Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock ( ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Search Strategy Used to Create the PubMed Complementary Medicine Filter

This query is not updated.
Watch the video on How to Save PubMed Searches to learn how to save and maintain your own topic-specific PubMed searches.
If you have questions, please contact NLM Customer Support at https://support.nlm.nih.gov/


This strategy was originally created using terms from the Alternative Medicine branch of MeSH, as well as additional terms and names of MEDLINE journals provided by the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH), NIH. It is provided to facilitate searching for subjects in the area of complementary and alternative medicine.

Strategy last modified February 2019.


Acupunct Electrother Res [ta] 
OR Acupunct Med [ta]
OR Advances in Mind-Body Medicine [ta]  
OR Afr J Tradit Complement Altern Med [ta]
OR Alternative Medicine Review [ta]
OR Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine [ta]
OR American Journal of Acupuncture [ta]  
OR The American Journal of Chinese Medicine [ta]
OR The Australian Journal of Holistic Nursing [ta]
OR Beginnings [ta]  
OR BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine [ta]
OR British Homeopathic Journal [ta]
OR Chinese Journal of Integrative Medicine [ta]
OR Chinese Journal of Natural Medicines [ta]
OR Chiropr Man Therap [ta]
OR Complementary Medicine Research [ta]
OR Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice [ta]
OR Complementary Therapies in Medicine [ta]
OR Complementary Therapies in Nursing and Midwifery [ta]
OR "Explore (NY)" [ta]
OR Evid Based Complement Alternat Med [ta]
OR Fitoterapia [ta]
OR Forsch Komplementarmed [ta]
OR Forschende Komplementarmedizin und klassische Naturheilkunde [ta]
OR Holistic Nursing Practice [ta]
OR Homeopathy [ta]
OR Integrative Cancer Therapies [ta]
OR "Integr Med (Encinitas)" [ta]
OR International Journal of Medicinal Mushrooms [ta]
OR International Journal of Yoga Therapy[ta]
OR Journal of Acupuncture and Meridian Studies [ta]
OR The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine [ta]
OR Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies [ta]
OR Journal of Complementary and Integrative Medicine [ta]
OR Journal of the Society for Integrative Oncology [ta]
OR Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine [ta]
OR J Evid Based Complementary Altern Med [ta]
OR Journal of Herbal Pharmacotherapy [ta]
OR Journal of Ethnopharmacology [ta]
OR Journal of Holistic Nursing [ta]
OR Journal of Integrative Medicine [ta]
OR Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics [ta]
OR Journal of Medicinal Food [ta]
OR Journal of the American Institute of Homeopathy [ta]
OR Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine [ta]
OR Journal of Natural Medicines [ta]
OR Natural product communications [ta]
OR Phytomedicine [ta]
OR Phytotherapy Research [ta]
OR Planta Medica [ta]
OR Zhen Ci Yan Jiu [ta]
OR Zhong Xi Yi Jie He Xue Bao [ta]
OR Zhongguo Zhen Jiu [ta]
OR Zhongguo Zhong Yao Za Zhi [ta]
OR Zhongguo Zhong Xi Yi Jie He Za Zhi [ta]
OR Zhonghua Yi Shi Za Zhi [ta]
