What is complementary medicine?
The term complementary medicine (also termed alternative or integrative medicine) is used by conventional medical practitioners to refer to non-invasive, non-pharmaceutical techniques, which are used in conjunction with medical treatments such as drugs and surgery. The term implies that conventional medicine is used as a primary tool and the non-invasive, non-pharmaceutical techniques are used as a supplement when needed. Complementary medicine involves techniques that supplement, but do not replace traditional medicine. These include acupuncture, biofeedback, therapeutic touch, hypnosis, biofeedback, reflexology, shiatsu, herbal remedies, naturopathic medicine, light therapy and EMDR.  People often use yoga, meditation, and other complementary practices to improve wellness and quality of life. In recent years, more people in the United States have been turning to complementary medicine to supplement the treatment of a wide range of conditions from arthritis to high blood pressure.
 
Is research being done on complementary medicine?
While most complementary therapies and medicines have been in use for hundreds or even thousands of years, many have not been subject to the same rigorous scientific testing for safety and effectiveness that standard medical treatments go through before they are approved in the U.S. In many cases, the very nature of a complementary therapy can make it difficult or impossible to evaluate by the same scientific methods or criteria.  However, more and more research is being done on complementary therapies. The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM), which is part of the National Institutes of Health, provides information to the public and to health professionals on the use and effectiveness of complementary medicine therapies. NCCAM's goal is to develop guidelines to help people choose safe and appropriate alternative and complementary therapies.

What are the benefits of complementary medicine?
Some complementary therapies work as well as conventional therapies. They often cost less and have fewer side effects.  Another benefit of complementary medicine is in the more holistic, "whole person" approach of many of its practitioners. Most complementary medicine practitioners and many medical doctors use this approach, which considers your lifestyle, background, and habits, in addition to your physical health. It provides a more complete health picture and more effective way to treat many diseases. This personal approach makes many people feel better about their practitioner, their treatment, and their medical condition. A person who uses a complementary therapy often benefits from a sense of empowerment. In seeking care outside conventional medicine, you are taking a more active role in your health care that can make you feel more in control of your health.  Science has shown that your emotional state can affect your health. Many people respond well to complementary treatments because they often address their sense of well-being as well as the condition itself.

Should I Stop Taking Herbs Before Surgery?
The main cause for concern for surgical patients using herbs is excessive bleeding. According to the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA), ginkgo biloba and feverfew may reduce the number of platelets in the blood and thus interfere with blood clotting. Other herbs also reported to inhibit clotting include garlic, ginger, ginseng, dong quai (Angelica sinensis), and danshen (Salvia miltiorrhiza.)
 
The risks of excessive bleeding are compounded in patients who are already taking warfarin, an anti-coagulant that reduces the chances of stroke in people with atrial fibrillation and in those prone to blood clots. The herbs listed above -- and many others, as well -- may dangerously magnify warfarin's effects, according to a paper published in the July, 2000, issue of the American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy