NCCIH: A Practical Guide to Complementary and Integrative Health Info

The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) does plain, useful work: it studies non-mainstream health practices and shares what actually works and what doesn’t. If you care about supplements, herbal remedies, mind-body therapies, or alternative treatments, NCCIH is a solid place to check before you spend money or risk your health.

What NCCIH covers is broad. They fund and review clinical trials, publish plain-language summaries, and keep databases of ongoing research. Think herbs like St. John’s wort, supplements like omega-3s, therapies like acupuncture, and practices like meditation. Their pages usually explain the strength of evidence, typical doses used in studies, and possible side effects.

How to use NCCIH resources

Start with the plain-language summary for the therapy you’re curious about. Read the “evidence” section to see if studies show benefit, harm, or mixed results. Check the “dosage and safety” notes — those often list common side effects and interactions. Use the bibliography or links to find the original research if you want deeper detail. NCCIH also links to related clinical trials and government safety alerts, which helps you see new developments fast.

Don’t treat NCCIH as the final word. It summarizes research but doesn’t replace a doctor. Use it to ask better questions at your next appointment. For example: “Does this supplement interact with my blood pressure medicine?” or “Are there randomized trials for this treatment in people like me?”

Quick safety checks before trying supplements

• Check for drug interactions. Many supplements interfere with prescription meds.
• Look for standardized products. Extracts with a specified amount of active ingredient are safer than vague labels.
• Beware of high doses. Studies often use specific doses; don’t assume more is better.
• Read safety alerts. NCCIH and other agencies publish warnings for recalls or contamination.
• Ask your clinician. If you’re pregnant, breastfeeding, elderly, or have chronic disease, get professional advice.

Using NCCIH alongside credible clinical advice saves time and reduces risk. If a therapy lacks solid evidence, consider cheaper, safer options first — lifestyle changes, physical therapy, or established medications. Our site uses NCCIH resources and similar evidence when we explain supplements and drug alternatives. If you find a claim that sounds too good to be true, check NCCIH and ask a clinician. Being curious is good — being careful is smarter.

Here’s a quick guide to study types and what they mean for you. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) give the clearest answer about whether a treatment works. Small RCTs can be useful but less reliable than large ones. Observational studies can spot patterns but can’t prove cause. Meta-analyses combine several studies and are strong when the included trials are high quality. If NCCIH notes only animal studies or lab research, that means human benefit is not proven. Look for repeated results across different labs and patient groups. If multiple large RCTs and meta-analyses agree, the effect is more likely real. Use that to weigh risk versus benefit.