Complementary alternative medicine (CAM) therapies in this category can include acupuncture, chiropractic procedures, massage, and herbal healing, and they use techniques like healing, touch and manipulation of joints, and herbal teas. Many people like the idea of complementary medicine, because rather than treat the symptoms and fix the problems., as with most types of Western medicine - alternative medicine tries to prevent the symptoms from occurring in the first place. This is a holistic approach to healing meaning that holistic healers show their patients how to make connections between their mind and body as well as their exercise and eating habits to not only eliminate the symptoms of a particular problem but it will help them improve their overall quality of life as well.

Many people like to use CAM whenever possible, since the ingredients in the medicine are usually of the natural variety, and patients like knowing that they are not putting any more unnecessary man-made chemicals into their system. The ingredients used for alternative medicine often include things like fruits, roots, vegetables and herbs and spices are all used in combinations that take advantage of their medicinal properties. Medicines of this variety often come in the form of tea, poultices or powders that are ingested or steamed and breathed in to help with things such as asthma.