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Complementary and Alternative Therapies
Complementary therapies work with conventional medical treatment, while alternative therapies are those which offer alternatives to conventional diagnosis and therapies. Complementary medicine used together with conventional medicine is known as integrative medicine.
Complementary and alternative medicines can include herbal, vitamin, mineral, homoeopathic, nutritional and other supplements. Therapies include herbal medicine, Chinese medicine, chiropractic, naturopathy, osteopathy, acupuncture, homoeopathy, reflexology, aromatherapy, Alexander technique, Bach and other flower remedies, massage, hypnotherapy, shiatsu, ayurvedic medicine, nutritional medicine, yoga, anthroposophical medicine, spiritual healing, iridology, kinesiology, meditation and others.
The Office of Complementary Medicines [Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing], which is part of the Therapeutic Goods Administration, regulates and provides information on complementary medicines for Australians.
For information on complementary or alternative therapies and medicines, follow the links to the specific HealthInsite topic pages or to any of the items in the list of resources below.
Reviewed April 2012
Related HealthInsite Topics
HealthInsite Topic Page
Links to information on acupuncture.
HealthInsite Topic Page
Links to information on aromatherapy.
HealthInsite Topic Page
Links to information about ayurvedic medicine.
HealthInsite Topic Page
Links to information on chinese traditional medicine, including a specific topic page on acupuncture.
HealthInsite Topic Page
Links to information about chiropractic methods.
Complementary and Alternative Therapies for Asthma
HealthInsite Topic Page
Links to information about complementary and alternative therapies used for treating asthma.
Complementary and Alternative Therapies for Menopause
HealthInsite Topic Page
Links to information about alternative and complementary therapies that are used to treat menopause.
Complementary and Alternative Therapies for Mental Health Conditions
HealthInsite Topic Page
Links to information about the use of complementary therapies for mental health conditions, including stress and dementia, and for conditions affecting mental health.
Complementary and Alternative Therapies in Palliative Care
HealthInsite Topic Page
Links to information on the use of complementary therapies in palliative care.
HealthInsite Topic Page
Links to information on complementary medicines and their regulation.
HealthInsite Topic Page
Links to information on herbal medicine.
HealthInsite Topic Page
Links to information on homoeopathy (or homeopathy).
HealthInsite Topic Page
Links to information about the health effects of massage.
HealthInsite Topic Page
Links to information on meditation.
HealthInsite Topic Page
Links to information on naturopathic medicine and therapies.
HealthInsite Topic Page
Links to information on osteopathy.
Regulation of Complementary Therapies and Medicines
HealthInsite Topic Page
Links to information about the regulation and approval of the complementary and alternative therapies and medicines industry.
HealthInsite Topic Page
Links to information about stress and relaxation.
63 Resources Found
| Title: | Head lice - treating them |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | Child and Youth Health - CYH (South Australia) |
| Description: | Head lice do not spread dreadful diseases, but you do need to have them treated. You can't treat them by yourself, so you need to tell someone who can help you. |
| Date: | Mar 2012 |
| Title: | Endometriosis |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | Better Health Channel |
| Description: | Endometriosis is a condition in which endometrium, the tissue that normally lines the womb (uterus), grows outside the uterus. Endometriosis may cause adhesions (fibrous scar tissue) on the uterus. It can also affect the ovaries, fallopian tubes and the bowel. Endometriosis may cause very painful periods and may reduce fertility or cause infertility. Natural therapies such as herbal medicines may help endometriosis. |
| Date: | Feb 2012 |
| Title: | Cultural ways |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet |
| Description: | These web pages provide information and resources about cultural aspects of the environment that influence the health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. |
| Date: | Apr 2012 |
| Title: | Fad therapies for autism spectrum disorder |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | Raising Children Network (RCN) |
| Description: | An explanation of fad therapies for autism spectrum disorder (ASD), with particular attention to how they usually rely on anti-science or pseudoscience and how they become popular. |
| Date: | Sep 2011 |
| Title: | Complementary and alternative therapies |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | The Cancer Council Australia |
| Description: | Cancer Council Australia provides information on cancer treatment and complementary and alternative therapies. |
| Date: | Sep 2011 |
| Title: | Laetrile treatment for cancer |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | John Wiley and Sons, Ltd. for The Cochrane Collaboration |
| Description: | Laetrile is a word created from the first letters of laevorotatory and mandelonitrile and describes a semi-synthetic form of amygdalin. Amygdalin is a compound that can be isolated from the seeds of many fruits such as peaches, bitter almonds and aprico... |
| Date: | Sep 2011 |
| Title: | Conservative management for men with urinary incontinence after prostate surgery |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | John Wiley and Sons, Ltd. for The Cochrane Collaboration |
