Complimentary Medicine
Complimentary medicine refers to a diverse group of medical and health care systems, practices and products that are not generally considered to be part of conventional medicine. The list of what is considered complimentary medicine changes continually. Those therapies that are proven to be safe and effective become adopted into conventional health care as new approaches to health care emerge. Complimentary techniques are often used together with conventional medicine. An example of a complementary therapy is using aromatherapy, a therapy in which the scent of essential oils from flowers, herbs, and trees is inhaled to promote health and well-being to help lessen a patient’s discomfort following surgery.
On the other hand, alternative medicine is often used in place of conventional medicine. An example of an alternative therapy is using a special diet to treat cancer instead of undergoing surgery, radiation, or chemotherapy that has been recommended by a conventional doctor. Integrative medicine is considered more of a blend as it combines treatments from conventional and alternative medicine for which there is some high-quality evidence of safety and effectiveness. There is much information available online about these new and groundbreaking medical techniques, and you will be hearing more about them as more and more practices are taken into the mainstream.