More than one-third of Americans use some form of complementary and alternative medicine, according to a new U.S. health survey, which shows they have been quicker than Canadians to embrace natural health-care services.
According to the 2007 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), 38 per cent of American adults and 12 per cent of children use complementary or alternative medicine (CAM).
That is up two per cent from the 2002, the last time the survey was conducted.
According to the 2007 data:
- 17.7 per cent of Americans reported using non-vitamin, non-mineral natural products, such as fish oil, glucosamine, Echinacea, flaxseed and ginseng.
- 12.7 per cent reported using deep-breathing exercises.
- 9.4 per cent said they meditate.
- 8.6 per cent reported visiting a chiropractor or osteopath.
- 8.3 per cent said they have visited a massage therapist.
- 6.1 per cent have taken yoga classes.
"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," Dr. Josephine Briggs, director of the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM), said in a statement.
"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 new data show that Canadians are lagging behind, at least according to the most recent surveys.
The 2003 Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS) found that 20 per cent of Canadians ages 12 or older reported using some form of alternative or complementary health care, such as visiting a naturopath, acupuncturist or chiropractor.
That is an increase from 1994/1995, when the National Population Health Survey found that 15 per cent of Canadians aged 18 or older reported using some form of alternative care.
The 2003 survey also found that about one-quarter of Canadians who were diagnosed with at least one chronic condition reported consulting with an alternative practitioner.
However, when it comes to the use of natural health products, Canadians are far ahead of their American counterparts.
A 2005 survey conducted by the Natural Health Product Directorate (NHPD) of Health Canada found that a whopping 71 per cent of Canadians have used a natural health product, with 38 per cent doing so on a daily basis. Vitamins, Echinacea and herbal remedies were the most common forms of natural health products used.
The survey also found that nearly a third of Canadians believe natural health products are safe and perhaps better than conventional medications.
Teela Johnson, a co-ordinator at the Canadian Interdisciplinary Network for Complementary and Alternative Medicine Research and a manager at Noah's Natural Foods, is not surprised that natural health products and alternative health care are growing in popularity.
The spike can be attributed to a number of factors, she says, including a greater interest among consumers in managing their own care and improving their health, as well as media and celebrity messages about eco- and health-conscious lifestyles.
Johnson believes alternative health care practices will slowly become an integral part of mainstream health care.
"As more scientific research is conducted, we will have a better understanding of what works and what doesn't," Johnson told CTV.ca. "Once this happens, I think it will become integral because there will be less skepticism (and rightly so) about natural health products and CAM modalities."
