The existence of complementary treatments is not a new trend, but the increasing popularity and the status of complementary approach is. In most countries where there is data on the use of alternative medicine, CAM is without a doubt an all-present form of health care. In this thesis CAM was approached from the perspective of the sociology of health and illness in which the alternative medicine is a current research issue, thus placing it in the context of post-modernism. The main purpose of this thesis was to give insight into the reasons of using CAM as an unconventional treatment in times where the conventional medicine reaches its peak. The subject of the research is covered by quantitative research approach, using the questionnaire method. The motivations, the procedure and the experience of using CAM therapies and practice were studied. The results have shown that chronically ill individuals mostly use CAM in treatment. They are motivated to the greatest extent by the attempt to actively contribute to the treatment of illness and are also unsatisfied with the results of the conventional medical treatment. On one hand they express supportive attitudes towards CAM and on the other hand they show suspicion and mistrust towards conventional medicine. They also describe much more benefit than negative experiences in using CAM. In the end, however, they mostly believe both medical systems alike.