What is complementary medicine? The word "complementary" means
"in addition to." Complementary medicine is treatment and
medicine that you use in addition to your doctor's standard
care. What is considered standard treatment in one culture may
not be standard in another. For example: Other examples of
complementary medicine include: Is research being done on it?
Many complementary treatments and medicines have not yet been
studied to see how safe they are or how well they work. Some
treatments, such as prayer or music therapy, are hard to study.
In the U.S. the National Center for Complementary and
Alternative Medicine was formed within the National Institutes
of Health to test the safety and effectiveness of these
treatments. The center has guidelines to help you choose safe
treatments that are right for you. Should you use complementary
medicine? Before you decide to use this type of treatment, think
about these questions: Many complementary treatments are covered
by insurance plans. But check to see what y