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Complementary and alternative medicine are types of medicine and healing that differ from conventional medicine. They include things like mind–body therapies, nutritional therapies, body-based therapies, and whole medicine systems.

Complementary and Alternative Medicine (for Parents) - Nemours KidsHealth [Skip to Content] Find care at Nemours Children's Health Doctors Locations For Parents For Kids For Teens For Educators Search Menu Close Menu For Parents For Kids For Teens For Educators Back Featured Topics For Parents Sitio para padres Parents Home General Health Growth & Development Infections Diseases & Conditions Pregnancy & Baby Nutrition & Fitness Emotions & Behavior School & Family Life First Aid & Safety Doctors & Hospitals Videos Expert Answers (Q&A) Helping Kids When They Worry When kids worry, parents can provide calm support. Here’s how Parents Home Sitio para padres Back Featured Topics For Kids Sitio para niños Kids Home How the Body Works Puberty & Growing Up Staying Healthy Staying Safe Dictionary Health Problems Illnesses & Injuries Relax & Unwind People, Places & Things That Help Feelings Expert Answers (Q&A) Videos How Can I Handle Stress? There are ways to help yourself through stressful moments. Find out how Kids Home Sitio para niños Back Featured Topics For Teens Sitio para adolescentes Teens Home Body Mind Sexual Health Food & Fitness Diseases & Conditions Infections Drugs & Alcohol School & Jobs Sports Expert Answers (Q&A) Staying Safe Videos Getting Help for Depression If you feel depressed or alone, talking to a parent is a good place to start. Tips for talking Teens Home Sitio para adolescentes Search KidsHealth library English Español KidsHealth Parents Complementary and Alternative Medicine Complementary and Alternative Medicine en español: Medicina alternativa y complementaria Medically reviewed by: Amy W. Anzilotti, MD Primary Care Pediatrics at Nemours Children's Health Listen Play Stop   Volume   mp3 Settings Close Player Larger text size Large text size Regular text size Print The use of complementary and alternative medicine has grown over the past few decades. Many are safe, but some can be dangerous. Always talk to your regular doctor before starting any complementary or alternative medicine treatments for you or your family. What Are Complementary and Alternative Medicines? Complementary and alternative medicine are types of medicine and healing that differ from conventional medicine. Conventional medicine (also called mainstream, traditional, or western-style medicine) is the main type of medicine taught at most medical schools. It is scientifically tested and practiced by many doctors in hospitals and clinics. Common conventional medical treatments include medicine, surgery, and changes in diet or exercise patterns. There are some differences between complementary and alternative medicines, but many people use the terms to mean the same thing. A slight difference is that “complementary” means it is used along with conventional medicine, while “alternative” means it’s sometimes used instead of conventional medicine. What Are Some Types of Complementary and Alternative Medical Treatments? There are many types of complementary and alternative medical treatments. Not all have been scientifically proven to be safe or to work. Some types of complementary and alternative medicine can be grouped as: Mind–body therapies Meditation trains the mind to be quiet, calm, and focused. Hypnosis puts someone into a trance-like state. This can help some people respond to a suggestion (for example, to stop smoking). Biofeedback teaches people to change how the body responds to a situation (for example, to slow breathing when faced with stress). Yoga uses a series of stretching and poses with rhythmic breathing. Tai chi uses a slow dance-like set of movements. Nutritional therapies herbs such as chamomile dietary supplements such as probiotics vitamins and minerals (such as vitamin C or calcium taken as a pill) special diets such as a keto diet Body-based therapies Massage uses different pressures of touch. Therapeutic touch uses gentle touch. Reflexology puts pressure on certain areas of the feet and hands. Acupuncture is the use of tiny needles to stimulate points on the body. Chiropractic therapy uses spinal manipulation (pressing on different parts of the spine). Reiki uses the hands near or lightly touching the body. Whole medicine systems Traditional Chinese medicine uses methods such as herbs, acupuncture, and tai chi. Ayurvedic medicine uses mainly plant-based treatments and changes to diet, exercise, and lifestyle. Homeopathic medicine uses very diluted forms of herbs, minerals, and other substances. Naturopathic medicine uses a combination of conventional medical practices along with herbs, dietary supplements, homeopathy, massage, and other treatments. Why Do People Use Complementary and Alternative Medicine? Many people feel that the best approach to health and wellness is to use a combination of conventional, complementary, and alternative medicine. This is called integrative medicine. They may see their regular doctor for a prescription for allergy medicine, for example, or a surgeon to set up surgery for an injury. They also might see a chiropractor for treatment for back pain or take an herbal or vitamin supplement. Some people choose to try an alternative or complementary medicine if conventional medicine hasn’t helped or has too many side effects. What Else Should I Know? Ask your doctor before you use complementary or alternative medicine. They can help you find out if the treatment is safe and if it works. They also can make sure that any new treatments won’t cause problems with those you already use. Your regular doctor also can help you check that complementary and alternative medicine providers have the right training and licensing to make sure you get the best care. You can get more information online at: National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health Nemours Children’s Health Medically reviewed by: Amy W. Anzilotti, MD Date reviewed: July 2022 More on this topic for: Parents Kids Teens More on this topicFor Parents Acupuncture Relaxation Techniques for Kids With Serious Illness What's a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine? Medicines: Using Them Safely More on this topicFor Kids Vitamins Try Yoga to Lower Stress More on this topicFor Teens Vitamins and Minerals Mindfulness Exercises Yoga View more Share: Share to Facebook Share to Twitter Share to Pinterest About Us Contact Us Partners Editorial Policy Permissions Guidelines Privacy Policy & Terms of Use Notice of Nondiscrimination Note: All information on Nemours® KidsHealth® is for educational purposes only. For specific medical advice, diagnoses, and treatment, consult your doctor. © 1995-2023. The Nemours Foundation. Nemours Children's Health®, KidsHealth®, and Well Beyond Medicine® are registered trademarks of The Nemours Foundation. All rights reserved. Images sourced by The Nemours Foundation and Getty Images.  