What "alternative" means, and what it does not

In everyday search, "alternative medicine" is a catch-all for anything that is not a prescription or a surgery. Used precisely, it means something narrower and more important: a non-mainstream approach used in place of conventional care rather than alongside it. That is the distinction drawn by the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, and it is a distinction about use, not about the practice. Homeopathy taken for a cold is one thing. Homeopathy chosen instead of treatment for a diagnosed cancer is a different thing with a different outcome, and a US cohort study of patients with curable cancers found that those who chose alternative medicine as their sole treatment had two and a half times the risk of death of matched patients who received conventional care.

Gyfts uses "Alternative" as one of four categories in the MACH framework (Metaphysical, Alternative, Complementary, Holistic). The practices in this category are the ones most often presented, or sought out, as a route of their own: complete systems of medicine such as Unani, Kampō, Siddha and homeopathy; the herbal and nutritional protocols that grow up around them; the hypnosis and coaching traditions that developed outside clinical psychology (our piece on what a holistic health coach does covers the scope question); and the newer biohacking and detoxification therapies. Many of them are also used alongside conventional care, and used that way they are complementary. The category label describes the most common pattern of use, not a verdict on any practice.

This is the largest of the four category lists after Metaphysical. It is a view over the live Gyfts Index rather than a curated top ten, which means it contains established systems with centuries of documented practice, protocols with trial evidence behind specific uses, and approaches with no evidence base at all. Each entry links to a page that says which is which.

How this list is organized

Six headings, each a plain-language answer to "what does this work on": the body and movement, the mind and nervous system, energy and spirit, systems of medicine, food and lifestyle, and guidance. Under each heading the practices are grouped by family. Numbers in headings are counts. If you would rather start from what you are experiencing, browse by health concern. This is one of four category lists drawn from the same Index. The complete list of healing modalities explains how the four categories fit together and how the Index divides across them, and the other three lists cover complementary therapies, holistic practices and metaphysical and spiritual practices.

Alternative medicine practices: body, movement and touch (24)

Manual bodywork

  • •Couples Massage — Couples Massage involves partners receiving simultaneous massages in the same room, designed to promote relaxation, intimacy, and shared wellness experiences.
  • •Marma Point Therapy — Marma point therapy is an Ayurvedic bodywork practice that stimulates 107 vital energy points located at anatomical junctions of muscles, tendons, bones, joints, and blood vessels.
  • •Myofascial — Myofascial therapy involves hands-on techniques that target the connective tissue (fascia) surrounding muscles to release tension, reduce pain, and improve mobility.
  • •Myofascial Release — Myofascial Release is a hands-on therapeutic technique that applies sustained pressure to areas of muscle and fascia to release tension and restrictions.
  • •Pregnancy Massage — Pregnancy Massage is a specialized form of therapeutic massage designed to address the physical and emotional needs of expectant mothers throughout pregnancy.
  • •Reflexology — Reflexology is a therapeutic practice involving pressure and massage applied to specific reflex points on the feet, which are believed to correspond to organs and body systems.
  • •Rolfing — Rolfing is a hands-on soft tissue manipulation technique that aims to realign the body's structure and improve posture, flexibility, and movement patterns.
  • •Seated Massage — Seated Massage is a massage therapy technique performed with the client in a specially designed chair, focusing on the neck, shoulders, back, and arms.
  • •Shiatsu Massage — Shiatsu is a traditional Japanese massage therapy that applies rhythmic pressure to specific points on the body to promote relaxation and restore energy balance.
  • •Sports Massage — Sports Massage is a specialized form of therapeutic massage designed for athletes and physically active individuals to enhance performance, reduce muscle tension, and accelerate recovery.

