Complementary therapy
Trained specialists use complementary and alternative medicine, traditional medicine, alternative and holistic therapy to help others with a range of issues.
What is complementary therapy?
Complementary therapies or alternative health practices are often categorised as ‘Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM)’, which is widely used to refer to treatments that attend to our emotional and physical wellbeing that fall outside of mainstream healthcare.
There's an increasing demand for holistic treatments as we become more disconnected from each other in many areas of our life. Complementary and alternative approaches include integrative body-based methods and treatments covered here, as well as mind-body practices and energy therapies, and nutritional therapies.
There's no professional statutory regulation of complementary and alternative treatments in the UK. However there are many professional bodies and voluntary accredited registers that can help you decide how to train and practise safely in these fields.
You can specialise in one area of body-based treatments, or train in different types of alternative and complementary therapies to offer a more holistic approach. Many healthcare practitioners and allied health professionals also train in these practices to complement their conventional medical training.
" When a non-mainstream practice is used together with conventional medicine, it's considered complementary. When a non-mainstream practice is used instead of conventional medicine it's considered alternative"
NCCICH
Acupuncture
Acupuncture is a form of alternative medicine and a component of traditional Chinese medicine where thin needles are inserted into pressure points in the body. The technique is used to treat common problems such...
Aromatherapy
Aromatherapy is complementary, holistic therapy, meaning it supports your whole self. It is used in a wide range of settings, from health spas to hospitals, to treat a variety of conditions. Aromatherapists use natural...
Chiropractic
Chiropractors care for the neuromusculoskeletal system - the bones, nerves, muscles, tendons, and ligaments. A chiropractor will manipulate joints, bones and soft tissue in the back and neck to help clients...
Homeopathy
Homeopathy, popularised by German physician Samuel Hahnemann, is based on the belief that the body can cure itself. The guiding principles of homeopathy are "like cures like” and “law of minimum dose”, so illnesses...
Kinesiology
Kinesiology, derived from the Greek word for movement, 'kinesis', is the study of the mechanics of bodily movements. Practised as a non-invasive holistic therapy, it uses muscle monitoring (biofeedback) to...
Massage Therapy
Massage therapy is hands-on therapy which involves kneading, rubbing and applying pressure to the muscles and soft tissues of the body. Massage can relieve tension and pain, heal sports injuries, reduce...
Naturopathy
A naturopath is a natural health practitioner who specialises in a variety of complementary therapies including in herbal medicine, nutritional therapy, osteopathy, homeopathy, massage, acupuncture, and...
Nutritional Therapy
Nutritionists and nutritional therapists work with healthy people to prevent illness, or with those diagnosed with an illness to help minimise symptoms. Using a whole-body approach they will look at stress, hormonal...
Osteopathy
Osteopaths detect, treat and prevent health issues by moving, stretching and massaging a person’s muscles and joints to improve wellbeing or help with a health concern. As experts in the musculoskeletal system...
Reflexology
Reflexology is a complementary therapy that can be effective in promoting deep relaxation and wellbeing. Reflexologists apply pressure using touch therapy, based on the theory that different points on the feet...
Reiki
Reiki is derived from the Japanese words “rei,” meaning universal, and “ki,” meaning life energy. This ancient Buddhist practice of healing which has been practised for over 2,500 years, however its more modern...