Abstract

Complementary therapies are the names given throughout the methods applied in parallel with modern medicine to gain the health of the individual. Interest in complementary therapies from the past to the present day and the frequency of use of these methods continues to increase. Increasing use of complementary therapies by the community and requiring patients to make appropriate and safe decisions in their own care requires that health care professionals have knowledge and skills in complementary therapies. In this context, nurses are expected to identify and develop their own practice of using complementary therapies, and to develop a strategy for these practices. Nurses integrating these practices into patient care and evaluating their outcomes ensure that the care provided to the patient is comprehensive and holistic. In order for these processes to take place, important policies must be established for nurses across the country. In the 1900s many countries developed politics and started to establish certificate programs and projects. Regarding national and international legislation, it is seen that legal regulations are not sufficient, especially for nurses. In this review, national and international legal arrangements for complementary therapies and the place of complementary therapies in nursing will be discussed.