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Complementary healthcare: a guide
- Guide to the main complementary therapies
- Overview of the main complementary therapies

A guide to the most commonly used complementary therapies

Explore some of the most commonly used complementary therapies. Find out what to expect from a treatment session, and what each therapy is used for.

Acupuncture

Acupuncture is the insertion of very fine needles into the skin at particular points on the body, to prevent or treat ill health or maintain good health.

Alexander Technique

The Alexander Technique helps users become more aware of balance, posture and co-ordination in everyday activities and avoid postures that might cause harm.

Aromatherapy

Aromatherapy uses the healing properties of essential oils, which are extracted from plants, to improve health and help prevent illness.

The Bowen Technique is a non-invasive, soft tissue remedial therapy - a gentle form of bodywork which involves the therapist using fingers or thumbs in various parts of the body to move over muscle, tendon, ligament and fascia.

Chiropractic

Chiropractic is concerned with the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of mechanical disorders of the musculoskeletal system and the effects of these disorders on the nervous system and general health.

Cranial therapy

Cranial therapy is a gentle treatment which involves a practitioner applying very light touch to the body and particularly the head.

Herbal Medicine

In herbal medicine the healing properties of plants are used to treat illness and maintain good health. There are herbal traditions in most regions of the world, drawing on the local flora.

Homeopathy

The basic principle of homeopathy is ‘like cures like’. This means that a substance which produces certain symptoms in a healthy person can be diluted to treat a sick person with very similar symptoms.

Massage therapy

Massage therapy is a system of treatment of the soft tissue of the body. It involves stroking, kneading or applying pressure to various parts of the body, with the aim of alleviating aches, pains and musculoskeletal problems.

Naturopathy

Naturopathy is the practice of using natural treatments to help the body to heal itself.

Nutritional therapy

Nutritional therapy helps the body’s own healing ability through choices of food. It is used to maintain good health and to prevent or alleviate illness.

Osteopathy

Osteopaths work by manipulating the body’s musculoskeletal system, which is made up of the bones, joints, muscles, ligaments and connective tissue.

Reflexology

Reflexology is based on the principle that certain points on the feet and hands, called reflex points, correspond to various parts of the body and that by applying pressure to these points in a systematic way, a practitioner can help to release tensions and encourage the body’s natural healing processes.