Conventional vs.

complementary medicine
Conventional medicine is the most common type of medicine in the Western world. Complementary
and alternative medicine (CAM) is the term for treatments that are not part of mainstream
healthcare.
Many types of complementary medicine have been around for hundreds of years. However, it is
only over the last few decades that doctors have started to use complementary medicines alongside
conventional treatments.
Conventional medicine, also called Western medicine or modern medicine, is when healthcare
professionals such as doctors, nurses, and therapists use scientific research to diagnose and treat
symptoms and conditions.
Examples of conventional medicine include:
pharmaceutical medications, physical rehabilitation, psychotherapy, radiation therapy, surgery,
Complementary medicineTrusted Source refers to treatments that people use in addition
toTrusted Source conventional medicine. These treatments are not part of standard medicine.
Examples of common types of complementary medicine include:
aromatherapy, acupuncture, herbal medicine, massage therapy, visualization, yoga
Additional types of complementary medicine include:
biofeedback, chiropractic, homeopathy, hypnosis, naturopathy, Qi gong, reflexology, Reiki,
relaxation, tai chi
People use conventional medicine to prevent, diagnose, and treat symptoms and conditions.
Doctors may use complementary treatments to alleviate the side effects of conventional medicine
and improve the person’s overall quality of life. For example, a person may use complementary
treatments to reduce stress, balance emotions, and alleviate fatigue while undergoing chemotherapy.
The researchers found that people who used CAM treatments alongside pharmacological treatments
had a significantly higher quality of life than those who used only the conventional approach.
The authors of a 2020 review conclude that acupuncture is an effective treatment for cancer-related
fatigue and may help improve the quality of life of those who have survived the disease.
A coordinated treatment approach that combines conventional and complementary medicine is
known as integrative health. Integrative health aims to heal each person and maximize their quality
of life by treating their physical, mental, and emotional health. Individual needs will determine the
best combination of therapies.
Traditional healthcare professionals, such as doctors, nurses, and therapists, can work with
complementary therapists to create a treatment plan. This plan can treat all aspects of a person
instead of focusing on one area of the body.
Conventional and complementary treatments have benefits and drawbacks to consider. Each case is
different, so a person should talk with a healthcare professional to determine whether they are a
suitable candidate for complementary therapies.
As the law demands, experts have put conventional treatments, such as chemotherapy and radiation
therapy, through rigorous scientific testing to demonstrate their safety and effectiveness.
However, there are some possible drawbacks to conventional medicine. One example is the use
of antibiotics, which doctors prescribe to treat bacterial infections.
Antibiotic resistance occurs when bacteria change in response to the use of these medications. The
misuse and overuse of antibiotics increase resistance, limiting infection prevention and control.
As research has demonstrated, many complementary treatments — including acupuncture and
various supplements — are safe and can be effective. The costs vary depending on the specific
therapy, but some may be cheaper than conventional treatment.
However, there is no scientific or medical evidence to show that complementary treatments can help
treat or cure conditions such as cancer.
Also, complementary therapies may interact with conventional treatments, potentially causing them
to work less effectively or produce more severe side effects.
For this reason, it is important to discuss any complementary treatments with a healthcare
professional before taking them alongside conventional treatments.
An integrative healthcare approach combines conventional and complementary treatments. A person
should consult a doctor to learn about the potential benefits, risks, and side effects of different
treatments and how they affect each other.
A person can work with a doctor and complementary therapist to create a suitable and effective
treatment plan. Regular checkups will allow these professionals to modify the treatment plan if
necessary.
Many people use terms such as alternative medicine, integrative medicine, and complementary
medicine interchangeably. However, each term describes something different:
• Alternative medicine: This describes medical systems or practices that act as a replacement
for conventional medicine. An example of this would be a person using energy healing for a
condition rather than mainstream treatments.
• Complementary medicine: This describes nonconventional medical approaches as a
complementary or positive addition to conventional treatment. For example, a person who
experiences migraine may take conventional pain medications but also
attend biofeedback sessions.
• Integrative medicine: This describes an approach to medicine that combines conventional
and less conventional methods in a coordinated, evidence-based way.
• Holistic medicine: This refers to treatment that considers a person’s health as a whole,
rather than focusing on one organ or bodily system. Some types of alternative,
complementary, and integrative medicine are also holistic.
Some people group “complementary and alternative medicine” together under the acronym CAM.
There are many types of CAM. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) group them into five broad
categories.

1. Mind-body therapies
Mind-body therapies focus on the relationship between the mind and body to help treat or manage a
condition. Some examples include:

Meditation
Meditation is an ancient practice that is prominent in religions such as Hinduism and Buddhism.
Today, there are many forms of meditation people can try; some are religious in nature, and some
not.
Many studies have verified that meditation has health benefits. It can lower blood pressure and
stress levels. Research suggestsTrusted Source it may also reduce the symptoms of: anxiety,
depression, irritable bowel syndrome, insomnia, menopause

Biofeedback
Biofeedback involves the use of machines that measure unconscious or involuntary bodily
processes, such as heart rate or muscle contractions. The device then converts the information into
audio, visual, or tactile signals. A therapist then helps someone learn to control these signals.
Biofeedback can help people learn to relax painful muscles, alter their mental state, and more. Its
most common usesTrusted Source include management of neuromuscular disorders, chronic
pain, anxiety, and incontinence.