Movement and rehabilitation

  • •Body Stress Release — Body Stress Release (BSR) is a gentle hands-on technique that uses light pressure to identify and release areas of muscular and nervous tension throughout the body.
  • •Dance Therapy — Dance Therapy is a psychotherapeutic approach that uses movement and dance as tools for emotional expression, stress relief, and mental health support.
  • •Movement Therapy — Movement Therapy is a body-based healing practice that uses intentional movement, dance, and somatic techniques to address physical tension, emotional trauma, and promote self-expression.
  • •Pilates — Pilates is a structured exercise method combining controlled movements, breathing, and body awareness to build core strength and improve flexibility.
  • •Sports Medicine — Sports Medicine is a medical specialty focused on diagnosing, treating, and preventing injuries and conditions related to athletic activity and exercise.
  • •Sports Therapy — Sports Therapy is a therapeutic discipline that combines manual therapy, stretching, and rehabilitation exercises to treat sports-related injuries and optimize athletic performance.

Yoga and yogic systems

  • •Anusara — Anusara is a modern school of hatha yoga emphasizing alignment principles, heart-centered themes, and posture refinement.

Water and heat therapies

  • •Hydrotherapy — Hydrotherapy is the therapeutic use of water in various forms—including immersion, steam, jets, and contrast temperatures—to promote healing and well-being.
  • •Salt Therapy (Halotherapy) — Halotherapy uses inhaled salt aerosol in a relaxing environment to potentially support respiratory and skin wellness.
  • •Yoni Steaming — An ancient herbal steam practice for pelvic wellness.

Light therapies

  • •Chromotherapy — Chromotherapy, or color therapy, uses specific colors and colored light to influence mood, energy levels, and overall well-being.
  • •Light Therapy — Light Therapy involves exposure to specific wavelengths and intensities of light to support mood regulation, circadian rhythm alignment, and general wellbeing.
  • •Photobiomodulation — Photobiomodulation (PBM) involves the therapeutic application of light, typically in the red and near-infrared wavelengths, to stimulate cellular processes and potentially reduce inflammation.
  • •Red Light Therapy — Red Light Therapy involves exposure to red and near-infrared wavelengths (typically 600-1000 nm) to stimulate cellular energy production and tissue repair.

Alternative medicine practices: mind, emotions and the nervous system (23)

Psychological and emotional therapies

  • •Age Regression Hypnosis — Age Regression Hypnosis is a therapeutic technique that uses hypnosis to help individuals revisit and explore memories from childhood or earlier life stages.
  • •Analytical Hypnosis — Analytical Hypnosis is a therapeutic approach that uses hypnotic states to explore the unconscious mind and uncover underlying emotional conflicts contributing to psychological symptoms.
  • •Classical Hypnosis — Classical Hypnosis uses traditional relaxation and suggestion techniques to induce a therapeutic trance state.
  • •HypnoDontics — HypnoDontics is a specialized hypnotherapy approach that uses guided relaxation and suggestion to address dental anxiety, fear, and phobia.
  • •Hypnoanalysis — Hypnoanalysis is a form of hypnotherapy that combines hypnosis with analytical techniques to uncover and address deep-seated emotional issues, traumas, and psychological conflicts.
  • •Hypnobirthing — Hypnobirthing is a childbirth preparation method that combines hypnotherapy, relaxation techniques, and positive affirmations to help expectant mothers approach labor with reduced anxiety and increased confidence.
  • •Hypnosis — Hypnosis is a therapeutic technique that uses focused attention and guided suggestion to access the subconscious mind and promote relaxation and positive change.
  • •Hypnotherapy — Hypnotherapy is a therapeutic approach that uses guided hypnosis to access the subconscious mind and facilitate behavioral and emotional change.
  • •Matrix Reimprinting — Matrix Reimprinting is an energy psychology technique developed by Karl Dawson that builds upon Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT/tapping).
  • •Parts Therapy Hypnosis — Parts Therapy Hypnosis is a hypnotherapeutic technique that facilitates dialogue between different aspects of the psyche to resolve internal conflicts and promote psychological integration.
  • •Positive Hypnosis — Positive Hypnosis is a therapeutic approach that uses guided hypnotic states to reinforce constructive beliefs, behaviors, and attitudes, helping individuals build confidence and adopt a more positive mindset.
  • •Self-Hypnosis — Self-hypnosis is a technique in which individuals learn to induce a hypnotic state independently, typically guided by audio recordings, scripts, or trained instruction.
  • •Sports Hypnosis — Sports Hypnosis uses guided hypnotherapy techniques to help athletes enhance mental focus, build confidence, and overcome psychological barriers that limit performance.
  • •Sports Psychology — Sports Psychology is a clinical and educational discipline that applies psychological principles to enhance athletic performance and mental resilience.

