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Natural therapies

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Overview

Many people use natural therapies to improve their physical health and emotional wellbeing.

On this page, learn more about natural therapies. We explore the risks and benefits of different natural therapies to help you make informed choices.

Key takeaways

  • Many people in Australia use natural therapies to support their health and wellbeing.
  • Some natural therapies are supported by scientific research. Others need more evidence to understand their benefits.
  • Natural therapies should only be prescribed by qualified health practitioners who are trained in their use.
  • Some natural therapies affect other prescribed medicines, so talk to your doctor before making a decision.
Sections on this page

What are natural therapies?

Natural therapies are treatments and health practices that don’t use traditional medicine. They’re part of a broad range of therapies known as complementary and alternative medicines (CAM) and therapies.

Natural therapies include:

CAM includes health practices, such as:

  • relaxation
  • mindfulness
  • meditation
  • aromatherapy
  • acupuncture
  • yoga.

Many people in Australia use complementary and alternative medicine and therapies. One study found that 75% of adults in Australia used at least one type of CAM over a 12-month period. Another study showed that about 63% of people used a CAM practitioner and 48% used vitamin or mineral supplements.

Despite their popularity, a large women’s health survey found that more than 70% of women in Australia know little about the safety and effectiveness of natural therapies.

Read more about how natural therapies can be used to treat symptoms of menopause, endometriosi and PCOS.

Are natural therapies safe and effective?

Natural therapies are often considered safe and harmless because they are natural. But, as with pharmaceutical medicines, there can be risks and unwanted side effects when you use natural therapies.

There’s ongoing debate about the effectiveness of natural therapies compared with traditional medicine. Some therapies are supported by scientific research. Others need more evidence to understand their benefits.

Some natural therapies affect prescribed medicines, which may impact your health.
For these reasons, natural therapies should only be prescribed by qualified health practitioners, such as:

  • naturopaths
  • herbalists
  • traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) practitioners.

Using natural therapies

Many women take vitamins, minerals and supplements to support their health at different times in their lives.

When using natural therapies, it’s important to choose quality products. Some vitamins, treatments and herbs are better quality than others. This means some work better and are safer than others.

Many practitioners prescribe practitioner-only products, which are usually higher quality than over-the-counter products.

Tell your doctor if you use natural therapies, so they can keep it in mind when prescribing other medicines.

Some people choose therapies without guidance from qualified health practitioners. Before using natural therapies, ask your health practitioner questions to help make informed choices. For example:

  • Is this therapy safe?
  • Is there scientific research to support its use?
  • What is the right dose for me?
  • Will there be any side-effects if I use this therapy?
  • Will this therapy affect other medicines I’m taking?

How to find a qualified health practitioner

Complementary and alternative medicines should be prescribed by a qualified health practitioner trained in their use.

Contact these organisations for more information:

Herbal medicine

Herbal medicine is medicine made from plants and plant extracts. Many people use herbal medicine to manage symptoms of health conditions and improve their wellbeing.

Herbs can be prepared and taken in different ways. For example, they can be:

  • dried and combined with boiling water to make teas (infusions and decoctions)
  • concentrated in alcohol and water to make tinctures or extracts made into tablets, capsules and powders
  • made into creams, ointments, liniments, pessaries, infused oils, poultices and compresses for topical application.

There are many complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) products available over the counter and online. But their quality and effectiveness can vary greatly.

The best way to get advice about herbal medicine is through a qualified health practitioner, such as a naturopath, herbalist or traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) practitioner.

Read more about how natural therapies can be used to help manage symptoms of menopause, endometriosis, PCOS and anxiety.

Supplements and nutrition

Your body gets most of the nutrients it needs from the food and drinks you consume. But sometimes you might need to take supplements, for example, if you’re lacking what you need in your diet or have a health condition.

In these cases, certain supplements may help support your health and wellbeing.

It’s always a good idea to talk to a health professional before starting any supplements.

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