OR alternative medicine [tw] OR integrative medicine [tw] OR alternative therapies [tw]
OR complementary medicine [tw] OR complementary therapy [tw]
OR complementary therapies [mh] OR complementary therapies [tw]
OR orthomolecular therapy [mh] OR orthomolecular
OR ((megadosage [ti] OR megadose [ti] OR megadose therapy [ti]
OR megadoses [ti] OR megadosing [ti] OR megadosis [ti]
OR high dosage [ti] OR high dosages [ti] OR high dose [ti]
OR large dosage OR "large dose" OR "large dosed"
OR large doses OR adjuvant [ti]
OR unorthodox [ti] OR unconventional [ti] OR supplement [ti]
OR supplementation [ti] OR high daily intake [tw])
AND
(vitamins [mh] OR vitamins [tw] OR vitamin [tw]
OR vegetables [mh]
OR minerals [mh] OR minerals [tw]
OR androstenedione OR andro [tw]
OR arachidonic acid [tw]
OR ascorbic acid [tw] OR vitamin c [tw]
OR biotin [tw]
OR boron [tw]
OR bromelain [tw] OR bromelains [tw]
OR calcium [tw]
OR carotene [tw] OR carotenes [tw] OR carotenoids [mh]
OR choline [tw]
OR chromium [tw]
OR colloidal silver
OR conjugated linoleic acid
OR copper [tw]
OR docosahexaenoic acid [tw] OR dha [tw]
OR epigallocatechin gallate OR EGCG
OR folic acid [tw]
OR inositol [tw]
OR iodine [tw]
OR iron [tw]
OR l-arginine [tw]
OR magnesium [tw]
OR manganese [tw]
OR molybdenum [tw]
OR niacin [tw] OR niacinamide [tw]
OR phosphatidyl choline [tw] OR lecithin [tw]
OR plant oils [tw]
OR potassium [tw]
OR pyridoxine [tw]
OR riboflavin [tw]
OR retinoid [tw] OR retinoids [tw] OR retinoic [tw] OR retinal [tw]
OR selenium [tw]
OR silicon [tw]
OR thiamine [tw]
OR tocopherol [tw] OR tocopherols [tw]
OR vanadium [tw]
OR vitamin a [tw]
OR vitamin d [tw]
OR vitamin e [tw]  
OR vitamin k [tw]
OR zinc [tw]
OR phytomedicine
OR micronutrient [tw] OR micronutrients))
OR (antioxidants AND dietary supplements)
OR (diseases category [mh] AND dietary supplements)
OR (dietary fats AND unsaturated fatty acids)
OR (diseases category [mh] AND omega-3 fatty acids)
OR ((adjuvant [ti] OR complementary [ti]
OR unorthodox [ti] OR unconventional [ti] OR supplement [ti]
OR supplements [ti] OR supplementation [ti])
AND (co-enzyme Q10 OR ubiquinone
OR carnitine [majr] OR carnitine [ti]
OR glutamine [majr] OR glutamine [ti]
OR phenylalanine [majr] OR phenylalanine [ti]
OR glucosamine sulfate [majr] OR glucosamine sulfate [ti]
OR chondroitin sulfates [majr] OR chondroitin sulfate [ti]
OR (chondroitin OR glucosamine AND joint diseases)
OR lipoic acid [ti]
OR "medium chain" triglycerides
OR phosphatidylserine [majr] OR phosphatidylserine [ti]
OR melatonin [majr] OR melatonin [ti] OR "melatonin treatment"
OR dhea [tw]
OR taurine [majr] OR taurine [ti]
OR lysine [majr] OR lysine [ti]
OR tyrosine [majr] OR tyrosine [ti]
OR gamma-oryzanol [tw]
OR fatty acids [majr] OR fatty acids [ti]
OR amino acids [majr] OR amino acids [ti]
OR s-adenosylmethionine [majr] OR s-adenosylmethionine [ti]))
OR "mind body" OR mind-body therapies [mh] OR mindfulness-based stress reduction OR mindfulness
OR yoga OR ayurveda OR medicine, ayurvedic OR ayurvedic
OR ayur veda OR ayur vedic OR siddha [tw] OR guggal [tw] OR guggul [tw]
OR balint group* [tw]
OR cyberbiology
