TextSearch

Two wellness and preventive medicine specialists explain why the terms “complementary medicine” and “alternative medicine” are becoming outdated and what’s replaced them.

Locations:Abu Dhabi|Canada|Florida|London|Nevada|Ohio|Health EssentialsHealth LibraryFind a ProviderMake an AppointmentNewsCareersContact Us<img alt="" loading="lazy" width="1" height="1" decoding="async" data-nimg="1" style="color:transparent" srcSet="//zdbb.net/l/Dnl1wmWs8xCCpvWNCt9Egf/?w=16&q=75 1x" src="//zdbb.net/l/Dnl1wmWs8xCCpvWNCt9Egf/?w=16&q=75"/>SearchAdvertisementAdvertisementOctober 27, 2023/Living Healthy/WellnessWhat Do ‘Complementary’ and ‘Alternative’ Medicine Really Mean?These terms are becoming outdated as providers turn to an ‘integrative’ approach insteadImage content: This image is available to view online.View image online (https://assets.clevelandclinic.org/transform/c9ccfe34-6a12-4770-8a5b-c584cc8878ac/accupuncture-1126093074-770x533-1_jpg)person lying on their stomach with many small needles in their backComplementary medicine, alternative medicine, conventional medicine, Western medicine, integrative medicine … whoa, that’s a lot of medicine-related terms to parse through. How are you supposed to know what’s what? And more importantly, how can you possibly know what’s right for you?AdvertisementCleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. PolicyWe’re here to help. We’ve asked two physicians who specialize in wellness and preventive health to walk us through some of these common terms and to explain what those practices entail.Importantly, they also outline why the healthcare community is increasingly moving toward an integrative approach to medicine — one that treats not just your medical conditions, but one that also cares for you as a whole person, incorporating different types of evidence-based therapies to care for all of you.What are complementary and alternative medicine?When it comes to healthcare terms, “complementary medicine” and “alternative medicine” are ones you’ll hear pretty often. But what do they really mean? (Hang on.) And is there any difference between them? (Yes.)Both of these terms refer to the use of natural remedies, mind-body practices and bodywork to promote health and healing. Some of these practices, like acupuncture and massage, have been used for thousands of years.Importantly, these practices have historically been considered outside the norm of Western medicine (also called conventional or mainstream medicine), which refers to the type of healthcare you’re most used to in North America — healthcare practitioners whose treatments rely heavily on options like medication and surgery.AdvertisementIncreasingly, though, there’s evidence to show the very real health benefits of many of these complementary practices.“These therapies rarely cure conditions, but they frequently can improve symptoms, improve patients’ quality of life and help contribute to the treatment of chronic disease,” says Robert Saper, MD, MPH, Chair of Wellness and Preventive Medicine.What’s the difference between complementary and alternative medicine?Complementary and alternative medicine are often lumped under the acronym “CAM” because they both refer to the same types of practices. But the difference is in how these practices are used:Complementary medicine means these therapies are used in addition to mainstream medicine.Alternative medicine means these therapies are used instead of mainstream medicine, which can be dangerous and even deadly.The terms used to be used interchangeably. But “alternative medicine” now has a very specific meaning that doesn’t apply to the majority of people — and isn’t supported by research-driven, science-believing healthcare providers.“These days, the term ‘alternative medicine’ is really saved for people who only pursue alternative therapies — and often ones that are not evidence-based — in lieu of conventional medicine,” Dr. Saper clarifies.The term “complementary medicine” is also falling out of favor, for reasons we’ll explain shortly. For the sake of explanation, though, we’ll still use the term “complementary therapies” here so you know when we’re referring to practices that have typically fallen outside the realm of conventional Western medicine and that are used in combination with mainstream medical practices.Know this term instead: integrative medicineRather than just seeing complementary therapies as add-ons to mainstream medicine, integrative medicine combines the best of both worlds to treat all of your needs.“Integrative medicine refers to the concept of using evidence-based, mainstream medicine and evidence-based complementary therapies in a coordinated fashion,” Dr. Saper explains. “It also emphasizes healthy lifestyle habits like nutrition and stress management.”Some of this seems like a bit of a no-brainer, right? Like, of course diet, exercise and stress management are related to your health! But in the past, Western medicine hasn’t always taken a whole-person approach to care, instead treating medical...