich .—More than 37 percent of U.S households regularly use complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) for health issues from headaches to diabetes, according to a survey conducted by Thomson Medstat (www.medstat.com). The survey of 23,000 adults also found CAM use was prevalent among those with annual incomes exceeding $100,000, and those with post-graduate college degrees; nearly two-thirds of respondents said their physicians were aware of their use of these therapies, and more than 40 percent said at least some of the costs of their alternative treatments were covered by insurance. The most commonly reported practices were use of herbal supplements and massage/ chiropractic care, followed by mind/body practices, energy therapies and naturopathy.