Complementary and alternative medicine in Chile

01What types of complementary and alternative medicine are available in Chile?

Interest in complementary and alternative medicine has been climbing steadily in Chile, with a growing number of people turning to natural and holistic approaches to address a broad spectrum of health concerns. Acupuncture, homeopathy, naturopathy, and yoga enjoy particular popularity across the country. The overall variety of therapies on offer is substantial, particularly in larger cities, and expats arriving from countries with established CAM traditions — such as Germany, Australia, or Brazil — will recognise many familiar practices.

Acupuncture works by inserting fine needles into designated points on the body to encourage its innate healing capacities. In Chile, it has developed into one of the most widely used and officially acknowledged CAM disciplines, attracting patients seeking relief from chronic pain, anxiety, insomnia, and a range of other conditions. Its status as a formally regulated therapy has helped cement its position within the healthcare landscape.

Homeopathy operates on the principle of treating illness with highly diluted preparations intended to trigger the body’s own restorative mechanisms. It enjoys broad uptake across Chile, with practitioners treating conditions spanning allergies, digestive complaints, and persistent pain. It is among the three therapies accorded full regulatory recognition by the Ministry of Health.

Naturopathy centres on supporting the body’s inherent capacity for self-healing through natural interventions — among them herbal remedies, nutritional guidance, and lifestyle modification. It is widely sought by Chileans dealing with chronic pain, digestive problems, and stress-related conditions, and, like acupuncture and homeopathy, benefits from formal government regulation.

Beyond these three regulated modalities, Chileans make use of an extensive range of other practices. Massage therapy (masoterapia), reflexology, flower therapies (including Bach flower remedies), reiki, auriculotherapy, and yoga all feature in private clinics and wellness centres, with the greatest concentration in Santiago, Valparaíso, and other urban areas. Masoterapia and terapia floral are among the practices that have been under review by the Ministry of Health for potential future regulation.

Chiropractic and osteopathy can be found in Chile, chiefly through privately run clinics in the major cities, though they do not yet hold the same formal regulatory standing as acupuncture or naturopathy. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) as a complete system — incorporating herbal prescriptions, moxibustion, and cupping alongside acupuncture — also has practitioners in Santiago. Ayurveda commands a smaller but established following, concentrated mainly in the capital. The relative informality of Chile’s chiropractic sector contrasts with countries such as Australia or the Netherlands, where the profession is governed by statutory regulatory bodies and well-developed professional infrastructure.

Traditional herbal medicines in Chile are defined as those composed of plants or plant parts — whether fresh or dried, whole or reduced — packaged and labelled by hand using the names customarily employed within Chilean cultural traditions, and recognised under the corresponding technical rule endorsed by Supreme Decree of the Ministry of Health. This provides herbal medicine with a degree of product-level recognition, even though individual herbal practitioners are not subject to personal licensing requirements.

02Is complementary and alternative medicine regulated in Chile?

Chile’s regulatory architecture for CAM is clear in outline but limited in practical reach — the vast majority of therapies in active use still operate without formal oversight. The system rests on a single overarching framework decree, with individual therapies achieving formal recognition through subsequent ministerial decrees, a process that has advanced slowly over the years.

The cornerstone of this structure is Decree No. 42 of 2004, published in 2005 under the title “Regulation for the Practice of Alternative Medical Practices as auxiliary health professions.” It defines CAM as activities aimed at recovering, maintaining, and improving the physical and mental wellbeing of individuals through procedures that differ from conventional medicine, practised in a complementary or auxiliary capacity. Under this framework, three therapies have been formally brought into regulation: acupuncture (Decree No. 123 of 2006), homeopathy (Decree No. 19 of 2009), and naturopathy (Decree No. 5 of 2012).

Decree No. 42 covers practices that promote physical and mental wellbeing through means other than conventional medicine, and explicitly places traditional Chilean folk medicine and indigenous healing outside its scope. Although the decree was conceived with the gradual recognition of many therapies in mind, only the three listed above had achieved full regulated status as of 2025.

Statistics from the Ministry of Health reveal the scale of the gap: approximately 77.89% of individual complementary therapy consultations in the public health network involved therapies that are not yet regulated, and all group-based complementary therapy sessions were delivered using unregulated modalities. This underlines just how much broader the practical landscape is compared to the formally governed portion.