Trauma and recovery

  • •Somatic Experiencing — Somatic Experiencing is a body-focused approach that uses awareness of physical sensations and movements to support nervous system regulation and resilience.
  • •Tension & Trauma Releasing — Tension & Trauma Releasing practices are gentle, body-based approaches designed to help release accumulated physical tension and support relaxation.

Somatic and nervous-system regulation

  • •Body Healing — Body Healing is a holistic approach that combines various therapeutic techniques to support the body's natural healing processes, including nutritional guidance, movement therapies, stress management, and natural remedies.

Meditation and mindfulness

  • •Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy — Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) combines cognitive therapy techniques with mindfulness meditation to help prevent relapse of depression and manage anxiety by developing present-moment awareness and psychological insight.

Breathwork

  • •Wim Hof Method — A three-pillar wellness method combining cyclic hyperventilation breathing, progressive cold exposure, and commitment/meditation to build stress resilience and modulate the immune and autonomic nervous systems.

Creative and expressive therapies

  • •Drama Therapy — Drama therapy is a creative arts psychotherapy that uses role play, improvisation, storytelling, and structured enactment as the primary vehicle for therapeutic change.
  • •Expressive Arts — Expressive Arts therapy uses creative modalities like visual art, music, dance, and writing to facilitate emotional healing and self-expression.
  • •Music Therapy — Music Therapy is a clinical intervention that uses music and musical activities, guided by trained therapists, to improve physical, emotional, cognitive, and social well-being.

Energy psychology

  • •Thought Field Therapy — Thought Field Therapy (TFT) is a tapping technique where practitioners guide clients to tap on specific acupressure points while focusing on an emotional issue, based on the theory that tapping these meridian points releases energetic blockages.

Alternative medicine practices: energy, spirit and consciousness (7)

Energy and biofield work

  • •Aura Training — Aura Training teaches individuals to perceive, interpret, and work with their personal energy field or aura through various visualization and meditation techniques.
  • •Bioenergetics — Bioenergetics is a body-mind therapy that uses physical exercises, breathwork, and movement to release chronic muscle tension believed to hold repressed emotions.
  • •Biofeedback — Biofeedback is a technique that uses electronic sensors to help people learn conscious control over typically involuntary bodily functions like heart rate, muscle tension, and blood pressure.
  • •Biopulsation — Biopulsation is a therapeutic modality that combines biofeedback with low-level electrical stimulation to enhance circulation, reduce pain, and promote the body's natural healing processes.
  • •Bioresonance — Bioresonance therapy uses electromagnetic devices to detect and supposedly rebalance the body's energy frequencies.
  • •FMRI Neurofeedback — fMRI Neurofeedback is an advanced brain-training technique that uses functional MRI technology to provide real-time visual feedback of brain activity, allowing individuals to learn to self-regulate specific neural patterns.
  • •Therapeutic Touch — Therapeutic Touch is a hands-on energy-based healing practice where practitioners use gentle touch and focused intention to support relaxation and pain management.

Alternative medicine practices: systems of medicine and living traditions (46)

Traditional Eastern medical systems

  • •Siddha Medicine — Siddha Medicine is one of the world's oldest systems of medicine, originating in South India and emphasizing balance of three vital energies (vatham, pittham, and kabam) through herbs, diet, and lifestyle practices.

Indigenous healing traditions

  • •Tibetan Medicine (Sowa Rigpa) — Sowa Rigpa, literally 'the science of healing,' is the formal Tibetan medical system rooted in the 8th-century treatise Gyud Zhi (the Four Tantras) codified by the physician Yuthok Yönten Gönpo.

