What it means
In health care, complementary therapies are practices outside standard Western medicine that are used together with it, such as massage, acupuncture, meditation, yoga and herbal products. When a non-standard therapy is used instead of standard care, it is called alternative. Bringing both together is called integrative health care. Do not confuse it with "complimentary", which means free or praising.
For the nurse
Ask every client about complementary therapies and herbal products, since some herbs interact with drugs, such as St. John's wort and ginkgo.
Related terms
holistic care
Care that looks after the whole person: body, mind, emotions, relationships and spiritual needs.
meditation
A practice of focusing the mind, such as on the breath, a word or an image, to calm thoughts and reduce stress.