| Alternative medicine has been gaining in both | | | | not as frowned upon by the medical profession |
| popularity and acceptance in recent years. | | | | as it once was. Treatments such as |
| Many cities now have a plethora of shops | | | | acupuncture are common, and many other forms |
| where a person interested in buying | | | | of alternative medicine are gaining |
| alternative medicines can go to find whatever | | | | acceptance. Even watching weekly magazine |
| they are seeking, in addition to being able | | | | shows like Dateline on NBC, observers can see |
| to take advantage of many alternative | | | | radical alternative medicine practitioners |
| medicine services at local practitioners' | | | | curing patients with terminal illnesses to |
| offices. | | | | the wonderment of experts. Some are scams to |
| | | | be sure, but some are simply inexplicable, |
| Alternative medicine is simply a way of | | | | and professionals who witness the events tend |
| referencing a type of treatment that is not | | | | not to endorse them, but neither do they |
| officially recognized by the medical | | | | dismiss them. |
| establishment as a relief or cure. There are | | | | |
| literally thousands of practices that fall | | | | Part of the reason for the increase in |
| under this category, and most people would be | | | | acceptance of alternative medicine is the |
| surprised to find some of the items that | | | | recognition of the powers of the mind over |
| either are or were once considered to be | | | | the body. There is increasing evidence that a |
| against the grain, or categorized as | | | | patient's attitude can sometimes shape the |
| "alternative" medicine. | | | | physical response, and this in part helps to |
| | | | illustrate why alternative medicine is more |
| Not too far back in medical history, doctors | | | | well received than it used to be. A patient |
| did not wash their hands while helping a | | | | who believes he or she is doing better, often |
| woman through child labor. The result was | | | | will. |
| thousands of contracted infections and death | | | | |
| due to bacterial transfer. Doctors who | | | | Before going out to walk on coals or ingest |
| advocated the practice of hand-washing or | | | | an ear tuft of a koala though, it is |
| warned of unseen microbes were shunned and | | | | important to do some research into the |
| mocked by their professional peers, and only | | | | practice or practitioner one is considering |
| in the last century has sterilization been a | | | | for advice. Alternative medicine, by its |
| common and then regulated medical practice. | | | | definition, is not regulated and that leaves |
| It is hard to believe that something we take | | | | a lot of room for quacks to take advantage of |
| so much for granted was once considered | | | | people's ills to make a quick buck. Don't |
| alternative medicine, but it was so. | | | | rush into anything, and if it appears shady, |
| | | | do not partake of it. |
| In the 21st century, alternative medicine is | | | | |