Alternative medicine broadly describes methods and practices used in place of, or in addition to, conventional medical treatments. The precise scope of alternative medicine is a matter of some debate and depends to a great extent on the definition of "conventional medicine." The debate on alternative medicine is complicated further by the diversity of treatments that are categorized as "alternative." These include practices that incorporate spiritual, metaphysical, or religious underpinnings; non-European medical traditions; newly develop ...

Including:

• Alternative medicine - Definitions
• Alternative medicine - A misleading term?
• Alternative medicine - Complementary and alternative medicine
• Alternative medicine - Regulation
• Alternative medicine - Contemporary use of alternative medicine
• Alternative medicine - Medical education
• Alternative medicine - Support for alternative medicine
• Alternative medicine - Efficacy
• Alternative medicine - Danger reduced when used as a complement to conventional medicine
• Alternative medicine - Criticism of alternative medicine
• Alternative medicine - Efficacy
• Alternative medicine - Safety

Read more here: » Alternative medicine: Encyclopedia - Alternative medicine

See also:

Alternative medicine, Alternative medicine - Complementary and alternative medicine, Alternative medicine - Regulation, Alternative medicine - Contemporary use of alternative medicine, Alternative medicine - Medical education, Alternative medicine - Support for alternative medicine, Alternative medicine - Efficacy, Alternative medicine - Danger reduced when used as a complement to conventional medicine, Alternative medicine - Criticism of alternative medicine, Alternative medicine - Efficacy, Alternative medicine - Safety

Read more here: » Alternative medicine: Encyclopedia II - Alternative medicine - Criticism of alternative medicine

Alternative medicine broadly describes methods and practices used in place of, or in addition to, conventional medical treatments. The precise scope of alternative medicine is a matter of some debate and depends to a great extent on the definition of "conventional medicine." The debate on alternative medicine is complicated further by the diversity of treatments that are categorized as "alternative." These include practices that incorporate spiritual, metaphysical, or religious underpinnings; non-European medical traditions; newly developed approaches to healing; and a number of others. Proponents of ...

See also:

Alternative medicine, Alternative medicine - Definitions, Alternative medicine - A misleading term?, Alternative medicine - Complementary and alternative medicine, Alternative medicine - Regulation, Alternative medicine - Contemporary use of alternative medicine, Alternative medicine - Medical education, Alternative medicine - Support for alternative medicine, Alternative medicine - Efficacy, Alternative medicine - Danger reduced when used as a complement to conventional medicine, Alternative medicine - Criticism of alternative medicine, Alternative medicine - Efficacy, Alternative medicine - Safety

Read more here: » Alternative medicine: Encyclopedia II - Alternative medicine - Definitions

Medicine is the branch of health science concerned with maintaining human health or restoring it through the treatment of disease and injury. It is both an area of knowledge – a science of body systems, their diseases and treatment – and the applied practice of that knowledge. The practice of medical care is shared between the medical profession (physicians or doctors) and other groups of professionals such as nurses and pharmacists (sometimes known as allied health professionals). Historically, only th ...

Including:

• Medicine - History of medicine
• Medicine - Practice of medicine
• Medicine - Healthcare delivery systems
• Medicine - Patient-doctor relationship
• Medicine - Clinical skills
• Medicine - Settings where medical care is delivered
• Medicine - Branches of medicine
• Medicine - Basic sciences
• Medicine - Diagnostic specialties
• Medicine - Clinical disciplines
• Medicine - Interdisciplinary fields
• Medicine - Medical education
• Medicine - Medical devices
• Medicine - Legal restrictions
• Medicine - Criticism

Read more here: » Medicine: Encyclopedia - Medicine

Naturopathic medicine is the practice of attempting to improve the health of patients through the application of natural remedies. Naturopathic medicine - History of naturopathic medicine. The term naturopathy was coined before 1900, by John Scheel, and used by Benedict Lust. Lust, a German last name meaning "love" pronounced like "loost", had been schooled in hydrotherapy and other natural health practices in Germany by Father Sebastian Kneipp, who sent Lust to the United States to bring them Kneipp's meth ...

Including:

• Naturopathic medicine - History of naturopathic medicine
• Naturopathic medicine - Naturopathic physicians and traditional naturopaths
• Naturopathic medicine - Naturopathic physicians
• Naturopathic medicine - Traditional naturopaths
• Naturopathic medicine - The Principles of Naturopathic Medicine
• Naturopathic medicine - The healing power of nature
• Naturopathic medicine - Identify and treat the cause
• Naturopathic medicine - First do no harm
• Naturopathic medicine - Treat the whole person
• Naturopathic medicine - The physician as teacher
• Naturopathic medicine - Prevention
• Naturopathic medicine - Regulation in North America
• Naturopathic medicine - Regulation in the United Kingdom
• Naturopathic medicine - Scope of practice
• Naturopathic medicine - Criticism

Read more here: » Naturopathic medicine: Encyclopedia - Naturopathic medicine

The term allopathic medicine is used by adherents of alternative medicine to refer to any form of mainstream medicine. This phrase is commonly used as a form of disparagement by critics of mainstream medicine. The term was coined by Samuel Hahnemann, the founder of homeopathy, to differentiate homeopathic practices from conventional medicine, based on the types of treatments used. The term "Allopath" comes from the Greek roots meaning "opposite" and "disease"-- the form "allopathy" being formed by false analogy with othe ...

