What is Alternative Medicine?

Alternative medicine involves the use of non-traditional medical therapies that are not supported by scientific research and are not considered a part of conventional medical practice in the United States. Typically, alternative medicine uses a holistic approach to treatment, often emphasizing the mind-body connection. An example of alternative medical treatment is the use of herbal remedies or a special diet to treat cancer instead of using medications, radiation, and chemotherapy. When these types of therapies are used instead of conventional treatments, they are referred to as alternative medicine. This is different than complementary medicine, which involves the use of both alternative and conventional medical therapies.

Many alternative medical treatments such as acupuncture, ayurvedic medicine, and balneotherapy (the use of mineral waters for therapeutic purposes) are considered standard medical practices in Asia, India, and Europe respectively. Other types of alternative medicine include chiropractic medicine, osteopathy, massage therapy, diet and vitamin therapy, herbal medicine, and folk remedies. Hypnosis and aromatherapy are considered complementary therapies.

Many people find it surprising that chiropractic medicine and osteopathy are considered part of alternative medicine. They have become so mainstream that most people don’t give it a second thought. Chiropractic medicine is based on the relationship between the spine and the body. Practitioners manipulate the bone structure to properly align the body. Osteopathy involves the manipulation of the musculoskeletal system to treat disease.

Alternative Medicine and the National Institute of Health

The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM), which is part of the National Institute of Health (NIH), recognizes four types of alternative medical systems: Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), naturopathic medicine, homeopathic medicine, and ayurveda.

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has been practiced in China, Japan and Korea for more than 2,000 years. It is based on the concept of balanced “qi,” an energy flow in the body that controls the balance between the mind and body. A person becomes ill when that energy flow is disrupted. Herbs and acupuncture, which involves penetrating the skin at strategic points in the body using very thin solid metal needles, both play an important role in TCM. Meditation and breathing are also important components of TCM, especially when treating circulatory and immune disorders.

Homeopathic medicine originated nearly 200 years ago in Germany and is based on the research of a physician and chemist named Samuel Hahnemann. The underlying principle behind homeopathy is that the physical and psychological symptoms of an illness can be treated with small dilute concentrations of substances that in larger concentrations would actually cause that illness.

Practitioners of naturopathic medicine believe that the power to heal and maintain good health comes from within the body itself. Each individual is treated in accordance with his or her lifestyle, diet, and personal profile. Naturopathic medicine combines a number of techniques including nutrition and lifestyle management, dietary and vitamin supplements, medicinal plants, bodywork, homeopathy, and certain aspects of TCM such as acupuncture.

Ayurvedic medicine has been practiced in India for more than 5,000 years. It is based on the belief that illness occurs when the body is out of balance due to a certain lifestyle or other factors. A holistic approach, which includes diet and herbs, as well as the power of the mind-body connection is used to treat patients.

Why Is Alternative Medicine Becoming More Popular?

Traditionally, the majority of people who embraced alternative medicine were those with chronic diseases or terminal illnesses such as cancer, chronic back problems, AIDS, or infertility who had exhausted--or were not satisfied with--conventional medical treatments. This does not appear to be the case today.

According to recent surveys, people are visiting alternative health care providers more often than traditional medical practitioners. This is especially true when it comes to massage therapists, chiropractors, and acupuncturists. One explanation for this may be the public’s perception that costs for traditional health care are increasing, while quality remains the same.

The nature of many alternative medical therapies makes it easier for people to be more pro-active about their care and take matters into their own hands. Many people, baby boomers for example, are searching for “natural” treatments for a variety of conditions including menopause symptoms or chronic ailments such as arthritis. Hoping to avoid synthetic hormones or steroids, they have joined the ranks of alternative medicine followers, and as a result are spending more money than ever on alternative therapies.

Alternative Medicine and Health Insurance

Although most forms of alternative medicine are not taught in US medical schools or practiced at hospitals where medical students undertake their internships and residencies, more and more hospitals are integrating alternative medicine into the curriculum. As alternative medical practices are becoming more accepted by the medical community, health insurance companies are slowly recognizing that some forms of alternative medicine supported by scientific studies, really are effective methods of treatment.

Before seeking treatment, check with your health care provider to see what is and is not covered. With the exception of chiropractic medicine, acupuncture, massage therapy, and less frequently naturopathic medicine, most alternative medical therapies are not covered by health insurance. Most people who use alternative medical treatments pay out of pocket.

Many alternative therapies are not eligible as medical expenses when filing federal income taxes either. The exceptions include acupuncture treatments, visits to a chiropractor, osteopath, or a health institute if prescribed by a physician. Herbal supplements and “natural” medicines are not eligible expenses. Consult IRS Publication 502 for further information.

What Lies Ahead

There is a fine line between alternative medicine and quackery. Always use a practitioner who is state licensed and is a member of a recognized medical association. Some alternative therapies are strictly fads and they come and go. Unscrupulous people have always capitalized on the sick, infirm, and dying—and they will continue to do so.

While some alternative medical therapies are ineffective or even harmful, others such as those recognized by the NCCAM have been in existence for thousands of years and are now undergoing rigorous scientific studies in the United States. The differences between conventional and alternative medicine are no longer as clearly defined as they once were and it appears that alternative medicine is here to stay.

Heleigh Bostwick is a freelance writer who frequently writes about health and nutrition. She is the editor of Parenting Multiples.

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