Alternative

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Alternative Medicine

Alternative Medicine (pronunciation: /ɔːlˈtɜːrnətɪv ˈmɛdɪsɪn/) refers to a variety of therapeutic or preventive health care practices, such as homeopathy, naturopathy, chiropractic, and herbal medicine, that do not follow generally accepted medical methods and may not have a scientific explanation for their effectiveness.

Etymology

The term "alternative medicine" is derived from the Latin word "alternativus", meaning "one after the other", and the Old French "medicine", meaning "the healing art". It was first used in the late 19th century to describe medical practices that were different from the traditional, or "conventional", practices of the time.

Related Terms

  • Homeopathy: A system of alternative medicine that treats a disease with highly diluted substances with the aim of triggering the body's natural system of healing.
  • Naturopathy: A system of alternative medicine based on the theory that diseases can be successfully treated or prevented without the use of drugs, by techniques such as control of diet, exercise, and massage.
  • Chiropractic: A method of treating diseases by manipulation of the spine.
  • Herbal Medicine: The study or use of medicinal herbs to prevent and treat diseases and ailments or to promote health and healing.

See Also

External links

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