OR (eye movement [tw] AND desensitization [tw] OR emdr)
OR bach e [ps]
OR flower remedies OR (bach [tw] AND flower) OR flower essences [tw]
OR heliotherapy
OR cayce [tw]
OR sophrology
OR wit and humor as topic [mh] OR laughter therapy
OR ("past life" AND therapy)
OR meditation
OR kundalini
OR (mental OR guided OR visualization OR rehearsal AND imagery)
OR hypnosis OR hypnotherapy
OR simonton [tw]
OR biofeedback
OR neurofeedback
OR self-help groups [mh] OR support groups [tw]
OR (group psychotherapy AND cancer)
OR autogenic training
OR transpersonal psychology
OR relaxation therapy [tw] OR relaxation techniques [tw]
OR progressive muscle relaxation
OR psychoneuroimmunology
OR psychosomatic medicine [tw]
OR aversion therapy
OR art therapy [tw]
OR music therapy [tw]
OR dance therapy [tw]
OR drama therapy [tw] OR psychodrama
OR journaling
OR animal assisted therapy[tw] OR (pet therapy [tw] AND animals [tw])
OR feng shui
OR syntonic
OR religion and medicine [tw]
OR mental healing [tw]
OR spiritual healing [tw]
OR alternative healer*
OR faith heal*
OR special healer*
OR shamanism OR shaman [tw]
OR santeria
OR witchcraft OR voodoo
OR magic [mh]
OR prayer* [tw] OR praying [tw]
OR spirituality
OR psychospiritual
OR holistic nursing [tw]
OR pastoral care [tw]
OR alcoholics anonymous  
OR kirlian [tw]
OR ear candle*
OR native american traditional medicine OR korean traditional medicine OR traditional use [tw]
OR chinese traditional medicine OR chinese medicine [tiab] OR oriental traditional medicine
OR east asian traditional medicine OR kampo medicine OR tibetan traditional medicine
OR qi [mh] OR ch'i [tw] OR yin-yang [mh] OR acupuncture therapy OR acupuncture analgesia
OR acupuncture points OR acupressure OR acupuncture OR electroacupuncture
OR auriculoacupuncture OR auriculotherapy OR "dry needling"
OR trigger point injection*
OR acumoxa
OR fu zheng [tw]
OR huangdi neijing
OR moxibustion
OR qi gong [tw] OR qigong
OR tai chi [tw]
OR aikido [tw]
OR medicine, traditional OR traditional medicine [tw]
OR primitive medicine [tw] OR folk medicine [tw] OR folklore OR folk [tw] OR traditional indigenous
OR home remedies [tw] OR home remedy [tw]
OR traditional healer*
OR unani
OR tibbi [tw] OR tibb [tw]
OR traditional african medicine
OR curanderismo
OR tibetan medicine
OR kampo
OR ((aboriginal OR aborigines) AND (medicinal OR medicine))
OR arabic medicine [tw]
OR la'au
OR yoruba
OR homeopathy OR homeopath* [tw] OR homoeopath* [tw] OR materia medica OR homeopathic formularies
OR homeopathic pharmacopoeias OR environmental medicine [tw]
OR restricted environmental stimulation therapy OR radiesthesia
OR naturopathy OR naturopath* [tw]
OR anthroposophy OR eclecticism
OR holistic health [tw] OR ((wholistic OR holistic) AND (health [tw] OR medicine [tw] OR nursing))
OR kneipp [tw] OR kneipp S [ps] OR ((bowen [tw] AND family) AND (therapy [tw] OR systems OR technique))
OR phytotherap* [tw] OR phytotherapy OR chinese herb* OR herbal drugs [tw]
OR herbal medicine OR medicinal plants OR chinese herb nephropathy OR plant extracts estrogen-like
OR plant extracts/tu OR (plant extracts/pharmacology AND humans [mh])
