What is Complementary Medicine?

There is no universally agreed definition of complementary medicine. NICM, the National Institute of Complementary Medicine defines it as

“..an inclusive term that incorporates Complementary Medicines and Complementary Therapies (Modalities / Systems). The term complementary medicine is considered to be inclusive of historically used names such as alternative medicine, natural medicine and traditional medicine. CM is concerned with both the maintenance of wellness and the treatment of illness “ (http://www.nicm.edu.au)

The systems of complementary medicine are whole medical systems and founded upon complete systems of practice and theory. These concepts often evolved far earlier than conventional medicine. These whole medical systems include naturopathic and homeopathic medicine and use substances found in nature such as herbs, foods and vitamins. All Complementary Medicine systems have the concept of the body’s ability to heal itself in common. Hence all treatments used support this concept, rather than suppressing or numbing. We at Cambridge Health offer:

• Homeopathy aims to stimulate the body's ability to heal itself by giving very small doses of highly diluted substances that in larger doses would produce illness or symptoms (an approach called "like cures like"). 
• Naturopathy works by supporting the body's ability to heal itself through the use of herbal medicine, dietary and lifestyle changes. Naturopathy concentrates on providing support for your whole system to overcome problems and rebalance in a holistic and lasting way. Naturopathy does not concentrate purely on the physiological disturbances but aims to understand how and why these disturbances arose in the first place. By working with the body the aim is to rebalance and regain Health Energy and Wellbeing. The approach is different to addressing symptoms only with an array of supplements or drugs. 
• Nutrition and Foods are used to develop the best diet concepts for each person. Since we are all metabolically different not every diet advice applies to each person. Some people thrive on vegetarian foods, others become sick because their bodies require more proteins and denser foods. A blanket exclusion of dairy or wheat does not solve problems that are caused by reduced absorption.
• Herbal Medicine is one of the modalities we use. By combining whole plant extracts we get the synergistic healing activity from all plants including their own protective properties. These protective properties are only present in whole plant extracts not in pharmacologically refined preparations that only contain one single compound. We combine the plant extracts individually and tailored to specific needs. 
• Massage manipulates the superficial and deeper layers of muscle and connective tissue to enhance function, aid in the healing process, and promote relaxation and well being. Massage relieves pain from musculoskeletal injuries and other causes of pain, reduces stress and enhances relaxation, rehabilitates sports injuries, decreases feelings of anxiety and depression, and increases general well being
• Reflexology based on the concept that certain parts of the body reflect the whole. These reflex points, which relate to all parts of the body, can be found in the feet, hands, face and ears. These points respond to pressure, stimulating the body's own natural healing process. The body starts progressively clearing blockages, re-establishing energy flows and balancing itself, resulting in better health.