Complementary medicine 'growing in popularity'

More and more people are turning to the natural healing benefits of complementary medicine in a bid to take back greater control of their own treatment and disease management.

The Institute for Complementary Medicine said that patients are growing increasingly aware of the different approach complementary therapies bring to the treatment of chronic illness compared to orthodox medicine.

"Complementary medicine tends to put the client a little bit more in charge of their own self," said the director of the institute, Clive Teal.

Research from Mintel found that the most notable growth reported in the over-the-counter pharmaceutical market was in sales of alternative medicines and self-diagnostics.

Many people have benefited significantly from complementary therapies - including acupuncture, aromatherapy, reflexology and homeopathy - some of which can be used in conjunction with traditional treatments.

Designed to work holistically, alternative therapies focus on the patient's general well-being and not on the disability or disease affecting them.