How to choose a complementary therapy

Below are some suggested steps for choosing a complementary therapy:

Weigh up the different types of therapies	Think about how you hope the complementary therapy will help you. Which ones match your needs? Consider possible side effects and safety issues of the different therapies you are interested in. Are there any reasons why you shouldn’t use them? Consider whether you prefer to use complementary therapies with strong scientific evidence, or whether anecdotal reports are enough for you. Find out what therapies are offered at your hospital or treatment centre. Ask how much the various therapies cost.
Find out more about the therapies that interest you	Gather information about the effectiveness of the therapy. Consider whether the evidence is accurate, up to date, and comes from a reliable source. Borrow books from a library or read about therapies on trustworthy websites. Ask the therapist about the quality of the product and how it is regulated. Talk to people who have tried these treatments, for example, at a cancer support group or through Cancer Council Online Community. Write down any questions you have or use this question checklist.
Discuss your concerns	Talk to your doctors, pharmacist and complementary therapist about: what you’d like to try; any potential interactions with your conventional treatments; side effects to be aware of; or if it will interfere with any clinical trials you may be eligible for. Get a second opinion if you didn’t get enough information.

Call Cancer Council 13 11 20 to find out more about using complementary therapies as part of your cancer care.

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This information was last updated in February 2026. See who reviewed this content.

A/Prof Geraldine McDonald, Director Patient Experience and Wellbeing, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, VIC; Laura Carman, 13 11 20 Consultant, Cancer Council Victoria; A/Prof Christine Carrington, Senior Consultant Pharmacist Cancer Services, Princess Alexandra Hospital and Metro South Health and The University of Queensland, QLD; Kellie Giannarelli, Consumer; Dr Suzanne Grant, Senior Research Fellow, Integrative Oncology, NICM Health Research Institute, Chris O’Brien Lifehouse, NSW; Vivienne Hansen, Bush and Western Herbal Medicine Practitioner, WA; Karla Jaji, Administration Officer, Nepean Cancer and Wellness Centre, NSW; Dr Laura Kirsten, Senior Clinical Psychologist, Nepean Cancer Services, Nepean Blue Mountains Local Health District, NSW; A/Prof Judith Lacey, Director of Supportive Care and Integrative Oncology, Chris O’Brien Lifehouse, NSW; Adjunct Professor Danforn Lim, Western Sydney University and University of Technology Sydney, NSW; Dr David Mizrahi, Senior Research Fellow and Accredited Exercise Physiologist, The Daffodil Centre, University of Sydney and Cancer Council NSW; Professor Avni Sali AM, Founder and Director, National Institute of Integrative Medicine, VIC; Gillian Thompson, Consumer; A/Prof Kate Webber, Medical Oncologist, Monash Health, VIC; Tanya Wells, Integrative Oncology Consultant and Naturopath, Melbourne Integrative Oncology Group, VIC; Prof Kate White, Professor Cancer Nursing, Cancer Care Research Unit, The Daffodil Centre, University of Sydney and Cancer Council NSW.

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