by Evelyn Blaken

Created on: November 18, 2008

What is Alternative Medicine?

Alternative medicine is a term used to describe traditional forms of treating illness, instead of using conventional western medicine. For example, following a special diet to to control diabetes instead of medication is a form of alternative medicine.

The term is however often inaccurately used to describe 'complementary medicine', which are treatments that are used alongside conventional western medicine. Both types of medicine fall under the heading of or complementary alternative medicine (CAM).

There are many different forms of complementary alternative medicine, which have been developed in countries all over the world both historically and in modern times. Some ancient types have been lost and we may never know about them, whilst others are used frequently today both in the UK and USA and other countries all over the world. Most people use some form of complementary medicine in their everyday lives, often without even realising it (eg taking honey and lemon for a cold is an old herbal remedy from herbalism or Phytotherapy).

The National Centre for Complementary Medicine (NCCAM), an United States government agency has classified alternative medicine practices into one of five main types:

1. Whole Medical Systems

These are built upon complete systems of theory and practice that are often evolved both separate to and at an earlier time than conventional western medicine. Some examples include:

Homoeopathic medicine- a complete medical system originating in Europe. Homoeopathy as we know it is largely the work of Samuel Hahneman. It works on the basis of "Like Cures Like", a phrase based on the father of medicine- Hippocrates (460 - 350B.C.) principles that, "by similar things a disease is produced and through the application of the like is cured". Homoeopathy stimulates the body's healing ability by introducing a miniscule dose of highly diluted substances that in larger doses would produce the same symptoms as the illness the patient is suffering from. It is a safe and gentle healing art and in 1900 it was being practiced in over 60 countries to treat an estimated 400 million people (Classic Homoeopathy).

Traditional Chinese Medicine- a complete medical system originating in the east. TCM works on the basis that disease is a result of an imbalance of yin and yang which disrupts our natural energy (qi) from flowing freely around the body. TCM uses both herbs, dietary and lifestyle advice, massage and acupuncture (needling) and other

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