Complementary and Alternative Medicine. Complementary and alternative medicine includes practices such as massage, acupuncture, tai chi, and drinking green tea. Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is the term for medical products and practices that are not part of standard medical care. Alternative health approaches such as traditional Chinese medicine, homeopathy, and naturopathy.Mind and body practices like acupuncture, massage therapy, and tai chi. Natural health products like herbs, dietary supplements, and probiotics. Examples of alternative practices include homeopathy, traditional medication, chiropractic, and acupuncture. Complementary medicine is different from alternative medicine. Acupuncture – One of the better known alternative healing therapies is acupuncture. Acupressure – Acupressure just like acupuncture works on the principal of various specific points being energy centers of the human body. Ayurveda – Ayurveda is an ancient healing practice that originated in India. While nonconventional approaches such as acupuncture, music therapy and animal-assisted therapy have been found to be effective, others haven't been studied well enough to determine whether they're safe and effective. When considering any treatment, take time to learn about the risks and benefits. Alternative medicine is used instead of mainstream medical care. The claims that non-mainstream practitioners make can sound promising. alternative medical (CAM) therapies are a diverse group of practices that includes the use of herbal and dietary supplements (HDS) .