In early 2025, MINSAL announced a new policy aimed at bringing formal regulation to at least 25 complementary therapies that are currently acknowledged by the ministry but still lack specific regulatory instruments. The World Health Organization noted in 2018 that 88% of its member states — 170 countries — recognise the use of traditional and complementary medicine. Chile stands out as having not only a national policy but also a national programme, a national office, an expert committee, and existing regulations and laws covering the field.

This approach — in which an umbrella framework exists but individual therapies must wait for dedicated decrees before gaining formal status — differs meaningfully from statutory systems like those in the UK, where osteopaths and chiropractors are individually registered under Acts of Parliament, or Australia’s AHPRA model. It bears a closer resemblance to the situation in many continental European countries, where framework legislation is in place but implementation proceeds piecemeal and remains incomplete.

For practitioners of the three regulated therapies, MINSAL sets qualification requirements and administers enabling examinations. For all other therapies, practitioners may hold private certifications or foreign credentials, but no government licensing is required. The most current information can be found at the Ministry of Health’s CAM page: minsal.cl/medicinas-complementarias. Given that this field is actively evolving, it is worth checking official sources regularly.

The Instituto de Salud Pública (ISP) — a functionally decentralised and autonomous public body operating under the supervision of the Ministry of Health — serves as Chile’s authority for pharmaceutical product regulation, including biologicals, medical devices, and traditional herbal medicine products. Resolution No. 548/2009, issued by the Ministry of Health, established the approved list of traditional herbal medicines in Chile and defined their recognised medicinal properties.

03Is CAM covered by health insurance or the public healthcare system in Chile?

Coverage of CAM under Chile’s health systems — both public and private — exists but is constrained. For expats assessing their options, an understanding of how the country’s dual FONASA/ISAPRE structure operates is essential background.

Chile’s healthcare system combines public and private elements. The public component is administered by FONASA, while private coverage is provided by Instituciones de Salud Previsional (ISAPREs). With limited exceptions for the most economically vulnerable pensioners, all employed workers and pensioners are required to direct 7% of their income toward health insurance contributions.

According to the Ministry of Health’s statistical department (DEIS), complementary therapy consultations in the public health network totalled 176,279 in 2023, a figure that demonstrates CAM has become a meaningful part of publicly delivered healthcare. However, nationwide availability is not guaranteed — provision depends on the individual facilities within the public network, and not every public hospital or primary care centre runs a complementary therapy unit.

Complementary medical practices have grown into a recognised element of health delivery in both public and private networks, contributing to prevention, treatment, and recovery from a perspective distinct from conventional medicine and functioning in an articulated relationship with it. Certain public hospitals have established integrative medicine units where regulated therapies such as acupuncture may be available — the Hospital Sótero del Río in Santiago is one example.

Where CAM is provided at a FONASA-affiliated facility, it may be accessible at minimal cost or at no direct charge for qualifying beneficiaries. Since September 2022, public healthcare services have been free for all FONASA beneficiaries. That said, not all public facilities offer CAM, and regional variation is considerable. Check with your local FONASA-affiliated centre or consult fonasa.cl for up-to-date information on available services.

For those on private ISAPRE plans, reimbursement of CAM is wholly dependent on the specifics of the individual contract. Certain ISAPRE plans include some coverage for acupuncture or massage under defined clinical circumstances, but this is far from universal. Just as comprehensive dental cover and other ancillary health services are not standard features of most Chilean health plans, CAM reimbursement should not be assumed. Always review your ISAPRE contract carefully and contact your insurer directly before proceeding with any treatment in expectation of reimbursement. Coverage details are subject to change.

Expats holding international health insurance may find that their policies cover select CAM therapies, particularly plans that include complementary medicine or wellness add-ons, which might extend to acupuncture, osteopathy, or chiropractic in certain circumstances. Review your policy wording thoroughly and confirm with your insurer before commencing treatment.

04How much does complementary and alternative medicine cost in Chile?

By the standards of many high-income countries, CAM in Chile is relatively affordable, though fees vary considerably depending on the type of therapy, the practitioner’s experience, the nature of the clinic, and the location. As a general rule, Santiago and other major cities command higher rates than smaller regional towns. The figures presented here are indicative only — always confirm current pricing directly with the practitioner or clinic concerned.

