Use of Complementary Health Approaches Among Children Aged 4–17 Years in the United States: National Health Interview Survey, 2007–2012

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Natl Health Stat Report. Author manuscript; available in PMC 2015 Sep 8.

Published in final edited form as:

Natl Health Stat Report. 2015 Feb 10; (78): 1–19.

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Table 1

Frequencies and age-adjusted percentages of children aged 4–17 years who used or saw a practitioner, took a class, or received formal training for selected complementary and alternative medicine modalities during the past 12 months, by type of therapy: United States, 2007 and 2012

2007
2012
Therapy Number (in
thousands) Age-
adjusted
percent
(standard
error) Number (in
thousands) Age-
adjusted
percent
(standard
error) p
value^¹
Nonvitamin, nonmineral dietary supplements^² 2,452 4.3 (0.38) 2,753 4.9 (0.29) ^{^†}
Chiropractic or osteopathic manipulation 1,742 3.0 (0.29) 1,854 3.3 (0.26) ^{^†}
Yoga, tai chi, or qi gong (any) 1,414 2.5 (0.23) 1,820 3.2 (0.24) ^{^¶}
Yoga (any) 1,312 2.3 (0.22) 1,741 3.1 (0.23) ^{^¶}
Tai chi (any) ^{^{^‡}}113 ^{^{^‡}}0.2 (0.06) 139 0.2 (0.05) ^{^†}
Qi gong (any) ^{^‡} ^{^‡} 40 ^{^‡}0.1 (0.03) ^{^†}
Deep-breathing exercises^³ 1,533 2.7 (0.28) 1,531 2.7 (0.21) ^{^†}
Deep breathing as part of mantra, mindful, or spiritual meditation; guided imagery; or
progressive relaxation --- --- 360 0.6 (0.09) ---
Deep breathing as part of yoga, tai chi, or qi gong --- --- 1,387 2.5 (0.21) ---
Homeopathy treatment^⁴ 686 1.2 (0.26) 1,007 1.8 (0.19) ^{^†}
Homeopathy (practitioner based) --- --- 123 0.2 (0.06) ---
Meditation^⁵ 725 1.3 (0.16) 927 1.6 (0.16) ^{^†}
Mantra, mindful, or spiritual meditation --- --- 323 0.6 (0.09) ---
Meditation as part of yoga, tai chi, or qi gong --- --- 760 1.3 (0.15) ---
Massage 579 1.0 (0.14) 385 0.7 (0.10) ^{^†}
Special diets^⁶ 404 0.7 (0.12) 419 0.7 (0.12) ^{^†}
Progressive relaxation 327 0.6 (0.11) 216 0.4 (0.07) ^{^†}
Guided imagery 293 0.5 (0.11) 239 0.4 (0.08) ^{^†}
Movement therapies^⁷ 266 0.5 (0.08) 239 0.4 (0.09) ^{^†}
Energy healing therapy 110 0.2 (0.05) 102 0.2 (0.05) ^{^†}
Naturopathy ^{^‡}158 ^{^‡}0.3 (0.10) ^{^‡}130 0.2 (0.07) ^{^†}
Craniosacral therapy --- --- ^{^‡}95 ^{^‡}0.2 (0.07) ^{^†}
Acupuncture 96 0.2 (0.05) ^{^‡}79 ^{^‡}0.1 (0.05) ^{^§}
Traditional healers^⁸ 619 1.1 (0.20) ^{^‡}69 ^{^‡} 0.1 (0.05) ^{^§}
Biofeedback ^{^‡}73 ^{^‡}0.1 (0.04) ^{^‡}21 ^{^‡}0.0 (0.02) ^{^¶}
Hypnosis ^{^‡} ^{^‡} ^{^‡} ^{^‡} ^{^†}
Ayurveda 34 ^{^‡}0.1 (0.03) ^{^‡} ^{^‡} ^{^†}

^†Difference is not statistically significant.

^‡Estimates are considered unreliable. Data have a relative standard error (RSE) greater than 30% and less than or equal to 50% and should be used with caution. Data not shown have an RSE greater than 50%.

--- Data not available.

^§p value less than 0.01.

0.0 Quantity more than zero but less than 0.05.

^¶p value less than 0.05.

¹p value for differences across years.

²While questions were asked about nonvitamin, nonmineral dietary supplements in 2007 and 2012, the data should be interpreted with caution due to question order and the specific nonvitamin, nonmineral dietary supplements covered.

³Deep-breathing exercises in 2012 included deep-breathing exercises as part of hypnosis, biofeedback, mantra meditation (including Transcendental Meditation, relaxation response, and clinically standardized meditation), mindfulness meditation (including vipassana, Zen Buddhist meditation, mindfulness-based stress reduction, and mindfulness-based cognitive therapy), spiritual meditation (including centering prayer and contemplative meditation), guided imagery, progressive relaxation, yoga, tai chi, or qi gong, while deep-breathing exercises in 2007 asked broadly about the use of deep breathing and did not distinguish between deep breathing used as part of other complementary health approach modalities.