Including:

• Allopathic medicine - History of Allopathy

Read more here: » Allopathic medicine: Encyclopedia - Allopathic medicine

The Commission for Scientific Medicine and Mental Health (CSMMH) was founded on November 13, 2003, by the nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization Center for Inquiry. The commission is commonly referenced for their critical studies of popular, but unproven, alternative medicine and mental health practices. Despite its name, this organisation is not a governmentally commissioned body, but rather a collection of scholars interested in ...

Including:

• Commission for Scientific Medicine and Mental Health - Contributions to Scholarship
• Commission for Scientific Medicine and Mental Health - Notable Members

Read more here: » Commission for Scientific Medicine and Mental Health: Encyclopedia - Commission for Scientific Medicine and Mental Health

Energy psychology is not a specific field of study but rather refers generally to a collection of techniques and therapies that are often classed as alternative medicine. Energy psychology focuses on the interrelationship of emotion, behavior, psychopathology, and health through the electrical activity of the nervous system, acupuncture meridians, chakras, biofields, and morphogenetic fields. Energy psychology - Criticism. Like most forms of alternative medicine, the various techniques collectively k ...

Including:

• Energy psychology - Criticism
• Energy psychology - Historical precursors to energy psychology
• Energy psychology - Modern schools of thought

Read more here: » Energy psychology: Encyclopedia - Energy psychology

The Bates Method is a method created at the beginning of 20 th century by Dr. William Horatio Bates, M.D. (1865-1931) . The aim of the Bates Method is to improve vision and restore the natural habits of seeing, which according to Bates have been lost through strain, tension and the resulting misuse of the eyes. Despite the more than 80 years that the Bates Method has been available, it is still a controversial system. Nevertheless, m ...

Including:

• Bates Method - Techniques
• Bates Method - Eye exercises
• Bates Method - The Bates Method
• Bates Method - Theory of accommodation/focusing
• Bates Method - Theory regarding the pathogenesis of refractive errors
• Bates Method - Efficacy
• Bates Method - Safety
• Bates Method - Criticisms of the Bates Method
• Bates Method - Theory of accommodation/focusing
• Bates Method - Theory regarding the pathogenesis of refractive errors
• Bates Method - Efficacy
• Bates Method - Safety

Read more here: » Bates Method: Encyclopedia - Bates Method

Sclerology is a non-invasive alternative medicine practice in which the sclera is examined for information about a patient's systemic health. According to advocates, examination of the sclera reveals a great number of disease processes and is capable of revealing much more information than iridology. They claim sclerology requires no clinical tools and is an inexpensive, non-invasive meth ...

Including:

• Sclerology - History
• Sclerology - Criticism

Read more here: » Sclerology: Encyclopedia - Sclerology

Color psychology is a field of study devoted to analyzing the effect of color on human behavior and feeling, distinct from phototherapy (the use of ultraviolet light to cure infantile jaundice). Color psychology is an immature field of study viewed dubiously by mainstream psychologists and therefore qualifies as "alternative medicine". Critics view it as an overstatement of what can be justified by research, and point out that different cultu ...

Including:

• Color psychology - Cultural contexts of colors
• Color psychology - Criticism

Read more here: » Color psychology: Encyclopedia - Color psychology

Ben Goldacre is an London-based British journalist and doctor. He writes a column, Bad Science, on the Saturday science page of The Guardian newspaper. Devoted to satirical criticism of scientific inaccuracy, health scares, pseudoscience and quackery, it focuses especially on examples from the mass media, consumer product marketing and complementary and alternative medicine in Britain. He has been a particular critic of the claims of TV nutritionist Gillian McKeith, anti-immunisation campaigners, Brain Gym, bogus ...

Including:

• Ben Goldacre - External link

Read more here: » Ben Goldacre: Encyclopedia - Ben Goldacre

Biofeedback is a form of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) which involves measuring bodily processes such as blood pressure, heart rate, skin temperature, galvanic skin response (sweating), and muscle tension in order to raise a subject's awareness and conscious control of these functions. Devices as simple as mirrors and bathroom scales can be considered rudimentary biofeedback devices, insofar as the information they provide can help a person with issues related to posture and weight; more complex biofeedback devices have ...

Including:

• Biofeedback - Origins of biofeedback
• Biofeedback - Types of biofeedback
• Biofeedback - Criticisms
• Biofeedback - Possible beneficial side effects

Read more here: » Biofeedback: Encyclopedia - Biofeedback

Aromatherapy, commonly associated with complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), is the use of volatile liquid plant materials, known as essential oils (EOs), and other aromatic compounds from plants to affect someone's mood or health. The word was coined in the 1920s by French chemist René Maurice Gattefossé. The main branches of aromatherapy include: Home aromatherapy (self treatment, perfume & cosmetic use) Clinical aromatherapy (as part of pharmacology and pharmacotherapy) Aromachology (the psycho ...

