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National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health

10 Most Common Complementary Health Approaches Among Adults—2012

10 most common complementary health approaches among adults—2012; Natural products, Deep Breathing, Yoga, tai chi, or qi gong, Chiropractic or osteopathic manipulation, Meditation, Massage, Special diets, Homeopathy, Progressive relaxation, Guided imagery

Horizontal bar graph from 2012 National Health Interview Survey depicting the most common complementary health approaches among adults.

Natural products*: 17.7 percent
Deep breathing: 10.9 percent
Yoga, tai chi, or qi gong: 10.1 percent
Chiropractic or osteopathic manipulation: 8.4 percent
Meditation: 8.0 percent
Massage: 6.9 percent
Special diets: 3.0 percent
Homeopathy: 2.2 percent
Progressive relaxation: 2.1 percent
Guided imagery: 1.7 percent

*Dietary supplements other than vitamins and minerals. 

Source: Clarke TC, Black LI, Stussman BJ, Barnes PM, Nahin RL. Trends in the use of complementary health approaches among adults: United States, 2002-2012. National health statistics reports; no 79. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics. 2015.

[Back to National Health Interview Survey 2012]