Complementary Medicines (also known as "traditional" or "alternative" medicines) include vitamin, mineral, plant or herbal and naturopathic and/or homoeopathic preparations. These treatments are viewed as "natural alternatives" to traditional drugs and treatments.

The industry in Australia covers:

•development of new products,

•research into efficacy

•education and training,

•clinical trials, and

•raw material production.

It is estimated that more than 60 per cent of Australians use complementary medicines at least once a year.