Complementary therapies

Complementary therapy is known by many different terms, including alternative therapy, alternative medicine, holistic therapy and traditional medicine.

A wide range of treatments exists under the umbrella term of ‘complementary therapy’. Each treatment has its own unique theory and practice, which makes it difficult to offer a blanket definition. Perhaps a simple definition can be reached by comparing the philosophy of complementary therapies with that of modern (conventional) medicine.

Historically, modern medicine evolved out of an assumption that the mind and body are separate. Disease and illness were viewed as mechanical breakdowns and, generally, it was these breakdowns and the symptoms they caused that were treated. Complementary therapies aim to treat the entire person, not just the symptoms.

A merging of therapies
Today, the division between conventional medicine and complementary therapies is blurring. Many complementary therapies are as grounded in anatomy and physiology as modern medicine, while modern medicine has widened its scope to include a more holistic approach to health care and has adopted therapies that originated in complementary medicine.

Complementary therapies are widely used
Complementary therapies are widely used in Australia and around the world. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), around 65 to 80 per cent of the world’s population uses complementary therapies for primary health care.

Complementary therapies are often based on traditional knowledge; this is why there is sometimes less scientific evidence available about their safety and effectiveness. However, the increasing use of complementary therapies has begun to fuel scientific research and some complementary therapies now have some scientific evidence about their safety and effectiveness, as well as a history of traditional use. Sometimes they are less invasive and more cost-effective than conventional medical treatments. Nonetheless, it’s still important to ask about both potential benefits and potential risks of any therapy.


Natural and complementary medicines can be bought without prescription; however, they may still have side effects or interact with other drugs, or they may not be the most effective treatment for you. It’s important to consider seeking advice from a qualified professional before using a complementary medicine, and to let your health professionals know about all medicines – herbal and conventional – that you are taking.

Shared philosophies
Complementary therapies tend to share a few core beliefs, including:

• Illness occurs if the body is out of balance.
• The body can heal itself and maintain a healthy state if given the right conditions.
• The whole person should be treated, not just the disease or the symptoms.
• The gentlest therapies must be tried first before harsher ones.
• There is no quick fix, since healing and balance take time.
• Natural products are preferable to synthetic ones.

• Acupuncture
• Alexander technique
• Aromatherapy
• Chiropractic
• Herbal medicine
• Homeopathy
• Naturopathy
• Osteopathy
• Yoga.

• Dissatisfaction with conventional medical practices
• Unsatisfactory doctor-patient relationships
• The desire to take charge of one’s own health and medical problems
• The increase in easy-to-access consumer health information, including health information on the Internet
• Evidence of the benefits and safety of some complementary medicines and therapies
• Dissatisfaction with limited success rates or adverse side effects of prescription medicines
• The desire to receive health care that treats the whole person and not just their symptoms. (It’s worth noting that both complementary health care practitioners and some conventional health professionals actively endorse holistic care.)

• Contact the professional association for your chosen therapy and ask for a list of members in your area.
• Ask your doctor for a referral.
• Ask your friends for word-of-mouth recommendations.
• During the first visit with your practitioner, ask about their training and qualifications.
• Be very cautious about any practitioner who advises you to abandon your conventional medical treatment.

• Your doctor
• Pharmacist
• Complementary therapist
• Complementary therapy associations
• Medicines Line Tel. 1300 888 763

• Complementary therapies are systems of health care that treat the whole person, not just the symptoms of their disease.
• Modern medicine is increasingly aware of complementary therapy techniques.
• There is no need to choose between conventional medicine and complementary therapies, but you must keep all your health carers informed to ensure you are using your medicines safely.

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