Types of Complementary and Alternative Medicine By Denise Millstine, MD, Mayo Clinic Reviewed / Revised Oct 2021 | Modified Sep 2022 View Patient Education Whole Medical Systems Mind-Body Medicine Biologically Based Practices Manipulative and Body-Based Practices Energy Medicine Five categories of complementary or alternative medicine are generally recognized: Whole medical systems Mind-body medicine Biologically based practices not usually used in conventional medicine Manipulative and body-based practices Energy medicine The name of many therapies only partially describes their components.