Table 2.
Common reasons for use and perceived effectiveness of CAM modalities.
| Product | Ever used from total number of 108 |
Most common reason of use (number/responders) |
Positive effect |
||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Improvement of osteoporosis | Increasing hemoglobin | Increasing general health | Decreasing iron | Feel relaxed | Improvement of gastrointestinal discomfort | Other causes | Number (%) | ||
| Vitamins | |||||||||
| Vitamin C | 43 | 8/23 | 9/23 | 28 (65.1) | |||||
| Vitamin B | 22 | 11/15 | 15 (68.1) | ||||||
| Herbs | |||||||||
| Mint | 54 | 14/24 | 35 (68.4) | ||||||
| Chamomile | 31 | 10/17 | 24 (77.4) | ||||||
| Leek | 5 | 3/3 | 4 (80) | ||||||
| Garlic | 32 | 6/9 | 14 (43.7) | ||||||
| Jinseng | 8 | 3/3 | 2 (25) | ||||||
| Other herbsa | 27 | 5/14 | 17 (62.9) | ||||||
| Miscellaneous | |||||||||
| Homeopathy | 5 | 1/1 | 2 (40) | ||||||
| Probiotic | 10 | 2/5 | 4 (40) | ||||||
| Fish oil | 14 | 3/6 | 5 (35.7) | ||||||
| Practice | |||||||||
| Faith healing | 54 | 19/31 | 33 (61.1) | ||||||
| Massage | 5 | 1/2 | 1/2 | 5 (100) | |||||
| Energy healing | 6 | 4/5 | 3 (50) | ||||||
| Acupuncture | 2 | 1/1 | 2 (100) | ||||||
| Yoga | 7 | 1 | 6 (85.7) | ||||||
| Other practicesb | 9 | 2 | 6 (66.6) | ||||||
a
Other Herbs included green tea (Camellia sinensis), chicory (Cichorium intybus), Borage (Borago officinalis), Garden Thyme (thymus vulgaris), and Cinnamon (Cinnamomum verum).
b
Other practices include music therapy, meditation and Tai Chi training.