Alternative & Complementary Health

There are several different names for modes of healing that do not fit within typical Western medical models, or that may not be offered by general health care providers. Some forms of treatment are labeled “alternative,” as a way of separating what they offer from what mainstream medicine offers. Another common label is “holistic,” acknowledging that health care must treat a person’s entire self—mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual. The term we will use here is “complementary,” recognizing that health care is a collaborative process among service providers, with each one specializing in a certain area and benefiting from the work of others.

This section highlights some complementary modes of healing for your consideration. Since the standards within complementary health care differ from those required for various health care providers, we’ve put together a list of questions you might consider asking a complementary health care provider. Complementary practitioners should respect your interest in informing yourself, and should not pressure you into getting care from them.