Prevalence of use of specific therapies

Complementary and alternative medicine CAM has been described as a broad domain of healing resources that encompasses all health systems, modalities, and practices and their accompanying theories and beliefs, other than those intrinsic to the politically dominant health system of a particular society or culture in a given historical period. CAM includes all such practices and ideas self-defined by their users as preventing or treating illness or promoting health and well-being. Boundaries within CAM and between the CAM domain and that of the dominant system are not always sharp or fixed.^[37] 

About 50% of people in developed countries use some kind of complementary and alternative medicine other than prayer for health.^{[149][150][151]} A British telephone survey by the BBC of 1209 adults in 1998 shows that around 20% of adults in Britain had used alternative medicine in the past 12 months.^[152] About 40% of cancer patients use some form of CAM.^[153]

In developing nations, access to essential medicines is severely restricted by lack of resources and poverty. Traditional remedies, often closely resembling or forming the basis for alternative remedies, may comprise primary healthcare or be integrated into the healthcare system. In Africa, traditional medicine is used for 80% of primary healthcare, and in developing nations as a whole over one-third of the population lack access to essential medicines.^[154]

The most common CAM therapies used in the US in 2002 were prayer 45.2%, herbalism 18.9%, breathing meditation 11.6%, meditation 7.6%, chiropractic medicine 7.5%, yoga 5.1%-6.1%, body work 5.0%, diet-based therapy 3.5%, progressive relaxation 3.0%, mega-vitamin therapy 2.8% and Visualization 2.1%^[150][161]

In Britain, the most often used alternative therapies were Alexander technique, Aromatherapy, Bach and other flower remedies, Body work therapies including massage, Counseling stress therapies, hypnotherapy, Meditation, Reflexology, Shiatsu, Ayurvedic medicine, Nutritional medicine, and Yoga.^[162] Ayurvedic medicine remedies are mainly plant based with some use of animal materials.^[163] Safety concerns include the use of herbs containing toxic compounds and the lack of quality control in Ayurvedic facilities.^[164][165]

According to the National Health Service England, the most commonly used complementary and alternative medicines CAM supported by the NHS in the UK are: acupuncture, aromatherapy, chiropractic, homeopathy, massage, osteopathy and clinical hypnotherapy.^[10]

"Complementary medicine treatments used for pain include: acupuncture, low-level laser therapy, meditation, aroma therapy, Chinese medicine, dance therapy, music therapy, massage, herbalism, therapeutic touch, yoga, osteopathy, chiropractic, naturopathy, and homeopathy."^[166]