Alternative therapies (ATs) are therapies not usually provided by Canadian physicians or other conventionally trained health care providers. Examples of common ATs available in Canada are herbal preparations, reflexology, acupuncture and traditional Chinese medicine. ATs may be used along with conventional therapies (i.e. complementary therapy) or instead of conventional therapies. Surveys have shown that many Canadians use ATs, usually as complementary therapies, for a wide range of diseases and conditions.

Reliable information about ATs is often difficult to find. Your doctor may be unable to give you specific advice or recommendations, since ATs are often not in a physician's area of expertise. However, he or she will usually be able to provide some general advice and help supervise your progress. For your own health and safety, it is important to keep your doctor informed of the choices you make.

This document is intended to

1. provide you with questions to consider when making your treatment choices,
2. help you find information about ATs,
3. help you decide whether a specific ATis right for you, and
4. provide tips to help you evaluate the information you find.

Note: this entire document is available for download in TEXT ONLY (.RTF) format.