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NATYR
Used naturopathy, past 12 months
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Description

NATYR reports whether the person had seen a provider or practitioner for naturopathy during the past 12 months. See the Comparability and Universe Tabs for information on changes to the universe of this variable over time.

Prior to 2022, naturopathy was one of many alternative health treatment modalities included in the Complementary and Alternative Health Supplements. In some years, if sample persons gave a positive response to NATYR, they were asked a series of follow-up questions.

Beginning in 2022, NATYR was one of twenty-five variables sponsored by the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to assess complementary and integrative health (CIH) practices. Please see THPYART to learn more about the Complementary and Integrative Health content section, including a complete list of CIH variables fielded in the 2022 NHIS.

Definitions 

The 2002 Field Representative's Manual defines naturopathy as:

a broad system of medicine based on the theory that the body is a self-regulating mechanism with the natural ability to maintain a state of health and wellness. Naturopathic doctors, who generally reject invasive techniques and the use of synthetic drugs, attempt to cure illness and disease by harnessing the body's natural healing powers. This is done with the use of various alternative and traditional techniques, including herbal medicine, homeopathy, massage, dietary supplements, and other physical therapies.

This definition was not routinely shared with respondents.

In other years, the Field Representative's Manual provided a slightly different definition. In these years, naturopathy was defined as:

an alternative medical system. Naturopathic medicine proposes that there is a healing power in the body that establishes, maintains, and restores health. Practitioners work with the patient with a goal of supporting this power through treatments such as nutrition and lifestyle counseling, dietary supplements, medicinal plants, exercise, homeopathy, and treatments from traditional Chinese medicine.

Additionally, field representatives in other years were advised to "feel free to offer [this definition] even if the respondent has not requested [it]."

In 2022, the questionnaire text shared with the respondent defined a naturopath as:

a licensed doctor who went to naturopathic medical school and uses both standard medical tests as well as massage, acupuncture, exercise, nutritional counseling, and natural therapies such as herbs.

Related Variables 

In some years, additional information about use of naturopathy was collected for respondents who reported using naturopathy in the past 12 months.

Prior to 2022, the additional information collected included variables on frequency of use and amount of out-of-pocket costs. Please use the IPUMS NHIS drop-down menus and search function to explore these variables.

Beginning in 2022, the additional information collected included variables on seeing a practitioner of naturopath to treat or manage physical pain and to restore overall health.

  • NATPAIN: Saw practitioner of naturopathy for pain
  • NATHLTH: Saw practitioner of naturopathy to restore overall health

Comparability

Changes in the universe and sample design affect comparability of this variable across time.

Sample Adults
In 2002, 2007, and 2012, sample adults 18 and older were first asked whether they had ever seen a provider for naturopathy (NATEV) and, for those who indicated that they had, NATYR records whether they had seen a provider for naturopathy in the past 12 months. In 2017 and 2022, the initial question asking about whether sample adults had ever seen a provider for naturopathy was not asked. Instead, all sample adults aged 18 and older were asked whether they had seen a provider for naturopathy in the past 12 months.

Sample Children
In 2007, sample children were added to the universe for this question. In 2007 and 2017, the person responding for the sample child was asked whether the child had seen a provider for naturopathy in the past 12 months. In 2012, the respondent was first asked whether the sample child had ever seen a provider for naturopathy and then asked whether the child had seen a provider in the past 12 months. In 2007, respondents for sample children under age 18 were asked about naturopathy, and in 2012, 2017, and 2022 respondents for sample children aged 4 and older were asked about naturopathy.

In addition, the NHIS questionnaire was substantially redesigned in 2019 to introduce a different data collection structure and new content. For more information on changes in terminology, universes, and data collection methods beginning in 2019, please see the user note.

Universe

  • 2002: Sample adults age 18+ who have ever seen a practitioner for naturopathy.
  • 2007: Sample adults age 18+ who have ever seen a practitioner for naturopathy and sample children under 18.
  • 2012: Sample adults age 18+ and sample children age 4+ who have ever seen a practitioner for naturopathy.
  • 2017: Sample adults age 18+ and sample children age 4+.
  • 2022: Sample adults age 18+ and sample children age 4-17.

Availability

  • 2002, 2007, 2012, 2017, 2022

Weights