Through the ages
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2500 BCE
Chinese Emperor Huangdi discovers and promotes the use of acupuncture.
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1790s
Samuel Hahnemann, a physician in Germany, introduces the practice of homeopathy.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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).
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1999
The National Council of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM, formerly the OAM) becomes an independent component of the National Institutes of Health.
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2001
The American Veterinary Medical Association releases its Guidelines for Complementary and Alternative Veterinary Medicine.
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2004
A large, randomized study in human patients concludes that acupuncture is effective in relieving pain and improving function.
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2014
Congress renames NCCAM the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, reflecting a continued move away from the word "alternative."