A broad branch of alternative medicine, naturopathic medicine relies on nature's healing power. In addition to conventional medicine, naturopathic doctors also study alternative medicine.
Fremont, CA: The term "alternative therapy" generally refers to any treatment that falls outside the mainstream of western medicine. Complementary medicine refers to alternative approaches used alongside standard medical procedures. It is difficult to define complementary and alternative therapies beyond that, in large part due to their diversity. Some of the treatments include diet and exercise changes, hypnosis, chiropractic adjustments, and poking needles into the skin (acupuncture).
There is a heated debate over alternative therapies' benefits. People have tried almost all of these practices even though more research is needed to determine their efficacy.
The NIH reports that over 38 percent of American adults use alternative medicine as of 2008 (the most recent valid data we could find). American medicine is being transformed by some of the practices listed below.
Naturopathy
A broad branch of alternative medicine, naturopathic medicine relies on nature's healing power. In addition to conventional medicine, naturopathic doctors also study alternative medicine. By exploring a patient's mental, physical, and spiritual manifestations, they seek to understand the cause of their condition.
Acupuncture, herbal medicine, homeopathy, and nutrition are all part of naturopathy's treatment methods.
Acupressure
In acupuncture, needles are used, but in acupressure, there are no needles.
