Israel – Complementary and Alternative Medicine

What types of complementary and alternative medicine are available in Israel?

Israel’s CAM landscape is exceptionally varied. The principal therapies practised there include homeopathy, Chinese medicine, acupuncture, herbal medicine, reflexology, Reiki, shiatsu, chiropractic, biofeedback, Ayurvedic medicine, naturopathy, various massage techniques, Bach flower remedies, Feldenkrais, anthroposophy, Tuina, osteopathy, and Paula — a system of orifice muscle exercises that originated in Israel — among a great many others.

While this enumeration is far from exhaustive, it covers the therapies that have generally found their way into both public medical care clinics and numerous private practices across the country. The sheer breadth of options is on a par with what one might encounter in any large, cosmopolitan nation, though Israel’s multicultural character gives the local CAM market its own distinctive quality.

Among those who use CAM in Israel, acupuncture is the most frequently chosen therapy (37%), followed by reflexology (used by roughly a third of CAM users), homeopathy (29%), massage (26%), and chiropractic (16%). These figures indicate that acupuncture holds an especially prominent position within the Israeli CAM landscape — proportionally more so than in many comparable Western healthcare environments.

The Paula method — a uniquely Israeli movement discipline conceived by Paula Garbourg, centred on the rehabilitation of orifice muscles — is a home-grown CAM practice that is unlikely to be encountered beyond Israel’s borders. The Feldenkrais Method, devised by Israeli physicist Moshé Feldenkrais, is similarly widespread and carries strong cultural resonance. Hospital-based integrative oncology programmes in Israel have drawn on an especially wide spectrum of modalities, encompassing acupuncture, herbal remedies, naturopathy, shiatsu, reflexology, touch therapies, hypnosis, biofeedback, meditation, yoga, tai chi, and qigong, among others.

The range of practices on offer in Israel extends from established options such as acupuncture to esoteric movement therapies and spiritual healing traditions. This variety means that expats can generally expect to find the therapies they relied upon at home, and may even come across modalities that are uncommon elsewhere in the world.

Is complementary and alternative medicine regulated in Israel?

Israel has never put in place any formal regulatory framework or jurisdictional control for CAM. No licensing procedure exists, CAM instruction is largely absent from medical school curricula, and the many training programmes and schools producing CAM practitioners operate without official oversight. This positions Israel quite differently from countries such as the UK — where chiropractic and osteopathy are governed by dedicated statutory councils — or Australia, where numerous CAM disciplines fall under the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA).

The only relevant legal constraint in Israel is the Doctors’ Ordinance, which reserves the practice of medicine to those holding a recognised medical degree and licence. In practical terms, non-medically qualified CAM practitioners occupy a legal grey zone: they are not permitted to formally diagnose or treat disease, yet are broadly free to offer their services to the public.

The Eilon Committee, established by the Ministry of Health in 1988 to assess the state of CAM in Israel, put forward a series of recommendations in 1991. These included an explicit legal affirmation of each individual’s right to choose their own health practitioner, paired with the introduction of appropriate licensing arrangements to protect patients from misdiagnosis or harmful treatment. None of these proposals were ever adopted.

Despite extended deliberations, the Ministry of Health has consistently been unable to arrive at a regulatory model acceptable to all the relevant stakeholders — including the Israel Medical Association, CAM professional bodies, and the sick funds. This enduring regulatory vacuum means there is no unified official register of qualified CAM practitioners for consumers to consult.

In the absence of statutory oversight, individual professional associations — including the Israeli Acupuncture Society, the Israel Association of Naturopathic Medicine, and the Israel Association of Traditional Chinese Medicine — each establish their own voluntary training benchmarks and codes of professional conduct. The Israeli Acupuncture Society, a professional body founded in 1978, works to advance and self-regulate acupuncture practice across the country. These associations represent the closest approximation to a practitioner register available, though membership remains voluntary. Since regulations can evolve, always verify the current position directly with the Israel Ministry of Health.

Is CAM covered by health insurance or the public healthcare system in Israel?

Israel’s public healthcare is delivered through four health funds — Clalit, Maccabi, Meuhedet, and Leumit — collectively referred to as Kupot Holim. The Sal HaBriut (Health Basket) constitutes the standard, legally guaranteed package of health services for all Kupat Holim members, covering a broad array of essential medical services, medications, diagnostic tests, and treatments. CAM therapies are not included within this basic basket.

