Overview
Submission Instructions
Recent Publications
Frequently Asked Questions
Research Topics
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BC
BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies is an open access, peer-reviewed journal that considers articles on all aspects of complementary therapies. The journal particularly welcomes multidisciplinary research on interventions and resources that complement conventional therapies, with emphasis on biological mechanisms of action, efficacy, safety, costs, patterns of use, and implementation.
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Impact Factor
3.4
Quartile
Q1
Open Access Type
Open
eISSN
2662-7671
Invitation Only
No
Cost Range
APC: £2390.00 GBP / $3090.00 USD / €2690.00 EUR
Submission Instructions
BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies accepts the following article types. Click on an article type to view submission instructions.
Research Article
Cover Letter
A cover letter is required with the submission. The cover letter must explain why the manuscript should be published, address any issues relating to journal policies, declare any potential competing interests, confirm all authors approved the submission, confirm the work has not been published or submitted elsewhere, and name the special issue if applicable.
Abstract
An abstract is required. Abstract must not exceed 350 words. The abstract must be structured. The abstract must include the headings Background, Methods, Results, and Conclusions, and articles reporting health care interventions on human participants must also include a Trial registration section with the registration number and date, using 'retrospectively registered' if applicable.
Manuscript
The manuscript must include a title page, a Background section, a Methods section, a Results section, a Discussion section, a Conclusions section, and a 'Declarations' section with all required subheadings. The manuscript must include three to ten keywords, a list of abbreviations if abbreviations are used, documentation of any Large Language Model use in the Methods or suitable alternative section, and any non-relevant Declarations subsection must still appear and state 'Not applicable'.
References
References must follow Vancouver reference style. Only published or publicly available articles, clinical trial registration records, and abstracts may be cited, unpublished abstracts, unpublished data, and personal communications must not appear in the reference list, journal abbreviations must follow Index Medicus/MEDLINE, and web links must be numbered and listed in full with site title, URL, and access date.
Figures & Tables
Figure titles and legends must be provided in the main manuscript while figures are uploaded separately, tables under one page may be placed within the manuscript, and larger tables may be placed at the end with their intended location cited in the text. Figures and tables must be numbered in the order first cited, multi-panel figures must be submitted as a single composite file, and if cropped gels or blots appear in the main text, a single supplementary figure containing labelled uncropped full-length images with indicated crop sites must be provided and cited in the legend.
Review
Cover Letter
A cover letter is required with the submission. The cover letter must explain why the manuscript should be published in BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies, explain any issues relating to journal policies, declare any potential competing interests, confirm all authors approved the manuscript for submission, confirm the manuscript has not been published or submitted elsewhere, and name the special issue if applicable.
Abstract
An abstract is required. Abstract must not exceed 350 words.
Manuscript
Manuscript must include Background, Main text, Conclusions, and a Declarations section, with Main text optionally divided into short informative subsections. Manuscript must include 3 to 10 keywords and a Declarations section with the subheadings Ethics approval and consent to participate, Consent for publication, Availability of data and materials, Competing interests, Funding, Authors' contributions, and Acknowledgements, using 'Not applicable' for any non-relevant section.
References
References must follow Vancouver style. Only published or in-press articles, clinical trial registration records, abstracts, and publicly available e-prints/preprints may be cited; unpublished abstracts, unpublished data, and personal communications must not appear in the reference list; journal abbreviations must follow Index Medicus/MEDLINE; and URLs must be numbered and included in the reference list with full site title, URL, and access date.
Figures & Tables
Figure titles and legends must be provided in the main manuscript while figures are uploaded separately, and tables under one page may be placed in the manuscript whereas larger tables may be placed at the end of the document. Figures must be numbered in order of first mention and multi-panel figures submitted as a single composite file, while tables must be numbered in sequence, created with the word processor's Table object, and not embedded as figures or spreadsheet files.
Systematic Review
Cover Letter
A cover letter is required. Cover letter must explain why the manuscript should be published in BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies, explain any issues relating to journal policies, declare any potential competing interests, confirm all authors approved submission, confirm the manuscript has not been published or submitted elsewhere, and name the special issue if applicable.
Abstract
An abstract is required. Abstract must not exceed 350 words.
Manuscript
Manuscript must include Background, Methods, Results, Discussion, Conclusions, and a Declarations section with the required subheadings. Manuscript must include three to ten keywords, an Availability of data and materials statement, and Declarations subheadings for Ethics approval and consent to participate, Consent for publication, Availability of data and materials, Competing interests, Funding, Authors' contributions, and Acknowledgements.
References
Only published or in-press articles, clinical trial registration records, abstracts, and publicly available preprints may be cited; unpublished abstracts, unpublished data, and personal communications must not appear in the reference list; journal abbreviations must follow Index Medicus/MEDLINE; and web links must be numbered and included in the reference list with full site title, URL, and access date.
