Complementary and Integrative Medicine Summary Many Americans use medical treatments that are not part of mainstream medicine. When you are using these types of care, it may be called complementary, integrative, or alternative medicine. Complementary medicine is used together with mainstream medical care. An example is using acupuncture to help with side effects of cancer treatment. When health care providers and facilities offer both types of care, it is called integrative medicine. Alternative medicine is used instead of mainstream medical care. The claims that non-mainstream practitioners make can sound promising. However, researchers do not know how safe many of these treatments are or how well they work. Studies are underway to determine the safety and usefulness of many of these practices. To minimize the health risks of a non-mainstream treatment Discuss it with your doctor. It might have side effects or interact with other medicines. Find out what the research says about it Choose practitioners carefully Tell all of your doctors and practitioners about all of the different types of treatments you use NIH: National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health NIH MedlinePlus Magazine A Note on Complementary Medicines Complementary and Alternative Approaches to Health Expanding Horizons of Health Cares Quiz on Complementary and Alternative Medicine Time to Talk about CAM Children Alternative Medicine and Your Child Nemours Foundation Children and Complementary Health Approaches National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health Time to Talk: 5 Tips on Safety of Mind and Body Practices for Children and Teens National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health Seniors Alternative Remedies AGS Foundation for Health in Aging Complementary Health Approaches National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health Start Here Are You Considering Complementary Medicine? National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health Complementary and Alternative Medicine Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research Complementary, Alternative, or Integrative Health: What’s In a Name? National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health Specifics Ayurvedic Medicine: An Introduction National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health Biofeedback Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research Frequently Asked Questions about Music Therapy American Music Therapy Association Homeopathy: An Introduction National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health How Can Spirituality Affect Your Family’s Health? Nemours Foundation Hypnosis Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research Magnets for Pain Relief National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health Massage Therapy: What You Knead to Know National Institutes of Health Meditation and Health Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Meditation: An Introduction National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health MedlinePlus: Herbs and Supplements Music for Your Health American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists Naturopathy National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment American Osteopathic Association Pet Therapy: Man’s Best Friend as Healer Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research Reiki: An Introduction National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health Relaxation Techniques for Health: An Introduction National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health Tai Chi: An Introduction National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health Time to Talk: 5 Things You Should Know about Yoga National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health Time to Talk: 6 Things To Know About Massage Therapy for Health Purposes National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health Traditional Chinese Medicine: An Introduction National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health What Is Hot Yoga (Bikram)? Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research Yoga for Health National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health Related Issues Be an Informed Consumer National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health Complementary and Alternative Medicine: Evaluate Treatment Claims Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research Herbs at a Glance National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health Safe Use of Complementary Health Products and Practices National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health Time To Talk with Your Health Care Providers: 4 Tips to Start the Conversation National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health Time to Talk: 6 Things to Know When Selecting a Complementary Health Practitioner National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health Understanding Health News National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health Statistics and Research CAM on PubMed National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health Massage Therapy for Health Purposes: What You Need To Know National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health Regional Variation in Use of Complementary Health Approaches by U.S. Adults National Center for Health Statistics Study Quantifies Physical Demands of Yoga in Seniors National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health Use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine in the United States National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health Clinical Trials ClinicalTrials.gov: Complementary Therapies National Institutes of Health ClinicalTrials.gov: Homeopathy National Institutes of Health Teenagers Complementary and Alternative Medicine Nemours Foundation Yoga Nemours Foundation Find an Expert Find a Massage Therapist American Massage Therapy Association Find a NCCAOM Certified Practitioner National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health Images Image Gallery National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health Journal Articles Complementary and Integrative Medicine Array Scientific Results of Yoga for Health and Well-Being National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health Videos and Tutorials Tai Chi and Qi Gong for Health and Well-Being National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health Reference Desk Terms Related to Complementary and Integrative Health National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health Women Time to Talk: 4 Things to Know about Menopausal Symptoms and Complementary Health Practices National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health Women’s Health and Complementary Approaches National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health Latest News Mindfulness Meditation Seems to Soothe Breast Cancer Survivors HealthDay More Children Accidently Poisoned by ‘Essential Oils’ HealthDay Acupuncture May Ease Hot Flashes for Breast Cancer Patients HealthDay Meditation May Help Ease Chronic Low Back Pain HealthDay
