As Americans age, they increasingly embrace some form of complementary alternative medicine (CAM). However, for most therapy types, usage peaks between the ages of 40 and 60, which then drops off over time. The gap is bridged by the increasingly important role prayer plays in alternative healing for Americans as they age beyond 60. Amy Karlson

The likelihood an individual will use a form of comparative alternative medicine (CAM) therapy generally correlates with higher levels of completed education. However, the most widely practiced type of CAM, mind-body therapy, does not follow this trend. People at all levels of education are generally equally likely to practice mind-body therapy, but the less educated the individual, the more likely the practice includes some type of prayer. Amy Karlson

Alternative medicine in America is practiced considerably across all races. Taking into account all therapy types, a higher percentage of Black Americans practice alternative forms of healing than individuals of other ethnicities. However, this relative percentage falls below those of other races when Megavitamin and Prayer therapies are removed from consideration, at which point Asian Americans practice CAM at the highest rate. Overall, over one third of the population practices some form of CAM, and if prayer is included, the percentage rises to nearly two-thirds. Amy Karlson