Each Kupat Holim does provide access to some alternative therapies — such as reflexology and acupuncture — typically requiring a co-payment, whereas accessing these same services privately costs USD $75 to $250 per session (as of 2024/2025). The scope of CAM available through the basic plan differs considerably from one fund to another, and it is advisable to contact your chosen fund directly for the most current details.

Supplemental insurance (Bituach Mashlim) can be purchased through your health fund to unlock broader coverage. Supplemental plans extend to a wider selection of medications, consultations with professionals outside the fund’s network, dental care, surgery abroad, and alternative medicine including chiropractic, homeopathy, and comparable therapies. Most health funds offer several tiers of supplemental coverage, with variations in both the range of services and the monthly premium.

Complementary medicine services covered under certain supplemental plans include acupuncture, shiatsu, chiropractic treatment, homeopathy, and the Feldenkrais Method. Each Kupat Holim typically provides two tiers of supplemental insurance, with costs varying by tier and age bracket, ranging from roughly NIS 10 to NIS 200 per month (as of 2024). Supplemental insurance is subject to Ministry of Health oversight, and applicants cannot be refused coverage on the grounds of pre-existing conditions.

This model broadly resembles the “extras” or ancillary cover available in countries like Australia, where private health insurers offer add-on benefits for complementary therapies not included under the public Medicare scheme. Always confirm current reimbursement thresholds and eligible therapies directly with your Kupat Holim or through the Israel Ministry of Health, as plan details and benefits are subject to change.

How much does complementary and alternative medicine cost in Israel?

When accessed through a Kupat Holim, some alternative therapies such as reflexology and acupuncture are available with a co-payment, while the equivalent services cost USD $75 to $250 per session when obtained privately (as of 2024/2025). These are approximate figures; actual costs vary widely according to the specific therapy, the practitioner’s qualifications and experience, the location, and whether supplemental insurance provides any reimbursement.

In major urban centres such as Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, private acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine consultations tend to sit toward the upper end of this price band, especially where practitioners hold internationally recognised credentials. Therapies such as reflexology, shiatsu, and general massage may be available at more modest rates through dedicated wellness centres or smaller private studios. The Feldenkrais Method, with its deep local roots, is broadly available at varying price points throughout the country.

If you hold a supplemental insurance plan with your Kupat Holim, you may qualify for a reduced co-payment on eligible CAM sessions, which can meaningfully reduce your out-of-pocket outlay compared with consulting private practitioners directly. Before commencing any course of treatment, request a clear breakdown of fees, and verify with your insurer which therapies qualify for reimbursement and under what terms. For up-to-date guidance on pricing, consider contacting professional associations such as the Israeli Acupuncture Society or the Israel Association of Naturopathic Medicine.

How do I find a qualified CAM practitioner in Israel?

Given the absence of statutory licensing or any government-maintained practitioner register in Israel, locating a reputable CAM provider demands thorough research. The most reliable starting point is the voluntary professional association relevant to whichever therapy you are seeking, as these bodies maintain their own membership directories and define minimum standards for training and professional conduct.

1. Approach a professional association: Bodies such as the Israeli Acupuncture Society (founded 1978), the Israel Association of Naturopathic Medicine (founded 1994), and the Israel Association of Traditional Chinese Medicine can direct you to practitioners who have satisfied at least a baseline level of training requirements.
2. Check with your Kupat Holim: If your health fund’s supplemental plan covers particular CAM therapies, the fund will hold a list of contracted or approved providers. This is among the more dependable routes to a vetted practitioner.
3. Obtain a referral from a conventional doctor: Each integrative clinic within the public medical care system is led by a biomedical physician who also holds qualifications in one or more CAM disciplines. Your family doctor (rofeh mishpacha) may be in a position to refer you to an integrative clinic or a practitioner they know personally.
4. Scrutinise qualifications and training: When consulting any prospective practitioner, ask about their educational background, the institution where they trained, the number of supervised practice hours they completed, and whether they hold membership of a professional association. In the absence of state licensing, these factors serve as your principal quality indicators.
5. Look for internationally recognised credentials: Some practitioners in Israel hold qualifications from accredited overseas institutions — for example, degrees from recognised TCM colleges in China, or chiropractic diplomas from establishments in the USA or Europe. Such credentials provide an additional layer of assurance in a market where domestic training standards are not uniformly regulated.

