complementary and alternative medicine Complementary and alternative medicine is a new approach to medicine, especially in the US where the traditional medical practices have shunned some of the time honored approaches that other cultures have used to help people maintain or regain their health. Now complementary and alternative medicine techniques are being taught in medical schools in the US at forward thinking medical schools. Medical students are learning about herbal medicines, acupuncture, massage therapy, and the benefits of chiropractic treatments. Whether these students incorporate the techniques into their future practices is up to them, but at last the US medical community is realizing the value of these complementary and alternative medicine techniques.

People who use the alternative health care realize its value, and prefer to take herbal cures instead of prescription drugs because the side effects are generally fewer, and the toxic impact on the body is less. Massage therapy can replace taking muscle relaxers which can make people feel really drowsy, and there are even herbal remedies for tight or injured muscles. It's good that doctors in training are learning some of these techniques to help people with less damaging treatments.