| Description: | The prostate is a male sex gland that surrounds the outlet of the bladder. Two main diseases of the prostate (cancer of the prostate, and benign (non cancerous) prostatic enlargement) can be treated by surgery but some men suffer leakage of urine (urina... |
| Date: | Aug 2011 |
| Title: | Complementary therapies and cancer |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | The Cancer Council Australia |
| Description: | Complementary therapies are used together with conventional medical treatments to help control symptoms of cancer and improve wellbeing. Read patient fact sheet on understanding complementary therapies and cancer. |
| Date: | Aug 2011 |
| Title: | Can music interventions benefit cancer patients? |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | John Wiley and Sons, Ltd. for The Cochrane Collaboration |
| Description: | Having cancer may result in intense emotional, physical and social suffering. Music therapy and music medicine interventions have been used to alleviate symptoms and treatment side effects in cancer patients. In music medicine interventions, the patient... |
| Date: | Jul 2011 |
| Title: | Complementary therapies - choosing a practitioner |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | Better Health Channel |
| Description: | When choosing a complementary therapist, ask your doctor for advice and think about what you expect to gain from treatment before you start. Complementary therapies that are popular in Australia include acupuncture, aromatherapy, herbal medicine, yoga, meditation and massage. |
| Date: | May 2011 |
| Title: | Complementary treatments such as hypnosis, psychotherapy, acupuncture, chiropractic and medicinal herbs for bedwetting in children |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | John Wiley and Sons, Ltd. for The Cochrane Collaboration |
| Description: | Night-time bedwetting is common in childhood, and can cause stigma, stress and inconvenience. Alarms offer the best chance of cure, and desmopressin may be used to reduce or stop wet nights during treatment. Simple behavioural methods such as rewards al... |
| Date: | May 2011 |
| Title: | Whole-body vibration platform training in patients with neurodegenerative diseases |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | John Wiley and Sons, Ltd. for The Cochrane Collaboration |
| Description: | Rehabilitation is considered to be a key symptomatic and supportive treatment for neurodegenerative diseases. Exercise training using vibratory platform (whole body vibration) has been recently introduced as a complementary treatment to rehabilitation.T... |
| Date: | May 2011 |
| Title: | Headache - treatment options |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | Better Health Channel |
| Description: | Most headaches are caused by different factors working in combination. Factors may include problems of the musculoskeletal system, dietary problems, infections, eye and dental problems or neurological problems. Successfully treating chronic headache means investigating and treating each factor in turn. This combined approach to treatment should be medically supervised. |
| Date: | Apr 2012 |
| Title: | Reiki |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | Better Health Channel |
| Description: | Reiki is a natural form of healing therapy. It uses non-invasive gentle touch. This form of therapy aims to increase energy levels and promote relaxation and wellbeing. It is not a treatment for illness or disease. |
| Date: | Apr 2012 |
| Title: | Pilates - health benefits |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | Better Health Channel |
| Description: | Pilates (or the Pilates method) is a series of about 500 exercises inspired by calisthenics, yoga and ballet that improve flexibility, strength, balance and body awareness. Pilates is a non-aerobic form of exercise. |
| Date: | Feb 2011 |
| Title: | Treatments for Heart Attacks |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | HealthInsite Topic Page |
| Description: | Links to information about treatments for heart attacks. |
| Date: | Jan 2011 |
| Title: | Complementary therapies |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | Arthritis Australia |
| Description: | This information sheet provides general information about complementary therapies for people with arthritis. It includes a summary of the current evidence about complementary therapies for arthritis and tips for the safe use of complementary therapies. |
| Date: | Jan 2011 |
| Title: | Managing menopausal symptoms |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | Australian Prescriber |
| Description: | Menopause, literally the 'end of menstruation', marks an important transition in a woman's life and occurs in Australia at an average age of 51 years. Menopausal symptoms, which may commence even before the last menstrual period, include vasomotor symptoms, urogenital problems, psychological changes, sleep disturbance and decreased libido. Managing patients with these symptoms can be a challenge. |
| Date: | Dec 2010 |
| Title: | Multiple sclerosis - complementary therapies |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | Better Health Channel |
| Description: | Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an incurable disease of the central nervous system. Complementary therapies can work alongside a person's medical treatment by helping to ease symptoms. These therapies include chiropractic, acupuncture, massage, yoga, meditation and dietary modifications. |
| Date: | Nov 2010 |
| Title: | Alexander technique |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | Better Health Channel |
| Description: | The Alexander technique deals with bad habits of posture and movement. Bad posture can lead to head, neck and back pain, muscle aches, bursitis and repetitive strain injuries. The Alexander technique teaches awareness of movement and thought. |
| Date: | Nov 2010 |
