Complementary and Alternative Medicine Use Among Rural Residents in Western North Carolina

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Abstract
This analysis examines prevalence and identifies the predictors of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use among adults living in a rural region and analyzes the general health concerns for which rural adults use CAM remedies. Data are from a cross-sectional survey of 1,059 adults residing in 12 nonmetropolitan counties in Appalachian North Carolina conducted in 1999. “Home remedies” is the most extensively used CAM category in this population, with “honey-lemon-vinegar-whiskey and herbs” being the most widely used. The use of specific home remedies is associated with age, gender, and education. Chiropractors are the only widely used alternative therapist. Home remedies are differentially used to treat health conditions.