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Conditions & their alternatives

Search by symptom, condition, or modality. Each entry pairs conventional care with evidence-graded alternative approaches.

Informational only · not medical advice

9 conditions
Pain

Chronic lower back pain

Long-standing back pain often responds to manual and needle-based therapies that target both muscular tension and nervous-system regulation.

Conventional care
NSAIDs, muscle relaxants, physical therapy
Alternative approaches
Pain

Migraine

Preventive alternative approaches focus on reducing frequency and intensity rather than aborting an acute attack.

Conventional care
Triptans, beta-blockers, CGRP inhibitors
Alternative approaches
Sleep

Chronic insomnia

Sleep is rarely a single-system problem — nervous system, hormones, and habits all matter.

Conventional care
CBT-I, short-term hypnotics
Alternative approaches
Mental health

Generalized anxiety

Adjunctive approaches that downregulate the sympathetic nervous system pair well with talk therapy.

Conventional care
SSRIs, CBT, benzodiazepines
Alternative approaches
Digestive

Irritable bowel syndrome

IBS sits at the gut–brain interface, where botanical and mind-body therapies are particularly useful.

Conventional care
Low-FODMAP diet, antispasmodics, SSRIs
Alternative approaches
Hormonal

Menopausal symptoms

For people who can't or prefer not to use HRT, several plant-based and needle therapies have meaningful evidence.

Conventional care
Hormone replacement therapy, SSRIs
Alternative approaches
Skin

Atopic eczema

Chronic eczema benefits from approaches that address both skin barrier and internal triggers.

Conventional care
Topical steroids, emollients, dupilumab
Alternative approaches
Immune

Recurrent colds & low immunity

When infections recur, alternative practitioners look at sleep, stress, and adaptogenic support of immune resilience.

Conventional care
Symptomatic relief, vaccination where applicable
Alternative approaches
Oncology support

Cancer — supportive & integrative care

Integrative oncology uses evidence-based complementary therapies to manage treatment side effects, improve quality of life, and support recovery — always alongside, never instead of, conventional cancer treatment.

Important: Do not delay or replace conventional cancer treatment with alternative therapies — survival outcomes are significantly worse. Always coordinate any complementary therapy with your oncology team, as some herbs and supplements interact with chemotherapy and radiation.
Conventional care
Surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, immunotherapy, targeted therapy
Alternative approaches
A note on evidence. Strong = multiple randomized trials or systematic reviews support effect. Moderate = consistent smaller trials and clinical experience. Emerging = early studies, traditional use, or expert consensus only.