Google Trends and the interest in Integrative and Complementary Practices in Health in times of coronavirus

This article investigates the popularity of Integrative and Complementary Health Practices by analyzing internet search behavior during distinct periods. The objective was to examine the public's interest in searching for these practices before and during the covid-19 pandemic in Brazil, using data from Google Trends. Quantitative digital analysis methods were applied to assess the relative volume of searches in 2019 and 2020. Subsequently, a paired t-test was conducted to identify significant differences in search activity. The practices that showed an increase in average search volume were ayurveda, phytotherapy, medicinal plants, chiropractic, and yoga. In contrast, acupuncture, homeopathy, meditation, osteopathy, ozone therapy, and reiki showed a decrease. The study reveals that internet users expressed interest in these approaches, with variations depending on the specific modality. Among them, yoga stood out with a significant increase, suggesting heightened relevance during the pandemic period.