The role of complementary and alternative therapies in women's mental health.

Abstract

The advent of the newly evolving field of Integrative Medicine has provided women with an opportunity to expand the health care resources available to prevent and treat mental health conditions. Aided by evidence-based science, practitioners can now broaden the scope of their therapeutic armamentarium and allow women to use the best of what western and complementary medicine has to offer in the field of mental health care. Acupuncture, medication, herbalism, and guided imagery are included in a list of therapeutic modalities designed to augment traditional care. It is clear that by providing such comprehensive care, a woman's physical and mental wellness and her longevity are optimized.