Hypnosis
Hypnosis involves someone going into a deep state of relaxation and focusing on suggestions a
clinician makes while the person is in a hypnotic state. The aim is for the suggestions to help
change a person’s mental state, resulting in health benefits.
According to the American Psychological Association (APA), most clinicians agree hypnosis has
benefits for: anxiety, pain, mood disorders, quitting smoking

Yoga
Similar to meditation, yoga is a mind-body exercise that originates in spiritual practices. It involves
moving through sequences of poses and stretches while also focusing on breathing. Many people
around the world practice yoga to promote mental and physical well-being.
Some research suggests yoga may help to: lower stress, improve sleep, improve balance, manage
anxiety or depression, reduce neck and lower back pain, manage weight, alleviate the symptoms of
menopause, reduce the symptoms of chronic conditions.

Tai chi
Tai chi is a martial art that originated in China. It involves a series of postures or slow movements
combined with controlled breathing. Some research suggests tai chi may help to:
improve balance in older adults and people with Parkinson’s disease, reduce pain associated with
knee osteoarthritis,reduce back pain, improve quality of life for people with chronic illnesses such
as fibromyalgia, cancer, or heart disease

2. Biological therapies
Biologically based therapies use substances such as plants and foods to improve health or treat
conditions. Some examples include:

Dietary supplements
Some CAM and integrative practitioners use nutritional supplements, such as vitamins, minerals, or
other beneficial compounds, to treat or manage conditions.

Botanicals
This includes the use of plants or plant compounds for medical benefits. There are many
examplesTrusted Source of plants that people use to treat symptoms or conditions. Popular
examples include: cannabis, evening primrose oil, curcumin, which comes from turmeric, allicin,
which comes from garlic, valerian root

Special foods or diets

Dietary approaches to medicine involve using food itself to treat certain conditions. This may mean
eating foods with specific medicinal properties, following diets that contain certain nutrients, or
avoiding some foods altogether.

3. Biofield therapies
These therapies aim to help people by manipulating invisible energy fields. According to some
medical systems and practices, the energy around the body can influence health. By addressing
disturbances or blockages in energy, practitioners believe it is possible to treat certain conditions.
Some examples of biofield therapies include:

Therapeutic touch
This involves a practitioner running their hands over or gently touching someone’s body to control
or restore their flow of energy.

Reiki
Reiki originally comes from Japan. During reiki treatments, practitioners try to control energy in the
body by using their hands. This may involve placing them on someone, just above them, or even
working at a distance from a person. The aim is to free blocked energy and improve the body’s
natural healing abilities.

4. Body-based therapies
Body-based therapies involve a therapist physically moving one or more parts of a person’s body
for therapeutic benefits. Common examples include:

Massage
During massage, a practitioner uses their fingers, hands, or tools to knead, rub, or press the body’s
soft tissue. It is an ancient therapy, and people have practiced it in most cultures history. There are
many types of massage, each of which involves different techniques, rhythms, and areas of the
body.
Reflexology
Reflexology involves pressing or manipulating pressure points in the hands or feet. The idea behind
it is that a practitioner can target and help other parts of the body. It can also promote relaxation.

Chiropractic therapy
This therapy manipulates someone’s muscles, tissues, or bones to help the body heal from
musculoskeletal conditions or help someone cope with a condition that may be causing pain.

5. Whole medicine systems

Whole medicine systems refer to sets of beliefs and practices that work together. These systems
have typically evolved over hundreds of years. Some of the most well-known methods include:

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM)

TCM is a complex system based on a belief in two opposite forces: yin and yang. For the body and
mind to be in good health, practitioners believe that yin and yang must be in balance. TCM
practitioners use a combination of herbal, mind-body, and physical therapies to achieve this.
TCM is over 2,000 years oldTrusted Source and is where practices such as acupuncture and tai chi
have their origins.

Ayurvedic medicine
Ayurveda is a holistic health system that developed in India thousands of years agoTrusted Source.
Ayurvedic practitioners believe that everyone is made up of five elements: air, fire, water, earth, and
ether (or space). The way these elements combine dictates how the body works.

Homeopathic medicine
Homeopathy comes from Germany and is around 200 years old. It focuses on two theories: that
“like cures like” and that the lower the dose is of something, the more effective it is.
There is little evidence that homeopathy works for any condition. Additionally, some substances
homeopathy uses are toxic, such as white arsenic and deadly nightshade.

Naturopathic medicine
Naturopathy is a system that includes a mixture of traditional and alternative approaches to
medicine. It focuses on using natural and noninvasive ingredients and techniques, such as herbs,
exercise therapy, dietary changes, and massage, among many others.
In some U.S. states, naturopathic doctors can also prescribe pharmaceutical medications, but this
varies based on location.