Notwithstanding the growing popularity of CAM in Israel, a central challenge is the absence of consistent regulation and standardisation across different therapy types, which can make it difficult for patients and conventional healthcare providers alike to determine which CAM treatments are both effective and safe. Exercise caution toward any practitioner making sweeping claims about curing serious illnesses, and ensure that any significant health condition is properly assessed by a conventionally qualified physician in parallel with any CAM treatment you undertake.

For expats, one of the practical difficulties of navigating the Israeli healthcare landscape — including its CAM sector — is that a great deal of official information is published exclusively in Hebrew. Assistance from bilingual community organisations or healthcare navigators can prove invaluable when researching practitioner credentials and verifying professional standing.

Are there traditional or indigenous medicine systems practised in Israel?

Israel’s richly diverse population has introduced a wealth of traditional and folk healing practices from communities with roots across the Middle East, North Africa, Eastern Europe, Ethiopia, and beyond. These traditions coexist alongside — and in many cases intertwine with — modern Western CAM imports, producing a healing culture that is distinctly Israeli in character.

Within Jewish communities, traditional healing customs rooted in Mizrahi (Middle Eastern and North African Jewish) culture remain alive, encompassing the use of herbs, spices, and plant-based remedies drawing on centuries of practice in countries such as Yemen, Morocco, and Iraq. Among Arab communities in Israel, traditional Arabic medicine — including locally sourced medicinal plants, cupping therapy (hijama), and traditional bone-setting — continues to be used, particularly in rural settings and among older generations.

The Ethiopian Jewish community (Beta Israel) has brought its own distinctive healing traditions to Israel, including the ceremonial role of the Qes (religious leader) in healing rituals. These practices carry significant cultural meaning but are not formally recognised or regulated by the Israeli state.

Folk and traditional healing systems — which may themselves be regarded as a form of CAM — have not been absorbed into the mainstream medical care infrastructure in the same way as more globally recognised CAM therapies, and therefore receive far less official acknowledgement. In practice, this means traditional and folk medicine tends to be exercised privately within communities, occupying a space largely outside both the public health system and the voluntary professional association frameworks that govern Western CAM disciplines.

Ayurvedic medicine, brought to Israel by immigrants from India and Sri Lanka, also maintains a presence and is offered through a number of private clinics, though it remains considerably less mainstream than in countries with larger South Asian diaspora populations. The Israel Ministry of Health does not formally recognise or regulate any of these traditional systems at the time of writing; always check directly with the Ministry for the latest position.

What should expats know about using CAM alongside conventional medicine in Israel?

Israel has arrived at a relatively pragmatic model in which CAM and conventional medicine frequently coexist rather than clash. The character of this relationship is evident in both the public sector, which accounts for roughly two-thirds of CAM service provision, and the private sector, which accounts for approximately one-third. This distribution means many CAM practitioners in Israel work within or in close proximity to public health fund clinics, rather than exclusively in independent private practice.

A biomedical screening process draws a clear boundary between the respective domains of conventional medicine and CAM: upon their initial attendance at an integrative clinic, all patients undergo a preliminary assessment grounded in their biomedical records. Where those records are incomplete, the patient is asked to complete them before being accepted for CAM treatment. This requirement for a baseline conventional medical evaluation prior to commencing CAM is a notable patient safety feature of Israel’s publicly integrated CAM clinics.

The most sophisticated CAM programmes in Israeli hospitals are designed to complement biomedical oncological treatment. Such programmes have been established within or adjacent to several hospital departments, offering patients a broad array of therapies aimed at easing the side effects of radiotherapy and chemotherapy, reducing stress, alleviating pain, and bolstering patients’ coping capacities.

Herb-drug interactions represent an important safety consideration, particularly given how widely herbal medicine is used in Israel. If you are on prescription medication, it is essential to inform both your conventional doctor and any CAM practitioner of every treatment you are receiving. The Israel Ministry of Health and its pharmaceutical division oversee the regulation of herbal and natural health products marketed as medicines, though many products sold in health food stores or supplied by practitioners inhabit a regulatory grey area. Purchasing herbal products from registered pharmacies where possible is advisable, as is seeking out products bearing internationally recognised quality certifications.

Common reasons Israelis give for turning to CAM include dissatisfaction with conventional treatment outcomes, reluctance to take multiple pharmaceutical agents or undergo invasive procedures, and the inability of biomedical approaches to resolve a chronic problem. Conventional physicians in Israel vary in their receptiveness to CAM; younger doctors and those practising in integrative settings tend to be more open-minded. If you wish to discuss your CAM use with your family doctor, being candid about the therapies you are employing allows them to monitor for potential interactions and offer more comprehensive care.

