The term complementary and alternative are often used as if they mean the same thing but there is a very real difference in the interpretation. An alternative therapy or treatment is one that is generally used instead of conventional medicine whereas complementary therapies and aids are more often used in addition to conventional medical treatments.

I am using the term complementary supports to cover complementary treatments, complementary therapies and complementary medicine.

The techniques that are used derive from a variety of cultures, some of them very ancient, and focus upon healing the person as opposed to curing the disease.