Understanding Integrative (Holistic) Medicine
There’s a lot of interest in using integrative (holistic) medicine to manage cancer. When used correctly, some of these therapies may improve wellbeing and quality of life and have a lower risk of causing harm. But not all information about integrative medicine is reliable and misuse can sometimes lead to harm.
If you’re considering using integrative medicine for cancer, here is some information to help support you.
What is integrative (holistic) medicine?
Integrative medicine uses methods that were developed apart from Western (modern) medicine. It may include therapies such as meditation, yoga, acupuncture, massage, and similar practices and are used in coordination with standard therapies (like surgery, chemotherapy, etc.) to help relieve symptoms of cancer and side effects of treatment.
Other terms that are sometimes used to describe integrative medicine are:
- Complementary medicine
- Natural medicine
- Functional medicine
- Whole body health care
- Holistic medicine
What types of integrative medicine are available?
There are many integrative therapies that people may consider using during cancer. Many are beneficial and safe. But, some, especially dietary supplements and cannabis, may pose risks. Learning more about different types of integrative therapies can help you to make an informed decision about which ones may be right for you.
How is integrative medicine different from alternative medicine?
Many people use the terms “alternative medicine” and “integrative medicine” to mean the same thing. But they are not the same. Integrative medicine is used alongside standard cancer treatment.
Alternative medicine uses holistic therapies instead of standard treatments. Research has shown that people who use alternative methods instead of conventional (standard) cancer treatment for the most common curable cancers have a greater risk of dying from their cancer.
Another key difference is that integrative therapies should be evidence-based, which means the therapies have been studied in clinical trials. However, not all integrative therapies have been studied. Your cancer care team can help to provide further information.
Is integrative medicine safe?
Many integrative therapies are safe to use during cancer treatment. But like any treatment, certain integrative (holistic) therapies may pose risks. Learn more on how to use integrative therapies safely.
Paying for integrative therapies
Many insurance companies cover at least some of the costs for more widely accepted integrative (holistic) therapies. For example, acupuncture, chiropractic therapy, and massage are sometimes covered. If you are interested in trying some type of integrative therapy, contact your insurance company to find out what your plan covers.
If possible, get your cancer care team to write you a referral or a recommendation for the integrative therapy you want to use. Many insurance companies require that the therapy be shown to be medically necessary and it may help later on to have your doctor’s recommendation.
Also, it’s a good idea to find out how many treatments or appointments you will need and if any products or equipment are needed. This information will help you to know what costs to expect.
Often, people pay out of pocket for integrative therapies. Some employers offer Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) or Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) for their employees, which might cover the out-of-pocket costs.
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- References
Developed by the American Cancer Society medical and editorial content team with medical review and contribution by the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO).
National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIC). Paying for Complementary and Integrative Health Approaches. Accessed at https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/paying-for-complementary-and-integrative-health-approaches on May 22, 2025.
Snyder J, Zenone M, Grewal A, et al. Crowdfunding for complementary and alternative cancer treatments in Tijuana, Mexico: Content Analysis. JMIR Cancer. 2024;10:e52018. https://cancer.jmir.org/2024/1/e52018. DOI: 10.2196/52018. Accessed May 22, 2025
Last Revised: July 11, 2025
American Cancer Society medical information is copyrighted material. For reprint requests, please see our Content Usage Policy.
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