Herbal medicine systems

  • •Jamu — Indonesia's traditional herbal medicine system, using locally sourced botanicals — primarily turmeric (kunyit), ginger (jahe), tamarind (asam), galangal (lengkuas), and other tropical ingredients — prepared as fresh liquid tonics, pastes, and powders for daily health maintenance and specific therapeutic applications.
  • •Kampō Medicine — The traditional Japanese system of herbal medicine derived from classical Chinese medical texts but adapted over centuries to Japanese practice, climate, and physiology.
  • •Unani Medicine — Unani Medicine (Yunani-Tibb) is a complete traditional medical system developed from ancient Greek medicine (hence the name Yunani — Ionian/Greek), refined by Arab and Persian scholars including Al-Razi, Ibn Sina (Avicenna), and Ibn Rushd, and adapted in the Indian subcontinent during the Mughal era.

Integrative and multidisciplinary systems

  • •Holistic Health — Holistic Health is a comprehensive wellness approach that integrates physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual care to support overall well-being and balance.
  • •Traditional European Naturopathy — The state-recognised Swiss traditional medicine system rooted in classical European humoral theory (Hippocratic-Galenic tradition), combining herbal medicine, nutrition, hydrotherapy, manual therapies, and humoral diagnostics.

Functional and systems medicine

  • •Biodynamic Therapy — Biodynamic Therapy is a body-mind psychotherapy approach that combines psychoanalytic principles with bodywork and energy awareness to address psychological issues.
  • •Complementary Health — Complementary health integrates conventional medicine with evidence-based alternative therapies to address physical, mental, and emotional well-being holistically.
  • •Compression Therapy — Compression therapy uses controlled pressure through garments, bandages, or devices to improve blood circulation and reduce swelling in affected areas.
  • •Dohsa-hou — Dohsa-hou is a Japanese psycho-rehabilitation therapy that uses guided movements and therapist interaction to improve body awareness, motor control, and self-regulation.
  • •Effleurage — Effleurage is a gentle massage technique involving long, gliding strokes applied with light to moderate pressure, commonly used to promote relaxation, reduce stress, and ease muscle tension.
  • •End of Life Therapy — End of Life Therapy provides compassionate psychological, emotional, and spiritual support for individuals facing terminal illness or the end of life.
  • •Flower Essence Therapy — Flower Essence Therapy uses liquid preparations made from flowers to address emotional and energetic imbalances, based on the premise that flowers contain vibrational healing properties.
  • •Frequency-Based Therapy — Frequency-Based Therapy encompasses a range of holistic practices that use sound, vibration, or frequency concepts to promote wellness and balance.
  • •Holistic Medicine — Holistic medicine is an integrated healthcare approach that addresses the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual dimensions of a person's health rather than focusing on isolated symptoms.
  • •Holistic Therapy — Holistic Therapy is an integrative therapeutic approach that addresses the interconnected aspects of mind, body, and spirit to promote overall well-being and healing.
  • •Human Design — Human Design is a personalized self-discovery system that combines astrology, the I Ching, Kabbalah, and chakra principles to reveal an individual's unique energy blueprint and decision-making style.
  • •Humanistic Therapy — Humanistic Therapy is a psychotherapy approach that emphasizes personal growth, self-actualization, and the inherent capacity for positive change within each individual.
  • •Hydrating Hyaluronic Facial — A hydrating Hyaluronic Facial is a skincare treatment that applies hyaluronic acid to the skin to boost moisture, reduce fine lines, and promote a youthful appearance.
  • •Intramuscular (IM) Shots — Intramuscular (IM) shots involve injecting medications, nutrients, or vaccines directly into muscle tissue for rapid absorption and targeted delivery.
  • •Iridology — Iridology uses iris patterns to assess wellness.
  • •Jivamukti — Jivamukti Yoga is a dynamic yoga practice that combines physical postures, breath work, meditation, and spiritual philosophy with ethical principles rooted in yoga tradition.
