Alternative Medicine

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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 Greek word "mederi", meaning "to heal". It was first used in the late 20th century to describe medical practices that were not part of, or were used instead of, conventional western medicine.

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 treatment that avoids drugs and surgery and emphasizes the use of natural agents (such as air, water, and herbs) and physical means (such as tissue manipulation and electrotherapy).
  • Chiropractic: A method of treating disease by manipulation of the spinal column. Chiropractic is based on the theory that most diseases are caused by pressure on the nerves because of faulty alignment of the bones, especially the vertebrae, and that the nerves are thus prevented from transmitting to various organs of the body the impulses necessary for the activity of these organs.
  • Herbal Medicine: The study or use of medicinal herbs to prevent and treat diseases and ailments or to promote health and healing.

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