Evidence abounds today about the negative side-effects from over-use of antibiotics and the many pharmaceutical "instant cures" which mask symptoms or provide temporary relief.  Holistic therapies usually try to address core problems.

There are in fact many other cost-effective and safe options available which don't necessarily involve a visit to your local GP, though it is always recommended that you inform your GP of any complementary therapy you are using. These include herbal medicine, naturopathy, homeopathy, massage, traditional Chinese medicine (including herbs, acupuncture, massage), shiatsu and many more. Some UK GPs integrate complementary medicine into their clinical practice.

How do we know these other forms of medicine work?
People usually know these other forms of medicine work through their own personal experiences. Some of these holisitic/complementary therapies have been tried, tested and proven effective over hundreds or thousands of years, and more recently through evidenced-based research.