Alternative Medicine Used by Women

There has been growing interest in alternative medicine (AM) use over the last few decades due to the widespread desire for holistic, individualized care and dissatisfaction with the conventional healthcare system. This literature review examines the prevalence, reasons for use, modalities, and potential benefits and risks of AM practices utilized by women. From various clinical trials, surveys, and ethnographic researches, this review will attempt to draw a comprehensive understanding of the integration of alternative therapies into the health care practice of women. In addition, this article discusses the effectiveness of herbal medicine, acupuncture, chiropractic, homeopathy, and mind-body therapies by analyzing scientific evidence. The results indicate that although some AM practices are quite useful, issues of effectiveness, safety, and integration with conventional medicine remain.