Complementary vs. Alternative vs. Integrative: What's Actually the Difference?

The terms "complementary," "alternative," and "integrative" medicine aren't just fancy buzzwords—they represent fundamentally different approaches to healthcare that more than 30 percent of American adults are already using. Understanding these distinctions can help you make better decisions about your health and communicate more effectively with your healthcare providers.

What Makes Each Approach Different?

The key difference lies in how these approaches work with conventional medicine. If you use a non-mainstream approach alongside your regular medical care, that's considered "complementary." Think of getting acupuncture while also taking prescribed medication for chronic pain. But if you replace conventional medicine entirely with a non-mainstream approach, that becomes "alternative" medicine.

Most people who explore these options don't go the full alternative route. Research shows that the majority of people using non-mainstream approaches also continue with conventional healthcare, making complementary medicine the more common choice.

How Does Integrative Medicine Fit In?

Integrative health takes a more coordinated approach, bringing conventional and complementary treatments together in a planned way. This approach emphasizes treating the whole person rather than focusing on just one organ system or symptom. It often involves multiple interventions working together—like combining medication with acupuncture, yoga, and probiotics for comprehensive care.

The integrative approach has been gaining ground in healthcare settings across the United States, with researchers exploring its benefits in several key areas:

• Pain Management: Studies are testing whether adding mindfulness meditation or self-hypnosis to traditional pain management can help veterans feel better while reducing their need for potentially harmful pain medications
• Cancer Care: Treatment centers are offering services like acupuncture and meditation to help manage symptoms and side effects, with research showing massage therapy may improve pain and mood in advanced cancer patients
• Healthy Behaviors: Preliminary research suggests yoga and meditation-based therapies may help people quit smoking, while mindfulness programs are being tested for family-based weight management

What Types of Complementary Approaches Are People Using?

According to a comprehensive 2012 national survey, 17.7 percent of American adults had used a dietary supplement other than vitamins and minerals in the past year, making these products the most popular complementary health approach. Fish oil topped the list as the most commonly used nonvitamin, nonmineral supplement.

Complementary approaches can be grouped by how they're delivered to the body. Nutritional approaches include special diets, herbal remedies, and probiotics. Psychological methods involve practices like mindfulness. Physical approaches encompass massage and spinal manipulation. Some treatments combine categories—yoga and tai chi blend psychological and physical elements, while acupuncture incorporates multiple therapeutic inputs.

You might also encounter the term "functional medicine," which sometimes refers to concepts similar to integrative health but may also describe approaches that more closely resemble naturopathy—a medical system that evolved from traditional practices and 19th century European healthcare approaches.

The field continues to evolve as researchers conduct rigorous studies on various complementary approaches. While some large studies have shown that certain products didn't work for the conditions tested, research on others remains ongoing, and the integrative model shows promise for coordinated, whole-person care.