Abstract
Objectives: Complementary Medicine is a general term used when describing interventions
applied in conjunction with or as an alternative to conventional medicine. Complementary
medicine can be used when addressing and treating a plethora of chronic and acute physiological
and mental conditions. With its ever increasing wide-spread global popularity, more funding and
expenditure has been spent on both complementary medicine practitioners and products alike. The
aim of this study was to determine the opinions and perceptions about complementary medicine
by users in selected health shops in the East Rand of Gauteng.
Methodology: This study was conducted by means of a survey; 300 questionnaires were available
for completion at 9 different health stores in the East Rand of Gauteng, a total of 256 surveys were
completed and analysed.
Results: Based on the results of this study, a typical profile of a complementary medicine user in
the East Rand of Gauteng has been generated and can be described. This profile is consistent with
other profiles generated from similar studies done in South Africa, as well as many international
studies. Many consumers in this region are also of the opinion that complementary medicine
should be included into the National Health System.