Reasons for and perceived benefits of utilizing complementary and alternative medicine in U.S. adults with migraines/severe headaches

We estimated prevalence rates of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use by reason for use (treatment, wellness, or both), and examined perceived benefits of using CAM among U.S. adults with migraines/severe headaches. The 2012 National Health Interview Survey, which represents non-institutionalized adults with migraines/severe headaches (n = 4447 unweighted), were used. Of the study sample, 41.3% used some form of CAM in the past year. Nearly a third of them (29.6%) used CAM for wellness only and 59% used CAM for both wellness and treatment. In given six self-reported perceived benefits, those who used CAM for wellness only and for a combination of both treatment and wellness had higher likelihoods of reporting benefits for all categories (p < 0.05), except for better sleep, when compared to those who used CAM for treatment only. CAM use was associated with an improvement in several health-related quality of life outcomes in U.S. adults with migraines/severe headaches.