Taking dietary supplements and herbal supplements is something that thousands of Americans do every day as a part of an alternative approach to good health and wellness. Now, research conducted at the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center indicates that certain complementary therapies are being suggested by healthcare professionals.

A study published in the journal Archives of Internal Medicine found that mind-body therapies (MBTs) like yoga, deep breathing and meditation are more and more often being prescribed as a holistic way to supplement traditional medical methods.

The report determined that of more than 23,000 MBT-practicing households included in a survey, 3 percent reported having initiated the activity at the urging of a physician. This figure translates to approximately 6.3 million Americans who use MBTs as part of a medical referral.

“There’s good evidence to support using mind-body therapies clinically,” author Aditi Nerurkar commented. “Still, we didn’t expect to see provider referral rates that were quite so high.”

For individuals who hope to boost their nutrition uptake naturally, taking a daily multivitamin may help their body’s retain vital vitamins and minerals.