Prayer is the most commonly used "alternative medicine," according to a survey of more than 31,000 adults released by the National Institutes of Health yesterday — more popular than acupuncture, chiropractic care, yoga, vitamins and other complementary medical therapies.
The survey was conducted as part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's 2002 National Health Interview Survey, which charts the nation's health behaviors.
According to NIH, prayer is considered a "mind-body therapy," a category that also includes biofeedback, meditation, guided imagery, hypnosis and even deep breathing exercises.
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