The report was based on information from 31,044 interviews with adults aged 18 and older.

Researchers believed the results of the study pointed to the fact that more people are using alternative medicine. Also, it was apparent that an increasing number of people have turned to natural products like herbs or enzymes to help with chronic or recurring pain.

Experts suggested that people should not neglect conventional medicine in those instances where it has been proven to help certain conditions and also recommended consulting a doctor before practicing alternative medicine. Experts were concerned about the number of people turning to alternative medicine because they felt they were no longer able to afford the costs of conventional care.

Experts cautioned people who assumed that just because a product was natural that it was automatically safe to use. An example they cited was the 6.6 percent of people in the study found to use the supplement kava kava, which has been linked to liver disease.

Significant findings from the study include:

• 62 percent of the participants used some form complementary and alternative medicine over the past year for a specific medical condition, broken down as follows:

Prayer for own health, 43 percent Prayer by others for the respondent's health, 24 percent Natural products (such as herbs, other botanicals, and enzymes), 19 percent Deep breathing exercises, 12 percent Participation in prayer group for own health, 10 percent

Meditation, 8 percent Chiropractic care, 8 percent Yoga, 5 percent Massage, 5 percent Diet-based therapies, 4 percent

• 45 percent turned to some kind of prayer to help them heal in the past 12 months

• There was a higher tendency for women to use complementary and alternative medicine than men

• 28 percent of the participants felt that conventional treatment would not help them

Based on the findings of this report, there appears to be a greater percentage of people turning to complementary and alternative medicine for their health needs.

Center for Disease Control National Center for Health Statistics May 27, 2004 (20-page Full-Text PDF Report)

Dr. Mercola's Comments:

It’s great news that these numbers appear to be increasing, but you can see that we still have a long way to go though as only 4 percent, or one in 25, are using nutrition to address their health. Fortunately, chiropractic is up to 8 percent, or double those who use nutrition. Recently, I spoke to all the students at Parker Chiropractic College, which is one of the finest chiropractic colleges in the country. I had lunch with their incredible president, Fabrizzio Mancinni, and he has a great perspective on this low number and views it from a positive angle--he thinks that means there is much more of an opportunity. Similarly, I believe that over 95 percent of the U.S. population is in desperate need of sound nutritional therapy. The public’s loss of faith in conventional medicine doesn’t come as a surprise to me, as I wrote in a past newsletter article that even doctors weren’t comfortable with the benefits from conventional medicine. Currently, the United States spends about $1.5 trillion for health care, and the projections are that it will double in less than 10 years. These are devastating statistics particularly considering the growing number of people who feel that conventional medicine isn’t helping them. The other sad tragedy is that we are spending all of this money on disease management focused on drugs and surgery, and our return on this investment is profoundly poor. More and more people do not have the energy they need to get through the day while millions of others are suffering with painful crippling diseases because they have violated basic health principles. Often, negative health and lifestyle choices are made because of a lack of knowledge, and it's my vision to increase the public's awareness of the health tragedies facing the nation. Through this Web site and free e-newsletter I will give you, the consumer, the tools to become a major force for good health and to alleviate disease and suffering. Related Articles: U.S. Health Care System No Longer ‘World’s Best’ Death by Medicine Nursing Shortage Crisis Could Help End the Traditional Paradigm Shame: A Major Reason Why Most Medical Doctors Don't Change Their Views Most Doctors Who Set Guidelines Have Industry Ties Why Death Rates Decrease When Doctors Go On Strike