OR botanicals OR (botanical AND (supplementary OR supplemental OR medicine [tw] OR medicinal [tw]
OR remedy [tw] OR remedies [tw] OR therapy OR therapeutic use OR management [tw]
OR treatment [tw] OR antineoplastic* OR preparation [tw] OR preparations [tw]))
OR herbal OR herbals OR herbalism OR antineoplastic agents, phytogenic OR phytoestrogen*
OR pharmacognosy OR herb-drug interactions
OR artichoke extract OR (bitter orange [tw] AND oil [tw]) OR black cohosh
OR (bromelain [ti] OR (bromelain AND pineapple [tw]) AND (therapy OR therapeutic OR treatment))
OR bromelain/tu [mh] OR (anti-inflammatory OR antiinflammatory AND bromelain)
OR (flax [mh] AND (tumors OR prevention [sh] OR diet therapy [sh] OR plant extracts))
OR ginkgo biloba OR bilobalides OR ginkgolides OR (cannabis [tw] OR marijuana [tw] OR marihuana [tw] AND medical)
OR cannabis/tu
OR (therapeutic use OR antiinflammatory OR oral administration AND ellagic acid)
OR hypericum OR (st  john  wort) OR garlic OR (allicin AND sulfinic acids/tu [majr])
OR ginseng [tw] OR panax OR astragalus plant [majr] OR astragaloside A OR (traditional use [tw] AND plant)
OR golden seal OR goldenseal
OR glyconutrient*
OR pomegranate [tw]
OR (honey [mh] AND (therapy OR therapeutic))
OR (resveratrol AND (therapy OR therapeutic))
OR (extract OR extracts AND (butterbur OR butter bur OR grape seed [tw]))
OR guarana
OR (human growth hormone AND aging [majr])
OR 5-Hydroxytryptophan/tu [majr:noexp]
OR (alpha-lipoic acid AND therapeutic use [sh:noexp])
OR abscisic acid insulin
OR acai [tw]
OR ba wei di huang wan
OR bear-bile
OR berberine
OR borage oil
OR arnica
OR centella asiatica
OR cetyl myristoleate
OR citrus pectin
OR (cinnamon [tw] AND (antioxidants [mh] OR oils))
OR (clove AND (oils OR extract* OR infusion))
OR cordyceps
OR (chamomile OR cranberry AND (plant extracts OR diseases category [mh]))
OR echinacea
OR emodin/tu
OR flax seed [tw]
OR saw palmetto
OR urtica dioica
OR kava
OR hawthorn [tw]
OR harpagophytum
OR horse chestnut seed
OR witch hazel
OR bilberry
OR ginger [tw]
OR garcinia
OR grapefruit seed extract
OR aloe vera
OR capsicum
OR feverfew
OR (green AND tea [mh] OR green tea [ti])
OR tea tree oil
OR (root[tw] OR roots [tw] AND licorice)
OR yohimbe OR yohimbine/tu
OR rhodiola
OR valerian  
OR heliotrope [tw]  
OR bee pollen  
OR myrrh
OR cat's claw OR uncaria tomentosa[tw]  
OR evening primrose  
OR dong quai  
OR fenugreek  
OR (lavender AND (oil OR oils OR odors))
OR maitake OR grifola frondosa
OR marshmallow  
OR mulberry leaf extract
OR olive leaf extract  
OR pine bark extract
OR hoodia appetite
OR psyllium  
OR stanol therapy
OR tumeric OR turmeric OR curcumin
OR mistletoe OR iscador
OR mahonia aquifolium  
OR thunder god vine  
OR peppermint oil  OR oleum menthae piperitae
OR milk thistle OR "silybum marianum" OR silymarin OR silybin
OR ma huang  
OR (mushroom* AND (medicinal OR therapy OR antifungal OR antineoplastic))
OR medicinal fungi [tw]  
OR ojeok-san
OR purple sweet potato anthocyanin
OR ephedra  
OR padma [tw]  
OR hoxsey [tw]
OR essiac [tw]  
OR kombucha  
OR (pau OR palo AND arco) OR (avellanedae OR impetiginosa AND tabebuia)  
OR pc-spes  
OR (treatment OR therapy AND pumpkin seed*)
OR pygeum
