The 2002 NHIS recognized 74 conditions (including an "other" category) that respondents could have treated with natural herbs. (See HERYTREAT for the full list.) To obtain responses to HERYCON1, the interviewer first asked, "For what health problems or conditions did you use natural herbs?" After recording all answers, the interviewer displayed the list of conditions reported by the respondent and asked, "Which three of these are the most bothersome?" These three conditions are reported in HERYCON1, HERYCON2, and HERYCON3.

Respondents were also asked how much natural herbs had helped the three conditions reported to be most bothersome. The following variables report the degree of help from natural herbs for each of the three most bothersome conditions: HERYCON1HELP, HERYCON2HELP, and HERYCON3HELP.

Variables similar to HERYCON1, which report the first of the three most bothersome conditions treated by other modalities of alternative medicine, include:

• Acupuncture (ACUCON1)

• Ayurveda (AYUCON1)

• Biofeedback (BIOCON1)

• Chelation (CHECON1)

• Chiropractic care (COMCON1)

• Special diet (DITCON1)

• Energy healing therapy (EHTCON1)

• Folk medicine (FOKCON1)

• Homeopathic treatment (HOMCON1)

• Massage (MASCON1)

• Naturopathy (NATCON1)

• Healing ritual/sacrament (PRACON1)

• Relaxation techniques (RELCON1)

• High dose or megavitamin therapy (VITYCON1)

• Yoga, Tai chi, or Qi gong (YTQCON1)

Analysts interested in the conditions treated by herbal supplements may also wish to consult HER1TCONMOST and HER2TCONMOST, which report the conditions for which herbs were taken the most for purposes of treatment in 2007. Also in 2007, HER1PMOST and HER2PMOST report the conditions for which herbs were taken the most for purposes of prevention.

For more information on the full range of variables related to natural herbs in 2002, see HERYR. For information on herb variables from 2007, see HERMO.