What is an example of alternative health?
Traditional alternative medicine. This field includes the more mainstream and accepted forms of therapy, such as acupuncture, homeopathy, and oriental practices. These therapies have been practiced for centuries worldwide. Complementary and alternative medicine includes practices such as massage, acupuncture, tai chi, and drinking green tea. Integrative medicine is an approach to medical care that combines conventional medicine with cam practices that have shown through science to be safe and effective.Complementary physical and/or psychological approaches include tai chi, yoga, acupuncture, massage therapy, spinal manipulation, art therapy, music therapy, dance, mindfulness-based stress reduction, and many others. These approaches are often administered or taught by a trained practitioner or teacher.Alternative medicine is a broad term encompassing a variety of medical modalities. Tradition typically supports these and is seldom taught in a Western medical setting. Such modalities range from the ancient Eastern practices of acupuncture and Tai chi to herbal medicine, Reiki, chiropractic manipulation, and more.
What is alternative healthcare?
Complementary and alternative medicine includes practices such as massage, acupuncture, tai chi, and drinking green tea. Credit: iStock. Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is the term for medical products and practices that are not part of standard medical care. The word alternative refers to practices used in place of mainstream medicine. The newer words complementary and integrative medicine, integrative medicine and health, and integrative medicine apply to treatments used with mainstream medicine, not in place of it.Alternative medicine may include special diets, megadose vitamins, herbal preparations, special teas, and magnet therapy. For example, a special diet may be used instead of anticancer drugs as a treatment for cancer.