| Alternative medicine has been described as "any of | | | | alternative medicine as well. One is called biofield |
| various systems of healing or treating disease (as | | | | therapy. This is a form of alternative medicine that |
| chiropractic, homeopathy, or faith healing) not | | | | works with your so called "energy fields" to heal you. |
| included in the traditional medical curricula taught in | | | | Another is bioelectrical magnetic therapy. This |
| the United States and Britain". | | | | alternative medicine uses pulse and magnetic fields to |
| Alternative medicine practices are often based in | | | | heal you. |
| belief systems not derived from modern science. | | | | Eastern countries have a longstanding tradition of |
| Alternative medicines may therefore incorporate | | | | teaching alternative medicine. But until recently, most |
| spiritual, metaphysical, or religious underpinnings, | | | | Western hospitals didn't provide any alternative |
| untested practices, non-Western medical traditions, or | | | | treatments and Western medical schools didn't teach |
| newly developed approaches to healing. | | | | them. |
| Alternative medicine is a type of therapeutic practice | | | | Patients in Western countries are becoming more |
| that is not considered to be a part of traditional or | | | | receptive to trying alternative techniques, and have |
| conventional medical treatment. People use | | | | been asking for them. As a result, many Western |
| alternative medicine instead of using traditional | | | | medical schools are starting to teach these medicine |
| medical treatment. This is often because they feel it | | | | techniques and theories. Some hospitals and doctors |
| is a natural way to get better. | | | | are supplementing their regular medical care with |
| There are many types of alternative medicine. Some | | | | alternative techniques. |
| are covered by medical insurance, but most are not. | | | | Finding a good CAM practitioner is still not as easy as |
| Some forms of alternative medicine that may be | | | | looking someone up in a phone book. NCCAM |
| covered are chiropractic and osteopathic therapy. | | | | recommends asking another health care provider for |
| These forms of alternative medicine are widely used. | | | | a referral, talking to people who have been treated |
| There are other forms of alternative medicine that | | | | by the expert you are considering, and meeting with |
| are not as widely used, but are becoming more | | | | the practitioner to ask about his or her experience |
| popular by the minute. These are: massage therapy, | | | | and training - the same kinds of things you'd do if |
| therapeutic touch, folk medicine, herbal medicine, | | | | you were interviewing a new doctor. |
| special diets, homeopathy, music therapy, | | | | You may have already used a complementary or |
| aromatherapy, naturopathy, faith healing, and new | | | | alternative practice, like yoga or massage, and not |
| age healing. There are also some non-western forms | | | | even thought about it! Trying practices like meditation |
| of alternative medicine such as: Chinese medicine, gi | | | | and breathing can't do any harm, but other CAM |
| gong, reiki, and ayarveda. | | | | techniques may have consequences for people with |
| There are some less commonly practiced forms of | | | | certain health conditions. Read out Natural cures. |