Complementary Therapies

The term 'complementary therapy' is generally used to indicate therapies which differ from orthodox Western medicine, and which may be used to complement, support, or sometimes, to replace it.

There are many different complementary therapies including: aromatherapy, anthroposophy, Ayurvedic medicine, Bach Flower Remedies, exercise, movement and relaxation, healing and touch therapies, herbal medicine (Western), homeopathy, hypnotherapy, massage, naturopathy, nutritional therapy, reflexology, traditional Chinese medicine, transcendental meditation and yoga.

Some research already exists on the uses of complementary therapies for treating mental health problems. Research carried out by the Mental Health Foundation shows that mental health service users want greater access to complementary therapies and that where these are provided they are found to be well-received and helpful.

National Mind produces the following leaflets and booklets on complementary therapies which can be viewed as non-printable PDFs here or on the Mind website, or bought from the Mind shop.

• Making sense of herbal remedies
• Making sense of homeopathy
• Making sense of traditional Chinese medicine
• Mind guide to massage
• Mind guide to physical activity
• Mind guide to yoga
• St John's wort - Hypericum perforatum factsheet

Complementary therapies should only be used after consultation with a suitably qualified practitioner. It is always helpful if you can go to someone who has been recommended to you. In any case, you should check whether the practitioner is a qualified member of a recognised professional organisation, as well as finding out details of their training and experience. Practitioners may work in their own consulting rooms, in natural health clinics and, sometimes, in GP surgeries. The Mind leaflets listed above provide details of a number of organisations that have registers of qualified practitioners.