| The 20th century has registered a veritable | | | | than traditional medicine. Studies have |
| explosive development of alternative | | | | showed that over 70 percent of adults over 50 |
| medicine. Defined as any health practice | | | | years of age use some kind of alternative |
| which takes the place of, or is not | | | | therapy in order to treat illness and disease |
| compatible with conventional medicine, | | | | and to maintain a good health. |
| alternative medicine differentiates itself | | | | |
| from complementary medicine because it uses | | | | Although the Western medical community |
| only nontraditional methods. | | | | strongly opposes these practices, the |
| | | | ascension of alternative practices continues. |
| Alternative medicine features a very broad | | | | This happens mainly because alternative |
| range of practices. While some of the healing | | | | practitioners often point to millenary |
| therapies come from Ancient Chinese | | | | traditions, although few clinical trials have |
| principles, like acupuncture, and the use of | | | | proved their efficiency. However, given the |
| herbal compounds, others are based on | | | | advancement of complementary medicine there |
| Ayurvedic or Hindu therapies. The latter | | | | is now an entire host of medical schools |
| include some of the most well-known | | | | where alternative methods are taught. |
| therapies, such as the practice of yoga, diet | | | | Moreover, many physicians are now keen on |
| changes and cultivating the connection | | | | learning about alternative medicine, as it |
| between mind, body, and spirit. | | | | offers more options in dealing with a medical |
| | | | condition. |
| The emphasis on mind, body, and spirit also | | | | |
| constitutes the landmark of holistic health, | | | | More and more people now turn to alternative |
| which can be both alternative and | | | | medicine because the traditional medicine can |
| complementary. One of the popular figures of | | | | not provide them the means to cure when |
| this kind of medicine is Dr. Deepak Chopra, | | | | experiencing a certain condition. In fact, |
| who leans toward alternative rather than | | | | many Western physicians acknowledge the |
| medical thinking. Despite the fact that he is | | | | already established practices of alternative |
| a graduate of a Western medical university, | | | | medicine and even recommend these therapies |
| his teachings are largely contested by the | | | | for patients whom they cannot help otherwise. |
| medical community. | | | | Although a large range of physicians still |
| | | | remain skeptical, alternative medicine |
| Massage, chiropractic techniques and | | | | appears to many as a last resort solution. |
| practice, meditation, spiritual healing, | | | | |
| aromatherapy and exercise practices such as | | | | Despite its popularity, alternative medicine |
| Tai Chi are some other examples of popular | | | | is generally not covered by health insurance |
| alternative therapies. However, there is an | | | | companies. Sometimes chiropractics may be |
| almost inexhaustible list of alternative | | | | part of a health plan, but otherwise |
| practices. In fact, many people use different | | | | nutritional supplements, acupuncture, yoga |
| forms of alternative medicine, sometimes even | | | | classes, or other alternative therapies must |
| without realizing it, for example when they | | | | all be paid for by the beneficiary. However, |
| take herbal supplements or vitamins without | | | | alternative methods are increasingly popular |
| seeing the doctor first. As such, using the | | | | because they pay attention not just to the |
| natural supplement Airborne when having a | | | | physical body, but also to the spiritual, |
| cold instead of consulting the doctor means | | | | emotional and mental aspects of one's health. |
| that alternative medicine is practiced rather | | | | |