Respondents were first asked, "For what specific health problems or conditions did you take [fill: 1st herb] to prevent?" (See HER1MOST for the first herbal supplement taken most often by the respondent.) Sample adults could report that they had used a first herbal supplement to prevent any of 82 health problems or conditions--81 specific conditions plus 1 residual "other" category--recognized by the 2007 NHIS. See HER1PADD for the full list of conditions.

If the respondent indicated that the first herbal supplement was used to prevent more than one condition (HER1PCONNO), he or she was asked the question for HER1PMOST: "For which one of these health problems or conditions did you take [fill: 1st herb] the most to prevent?" Interviewers were instructed, "If respondent cannot choose one condition, probe for condition most important for using herbs."

With respondents who had taken more than one herbal supplement during the past 30 days (i.e., for whom HERMOSUPNO was greater than 1) to prevent specific health problems (HER2PREV), interviewers pursued a similar line of questioning about the specific health problems or conditions prevented by a second herbal supplement (e.g., see HER2PMOST).

Researchers interested in the conditions treated by herbal supplements may wish to consult the following summary variables:

• Condition for which 1st herbal supplement was taken to treat most (HER1TCONMOST)

• Condition for which 2nd herbal supplement was taken to treat most (HER2TCONMOST)

For more information on the full range of variables related to herbal supplements in 2007, see HERMO. For information on herb variables from other years, see HERYR.