COMPLEMENTARY HEALTH
Naturopathy
Naturopathy—also called naturopathic medicine—is a medical system that has evolved from a combination of traditional practices and health care approaches popular in Europe during the 19th century.
Read more: https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/naturopathy?nav=govd
4 Tips: Start Talking With Your Health Care Providers About Complementary Health Approaches
When patients tell their providers about their use of complementary health practices, they can better stay in control and more effectively manage their health. When providers ask their patients, they can ensure that they are fully informed and can help patients make wise health care decisions.
Read more: https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/tips/tips-start-talking-with-your-health-care-providers-about-complementary-health-approaches?nav=govd
Know the Science
Why is it important to know the science of health? Simply put, because there is a lot of misinformation out there—from anecdotes disguised as evidence to excessive claims made by supplement manufacturers to TV doctors touting the latest "miracle cure."
Read more: https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/know-science?nav=govd
Whole Person Health: What You Need To Know
What is whole person health? Whole person health involves looking at the whole person—not just separate organs or body systems—and considering multiple factors that promote either health or disease. It means helping and empowering individuals, families, communities, and populations to improve their health in multiple interconnected biological, behavioral, social, and environmental areas. Instead of just treating a specific disease, whole person health focuses on restoring health, promoting resilience, and preventing diseases across a lifespan.
Read more: https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/whole-person-health-what-you-need-to-know?nav=govd
Are You Considering a Complementary Health Approach?
Millions of Americans use complementary health approaches. Like any decision concerning your health, decisions about whether to use complementary approaches are important. The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) has developed this fact sheet to assist you in your decision making about complementary health products and practices.
Read more: https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/are-you-considering-a-complementary-health-approach?nav=govd
Women’s Health and Complementary Approaches
Some health and wellness issues are unique to women, and others are more common in women than men. Women are more likely than men to experience depression, have a harder time quitting smoking, and may experience more rapid bone loss due to hormonal changes at menopause.
https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/womens-health-and-complementary-approaches?nav=govd
Seasonal Allergies at a Glance
If you have an allergy, your immune system reacts to something that doesn’t bother most other people. People with seasonal allergies (also called hay fever or allergic rhinitis) react to pollen from plants. Symptoms may include sneezing, coughing, a runny or stuffy nose, and itching in the eyes, nose, mouth, and throat.https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/are-you-considering-a-complementary-health-approach?nav=govd
Yoga: What You Need To Know
Yoga is an ancient and complex practice, rooted in Indian philosophy. It began as a spiritual practice but has become popular as a way of promoting physical and mental well-being.
Although classical yoga also includes other elements, yoga as practiced in the United States typically emphasizes physical postures (asanas), breathing techniques (pranayama), and meditation (dyana).
https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/are-you-considering-a-complementary-health-approach?nav=govd
Are You Considering a Complementary Health Approach?
Did you know that some complementary health approaches have been studied to see whether they can help control heart disease risk factors, including high blood pressure and high cholesterol levels?
https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/are-you-considering-a-complementary-health-approach?nav=govd
Thanksgiving Herbs and Your Health
Did you know that some herbs and foods associated with traditional Thanksgiving dinners have also been studied for their possible effects on health conditions?
https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/are-you-considering-a-complementary-health-approach?nav=govd
Are you considering a complementary health approach?
Millions of Americans use complementary health approaches. Like any decision concerning your health, decisions about whether to use complementary approaches are important.
https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/are-you-considering-a-complementary-health-approach?nav=govd
Whole Person Health: What You Need To Know
Whole person health involves looking at the whole person—not just separate organs or body systems—and considering multiple factors that promote either health or disease.
https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/whole-person-health-what-you-need-to-know?nav=govd
Holiday Herbs and Your Health
Did you know that some of the herbs used in holiday dishes have also been studied for their possible health benefits?
https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/USNIHNCCIH/bulletins/2ab34b9
What do we know about the effectiveness of complementary health approaches for low-back pain?
- There’s low- or moderate-quality evidence that a variety of mind and body practices, including acupuncture, electromyography biofeedback, low-level laser therapy, mindfulness-based stress reduction, progressive muscle relaxation, spinal manipulation, tai chi, and yoga, may be helpful for chronic low-back pain.
