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Alternative medicine
By Mayo Clinic staffWhen you're sick, you probably call your doctor, who may prescribe medications or other treatments. That's how conventional medicine works. These days, though, you've probably heard a lot about alternative medicine. And you may have wondered what alternative medicine means.
Alternative medicine means practices not typical in conventional medicine such as homeopathy, ayurveda, acupuncture and some herbs. If an alternative practice is used in addition to conventional therapy it may be called complementary medicine. Complementary therapies are being combined more often with conventional care, giving rise to a new term "integrative medicine." You're using integrative medicine when you add a complementary treatment to an existing conventional treatment.
Before you try an alternative medicine practice, ask yourself some questions: Is it safe? Does it work? Be sure to get answers before starting any alternative medicine, and always tell your doctor which ones you're trying.
