Complementary and alternative approaches share a belief in the body's ability to heal itself. Some of them use an understanding of the working of the body which is not studied by practitioners of conventional medicine, based on Eastern understandings of energy meridians and fields. Many people choose to use them and find them helpful. Most treatments are non-invasive and they rarely cause the unpleasant or long-lasting side effects that can be associated with medication. The practitioner commits more time to the client than a GP is usually able to do

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