Figures & Tables
Tables shorter than one page may be placed within the manuscript, tables longer than one page may be placed at the end of the document, figure titles and legends must appear in the main manuscript rather than in the graphic file, and figures must be uploaded separately in the order cited. Figures must be numbered in order of first mention and multi-panel figures submitted as a single composite file, while tables must be numbered and cited in sequence and created using the word processor's Table object rather than embedded as figures or spreadsheet files.
Case Report
Cover Letter
A cover letter is required and for case reports it must explain why the case is rare or unusual and describe its educational and/or scientific merits. The cover letter must explain why the manuscript should be published, address any issues relating to journal policies, declare any potential competing interests, confirm all authors approved the submission, confirm the content has not been published or submitted elsewhere, and name any special issue if applicable.
Abstract
An abstract is required for case reports. The abstract must not exceed 350 words. The abstract must be structured. The abstract must include the headings Background, Case presentation, and Conclusions.
Manuscript
The manuscript must include a title page, Background, Case presentation, Discussion and Conclusions, and a Declarations section with the subheadings Ethics approval and consent to participate, Consent for publication, Availability of data and materials, Competing interests, Funding, Authors' contributions, and Acknowledgements. The manuscript must include 3 to 10 keywords, a list of abbreviations if abbreviations are used, statements of data availability and consent for publication as applicable, and any use of a Large Language Model must be documented in the Methods section or another suitable part of the manuscript.
References
References must follow Vancouver style. Only published or in-press articles, clinical trial registration records, abstracts, and public preprints may be cited; unpublished abstracts, unpublished data, and personal communications must not appear in the reference list; journal abbreviations must follow Index Medicus/MEDLINE; and URLs must be numbered and included in the reference list with full site title, full URL, and access date.
Figures & Tables
Figure titles and legends must appear in the main manuscript while figures are uploaded separately, and tables shorter than one page may be placed within the manuscript whereas larger tables may be placed at the end of the document. Figures and tables must be numbered in the order cited, multi-panel figures must be submitted as one composite file, tables must not be embedded as figures or spreadsheet files, and footnotes must not contain figures or tables.
Study Protocol
Cover Letter
A cover letter is required and must be submitted with the manuscript. The cover letter must explain why the manuscript should be published, address any journal policy issues, declare any potential competing interests, confirm all authors approved submission, confirm the content is not published or under consideration elsewhere, identify the special issue if applicable, and confirm the study status.
Abstract
An abstract is required. Abstract must not exceed 350 words. Abstract must be structured. Abstract must include the headings Background, Methods, Discussion, and Trial registration, with a trial registration number in the last line for randomized controlled trial protocols.
Manuscript
Manuscript must include a title page with full author names, institutional addresses, corresponding author, and a title including the study design if appropriate, and it must contain a Declarations section with the required subheadings. Manuscript must include three to ten keywords, a list of abbreviations if abbreviations are used, and Declarations subsections for Ethics approval and consent to participate, Consent for publication, Availability of data and materials, Competing interests, Funding, Authors' contributions, and Acknowledgements, with 'Not applicable' under any subsection that is not relevant.
References
References must follow Vancouver style. Only published or in-press articles, clinical trial registration records, abstracts, and publicly available preprints may be cited, unpublished abstracts/data and personal communications must be excluded from the reference list, journal abbreviations must follow Index Medicus/MEDLINE, and web links or URLs must be cited as numbered references with full site title, URL, and access date.
Figures & Tables
Figure titles and legends must appear in the main manuscript rather than the graphic file, tables shorter than one page may be placed within the manuscript, and tables longer than one page may be placed at the end of the document with their intended location indicated in the text. Figures must be numbered in order of first mention and multi-panel figures submitted as one composite file, while tables must be numbered and cited in sequence, created with the word processor's table function, and not embedded as figures or spreadsheet files.
Matters Arising
Cover Letter
A cover letter is required. The cover letter must explain why the manuscript should be published, explain any issues relating to journal policies, declare any potential competing interests, confirm all authors approved submission, confirm the manuscript is not published or under consideration elsewhere, and name the special issue if applicable.
Abstract
No abstract should be included.
Manuscript
The main text should be as concise as possible and ideally not exceed 1,200 words. The manuscript should begin with a brief non-specialist summary paragraph, include no abstract, and include a 'Declarations' section. Provide 3 to 10 keywords and include a 'Declarations' section with the subheadings 'Ethics approval and consent to participate', 'Consent for publication', 'Availability of data and materials', 'Competing interests', 'Funding', 'Authors' contributions', and 'Acknowledgements', with 'Authors' information' optional and non-relevant sections labeled 'Not applicable'.
References
Contributions may have up to 15 references. References must follow Vancouver style. Web links and URLs must be cited with a reference number and included in the reference list in full with the site title, URL, and access date, and journal abbreviations must follow Index Medicus/MEDLINE.
