Trends in Alternative Medicine Use in the United States, 1990-1997

Abstract

ALTERNATIVE medical therapies, functionally defined as interventions neither taught widely in medical schools nor generally available in US hospitals,¹ have attracted increased national attention from the media, the medical community, governmental agencies, and the public. A 1990 national survey of alternative medicine prevalence, costs, and patterns of use¹ demonstrated that alternative medicine has a substantial presence in the US health care system. Data from a survey in 1994² and a public opinion poll in 1997³ confirmed the extensive use of alternative medical therapies in the United States. An increasing number of US insurers and managed care organizations now offer alternative medicine programs and benefits.⁴ The majority of US medical schools now offer courses on alternative medicine.⁵