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

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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