Many Americans use medical treatments that are not part of mainstream medicine. Depending on how these treatments are used, it may be called complementary, integrative, or alternative medicine.
The claims that non-mainstream practitioners make can sound promising. However, researchers often do not know how safe some of these treatments are or how well they work. Studies are underway to determine the safety and usefulness of many of these treatments.
To minimize the health risks of a non-mainstream treatment
Since complementary and integrative medicine can encompass a wide range of practices, this guide will only provide an overview along with tips on how to evaluate non-mainstream treatments. If you would like assistance doing research on a specific treatment, please visit the Resource Library and we would be happy to assist you. You can also reach us at (805) 879-5648 or library@ridleytreecc.org.
Source: MedlinePlus - Complementary and Integrative Medicine