Approximately 38% of U.S. adults and nearly 12% of children (17 years of age and younger) use some form of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), according to a new nationwide government survey.

Comparing data from the 2002 and 2007 surveys suggests overall use of CAM among adults has remained relatively steady (36% in 2002 and 38% in 2007). However, there has been substantial variation in the use of some specific CAM therapies, such as deep breathing, meditation, massage therapy and yoga, which all showed significant increases. This survey marks the first time questions were included on children’s use of CAM.

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) and the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), a part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The survey included questions on 36 types of CAM therapies commonly used in the U.S.—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 Briggs, MD, 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, released in a National Health Statistics Report by NCHS, are based on data from more than 23,300 interviews with American adults and more than 9400 interviews with adults on behalf of a child in their household. The 2007 survey is the second conducted by NCCAM and NCHS—the first was done as part of the 2002 NHIS.

The most commonly used CAM products among U.S. adults were fish oil/omega 3/DHA, glucosamine, echinacea, flaxseed oil or pills and ginseng.

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. Adult use of CAM therapies for head or chest colds showed a marked decrease from 2002 to 2007 (9.5% in 2002 to 2% in 2007).

Overall, CAM use among children is nearly 12%, or about 1 in 9 children. They are five times more likely to use CAM if a parent or other relative uses CAM. Other characteristics of adult and child CAM users are similar—factors such as socioeconomic status, geographic region, the number of health conditions, the number of doctor visits in the last 12 months and delaying or not receiving conventional care because of cost are all associated with CAM use.

Among children who used CAM in the past 12 months, CAM therapies were used most often for back or neck pain, head or chest colds, anxiety or stress, other musculoskeletal problems and Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADD/ADHD). The most commonly used CAM products were echinacea, fish oil/omega 3/DHA, combination herb pill, flaxseed oil or pills, and prebiotics or probiotics.