There are now over 100 alternative and complementary therapies most listed in the table below . Some have their origins in the ancient healing traditions of Chinese or Ayurvedic medicine; some are relative newcomers, having been devised in the late 20th century.
Alternative and Complimentary Therapies
As with all fields of alternative and complimentary medicine there are excellent, good, average, poor, and downright dangerous practitioners out there, so the risks are very real. This is not your car or your washing machine you are tinkering with, it is your health and the only body you have. There is nothing wrong with being a guinea pig, if you know that is what you are. Of course, practitioners have to train, but if you do not want them training on you, then you should be asking anyone who plans to treat you, (in whatever way), what qualifications they have, where they trained, how much clinical experience they have, and how much experience they have of your particular complaint. Also check that they are a member of any of the organisations that can give accreditation for their training.
You expect your doctor to have trained, passed exams, read the relevant papers, and to have kept abreast of developments in his or her field. Expect no less from your holistic, alternative and complimentary practitioner.