For context, a private GP appointment in Chile typically costs in the range of CLP 25,000–50,000 at a private clinic (as of 2024), meaning that CAM sessions with experienced practitioners often sit in a broadly comparable price bracket. Making sense of healthcare expenditure in Chile requires familiarity with the dual FONASA/ISAPRE structure, insurance obligations, and typical out-of-pocket costs. Expenses can differ substantially between the public and private sectors, with direct implications for how expats plan their healthcare budgets.

Herbal remedies and homeopathic preparations are sold in pharmacies and specialist health shops throughout the country. Prices are generally modest by international comparison, but purchases should always be made through licensed pharmacies or reputable retailers to ensure product quality and safety. Traditional herbal medicines must appear on an approved list, contained in a technical rule endorsed by Supreme Decree of the Ministry of Health, which specifies the name, therapeutic properties, and uses of each product. Look for items referencing compliance with MINSAL technical rules or ISP registration.

To obtain the most accurate current pricing, contact practitioners or clinics directly, or consult the professional association relevant to the therapy in question. Bear in mind that rates in Santiago may run 20–30% higher than in smaller cities or rural areas, and that specialist integrative clinics in Santiago’s more affluent districts can charge well above the typical figures cited above.

05How do I find a qualified CAM practitioner in Chile?

Locating a suitably qualified CAM practitioner calls for careful research in Chile, given that most therapies still lack formal state-level licensing. The steps below set out a practical approach for expats navigating this landscape.

1. Check MINSAL’s register for regulated therapies. For acupuncture, homeopathy, and naturopathy — the three therapies with formal regulatory status — practitioners must satisfy qualification standards established by the Ministry of Health and pass enabling examinations. Refer to minsal.cl/medicinas-complementarias for details on recognised practitioners and facilities.
2. Contact the relevant professional association. The Chilean Association of Traditional Chinese Medicine (Asociación Chilena de Medicina Tradicional China) maintains a directory of licensed acupuncturists and provides information about the field. The Chilean Homeopathic Association (Asociación Homeopática de Chile) and the Chilean Association of Naturopaths (Asociación de Naturopatas de Chile) similarly offer practitioner directories and information resources for their respective disciplines.
3. Ask your conventional doctor for a referral. Chile aligns with the WHO framework, treating complementary medicine as a support for — rather than a substitute for — conventional care. A number of conventional doctors, particularly those working in integrative settings, have good knowledge of local CAM practitioners and are well placed to suggest reputable options.
4. Look for integrative medicine units at public or private hospitals. Several Chilean hospitals — both public and private — have established dedicated complementary therapy units where practitioners work within a defined clinical governance structure. Accessing treatment through these settings provides a greater level of quality assurance than an independent, unaffiliated practitioner might offer.
5. Verify qualifications directly. For therapies that remain unregulated, ask prospective practitioners about their training institution, the length of their programme, and any professional body memberships they hold. Practitioners with solid credentials will generally be transparent and forthcoming about their backgrounds. Exercise caution with anyone unable to demonstrate structured, formal preparation for their practice.
6. Check the Superintendencia de Salud. The health superintendency (supersalud.gob.cl) has oversight of health service providers in Chile. While it does not maintain a dedicated register of unregulated CAM practitioners, it handles complaints relating to health service providers and can be a useful resource if concerns arise about a practitioner working within a registered health facility.

From a consumer protection standpoint, expats should be alert to the risk that some practitioners of unregulated therapies may make inflated claims about what their treatments can achieve. Treat with scepticism anyone who implies that CAM can replace prescribed conventional medication without medical supervision, or who promises guaranteed cures for serious illnesses. The same principle that applies elsewhere applies in Chile: claims that seem implausibly broad deserve closer scrutiny.

06Are there traditional or indigenous medicine systems practised in Chile?

Chile has a deep-rooted tradition of indigenous healing that long predates the arrival of Western medicine and continues to carry considerable cultural weight, particularly among Mapuche and Aymara communities. These systems are fundamentally distinct from the imported Western CAM therapies discussed elsewhere in this article, and Chilean law treats them accordingly.

The machi — a healer within Mapuche culture — represents one of the most visible expressions of this tradition. Chile’s Ministry of Health has actively backed the incorporation of traditional healers into the national healthcare system, creating settings where practitioners using ancestral knowledge and ceremonial instruments work alongside physicians in clinical environments, and where pharmacies stock traditional remedies. The underlying aim is to extend more culturally appropriate and equitable healthcare to Mapuche and other indigenous groups.

