Alternative medicine consists in applying different practices, strategies and techniques than the ones applied by the traditional medicine. Alternative medicine uses the unconventional ways of dealing with illnesses, injuries and diseases. Moreover, the alternative medicine practice does not take into account the chemical explanations of the traditional medicine and points out some natural solutions instead. The treatment of the alternative medicine may be used additionally to the conventional treatment or may replace it.

The well-known aspects of the alternative medicine are: acupuncture, diets, physical therapy, homeopathy, herbal and folk medicine, massage, music therapy, naturopathy and even new age healing or faith healing. It is important to point out the fact that more and more people use complementary and alternative medicine – the latest researches revealed that about 35% of the Americans use some therapies and strategies of the alternative medicine. It is also important to highlight that some practices and techniques are used more than others and the main resource of the alternative medicine seems to be prayer, natural products, meditation, yoga, massage and special breathing techniques.

Many people use the techniques of the alternative medicine in combination with those of the conventional medicine. Others are just interested in the subject or just don’t have enough money for the conventional treatments. Most people who use alternative medicine are desperate because the conventional medicine treatments are not helping. Adopting a positive attitude, praying and thinking positive may be the only difference between the two types of medicine.

The two types of medicine may complete each other or they may represent opposite perspectives. While the conventional medicine is based on chemicals, on proven methods, on relative failure and on scientific evidence, the alternative medicine tries to point out the importance of the human mind and the influence of the mind and soul upon the body and the solving process of the physical troubles. This may be the reason why more women than men use alternative medicine, being given the fact that women have a natural inclination to spiritual issues. Moreover, more mothers would prefer alternative medicine in order to cure their children instead of the conventional chemicals that may not have the positive effect on the long term health of the children. It is more a matter of preference and of personal option, but the popularity of the alternative medicine practices increases, although many people use these practices together with conventional treatments.

Although the conventional medicine is based on scientific evidence and claims a more effectiveness than in the case of the alternative medicine, the latter one has in its center the needs and preferences of the patient. Maybe both types failed in informing the patient about the safety and efficiency of the used practices, but the alternative medicine points out the importance of the patient’s soul and mind, his desire of being healed and of feeling great again. This introspection is not available in the conventional medicine. Nevertheless, more physicians and health advisors consider that alternative medicine should be used as a complementary practice to the conventional medicine. Many researchers and specialists want to form a balanced medicine system, formed with the help of the two types of medicines, with their specific techniques, methods and practices.

There is no such thing as the perfect or the right medicine, but there may be the case of a right or inspired decision. Some health problems may bring others, if the conventional medicine fails to discover the right inner problem of the patient. Chemicals will not always solve the problems and in many cases, the emotional, spiritual and physical problems are related so that a pill may not fix the problem. In such cases, the alternative medicine may clarify the exact problem and may point out the right way to solve it.