OR (diet OR dietary AND rice bran [tw])
OR red yeast rice
OR sam-e
OR tinospora
OR phyllanthus
OR nutriceutical* OR nutraceutical*
OR diet fads  
OR (probiotics OR prebiotics OR synbiotics AND therapy)
OR (macrobiotic AND diet)
OR pritikin [tw]  
OR mcdougall [tw]  
OR gerson [tw]  
OR (kelley [tw] AND diet therapy)  
OR (proteolytic enzymes [tw] AND (diet therapy OR oral administration) AND cancer)  
OR (wigmore [tw] AND diet)  
OR livingston-wheeler  
OR (atkins [tw] AND diet)
OR (low-carb OR low-carbohydrate AND diet)  
OR ((omega-3 OR fish oil OR (n3 OR n-3 AND (oil OR oils OR PUFA OR fatty acid OR fatty acids))) AND (diet OR dietary OR supplement* [tw]))
OR (diamond [tw] AND diet)  
OR ketogenic diet*
OR ((fasting [majr] OR fasting [ti]) AND diet therapy [sh])  
OR high fiber [tw] OR high fibre [tw]  
OR macrobiotic diet  
OR mediterranean diet  
OR paleolithic diet  
OR asian diet [tw]  
OR (food OR foods [tw] OR diet OR dietary AND cultural)  
OR (fruit [tw] OR fruits OR plant [tw]
OR plants AND juice AND (prevention OR therapy))  
OR (ornish [tw] AND diet)  
OR vegetarian diet OR vegetarianism OR vegan OR vegans
OR veganism
OR wssf OR water-soluble soybean fiber
OR phytosterols OR phytosterol [tw]
OR ((soy OR soybeans OR soybean [tw] OR soybean proteins) AND (prevention OR therapy))  
OR isoflavones OR isoflavone [tw] OR ipriflavone OR genistein
OR (anti-oxidant OR anti-oxidants OR antioxidant OR antioxidants [tw] OR consumption OR treatment OR therapy OR prevention
OR therapeutic AND (flavonoid [tw] OR flavonoids OR bioflavinoid* OR bioflavonoid*))
OR (antioxidants AND blueberr*)
OR (health food OR functional food* AND therapy)
OR (functional food [tw] AND antioxidants)  
OR coley toxins  
OR compound 714-X  
OR antineoplastons
OR (creatine AND huntington disease AND (therapy OR therapeutic))  
OR shark cartilage cancer
OR powdered cartilage wound
OR (therapeutic OR prevention OR therapy AND shiitake)  
OR (stevia AND sweetner) OR stevia [ti]
OR edetic acid OR edta [tw] OR ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid [tw]  
OR (intravenous AND ozone AND therapy [tw]) OR ozonotherapy OR ozone/tu [majr:noexp] OR "ozone therapy"
OR oxymedicine OR hyperoxigenation therapy  
OR (hydrogen peroxide AND (intravenous OR infusions) AND (dosage OR therapy OR therapeutic use))  
OR ((hyperbaric oxygen therapy [ti]
OR hyperbaric oxygenation[majr]) NOT (wounds OR wound healing OR decompression sickness OR diving))  
OR immunoaugmentative  
OR revici [tw]  
OR cell therapy [tw]  
OR organotherapy  
OR tissue therapy [mh] OR tissue therapy [tw]  
OR (t tn [tw] AND vaccinat*)  
OR (enemas OR enema AND coffee)  
OR dibella [tw]  
OR greek cancer cure  
OR krebiozen [tw]  
OR laetrile  
OR urine therapy [tw]
OR (livingston [tw] AND therapy [tw])  
OR (maggot [tw] AND therapy [tw])  
OR (cancer OR neoplasms AND pannon)  
OR reishi [tw]  
OR staphage lysate  
OR cellasene  
OR (chacon [tw] AND cancer)  
OR chelation therapy  
OR (noni juice OR morinda citrifolia OR mth-68 AND (antineoplastic agents OR cancer OR analgesic OR antihelminthic))  
OR chitosan weight loss  
