Alternative medicine generally refers to practices not typically used in conventional medicine. Alternative medicine covers a broad range of healing philosophies, approaches and therapies. Examples are homeopathy, naturopathy and herbal medicine.

Considerable confusion remains about what exactly alternative medicine is and what position the disciplines included under this term should hold in relation to conventional medicine. For some, it is simply medicine that has not been proven to the clinical standards of modern western medicine. For others, it consists of undervalued therapies that have been used successfully for hundreds of years.

In the UK, the House of Lords Select Committee on Science and Technology report on Complementary and Alternative Medicine categorised specific approaches and therapies into 3 groups:

Group 1: Professionally Organised Alternative Therapies
Acupuncture, chiropractic, herbal medicine, homeopathy and osteopathy

Group 2: Complementary Therapies
Alexander technique, aromatherapy, Bach and other flower remedies, body work therapies, including massage, counselling stress therapy, hypnotherapy, meditation, reflexology, shiatsu, healing, Maharishi ayurvedic medicine, nutritional medicine, yoga

Group 3: Alternative Disciplines
3a: Long-established and traditional systems of healthcare
Anthroposophical medicine, ayurvedic medicine, Chinese herbal medicine, Eastern medicine, naturopathy, traditional Chinese medicine
3b: Other alternative disciplines
Crystal therapy, dowsing, iridology, kinesiology, radionics

Alternative medicine practices are based on unscientific belief systems or philosophies. They may incorporate spiritual, metaphysical, or religious underpinnings, untested practices, pre-modern medical traditions, or newly developed approaches to healing. If an alternative medical approach, previously unproven according to orthodox scientific or regulatory methodologies, is subsequently shown to be safe and effective, it may then be adopted by conventional practitioners and no longer considered "alternative."

If the treatment or therapy is used in conjunction with or in addition to conventional medicine, it is referred to as "Complementary Medicine" as the two practices complement each other. An example of a complementary therapy is aromatherapy, a therapy in which the scent of essential oils from flowers, herbs, and trees is inhaled to promote health and well-being to help lessen a patient's discomfort

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