Curious about what science says about a particular complementary or integrative health topic?

You can search PubMed®, a government-run database with references to over 32 million biomedical research papers.

A new and improved version of PubMed launched in 2020, allowing access via computer, tablet, or mobile device.

This walkthrough demonstrates how to perform several types of searches. Follow along as we explore topics like:

• A popular herbal supplement (echinacea)

• Alternative strategies for managing a condition (depression)

• Research funded by the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH), such as studies on tai chi

This guide also covers how to:

• Access complete articles when available

• Receive search results via email

• Refine results to better match what you’re looking for

• Explore more advanced search tools

For in-depth instructions, visit the PubMed User Guide.

Using PubMed To Search for Complementary Health Information

Let’s start by looking up studies related to echinacea.

1. Open PubMed in a browser.

2. Enter the term echinacea into the search field.

3. Click “Search.” A list of relevant publications will display.

Browse through the citations to find research of interest.

Click on any title to read the summary (abstract) of the article. The abstract gives a brief description of the study's content.

Searching for Complementary Approaches to a Specific Health Issue

If you’re looking into complementary strategies for a specific issue—such as depression—use terms like "complementary therapies."

1. Go to PubMed.

2. Type complementary therapies and depression in the search bar.

3. Select “Search.”

You’ll see search results tailored to those terms.

Looking Up Research Funded by NCCIH

To find studies supported by NCCIH on a particular subject—like tai chi—follow these steps using PubMed's advanced search capability.

1. Open PubMed in your browser.

2. Type NCCIH [gr] tai chi into the search box. The “[gr]” lets you target the grant data field.

3. Click the “Search” button.

The resulting publications are linked to NCCIH-funded research on tai chi.

Accessing Full-Text Articles

Some articles indexed in PubMed are freely available through PubMed Central® (PMC).

If an article is available for free, a PMC icon will appear near the citation. Clicking it will take you to the full article.

You can usually download the paper in PDF or other formats for offline reading.

Sending Search Results to Your Email

You can have your search results delivered to your inbox.

1. After performing a search, click on “Email” beneath the search box.

2. A window will pop up where you can enter your email and confirm the options.

How to Narrow Your Search

PubMed often generates many results. Here are some strategies to refine your search:

• Include more specific keywords

• Adjust display preferences

• Use filtering tools

Adding More Keywords

Using additional search terms can make your results more relevant.

For example, searching for “echinacea” brings up over 1,300 results. But searching “echinacea colds” focuses those results down to around 175—more specific to your interest.

Using Display Settings

If you're interested in seeing the latest research, you can sort results by publication date.

Find “Display options” at the upper right of the page. By default, it shows “Best match.”

Click to open the drop-down menu and change the sort order to “Publication date.” You’ll now see the newest studies at the top.

Applying Filters

You’ll find filtering tools on the left side of the results page. These can be helpful for focusing your search even more.

For instance, you can filter for:

• Articles published in the last 5 years

• Free full-text availability

• Clinical trials and similar study types

You can also combine multiple filters to fine-tune your results.

Taking Advantage of Advanced Search Features

PubMed offers several built-in tools to enhance your search experience. While most basic searches require only one or two words, advanced users can explore tools like specific field searches or the use of search history.

Visit the Advanced Search section under the user guide for complete details on these more powerful search tactics.

Need More Information?

This overview only highlights the basics. If you want further guidance—such as how to search by author or journal, or how to find an exact citation—refer to the full PubMed User Guide.

For additional assistance, you may contact the NCCIH Clearinghouse for help locating PubMed resources related specifically to complementary health topics.

NCCIH Clearinghouse

The NCCIH Clearinghouse provides information on integrative health topics and helps users search scientific and medical research databases. It does not offer medical advice or practitioner referrals.

Toll-free (U.S.): 1-888-644-6226

Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS): 7-1-1

Email: [email protected]

This material is in the public domain and may be shared freely.

All content is intended for informational purposes only and does not replace professional medical consultation. Mention of any treatment or product does not imply endorsement by NCCIH.