  • •Jungian Therapy — Jungian Therapy is a depth psychology approach that explores the unconscious mind, dreams, and archetypal patterns to support personal growth and psychological integration.
  • •Kinesiotherapy — Kinesiotherapy is a therapeutic approach that uses targeted exercise, movement, and manual techniques to rehabilitate injuries, improve physical function, and enhance overall mobility.
  • •Life Energy Balancing — Life Energy Balancing is a complementary modality focused on discovering and aligning with one's authentic life purpose, values, and calling through structured self-exploration.
  • •Life Skills Training — Life Skills Training is a coaching modality that helps individuals develop practical abilities and strategies to manage daily life more effectively, including time management, communication, goal-setting, and decision-making.
  • •Low Carbohydrate Nutrition — Low Carbohydrate Nutrition is a dietary approach that restricts carbohydrate intake to support weight management, blood sugar control, and metabolic health.
  • •Magnet Therapy — Magnet Therapy involves applying magnetic fields to the body using magnets, magnetic jewelry, or specialized devices, with practitioners claiming benefits for pain relief, circulation, and relaxation.
  • •Myotherapy — Myotherapy is a hands-on treatment approach that uses targeted techniques like trigger point release and deep tissue massage to address muscular pain and tension.
  • •Organic Facials — Organic Facials are skincare treatments using certified organic and natural products to cleanse, nourish, and rejuvenate facial skin while avoiding synthetic chemicals and toxins.
  • •Oxygen Therapy — Oxygen Therapy involves using supplemental oxygen or hyperbaric oxygen chambers to increase oxygen availability in the body, aiming to support healing and tissue repair.
  • •Parenting — Parenting is an educational modality that provides guidance and evidence-based strategies to help parents navigate child-rearing challenges and foster healthy family relationships.
  • •Polarity Therapy — Polarity Therapy is a holistic practice that uses gentle touch, movement, and dialogue to support energetic balance and overall wellbeing.
  • •Positive Parenting — Positive Parenting is an evidence-based approach that teaches parents to use constructive communication, empathy, and consistent discipline strategies to build healthy relationships with their children.
  • •Pottery Therapy — Pottery Therapy is a creative therapeutic practice that uses clay and pottery-making to facilitate emotional expression, reduce stress, and support personal healing.
  • •Radiance Technique — Radiance Technique is an energy-based healing system that works with subtle energies to promote well-being, self-awareness, and spiritual growth.
  • •Relaxation Techniques — Relaxation Techniques are evidence-based practices such as deep breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, and meditation designed to activate the body's relaxation response and reduce stress.
  • •Resource Therapy — Resource Therapy is a therapeutic approach that helps individuals access their inner strengths and resources to facilitate emotional healing and personal growth.
  • •Scenar Therapy — Scenar Therapy is a non-invasive electrotherapy technique that uses a handheld device to deliver low-level electrical impulses to the skin, aiming to stimulate the body's natural healing responses and reduce pain.
  • •Sensory Integration — Sensory-based approaches use structured activities to help individuals regulate responses to sensory input (e.g., touch, movement, sound).
  • •Thermography (Digital Infrared Thermal Imaging) — Thermography uses infrared cameras to map body heat patterns.
  • •Theta Healing — Theta Healing is a meditation-based technique that aims to access the theta brainwave state to facilitate belief change, emotional release, and personal transformation through visualization and intention.
  • •Vegetarian — Vegetarianism is a dietary approach that eliminates or significantly reduces animal flesh consumption while emphasizing plant-based foods, adopted for health, ethical, or environmental reasons.
  • •Vibroacoustic Therapy — Vibroacoustic Therapy is a sensory modality that uses low-frequency sound waves and vibrations, typically delivered through specialized equipment, to create relaxation experiences.
  • •Vitamin IV Drip — Vitamin IV Drip Therapy delivers vitamins, minerals, and nutrients directly into the bloodstream through intravenous infusion, bypassing the digestive system.

