Complementary and alternative medicine in otolaryngology

The widespread interest in and use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) by patients in the United States has been established by multiple surveys. One-third of the U.S. population uses some form of CAM, and an estimated 23 billion dollars is spent annually on these therapies. Because of prevalent usage of CAM among patients, it is important that physicians have some knowledge of this subject. With this purpose in mind, this report reviews the current research on CAM as it relates to common disorders of the head and neck: rhinitis, sinusitis, tinnitus, vertigo, and head and neck oncology.