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