| Alternative medicine is "any healing practice "that | | | | biofeedback. |
| does not fall within the realm of conventional | | | | 3. Manipulative And Body Based Methods - Treatment |
| medicine, or that which has not been shown | | | | is based on the manipulation is body movements. A |
| consistently to be effective". They are classified into | | | | sound knowledge of anatomy is a must. This |
| 5 broad categories by the National Center for | | | | constitutes Trager Approach, massage therapy, |
| Complimentary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM). | | | | chiropractic, reflexology, Rolfing, acupressure, |
| The article lists here the alternative medicine types | | | | Alexander technique and therapeutic touch. |
| and their constituents. | | | | 4. Biologically Based Therapies - This alternative |
| 1. Alternative Medical Systems - It is a system built | | | | medicine type uses methods and products (such as |
| upon the "combination of theory and practice" and | | | | botanicals and animal derived extracts) derived from |
| mostly the alternative medicine types are | | | | nature to help in healing. This constitutes dietary |
| non-Western origin. This constitutes traditional | | | | supplements, orthomolecular medicines, herbal |
| Chinese medicine, Tibetan medicine, homoeopathy, | | | | products, diet and megavitamins. |
| ayurveda, acupuncture, Native American healing | | | | 5. Energy Therapies - It refers to "a variety of |
| practices, and naturopathic medicine. | | | | alternative and complementary treatments based on |
| 2. Mind Body Interventions - Used in combination with | | | | the use, modification, or manipulation of energy |
| traditional medical system, this medicine type | | | | fields". This constitutes therapeutic touch, reiki, pulsed |
| approaches healing of health though psychological, | | | | fields, magnetic fields, Oi gong and alternating current. |
| and behavioral, social, and religious methods. They | | | | Though the alternative medicine types and treatment |
| stress on the ability of the mind to influence body | | | | abound in criticism from conventional medical |
| healing. This constitutes Yoga, hypnotherapy, | | | | practices owing to the diversification of treatment |
| meditation, music therapy, prayer therapy, humor | | | | methods and some being non-Western, still they are |
| therapy, dance therapy, guided imagery, and | | | | widely used for healing. |