Before we can understand the term: Alternative Medicine, it is necessary for us to first understand what Conventional Medicine is. Now Conventional Medicine is the current medical system of hospitals, doctors, medicine and chemists. In short, the general accepted health care system of any country. Doctors go to university, study for seven or more years, do an internship at a hospital, and then join or start a medical practice. When you are sick, you go to a doctor, who will prescribe some medicine, send you to a hospital, and/or do an operation.

Under the term: Alternative Medicine, we understand that it contains practices and medicine not recognized by conventional medicine. This is medicine that is not taught at universities and not available at hospitals. Sometimes they are used together with conventional medicine. We then call it: Complimentary Medicine. Alternative medicines include some of the following: acupuncture, Chinese medicine, chiropractic medicine, folk medicine, herbal medicine, homeopathy, faith healing, naturopathy, new age healing, massage, and music therapy.

Why do people visit Alternative Medicine practitioners?

Statistics show that more people visit Alternative Medicine Practitioners than visit Conventional Practitioners, preferring to pay out of their own pockets rather than use the healthcare system. Why is that? It is perhaps because Alternative Medicine is more traditional, for example, Ayurvedic medicine, which is traditional Indian medicine, has been practiced for the past five thousand years and traditional Chinese medicine has been practiced for over three thousand years. Alternative medicine believes in the body's natural ability to heal itself, and just helps in the process. In addition to that, most alternative medicines are natural and non toxic.

By further comparison we see that alternative medicine excels in the treatment of chronic diseases. It strives to find the cause for the disease and is also more focussed on prevention. Conventional medicine, by contrast, focuses on the relief of symptoms, and rarely looks at prevention or the cause of the disorder. Alternative medicine sees the person as unique and focuses on a holistic approach to healing him. Conventional medicine focuses on the organ that has a problem; hence you get cardiologists, neurologists, etc.

Alternative medicine concentrates on gentle, long term support. Contrast this with the aggressive intervention of conventional medicine.

Alternative medicine views the body as energy, and an imbalance in energy causes illness. Conventional medicine views the body as a mechanical system, and any illness is a chemical imbalance, to be treated with chemical drugs.

With alternative medicine, patients work with the practitioner in the healing process. Conventional medicine, by contrast, prefers that the patient takes a passive role in his healing.

Alternative medicine concentrates on gentle, herbal remedies, whereas conventional medicine is tied in with the whole pharmaceutical system which concentrates on making a profit.

Alternative or conventional medicine? Or a mixture of both? You decide.