WASHINGTON - Some 38% of American adults and nearly 12% of children use alternative medicines and food supplements, according to a nationwide survey released Wednesday.
This annual survey on the health of Americans, conducted in 2007, takes into account the first time people under 17 who use herbal supplements, are using meditation, chiropractic and acupuncture, which are generally not regarded as belonging to traditional medicine.
More than 23,000 adults and more than 9,400 parents responding on behalf of their children were interviewed across the country about their health and their therapeutic practices.
The questionnaire included 36 types of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM English) most commonly used in the United States, ten kinds of therapies such as chiropractic and acupuncture, and 26 others that do not require therapists as meditation.
An initial survey CAM, conducted in 2002 shows that the use of alternative medicine has remained stable: 36% in 2002 against 38% in 2007. The survey shows, however, increased use of deep breathing, meditation, massage and yoga.
Leading practices of adults, found 17.7% use natural products such as fish oil, seeds and linseed oil or the omega 3 fatty acid.
followed by deep breathing exercises (12.7%), meditation (9.4%), chiropractic and osteopathy (8.6%), massage (8.3%) and yoga (6 , 1%).
According to the survey, Americans have chosen these products or practices primarily to relieve pain, particularly back and neck, arthritis and other joint problems.
Moreover, it is women who prefer alternative medicine (42.8% against 33.5% men), especially those with a higher level of education (55.4%) or living in Western countries (44.6%) or had stopped smoking (48.1%).
In children, nearly 12% use these practices with a predilection (3.9%) for natural products (fish oil, flaxseed, omega 3 ...), chiropractic and osteopathy ( 2.8%), respiration deep (2.2%) and yoga (2.1%).
indications are broadly the same as in adults but it adds stress, anxiety and hyperactivity.
Children are also not surprisingly five times more likely to turn to alternative medicines when their family does too.
(© AFP / December 10, 2008 6:19 p.m.)
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