Objective: The study was designed to determine the conditions of use of complementary and alternative treatment methods of elderly individuals living in rural setting.

Material and Methods: This research which was a descriptive type was performed in three Family Health Center in Izmir between 17 January 2011 - 31 March 2011. The study sample consisted of 60 years and over and 300 elderly individuals who can be contacted and agreed to participate on the date of the study. The research data prepared by the researchers were collected with the used form of Complementary and Alternative Treatment (CAM) methods therapies and the form of elderly individual. The data were determined by using with number, percentage and chi-square test.

Results: Average age of patients evaluated in the study was 67.67±6.65 and 77% of them had chronic diseases. It was found that 69.7% of elderly individuals have known CAM methods, 98.3% of them have used CAM therapies, 70.7% of them used herbal therapies. It was determined that elderly individuals never used yoga, biofeedback, and hypnosis methods. It was determined that 60-80 % of elderly individuals with respiratory, gastrointestinal, urinary, musculo-skeletal, and endocrine system health have used religious practices. They also used oftenly 'thinking of physically relaxed' on CAM methods.

Conclusions: Almost all elderly individuals used CAM methods, but without knowing the methods used. The most commonly used CAM method was herbal therapy and they focused on the most religious practices for many systemic diseases.