Including:

• Aromatherapy - Materials
• Aromatherapy - Theory
• Aromatherapy - Application
• Aromatherapy - Therapeutic effects
• Aromatherapy - Criticism

Read more here: » Aromatherapy: Encyclopedia - Aromatherapy

Magnet therapy, or magnetic therapy, is a form of alternative medicine based on the claim that certain medical disorders can be effectively treated by exposure to magnetic fields. Some believe that magnetic fields emanating from permanent magnets placed close to the body can cause bones to heal faster, relieve pain, and perform other forms of healing to the body. It is most commonly recommended by practitioners as a cure for joint disorders and back problems. Critics charge that no verifiable evidence has been put forth that magnet therapy has any real benefits, and thus relegate it to the realm of ps ...

Read more here: » Magnet therapy: Encyclopedia - Magnet therapy

Rebirthing is a branch of alternative medicine which postulates that human birth is a traumatic event (see birth trauma) and that a discipline consisting of a combination of connected breathing techniques, relaxation and focused awareness can have therapeutic benefits. Variations on these theories go by the names compression therapy, cuddle time and holding-nurturing process. Rebirthing is also considered an "appropriat ...

Including:

• Rebirthing - Theories
• Rebirthing - Claimed benefits
• Rebirthing - Criticisms
• Rebirthing - History
• Rebirthing - Philosophies
• Rebirthing - External references

Read more here: » Rebirthing: Encyclopedia - Rebirthing

Faith healing, or divine healing, is the use of solely spiritual means in treating disease, sometimes accompanied with the refusal of modern medical techniques. Another term for this is spiritual healing. Faith healing is a form of alternative medicine. Faith healing - Christian faith healing. The term is sometimes used in reference to the belief of some Christians who hold that God heals people through the power of the Holy Spirit, often involving the "laying on of hands". Those who hold to t ...

Including:

• Faith healing - Christian faith healing
• Faith healing - Proposed sociobiological basis
• Faith healing - Criticism
• Faith healing - Ethical issues when conventional treatment is refused

Read more here: » Faith healing: Encyclopedia - Faith healing

Iridology is an alternative medicine practice in which patterns, colors and other characteristics of stromal fibers of the iris are examined for information about a patient's systemic health. Practitioners match their observations to iris charts which divide the iris into many zones believed to correspond to specific parts of the human body. Little if any rigorous scientific evidence exists confirming any such link between aspects of the iris and a patient's state of health and there is no recognized ca ...

Including:

• Iridology - Methods
• Iridology - History
• Iridology - Support for iridology
• Iridology - Criticism of iridology
• Iridology - Scientific research into iridology
• Iridology - Regulation licensure and certification
• Iridology - Related practices

Read more here: » Iridology: Encyclopedia - Iridology

Chromotherapy, sometimes called colour therapy or colourology, is an alternative medicine method. It is claimed that a therapist trained in chromotherapy can use colour and light to balance energy wherever our bodies are lacking, be it physical, emotional, spiritual, or mental. Chromotherapists claim a scientific basis for their practice, proposing that colours bring about emotional reactions in people. A standard method of diagnosis is the use of Luscher’s colour test, developed by Dr. Max Luscher in the ...

Including:

• Chromotherapy - Criticism
• Chromotherapy - History
• Chromotherapy - Meaning and use of colours
• Chromotherapy - Red
• Chromotherapy - Orange
• Chromotherapy - Yellow
• Chromotherapy - Green
• Chromotherapy - Blue
• Chromotherapy - Indigo
• Chromotherapy - Violet

Read more here: » Chromotherapy: Encyclopedia - Chromotherapy

In the United States Osteopathic medicine has been criticized for including unproven therapies such as cranial and cranio-sacral manipulation, and for having a greater tolerance for alternative medical practices. Osteopathic medical schools have been criticized for being less focused on research than allopathic schools. Critics also have pointed towards one study showing slightly lower GPA and MCAT scores among enrollees when compared to allopathic schools. Also, as the field encompasses all conventional medical prac ...

See also:

Osteopathic medicine, Osteopathic medicine - History, Osteopathic medicine - Osteopathic Principles, Osteopathic medicine - Techniques of Osteopathic Manual Medicine OMM, Osteopathic medicine - Scope of Manual Therapies, Osteopathic medicine - Cranial Osteopathy, Osteopathic medicine - Visceral Osteopathy, Osteopathic medicine - Osteopathic Medicine Around the World, Osteopathic medicine - Osteopathic Medicine in the USA, Osteopathic medicine - Osteopathic Medicine in the UK Australia Canada and NZ, Osteopathic medicine - Osteopathic Medicine in the European Union, Osteopathic medicine - Criticism

Read more here: » Osteopathic medicine: Encyclopedia II - Osteopathic medicine - Criticism