Complementary therapies have long had a fractious relationship with mainstream medicine. Proponents criticise their detractors for being closed-minded, and inappropriately applying scientific method to their therapeutic systems. Critics claim that the theories on which these systems are based are unsound, and that the efficacy of the therapies themselves is not supported by good quality evidence. Irrespective of that debate, complementary therapies are popular. A systematic review performed in 2000 found that the prevalence of complementary therapy use ranged from 9-65% in 'western' countries. Thus, it is an important topic for GPs to have a sound knowledge of since they will often come across it in their practice.
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