Through the ages

  • 2500 BCE

    Chinese Emperor Huangdi discovers and promotes the use of acupuncture.

  • 1790s

    Samuel Hahnemann, a physician in Germany, introduces the practice of homeopathy.

  • Late 1800s

    In the United States, Daniel David Palmer, a self-taught healer, develops and begins using chiropractic while Andrew Taylor Still, MD, introduces osteopathy.

  • 1970s

    The countercultural revolution, with its embrace of mystical practices like transcendental meditation, leads to interest in ancient healing practices such as acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine.

  • 1982

    Dr. Carvel Tiekert and a small group of interested veterinarians create the American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association after a conversation during the Western Veterinary Conference.

  • 1992

    U.S. Sen. Thomas Harkin, convinced his allergies have been cured by bee pollen, champions the creation of the U.S. Office of Alternative Medicine (OAM).

  • 1999

    The National Council of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM, formerly the OAM) becomes an independent component of the National Institutes of Health.

  • 2001

    The American Veterinary Medical Association releases its Guidelines for Complementary and Alternative Veterinary Medicine.

  • 2004

    A large, randomized study in human patients concludes that acupuncture is effective in relieving pain and improving function.

  • 2014

    Congress renames NCCAM the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, reflecting a continued move away from the word "alternative."

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