complementary medicine

noun

Also called: alternative medicine the treatment, alleviation, or prevention of disease by such techniques as osteopathy, homeopathy, aromatherapy, and acupuncture, allied with attention to such factors as diet and emotional stability, which can affect a person's wellbeingSee also holism (def. 2)

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complementary medicine in Science

complementary medicine

A method of delivering of health care that combines the therapies and philosophies of conventional medicine with those of alternative medicine, such as acupuncture, herbal medicine, and biofeedback.