For the most current guidance on safe CAM use, natural health products, and potential herb-drug interactions, consult the Israel Ministry of Health website. Bear in mind that much official guidance is published primarily in Hebrew, so if you are not a Hebrew speaker, support from a bilingual health navigator or community organisation may be particularly helpful.

Frequently asked questions about CAM in Israel

Can I find CAM practitioners in Israel who speak languages other than Hebrew?

Yes, especially in major cities such as Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Haifa, and Be’er Sheva. Israel’s population is highly multicultural, encompassing large communities with roots in Russia, France, Ethiopia, the United States, and numerous other countries, and many practitioners are consequently multilingual. Israel also attracts medical tourists, which means that multilingual private clinics, hospitals, and other health providers are not difficult to locate. When looking for a practitioner, enquire directly about their language capabilities, or reach out to a professional association and ask for a referral to a practitioner who speaks your preferred language.

Is acupuncture legal in Israel?

Yes, acupuncture is legal and practised extensively throughout Israel. It involves the insertion of fine needles at specific points on the body, and in Israel it is commonly offered alongside conventional medical care. As with all CAM therapies in Israel, however, there is no statutory licensing requirement for acupuncturists. The Israeli Acupuncture Society, established in 1978, sets voluntary training standards and maintains a membership register of practitioners who have met those requirements.

How can I check a CAM practitioner’s credentials in Israel?

Because Israel has no government register or statutory licensing system for CAM practitioners, verifying credentials requires a proactive approach. Confirm whether the practitioner belongs to a recognised professional association, ask detailed questions about their training — including where they studied and the duration of supervised practice — and request references where appropriate. Practitioners affiliated with a Kupat Holim supplemental insurance programme have generally undergone some form of vetting by the fund. Where you remain uncertain, ask your family doctor (rofeh mishpacha) for a personal recommendation.

Are homeopathic and herbal products easily available in Israel?

Yes. Homeopathic preparations, herbal supplements, and natural health products are readily found in pharmacies, health food shops, and specialist retailers throughout Israel. The regulatory framework covering these products is, however, less comprehensive than in certain other countries. Purchasing from registered pharmacies wherever possible is advisable, and it is worth looking for products that carry internationally recognised quality certifications. Always disclose any supplements or herbal products you are taking to your conventional doctor.

Do the four Israeli health funds (Kupot Holim) all cover the same CAM therapies?

No. While supplemental plans offered by the health funds generally extend to alternative medicine including chiropractic, homeopathy, and related treatments, the range of services and associated costs differ between funds. It is important to compare the four funds — Clalit, Maccabi, Meuhedet, and Leumit — along with their respective supplemental (Bituach Mashlim) options before registering, particularly if you intend to use specific CAM therapies on a regular basis. The Ministry of Health provides a comparison tool (currently available in Hebrew) to assist with this process.

Is the Feldenkrais Method widely available in Israel?

Yes. The Feldenkrais Method occupies a particularly valued position in Israeli CAM culture, having been created by Israeli scientist Moshé Feldenkrais. It is practised widely across the country in dedicated studios and wellness centres, and is in some cases accessible through health fund supplemental plans. Complementary medicine services covered under certain supplemental plans include the Feldenkrais Method, alongside acupuncture, shiatsu, chiropractic treatment, and homeopathy.

How is CAM viewed within Israeli healthcare culture more broadly?

Israel is a society in which CAM has become both pervasive and largely accepted. More than half of CAM users in Israel report turning to it to address a specific health complaint — back pain, joint and limb problems, and general wellbeing are among the most frequently cited. General disillusionment with conventional medicine is one of the most common motivators for seeking CAM. This pragmatic, consumer-driven orientation means CAM practitioners operate openly and visibly across the country, and most people will have some personal acquaintance with CAM use in their social circle.

What should I do if I want to use CAM but I am not yet registered with a Kupat Holim?

Returning residents and temporary residents become eligible for Bituach Leumi coverage only after a specified waiting period, during which they have no access to Kupat Holim services and must arrange private insurance to cover any healthcare needs. During this period, all CAM treatments must be funded privately. Foreigners residing in Israel for more than a brief visit may be able to enrol in a non-resident programme with a Kupat Holim. Contact your chosen fund directly to enquire about tourist or non-resident plan options, and confirm what — if any — CAM coverage such plans include.