Margo Kirzinger

You may be asking ‘what is considered a complementary therapy’? A complementary therapy means that it is generally considered safe to use alongside of the conventional medical care you receive, such as your doctor visits and the various medications you may be taking. It may help you feel better and cope better with your other treatments.

With most complementary therapies, your health is looked at from a holistic or ‘whole picture’ point of view. Think of your body working as one large system. From a holistic viewpoint, everything you do, from what you eat and drink, your relationships, to how stressed you are affect your health and well-being.

Healthy people can use aromatherapy and herbal remedies to boost their immune systems and treat a variety of common health concerns including digestive care, skin issues, allergies, insomnia, anxiety and depression.

People who have diseases or illness, such as cancer or HIV, can use these therapies to help deal with the symptoms of the disease or the side effects from medications that treat the disease. Many people report positive results from using complementary therapies.

A popular option for many people with arthritis and joint pain issues are complementary therapies which are treatments that fall outside the scope of traditional medicines. Examples include aromatherapy, herbal medicines, energy therapy, massage therapy and meditation, to name a few.