OR (treatment [ti] OR therapy [ti] AND insulin [ti] AND potentiation [ti])
OR (thymus extract OR pancreatic extract AND therapeutic use)  
OR apitherapy OR apitherap*  
OR neural therapy [tw] OR prolotherapy OR neuraltherapy  
OR electrodiagnostics  
OR iridolog* OR iridodiagnosis  
OR (mora [tw] AND therapy)  
OR bioresonance
OR expressive writing [tw]  
OR (laxative AND (senna [tw] OR cascara sagrada [tw]))
OR (maruyama [tw] AND vaccine)  
OR neuroacoustic [tw]  
OR revici   
OR naprapathy  
OR spinal manipulation
OR chiropractic [mh] OR chiropractic [tw]  
OR massage  
OR osteopathic medicine [tw] OR (manipulative OR manipulation AND osteopathic)  
OR (tui [tw] AND na [tw]) OR tuina
OR shiatsu [tw]  
OR reflexology [tw] OR reflexotherapy  
OR rolfing  [tw]  
OR applied kinesiology
OR energy polarity healing  
OR pranic healing
OR (body centered [tw] OR body oriented [tw] AND psychotherapy)  
OR (approach OR psychophysical OR bodywork OR body AND trager [tw])  
OR (alexander [tw] AND technique)  
OR feldenkrais  
OR applied kinesiology  
OR pilates  
OR post isometric contract  
OR hold relax [tw]  
OR (amma [tw] AND therapy)  
OR (conductive AND education [tw])  
OR ((craniosacral OR cranio-sacral) AND (therapy OR treatment))  
OR effleurage  
OR myofascial release OR gravity inversion [tw]  
OR hellerwork  
OR hippotherapy OR hydrotherapy OR balneotherapy OR balneology
OR ammotherapy OR sand bath*  
OR finnish baths  
OR mud pack* OR mud therapy OR mud bath*  
OR thalassotherapy OR climatotherapy OR speleotherapy
OR (jin [tw] AND shin [tw])  
OR (hawaiian AND lomi)  
OR manual lymphatic drainage  
OR manual lymph drainage  
OR (meridian AND therapy [tw])  
OR mesotherapy
OR myotherapy  
OR neurocranial restructuring  
OR neuromuscular integrated action  
OR reichian  
OR petrissage  
OR watsu  
OR colour therapy [tw] OR color therapy [MeSH Terms] OR color therapy [tw]  
OR aromatherapy  
OR heat therapy [tw]  
OR electrotherap*  
OR holotropic
OR (saline AND nasal irrigation)
OR alternate nostril breathing OR unilateral forced nostril breathing  
OR biofield  
OR healing art [tw]  
OR therapeutic touch [tw] OR healing touch [tw] OR caring touch [tw]  
OR reiki  
OR (natural [ti] AND healing [ti])  
OR huna [tw]  
OR external qi healing  
OR psychic healing OR (psychic AND surgery [tw])  
OR sensory deprivation [tw]  
OR (polarity AND therapy [tw])
OR chronotherapy  
OR vitalism  
OR bioelectromagnetic* [tw] OR biomagnets
OR bioelectromagnetism OR magnetics/tu [mh:noexp]
OR electromagnetics/tu [mh:noexp]  
OR transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation  
OR repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation  
OR trigger-point-therapy  
OR myofascial trigger point pain electrotherapy
OR bobath
OR electrostimulation
OR blue light treatment [tw]
OR holographic repatterning
OR ((ultrasound [tw] OR radiofrequenc*) AND induced hyperthermia [tw])
OR thermochemoradiotherapy
OR (magnet [ti] OR electromagnetic [ti] AND therapy [ti])
OR infrasound therapy
OR (therapy OR treatment AND millimeter wave*)
OR ion generated [tw] OR ion generating [tw] OR ion generator [tw]
OR nccam OR nccih

Last Reviewed: February 20, 2019