The effects of alternative health care on scientific medicine

There has been an explosion of interest and use of alternative medicines and an increase in the numbers and visits to alternative practitioners in Australia (Furnham A, Mcgill C 2003). Complementary and Alternative medicine, also known as Traditional medicine covers a broad range of healing philosophies, approaches and therapies. Many therapies are termed ‘holistic’, which generally means that the healthcare practitioner considers the whole person, including physical, mental, emotional and spiritual aspects (Moon G, Gillespie R 1995). These forms of medicine have evolved recently as a reaction to high technology medicine. It was noted that many users of traditional remedies also use modern medicine at the same time. The concern about the adverse effect and rising cost of conventional health care is fuelling the search for alternative approaches to the prevention and management of illness.

According to Fontanarosa and Lundberg argue that there is no ‘alternative medicineâ€...