Natural, Complementary, and Alternative Medicine versus the FDA
The modern healthcare environment has seen a significant and sustained expansion of medical and healthcare practices that exist outside the framework of conventional Western medicine. These approaches, often sought by consumers who perceive them as safer or more aligned with a holistic philosophy, represent a diverse and economically significant sector of the health industry. Understanding this landscape requires defining some terms, as the terminology used can be misleading. Differentiating Complementary, Alternative, and Integrative Approaches The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH), a division of the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH), provides some working definitions of the terms "complementary" and "alternative." Often they are used interchangeably, but they can describe distinct concepts. These are not the only definitions in use, but they are a helpful place to start. Complementary Medicine: This refers to the use of ...