Have you tried acupuncture to ease your pain? Done yoga to relieve stress? Had a massage for your sore back?
If so, you're among a growing number of Americans who are turning to approaches to healthcare that fall outside the realm of conventional Western medicine. The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM), a component of the National Institutes of Health, calls them complementary and alternative medicine, further defining them as "a group of diverse medical and health care systems, practices, and products that are not presently considered to be part of conventional medicine."
Although some complementary treatments have yet to be scientifically proven to benefit patients, there are many - among them massage, biofeedback, and pain management techniques - that can have positive results when used as a complement to traditional medical approaches.
To learn more about the wide range of complementary medicine programs offered by Mercy Health Partners, simply click on the Integrative Medicine and Wellness pages.
To learn more about other aspects of complementary medicine, click on one of the article links below. But please remember two things:
Complementary medicine should complement, or be used in conjunction with, conventional medicine.
Always consult your physician before trying any new health regimen.
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