Figures & Tables
The article should ideally require only one or two small figures or tables. Tables less than one page may be placed in the manuscript, tables larger than one page may be placed at the end of the document, and figure titles and legends must be provided in the main manuscript rather than in the graphic file. Figures must be numbered in the order first mentioned and multi-panel figures submitted as a single composite file, while tables must be numbered and cited sequentially, created with the word processor's table function, and not embedded as figures or spreadsheet files.
Scoping Reviews
Cover Letter
A cover letter is required. The cover letter must explain why the manuscript should be published, address any journal policy issues, declare any potential competing interests, confirm all authors approved the submission, confirm the manuscript is not published or under consideration elsewhere, and name the special issue if applicable.
Abstract
An abstract is required. Abstract must not exceed 350 words.
Manuscript
Manuscript must include Background, Main text, Conclusions, and a Declarations section, and the title page must include a title with the study design if appropriate, all authors’ full names and institutional addresses, and the corresponding author. The manuscript must include 3 to 10 keywords, a list of abbreviations if abbreviations are used, and a Declarations section with the subheadings Ethics approval and consent to participate, Consent for publication, Availability of data and materials, Competing interests, Funding, Authors' contributions, and Acknowledgements, using 'Not applicable' for any irrelevant section.
References
References must follow Vancouver style. Only published or in-press articles, clinical trial registration records, abstracts, and public preprints may be cited, unpublished abstracts/data and personal communications must not appear in the reference list, journal abbreviations must follow Index Medicus/MEDLINE, and web links or URLs must be numbered and included in full in the reference list with site title, URL, and access date.
Figures & Tables
Figure titles and legends must be provided in the main manuscript rather than the image file, tables under one page may be placed within the manuscript while larger tables may be placed at the end, and figures must be uploaded separately in the order cited. Multi-panel figures must be submitted as a single composite file, tables must not be embedded as figures and must be created with the table function, and table footnotes must use superscript lower-case letters or asterisks for significance values and other statistical data.
Recent Publications
Potentials and challenges of an integrative medicine protocol in intensive care: the perspective of intensive care nurses
Ilana Berlowitz, Eliane Timm, Jana Ertl, Ottilia Rohrer, Ursula Wolf
10.1186/s12906-026-05423-1
View Publication
Family traditions, accessibility and cost shape the continued reliance on Cajanus cajan and Azadirachta indica for malaria and typhoid despite prescription medicines in urban and rural Nsukka, Nigeria
Emmanuel E. Osayi, Dilibe C. Urama, Angela N. Amujiri, Ruth A. Agyo, Abdifatah Ahmed A. Afyare, Felix A. Andong
10.1186/s12906-026-05426-y
View Publication
Evaluation of subchronic oral dose toxicity of Antrodia camphorata mycelium powder in rodents as a novel food source
Won-Yong Shim, Eun-Sung Park, Sung-Il Jang, Shingo Horii, Wu-Che Wen, Sun-Don Kim
10.1186/s12906-026-05425-z
View Publication
The micro-phenomenology of Floatation-REST
Helena Hruby, Marc Wittmann, Stefan Schmidt, Prisca R. Bauer
10.1186/s12906-026-05415-1
View Publication
Bilobalide increases SKCa current via 5-HT2BR-PLC–PKC pathway, causing hyperpolarization and enhanced EET production in human coronary artery endothelial cells
Katesirin Ruamyod, Patcharaporn Taokum, Neennara Wongsatan, Sompol Tapechum, Wattana B. Watanapa
10.1186/s12906-026-05418-y
View Publication
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to publish?
Submission to first decision (median): 21 days.
Reformat to BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies using Livewrite PremiumIs a cover letter required?
A cover letter is required and should explain why the manuscript should be published in BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies, address any issues relating to journal policies, declare potential competing interests, confirm author approval, confirm the work has not been published or submitted elsewhere, and identify any special issue if applicable. Authors may also suggest preferred or non-preferred peer reviewers in the cover letter.
Reformat to BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies using Livewrite PremiumWhat are the publication costs?
Research Topics
Complementary and Alternative Medicine Studies
Essential Oils and Antimicrobial Activity
Natural product bioactivities and synthesis
Pharmacological Effects of Natural Compounds
Ethnobotanical and Medicinal Plants Studies
Phytochemistry and Biological Activities
Acupuncture Treatment Research Studies
Phytochemicals and Antioxidant Activities
Natural Antidiabetic Agents Studies
Drug-Induced Hepatotoxicity and Protection
Traditional Chinese Medicine Analysis
Medicinal Plants and Neuroprotection
Bee Products Chemical Analysis
Phytochemistry Medicinal Plant Applications
Computational Drug Discovery Methods
Genomics, phytochemicals, and oxidative stress
Ginger and Zingiberaceae research
Gut microbiota and health
Traditional Chinese Medicine Studies
Ginseng Biological Effects and Applications
Phytochemical compounds biological activities
Herbal Medicine Research Studies
Liver Disease Diagnosis and Treatment
Curcumin's Biomedical Applications
Mindfulness and Compassion Interventions