Alternative medicine practices: food, plants and lifestyle (38)

Nutritional therapy

  • •Alkaline Diet — The Alkaline Diet emphasizes consuming alkaline-forming foods like fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds to balance the body's pH levels and promote overall health.
  • •Calorie Restrictive Diet — Calorie Restrictive Diet is a nutritional approach that reduces daily calorie intake while maintaining essential nutrients to promote health and potentially extend lifespan.
  • •DASH Diet — The DASH Diet is an evidence-based eating plan that emphasizes fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and low-sodium foods to support heart health and lower blood pressure.
  • •Detox Diet — The Detox Diet is an eating approach that emphasizes whole, nutrient-dense foods while minimizing processed items and potential irritants, with the goal of supporting the body's natural detoxification processes.
  • •Dietary Management — Dietary Management involves creating personalized nutrition plans tailored to an individual's health goals, allergies, and dietary restrictions.
  • •Gluten-Free Diet — A gluten-free diet eliminates wheat, barley, rye, and other gluten-containing grains, designed primarily for individuals with celiac disease, non-celiac gluten sensitivity, or wheat allergies.
  • •Ketogenic Diet — The Ketogenic Diet is a high-fat, low-carbohydrate eating plan designed to shift the body into ketosis, a metabolic state where fat becomes the primary fuel source instead of carbohydrates.
  • •Medical Diet — Medical Diet is a nutrition-based approach that creates personalized dietary plans tailored to specific medical conditions, health goals, and individual needs.
  • •Mediterranean Diet — The Mediterranean Diet is an eating pattern based on traditional foods from Mediterranean countries, emphasizing vegetables, fruits, whole grains, olive oil, and fish.
  • •Mindful Eating Therapy — Mindful Eating Therapy is a practice that applies mindfulness principles to food consumption, helping individuals develop a conscious and intuitive relationship with eating.
  • •Nutrition — Nutrition is the science and practice of using food and dietary choices to support physical health, mental well-being, and disease prevention.
  • •Nutrition Coaching — Nutrition Coaching is a personalized guidance service where trained coaches help individuals improve their dietary habits and make healthier food choices through education, motivation, and customized recommendations.
  • •Nutrition Management — Nutrition Management is a systematic approach to optimizing dietary intake based on individual health needs, goals, and medical conditions.
  • •Nutrition Planning — Nutrition Planning is the development of customized dietary strategies tailored to an individual's health goals, lifestyle, and nutritional needs.
  • •Paleo Diet — The Paleo diet is a dietary pattern that typically emphasizes minimally processed foods such as vegetables, fruits, nuts, eggs, fish, and lean meats, while usually excluding grains, legumes, and dairy.
  • •Raw Food Diet — The Raw Food Diet consists of consuming uncooked, unprocessed plant-based foods including fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, and sprouted grains to preserve naturally occurring enzymes and nutrients.

Botanical and plant remedies

  • •Apitherapy — Apitherapy uses honeybee products like venom, honey, and propolis for potential therapeutic benefits.
  • •Herbal Facial — Herbal Facial treatments use natural herbal ingredients—such as masks, scrubs, and steam—combined with facial techniques to support skin health and relaxation.
  • •Herbal Medicine — Herbal medicine uses preparations derived from plants (e.g., teas, extracts, capsules, topical products) and is commonly used within traditional and contemporary health practices.
  • •Herbal Poultice Therapy — Herbal poultice therapy applies plant-based preparations directly to the skin, rooted in traditional healing practices used across cultures for centuries.
  • •Homeopathy — Homeopathy is a system of medicine that uses highly diluted natural substances to stimulate the body's self-healing mechanisms, based on the principle that like cures like.
  • •Spagyric Medicine — A European alchemical approach to herbal medicine in which plants undergo a three-stage process of separation (fermentation), purification (distillation), and recombination (calcination and reunification) to produce remedies said to contain the full spectrum of a plant's therapeutic potential.

