Companies have greatly expanded coverage of nontraditional health care mainly in response to employee requests, the International Society of Certified Employee Benefit Specialists found. And two-thirds of a group of 534 employees and employers surveyed expect more employers will offer coverage or discounts for alternative care.

The group's study, focusing on responses to questionnaires from 382 employers and 152 employees, found the most frequently used alternative treatments were massage therapy, herbal medicine, chiropractic and relaxation/stress reduction.

Chiropractic remains the most common form of insured alternative care, covered by 86 percent of the employers (and required by law as a benefit in some states). Among employers that offer care other than chiropractic, three-quarters cover acupuncture.

Demand for alternative care has grown as employees become more dissatisfied with the traditional treatments and learn more about alternatives, the study suggests.

Other findings:

--Most respondents used alternative therapy for more than one reason. Improving "overall well-being" and effectiveness in treating the condition topped the list.

--The top three obstacles facing employers in providing benefits for alternative care are inadequate clinical research, regulatory concerns and ignorance about or negativity toward alternative care.

--Of those who did not use alternative care during the past year, 20 percent expect to use it or to consider using it; 38 percent do not and 35 percent remained unsure.