Complementary Medicine Vs. Alternative Medicine: What's the Difference?

Patients Are Choosing to Go Non Conventional

What is the difference between complementary medicine and alternative medicine? Complementary medicine is alternative medicine used together WITH conventional medicine. Alternative medicine is used IN PLACE OF conventional medicine. What are some methods of Alternative medicine that are used today? There are many, here are a few:

homeopathic
naturopathic
traditional Chinese medicine
Ayurveda
Mind/body
Chiropractic

Some doctors now use alternative medicine along with conventional medicine in cases dealing with diseases like cancer. While using radiation and chemotherapy they will also use diet and mind/body alternative methods.

Many alternative doctors do not believe in conventional ways of dealing with cancer. They will turn a patient towards specific supplements, diet, acupuncture, mind/body, etc. Feeling that non invasive methods are a better way to deal with cancer.

Many people now see conventional medicine as risky and harmful. Even when used with alternative medicine. So complementary medicine on the one hand becomes rejected because of the conventional side and on the other hand becomes accepted because some patients believe it lessens the side effects and harm done by complementary medicine. I believe that complementary medicine was born out of this desire of the patients.

Alternative medicine encounters roadblocks by the FDA and conventional doctors all the time. They say that many alternative medicines state that they cure diseases and that information is incorrect. While you can surely find a few of these cases, the alternative medicine community has a steep hill to climb with studies and trials. Why? Most trails are run by the government and drug companies. Alternative medicines are cheap, there is no money to be made by drug companies or the government if an alternative medicine is found capable of curing a disease.