Complementary therapies are non-medical treatments for diseases, illnesses, and injuries. They are also called complementary and alternative medical (CAM) therapies.

CAM includes a wide range of choices. The most commonly used forms of CAM include chiropractic, massage, biofeedback, yoga, acupuncture, and herbal medicines. There are many other kinds of CAM from prayer to homeopathic remedies to art therapy or aromatherapy and much more.

Insurance companies don’t pay for most of these therapies. More and more patients are spending their own money for CAM. In fact, patients spend more money for non-medical treatments than for medical care. For example, more money is spent on CAM by cancer patients than for non-traditional treatments for all other diseases and conditions added up!