What is complementary and alternative medicine?
A therapy is generally called complementary when it is used in addition to conventional treatments; it is often called alternative when it is used instead of conventional treatment. (Conventional treatments are those that are widely accepted and practiced by the mainstream medical community). Depending on how they are used, some therapies can be considered either complementary or alternative.Complementary and alternative therapies are used in an effort to prevent illness, reduce stress, prevent or reduce side effects and symptoms, or control or cure disease. Some commonly used methods of complementary or alternative therapy include mind/body control interventions such as visualization orrelaxation; manual healing, including acupressure and massage; homeopathy; vitamins or herbal products; and acupuncture.
