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See Also: Complementary medicine Alternative medicine has been described as "any of various systems of healing or treating disease (as Chiropractic , Homeopathy , or Faith Healing ) not included in the traditional Medical curricula taught in the United States and Britain".Merriam-Webster online. Definition retrieved 16 April 2007 Alternative medicine practices are often based in belief systems that are at odds with the findings of science. Alternative medicines may therefore incorporate spiritual, metaphysical, or religious underpinnings, untested practices, non-Western medical traditions, or newly developed approaches to healing. If an alternative medical approach, initially regarded as untested, is subsequently shown to be safe and effective, it may then be adopted by conventional practitioners and no longer considered "alternative". CRITICISMS OF THE TERM Alternative medicine is commonly categorised together with Complementary Medicine under the umbrella term ' Complementary And Alternative Medicine ' ( CAM for short). Some scientists reject this and the above classifications and to varying degrees reject the term "alternative medicine" itself. The following three commentators argue for classifying treatments based on the objectively verifiable criteria of the Scientific Method , not based on the changing curricula of various medical schools or social sphere of usage. They advocate a classification based on Evidence-based Medicine , i.e., scientifically proven evidence of efficacy (or lack thereof). According to them it is possible for a method to change categories (proven vs. nonproven) in either direction, based on increased knowledge of its effectiveness or lack thereof:
Other well-known proponents of evidence-based medicine, such as the publishes a peer-reviewed journal entitled ''Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine'' (eCAM).'' Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine '' Some commentators maintain that some or all fields of alternative medicine are Pseudoscientific , or contain significant pseudoscientific elements. In the late 20th century systematic investigation of the evidence-base proceeded, and at least one university department of alternative and complementary medicine was established, at the University Of Exeter under Professor Edzard Ernst for this purpose. REGULATION Jurisdiction differs concerning which branches of alternative medicine are legal, which are regulated, and which (if any) are provided by a government-controlled Health Service or reimbursed by a Private Health Medical Insurance Company . In article 34 (''Specific legal obligations'') of the General Comment No. 14 (2000) on ''The right to the highest attainable standard of health'' of the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (United Nations), it is stated that
A number of alternative medicine advocates disagree with the restrictions of government agencies that approve medical treatments (such as the American Food And Drug Administration ) and the agencies' adherence to experimental evaluation methods. They claim that this impedes those seeking to bring useful and effective treatments and approaches to the public, and protest that their contributions and discoveries are unfairly dismissed, overlooked or suppressed. Alternative medicine providers often argue that health fraud should be dealt with appropriately when it occurs. In India, which is the home of several alternative systems of medicines, Ayurveda , Siddha , Unani , and Homeopathy are licenced by the government, despite lack of reputable scientific evidence. Naturopathy will also be licensed soon because several Universities now offer bachelors degrees in it. Other activities connected with AM/CM, such as Panchakarma and Massage Therapy related to Ayurveda are also licenced by the government now. Research into and licensing of these activities is carried out by the Department of Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy (AYUSH). Department of Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy (AYUSH) CONTEMPORARY USE OF ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE Many people utilize mainstream medicine for Diagnosis and basic information, while turning to alternatives for what they believe to be health-enhancing measures. However, studies indicate that the majority of people use alternative approaches ''in Conjunction With'' conventional medicine. , part of the National Institutes Of Health in the United States, found that in 2002, 36% of Americans used some form of alternative therapy in the past 12 months, 50% in a lifetime — a category that included yoga, meditation, herbal treatments and the Atkins Diet .2 If Prayer was counted as an alternative therapy, the figure rose to 62.1%. 25% of people who use CAM do so because medical professional suggested it. Reasons people use CAM Another study suggests a similar figure of 40%.Astin JA "Why patients use alternative medicine: results of a national study" ''JAMA'' 1998; 279(19): 1548-1553 A British telephone survey by the BBC of 1209 adults in 1998 shows that around 20% of adults in Britain had used alternative medicine in the past 12 months. The use of alternative medicine appears to be increasing, as a 1998 study showed that the use of alternative medicine had risen from 33.8% in 1990 to 42.1% in 1997.Eisenberg, DM, Davis RB, Ettner SL "Trends in alternative medicine use in the United States 1990-1997." ''JAMA'', 1998; 280:1569-1575. PMID 9820257 In the United Kingdom, a 2000 report ordered by the House Of Lords suggested that "...limited data seem to support the idea that CAM use in the United Kingdom is high and is increasing." House of Lords report on CAM Medical education Increasing numbers of medical colleges have begun offering courses in alternative medicine. For example, the . In the UK, no medical schools offer courses that teach the clinical practice of alternative medicine. However, alternative medicine is taught in several schools as part of the curriculum. Teaching is based mostly on theory and understanding alternative medicine, with emphasis on being able to communicate with alternative medicine specialists. To obtain competence in practicing clinical alternative medicine, qualifications must be obtained from individual medical societies. The student must have graduated and be a qualified doctor. The British Medical Acupuncture Society , which offers medical acupuncture certificates to doctors, is one such example, as is the College Of Naturopathic Medicine UK And Ireland . Public use in the US |
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