If it were ever in doubt, that can be now laid aside -- Complementary and Alternative Medicines (CAM) are now thoroughly established as mainstream. A new survey by the National Center of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) and the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) shows that nearly 40% of adults in the U.S. used some form of CAM therapy in 2007. Vitamins and supplements headed the list of CAM practices most people used, along with deep breathing, yoga, and meditation. The study found that a significantly higher percentage of women used CAM (42.8 percent v. 33.5 percent of men), as well as those with higher levels of education (55.4 percent of those with masters, doctorate or professional status were using CAM!). To listen to a rundown of the study, the NCHS has provided a podcast you can listen to right here, or if you'd prefer, a transcript right here.

The most commonly used dietary supplements included echinacea, fish oil, flaxseed oil and probiotics, and you can check out our healthnotes about each of them in the links below:

DSIB: Echinacea

DSIB: Fish Oil

DSIB: Flaxseed Oil

DSIB: Probiotics