⁴Homeopathy questions in 2007 did not distinguish between practitioner based and self-care. Therefore, estimates presented in 2012 also do not take this into account.

⁵Meditation in 2012 includes mantra meditation (including Transcendental Meditation, relaxation response, and clinically standardized meditation), mindfulness meditation (including vipassana, Zen Buddhist meditation, mindfulness-based stress reduction, and mindfulness-based cognitive therapy), spiritual meditation (including centering prayer and contemplative meditation), and meditation as part of yoga, tai chi, or qi gong. In 2007, meditation was asked broadly and did not specify subgroups of meditation.

⁶Special diets in 2007 and 2012 include vegetarian (including vegan), macrobiotic, Atkins, Pritikin, and Ornish diets.

⁷Movement therapies in 2007 and 2012 include Feldenkrais, Alexander technique, Pilates, and Trager psychophysical integration.

⁸Traditional healers in 2007 include Curandero, Espiritista, Hierbero and Yerbera, Shaman, Botanica, Native American Healer or Medicine Man, and Sobador. Traditional healers in 2012 include Curandero, Machi, or Parchero; Yerbero or Hierbista; Shaman; Native American Healer or Medicine Man; Sobador; and Huesero.

NOTES: Estimates are based on household interviews of a sample of the civilian noninstitutionalized population. Estimates were age-adjusted using the projected 2000 U.S. population as the standard population and using two age groups: 4–11 and 12–17. The denominators for statistics shown exclude persons with unknown complementary health approach use information.

SOURCE: CDC/NCHS, National Health Interview Survey, 2007, 2012.

	2007		2012
Therapy	Number (in thousands)	Age- adjusted percent (standard error)	Number (in thousands)	Age- adjusted percent (standard error)	p value^¹
Nonvitamin, nonmineral dietary supplements^²	2,452	4.3 (0.38)	2,753	4.9 (0.29)	^{^†}
Chiropractic or osteopathic manipulation	1,742	3.0 (0.29)	1,854	3.3 (0.26)	^{^†}
Yoga, tai chi, or qi gong (any)	1,414	2.5 (0.23)	1,820	3.2 (0.24)	^{^¶}
Yoga (any)	1,312	2.3 (0.22)	1,741	3.1 (0.23)	^{^¶}
Tai chi (any)	^{^{^‡}}113	^{^{^‡}}0.2 (0.06)	139	0.2 (0.05)	^{^†}
Qi gong (any)	^{^‡}	^{^‡}	40	^{^‡}0.1 (0.03)	^{^†}
Deep-breathing exercises^³	1,533	2.7 (0.28)	1,531	2.7 (0.21)	^{^†}
Deep breathing as part of mantra, mindful, or spiritual meditation; guided imagery; or progressive relaxation	---	---	360	0.6 (0.09)	---
Deep breathing as part of yoga, tai chi, or qi gong	---	---	1,387	2.5 (0.21)	---
Homeopathy treatment^⁴	686	1.2 (0.26)	1,007	1.8 (0.19)	^{^†}
Homeopathy (practitioner based)	---	---	123	0.2 (0.06)	---
Meditation^⁵	725	1.3 (0.16)	927	1.6 (0.16)	^{^†}
Mantra, mindful, or spiritual meditation	---	---	323	0.6 (0.09)	---
Meditation as part of yoga, tai chi, or qi gong	---	---	760	1.3 (0.15)	---
Massage	579	1.0 (0.14)	385	0.7 (0.10)	^{^†}
Special diets^⁶	404	0.7 (0.12)	419	0.7 (0.12)	^{^†}
Progressive relaxation	327	0.6 (0.11)	216	0.4 (0.07)	^{^†}
Guided imagery	293	0.5 (0.11)	239	0.4 (0.08)	^{^†}
Movement therapies^⁷	266	0.5 (0.08)	239	0.4 (0.09)	^{^†}
Energy healing therapy	110	0.2 (0.05)	102	0.2 (0.05)	^{^†}
Naturopathy	^{^‡}158	^{^‡}0.3 (0.10)	^{^‡}130	0.2 (0.07)	^{^†}
Craniosacral therapy	---	---	^{^‡}95	^{^‡}0.2 (0.07)	^{^†}
Acupuncture	96	0.2 (0.05)	^{^‡}79	^{^‡}0.1 (0.05)	^{^§}
Traditional healers^⁸	619	1.1 (0.20)	^{^‡}69	^{^‡} 0.1 (0.05)	^{^§}
Biofeedback	^{^‡}73	^{^‡}0.1 (0.04)	^{^‡}21	^{^‡}0.0 (0.02)	^{^¶}
Hypnosis	^{^‡}	^{^‡}	^{^‡}	^{^‡}	^{^†}
Ayurveda	34	^{^‡}0.1 (0.03)	^{^‡}	^{^‡}	^{^†}