Alternative medicine describes practices used in place of conventional medical treatments. Complementary medicine describes alternative medicine used in conjunction with conventional medicine. The term complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is an umbrella term for both branches. Alternative medicine includes practices that incorporate spiritual, metaphysical, or religious underpinnings; non-European medical traditions or newly developed approaches to healing.

The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine defines complementary and alternative medicine as "a group of diverse medical and health care systems, practices, and products that are not presently considered to be part of conventional medicine". It also defines integrative medicine as "mainstream medical therapies and CAM therapies for which there is some high-quality scientific evidence of safety and effectiveness" . Ralph Snyderman and Andrew Weil state "integrative medicine is not synonymous with complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). It has a far larger meaning and mission in that it calls for restoration of the focus of medicine on health and healing and emphasizes the centrality of the patient-physician relationship" [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=11863470 PMID 11863470.

Proponents of evidence-based medicine regard the distinction between conventional and alternative medicines as false, preferring "good medicine" with provable efficacy and "bad medicine" without. "Bad medicine" is any treatment where the efficacy and safety of which has not been verified through peer-reviewed, double blind placebo controlled studies, regarded as the "gold standard" for determining the efficacy of a compound. It is thus possible for a method to change categories in either direction, based on increased knowledge of its effectiveness or lack thereof. Richard Dawkins, Professor of the Public Understanding of Science at Oxford, argues that alternative medicine should be defined as that set of practices that cannot be tested, refuse to be tested or consistently fail tests. He also states that "There is no alternative medicine. There is only medicine that works and medicine that doesn't work."

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Think I'll check into this book. "Integrative Cardiology: Complementary and Alternative Medicine for the Heart" http://bit.ly/7YZcy5
heartattackride (heart attack rider) Wed, 06 Jan 2010 05:50:45 -0000
Think I'll check into this book. "Integrative Cardiology: Complementary and Alternative Medicine for the Heart" http://bit.ly/7YZcy5
I love that I make fun of alternative medicine, and an association that practices it follows me. Way to go, dumbasses!
Bruinbown (Kyle Bown) Wed, 06 Jan 2010 05:36:09 -0000
I love that I make fun of alternative medicine, and an association that practices it follows me. Way to go, dumbasses!
Watching Brothers and Sisters and Kitty wants to use alternative medicine to cure her cancer instead of chemo. Yikes.
Bruinbown (Kyle Bown) Wed, 06 Jan 2010 05:24:30 -0000
Watching Brothers and Sisters and Kitty wants to use alternative medicine to cure her cancer instead of chemo. Yikes.
Herbs, The Nation's Priceless Treasure: He said herbal-based items is the choice for alternative medicine and for those who wish to o..
phelan_oyale (phelan oyale) Wed, 06 Jan 2010 05:21:06 -0000
Herbs, The Nation's Priceless Treasure: He said herbal-based items is the choice for alternative medicine and for those who wish to o..
alternative medicine :P • Types Of Beauty College | The News4 net
Alyssarc95 (Leah Jones) Wed, 06 Jan 2010 05:15:17 -0000
alternative medicine :P • Types Of Beauty College | The News4 net
Aromatherapy as Alternative Medicine for Treating Minor Medical Problems http://ping.fm/TEVwl
DiYMCoach (Achinta Archie Mitra) Wed, 06 Jan 2010 05:02:08 -0000
Aromatherapy as Alternative Medicine for Treating Minor Medical Problems http://ping.fm/TEVwl

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