- There’s low-quality evidence that acupuncture, massage therapy, and spinal manipulation may be helpful for acute low-back pain.
- Preparations of the herb cayenne, used topically, may help to relieve low-back pain.
https://nccih.nih.gov/health/pain/lowback?nav=govd
How Much Do We Know About Dietary Supplements?
The amount of scientific evidence we have on dietary supplements varies widely—we have a lot of information on some and very little on others. Studies have found that some dietary supplements may have some benefit, such as melatonin for jet lag, and others may have little or no benefit, such as ginkgo for dementia.
https://nccih.nih.gov/health/supplements/wiseuse.htm?nav=govd#hed3
Herbs, Holiday, Dishes and…Your Health?
During the holiday season, you may be in the kitchen cooking up your favorite dishes. Some of those dishes may include the herbs below, which have also been studied for their possible health benefits!
• Cranberry has been studied for urinary tract infections (UTIs). There’s mixed evidence on whether it can help prevent UTIs. Cranberry hasn’t been shown to be effective in treating an existing UTI.
• Sage has been used for sore throat, digestive problems, memory loss, and depression, but little research has been done on it, and it hasn’t clearly been shown to be helpful for any health condition.
• Cinnamon has been studied for diabetes and other conditions, but studies in people don’t support its use for health purposes.
• Ginger has been studied mostly as a remedy for nausea, and it may indeed be helpful for nausea related to pregnancy or cancer chemotherapy.
• Pomegranate has been studied for a variety of health conditions, but there isn’t much strong scientific evidence on its effects.
• Peppermint oil has been studied for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and the results of several studies indicate that it may improve IBS symptoms.
Find out more about these and other herbs from NCCIH’s Herbs At a Glance: https://nccih.nih.gov/health/herbsataglance.htm?nav=govd
Yoga for Health
Have you rolled out a yoga mat lately? If so, you’re among many who have taken up yoga to relax and stay fit. One in seven adults in the U.S. has practiced yoga in the past year. Yoga may help bring several health and wellness benefits.
Read more: https://newsinhealth.nih.gov/2019/11/yoga-health
What You Should Know About Tai Chi for Health
Tai chi is a centuries-old, mind and body practice. It involves certain postures and gentle movements with mental focus, breathing, and relaxation. The movements can be adapted or practiced while walking, standing, or sitting. Several clinical trials have evaluated the effects of tai chi in people with various health conditions.
Read more: https://nccih.nih.gov/health/tips/taichi
5 Things You Should Know About Yoga
Yoga typically combines physical postures, breathing exercises, and meditation or relaxation. Researchers are studying how yoga may be used to help improve health and to learn more about its safe use.
Read more: https://nccih.nih.gov/health/tips/yoga
Complementary, Alternative or Integrative Health
According to a 2012 national survey, many Americans—more than 30 percent of adults and about 12 percent of children—use health care approaches that are not typically part of conventional medical care or that may have origins outside of usual Western practice. When describing these approaches, people often use “alternative” and “complementary” interchangeably, but the two terms refer to different concepts.
Read more: https://nccih.nih.gov/health/integrative-health#hed1
Know the Science
Why is it important to know the science of health? Simply put, because there is a lot of misinformation out there—from anecdotes disguised as evidence to excessive claims made by supplement manufacturers to TV doctors touting the latest "miracle cure."
Read more: https://nccih.nih.gov/health/know-science
Safe Use of Complementary Health
As with any treatment, it is important to consider safety before using complementary health products and practices. Safety depends on the specific therapy, and each complementary product or practice should be considered on its own.
Read more: https://nccih.nih.gov/health/safety
Herbs at a Glance
Herbs at a Glance is a series of brief fact sheets that provides basic information about specific herbs or botanicals—common names, what the science says, potential side effects and cautions, and resources for more information.
Read more: https://nccih.nih.gov/health/herbsataglance.htm
Lifestyle Changes
Some complementary health approaches are showing promise as elements of a program of lifestyle change to help lower blood pressure.
Read more: https://nccih.nih.gov/health/hypertension?nav=govd
NIH does not endorse or recommend any commercial products, processes, or services.