What Makes Medicine "Alternative"?

What makes medicine alternative is hard to nail down. For many people, alternative medicine means therapies that are not a part of conventional Western medicine. That is, alternative medicine is not usually taught in medical schools or prescribed by Western doctors. But there is a problem with this understanding: What is accepted as part of conventional Western medicine is changing all the time. More alternative therapies are being studied. If they are shown to be safe and effective, they will be accepted into the mainstream of conventional Western medicine. For example, in the past, most doctors considered chiropractic to be quackery. But now, many doctors refer their patients to chiropractors, and some insurance plans cover the costs.

In the United States, there are some therapies almost everyone considers alternative. Examples are certain dietary supplements (such as medicinal herbs and vitamins in large doses), acupuncture, and magnet therapy. Other therapies, although not quite conventional, are not usually considered alternative. They include massage, relaxation techniques, exercise, changes in diet, prayer, and spiritual healing.