Machis (Mapuche healers) and yatiris (Aymara healers from Chile’s northern regions) are increasingly being woven into the country’s formal health care framework. The Ministry of Health has championed this initiative as a means of addressing healthcare inequalities affecting indigenous populations.

Intercultural health centres with a machi in attendance can now be found in one third of the districts that make up greater Santiago. The programme was first established in 1996 to serve the Mapuche, who account for 85% of Chile’s indigenous population. In 2006, the country’s first Mapuche hospital opened in Nueva Imperial, situated in the heart of the Araucanía region approximately 700 kilometres south of the capital.

Decree No. 42 of 2005 explicitly places traditional Chilean folk medicine and the medicine of indigenous peoples outside its regulatory scope. This means Mapuche and Aymara traditional healing is not subject to the same enabling examination and licensing processes that apply to acupuncture or naturopathy. It is instead recognised within a separate intercultural health framework, reflecting its standing as a collective cultural right rather than a commercial health service.

Commentators working with international institutions have characterised the intercultural health programme as an “ethical imperative to provide care to vulnerable groups,” emphasising that its purpose goes beyond improving health metrics — it is equally about honouring the rights of indigenous peoples. Importantly, offering traditional medicine must not eliminate the possibility of choosing more conventional alternatives.

Expats who wish to learn more about traditional Chilean healing practices will find them most present in indigenous communities across the Araucanía, Los Ríos, and Los Lagos regions in the south, and among Aymara communities in Chile’s far north. In Santiago, intercultural health centres provide a point of contact with these traditions. Traditional herbal apothecaries — some specialising in Mapuche plant remedies — can also be found in the larger cities.

07What should expats know about using CAM alongside conventional medicine in Chile?

Expats weaving CAM into their healthcare routine in Chile will benefit from keeping a few practical considerations in mind. Chile’s conventional medical system enjoys a strong reputation by regional standards, and the CAM landscape is most productively approached as something that complements, rather than displaces, evidence-based conventional care.

Chile’s institutional stance aligns with the WHO framework, under which complementary medicine is understood to work in support of allopathic medicine without substituting for it. There is a stated direction within the health system toward formally acknowledging these practices as legitimate services, in parallel with a regulatory trajectory — alongside the Superintendencia de Salud — aimed at recognising practitioners under defined conditions. The overall trend is toward greater regulation and accountability.

Conventional practitioners in Chile, particularly in private clinics and hospitals, are generally willing to discuss CAM use. That said, individual attitudes vary by specialty and by the practitioner concerned. As a rule, it is advisable to keep your GP or specialist informed of any CAM therapies you are undertaking, including herbal preparations, since these can interact with prescribed medications. Herb-drug interactions represent a genuine clinical concern: St John’s Wort, for example, is known to reduce the effectiveness of certain contraceptives and antiretroviral medications, while high-dose herbal formulations may influence liver enzyme activity. Your conventional doctor is best positioned to identify and advise on such risks.

Integrative medicine units — where conventional and complementary practitioners collaborate within a shared clinical environment — exist at a number of hospitals and private clinics across Chile. The Hospital Sótero del Río in Santiago has been identified as one such setting. Clínica Alemana and Clínica Las Condes, two of Santiago’s most prominent private hospitals, are recognised for their high standards and advanced facilities and may be able to connect patients with reputable complementary practitioners or provide appropriate referrals.

Complementary medical practices have become embedded in health delivery across both public and private networks, contributing to prevention, treatment, and recovery through an approach that is distinct from but articulated with conventional medicine. This framing signals that the debate about integration continues to develop at a policy level within Chile.

For questions relating to the safety of herbal and complementary medicine products, the Instituto de Salud Pública (ISP) — Chile’s medicines regulatory authority — is the relevant body. Its website at ispch.cl carries information on approved herbal medicines and product safety alerts. The MINSAL CAM page at minsal.cl/medicinas-complementarias remains the primary official reference for the regulatory and policy framework. Both the regulatory environment and institutional policy in this area are continuing to develop, so checking directly with official sources for the most current guidance is always worthwhile.

08Frequently asked questions about CAM in Chile