Abstract

Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is widely used in addition to or instead of conventional medicines for positive or negative reasons. Negative reasons are a poor outcome from conventional treatment; unwanted effects from drugs; a negative experience of the general practitioner relationship; and health views not in line with the conventional medical model.Positive reasons are a good outcome from CAM treatment; being an active participant in health care; a positive experience of the CAM practitioner relationship; and health views in line with the CAM model.This paper discusses how complementary and alternative therapies may be used to address important gaps inNHSprovision not amenable to conventional therapy.