Lifestyle and preventive health

  • •Doula Therapies — Doula Therapies provide compassionate, non-medical support during major life transitions such as birth, death, grief, and other significant changes.
  • •Oil Pulling — An ancient Ayurvedic oral practice involving swishing oil in the mouth, traditionally associated with oral hygiene and overall wellness.
  • •Tongue Scraping (Jihwa Prakshalana) — Tongue scraping is an ancient Ayurvedic oral hygiene practice that may support fresher breath and oral health as part of a daily routine.

Biohacking and performance

  • •Biohacking — Biohacking is the systemic practice of utilizing science, technology, and self-experimentation to monitor, analyze, and modify human biology for enhanced healthspan, cognitive performance, and longevity.
  • •Cryotherapy — Cryotherapy involves exposing the body to extremely cold temperatures for short periods, typically 1-3 minutes, to potentially reduce inflammation, relieve pain, and improve recovery.
  • •IV Vitamin C Therapy — IV Vitamin C Therapy delivers high-dose ascorbic acid directly into the bloodstream, bypassing digestion for higher absorption and potential wellness benefits.
  • •Infrared Sauna — Infrared sauna therapy uses infrared light wavelengths to generate heat that penetrates the skin, promoting relaxation, improved circulation, and potential detoxification.
  • •Mild Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy — Mild Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy involves breathing oxygen in a pressurized chamber to increase oxygen delivery to tissues and support the body's natural healing processes.
  • •NAD+ IV Therapy — NAD+ IV Therapy involves intravenous infusion of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+), a coenzyme critical for cellular energy production and metabolism.
  • •Peptide Therapy — Peptide Therapy uses naturally occurring peptide molecules to support health optimization, commonly employed for anti-aging, hormone balance, and overall vitality enhancement.

Detoxification and environmental therapies

  • •Chelation Therapy — Chelation therapy is a medical treatment that uses chelating agents to bind and remove heavy metals from the bloodstream.
  • •Colonic Hydrotherapy — Colonic hydrotherapy flushes the large intestine with water.
  • •Detoxification — Detoxification is a wellness approach aimed at supporting the body's natural elimination of toxins through dietary changes, lifestyle practices, and various protocols.
  • •Juice Detoxification — Juice Detoxification is a wellness practice involving consumption of fresh fruit and vegetable juices to support the body's natural cleansing processes and nutrient absorption.
  • •Leech Therapy — Leech therapy uses medicinal leeches to support circulation and recovery.
  • •Ozone Therapy — Ozone therapy uses O₃ gas applied to the body in various ways, with emerging research exploring its potential role in immune support, wound care, and pain.

Alternative medicine practices: guidance and coaching (20)

