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NIH…Turning Discovery Into Health^®

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Why Study Complementary Health Approaches?

This infographic is also available broken down by section:

People have practical needs to relieve common conditions and symptoms

Americans use complementary care but they need to know what’s safe and effective

This graphic depicts two priority areas that NCCAM studies: mind and body practices and natural products. Six important questions about complementary health approaches include: pain; interactions and safety; biological effects; mechanisms; healthy behaviors; and symptoms. NCCAM is answering important questions about complementary and health approaches

The range of research questions

This graphic describes the framework of four questions that NCCAM uses to help determine which studies it will fund: Does the public use the complementary approach? Does it hold promise? Is it amenable to rigorous study? Will it impact health practices? What guides NCCAM’s research decisions?