Alternative Medicine Terms

Alternative medicine is commonly called with different terms they are Traditional medicine, Holistic medicine, Natural medicine and Complementary medicine.

Alternative Medicine

Literally, alternative medicine means alternative to "something else". This something else is conventional or western medicine or allopathic or orthodox medicine.

Traditional medicine

This is a very old medicinal system practiced from time immemorial and it is followed from tradition to tradition. Effectiveness of the treatment is time tested and proved. Almost all the alternative medicines are followed for traditions and they are time tested.

Holistic medicine

Most of the alternative medical systems consider a human body as a complete being comprise of physical, mental, social and spiritual dimensions. This whole consideration instead of physical body alone is called as holistic approach.

Natural medicine | Herbal medicine | Ayurveda

These methods of treatments are based on the laws of nature and natural substances are used to treat the patients. Ayurveda, herbal, homeopathy and naturopathic are all called as natural medicine.

Complementary medicine

Possibility of treating an illness by the combination of two or more alternative medicinal systems, which one compliments the other in the treatment and so it is called as Complementary medicine.

Integrative medicine

Combination of knowledge of traditional and modern medicinal practices is ultimately superior to a single model approach of treatment and this combination is called as Integrative medicine. This integrated approach can provide safer, faster and more efficient treatment. Integrative medicine is the combination of alternative medicines and modern medicine.

Next: Ayurvedic Medicine Overview