Coaching

  • •Behavioral Coaching — Behavioral Coaching is a structured, goal-oriented approach that helps individuals identify and modify specific behaviors to achieve personal, professional, or health-related objectives.
  • •Breakthrough Coaching — Breakthrough Coaching is a goal-oriented approach that helps individuals identify and overcome personal barriers to achieve significant life and career transformations.
  • •Coaching — Coaching is a collaborative partnership that helps individuals identify goals, overcome obstacles, and develop strategies to maximize their personal and professional potential.
  • •Creativity Coaching — Creativity Coaching is a supportive practice that helps individuals overcome creative blocks and develop their creative potential through guided techniques and personalized strategies.
  • •Happiness Coaching — Happiness Coaching is a goal-oriented coaching practice that applies positive psychology principles and behavioral strategies to help individuals increase life satisfaction and emotional well-being.
  • •Health & Wellness Coaching — Health & Wellness Coaching is a personalized guidance service where trained coaches help individuals develop strategies to improve their physical, mental, and emotional well-being through goal-setting and lifestyle modifications.
  • •Integrative Health Coaching — Integrative Health Coaching is a non-clinical, goal-oriented support modality that combines education, behavioral strategies, and reflective dialogue to help individuals achieve sustainable lifestyle and wellness goals.
  • •Leadership Coaching — Leadership coaching is a professional development service where trained coaches work with individuals or teams to enhance leadership capabilities, decision-making, and organizational effectiveness.
  • •Life Balance Coaching — Life Balance Coaching is a goal-oriented practice where trained coaches work with individuals to identify values, clarify objectives, and develop actionable strategies for personal and professional fulfillment.
  • •Life Coaching — Life coaching is a goal-oriented practice where a trained coach works with clients to clarify values, set meaningful goals, and create actionable plans for personal or professional change.
  • •Life Design Coaching — Life Design Coaching is a complementary practice that combines goal-setting, personal development strategies, and energy-awareness techniques to help individuals create meaningful life direction and achieve greater fulfillment.
  • •Life Purpose Coaching — Life Purpose Coaching is a professional guidance service that helps individuals clarify their values, identify meaningful goals, and develop actionable plans to align their life with their core purpose.
  • •Lifestyle Coaching — Lifestyle Coaching is a personalized guidance approach that helps individuals optimize their health, nutrition, fitness, stress management, and overall well-being through evidence-based strategies and behavioral support.
  • •Neuro Linguistic Programming — Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) is a set of communication and behavioral techniques that aims to identify and modify thought patterns and language to support personal change and goal achievement.
  • •Performance Coaching — Performance Coaching is a goal-oriented coaching methodology that helps individuals enhance personal and professional performance through structured guidance, strategy development, and accountability.
  • •Personal Growth Coaching — Personal Growth Coaching is a professional guidance service where trained coaches work with individuals to clarify goals, overcome challenges, and develop the mindset and skills needed for self-improvement.
  • •Purpose Coaching — Purpose Coaching is a goal-oriented coaching modality that helps individuals identify their core values, passions, and life purpose, then align their actions and decisions with these discoveries.
  • •Relationship Coaching — Relationship Coaching is a professional guidance service that helps individuals and couples improve communication, resolve conflicts, and strengthen emotional bonds in their relationships.
  • •Self-Esteem Coaching — Self-Esteem Coaching is a guidance-based practice that helps individuals strengthen their self-confidence, challenge limiting beliefs, and develop a more positive self-perception.
  • •Sleep Coaching — Sleep Coaching is a non-medical, behaviour-change approach that helps individuals develop healthier sleep habits and routines through education and practical strategies.

How to read the evidence for anything on this list

Every entry carries an evidence level, and our guide to holistic health modalities explains what each label means and how to weigh it. Whole systems of medicine are the hardest things in holistic health to evaluate fairly, because they are not single interventions. Ayurveda, Unani and Kampō each contain hundreds of formulations and procedures, some with trial evidence, most with traditional use only. The World Health Organization reports that of 106 responding Member States, 90 have a national policy for traditional and complementary medicine, but only a third have national practice guidelines and 40 percent have systems that capture safety incidents. Policy is widespread. Clinical governance is not.

Products carry a second, separate risk. Herbal remedies and dietary supplements are generally not reviewed for safety and effectiveness before sale in the US, and interactions with prescribed medication are real and under-reported. Anything you swallow belongs on the list you give your doctor and pharmacist.

The warning signs are the same across every entry here: a promise to cure a named disease, advice to stop or delay prescribed treatment, one practice presented as effective for everything, testimonials in place of evidence, and diagnostic claims from someone not licensed to diagnose.

Before you book

Some symptoms need medical assessment before anything on this page: chest pain, sudden severe headache, unexplained weight loss, a new lump, unusual bleeding, sudden vision change, one-sided weakness, difficulty breathing, or thoughts of harming yourself. If you have a diagnosed condition, the safest way to use anything here is alongside your treatment plan, with your clinician aware of it, which turns an alternative practice into a complementary one. You can browse verified practitioners with credentials and verification status shown on every profile.

The other category lists

Every practice in the Gyfts Index sits in exactly one of four categories, so if what you are looking for is not on this page it is on one of these.

Complementary therapies list: practices used alongside medical care.

Holistic practices list: whole-person approaches from traditional systems to lifestyle medicine.

Metaphysical and spiritual practices list: energy work, divination, ceremony and contemplative systems.

For the full picture, including how the Index divides across categories and what it works on, start from the complete healing modalities directory.

Sources