alternative medicine
Meaning of alternative medicine: Alternative medicine refers to practices used in place of standard medical treatment that are not part of conventional care.
Definition of alternative medicine
Alternative medicine refers to health practices used in place of standard, conventional medical treatment rather than alongside it. These practices generally have not been established as effective through the type of rigorous scientific testing that conventional treatments undergo, and they are not typically part of standard medical training or practice.
Examples commonly grouped under alternative medicine include dietary supplements taken in place of prescribed medication, high dose vitamin regimens, herbal preparations, homeopathy, and various other practices used instead of an established treatment for a diagnosed condition. The category is broad and includes practices with widely varying levels of supporting evidence.
Alternative medicine is distinguished from complementary medicine, a term used for similar practices when they are used alongside conventional treatment rather than in place of it, a distinction that affects how each is generally viewed within mainstream medical care.
Used in a sentence
The patient described relying on alternative medicine rather than the prescribed treatment for the diagnosed condition.
Good to know
Alternative medicine specifically describes practices used instead of conventional treatment, while the related term complementary medicine describes similar practices used alongside it, a distinction with different implications for a person's overall care.