1. People who want to build health.

While these individuals may not need medical care, alternative medical philosophies can be an appealing way to achieve optimal health. These people may be looking for an alternative medicine treatment system because they intuitively feel that subtle methods of maintaining good health are more in tune with their personal experience of their body. If they have become dissatisfied with traditional medicine, alternative medicine gives them a fresh perspective.

2. People who need to recover from illness.

These individuals seek alternative medicine because, after their physical complaints weren't resolved with traditional medicine, alternative medicine offers a new set of options. While alternative medicine works best as a proactive approach to health, many people have been cured by alternative medicine methods, even when traditional medicine could offer no treatment and no hope.

1. Alternative medicine healing systems

These are often ancient systems of healing that developed long before traditional "allopathic" medicine was available. Traditional Chinese Medicine and Ayurvedic medicine, both still widely used in Asia and India, are considered alternative medicine because they employ modalities such as herbs and acupuncture that are not part of traditional Western medicine.

2. Alternative medicine biological systems

Any non-prescription substance that can be taken into the body to help balance or change its chemistry is an alternative medicine biological system. The most common example of this is vitamins and other nutritional supplements recommended by alternative medicine health care providers. A traditional doctor is likely to recommend a vitamin only to treat a vitamin deficiency. Alternative medicine biological systems include the use of substances such as evening primrose oil and shark cartilage, which are not part of Western medicine.

3. Alternative medicine mind/body systems

Treatments that encourage patients to find healing energy within their own thoughts can be considered alternative medicine mind/body systems. Neuro-programming systems are an alternative medicine modality not embraced by Western medicine. Other alternative medicine mind/body methods, however--such as patient support groups--have become accepted as Western medicine looks to alternative medicine for ways to help patients deal with the psychological aspects of illness.

4. Alternative medicine manipulation therapies

Hands-on treatments in which an alternative medicine health care practitioner manipulates the body, such as massage therapy or chiropractic care, are alternative medicine manipulation therapies. This type of therapy may have the widest acceptance among Western doctors of all alternative medicine modalities; in fact, Osteopaths are Western-trained physicians who also use a form of spinal manipulation.

5. Alternative medicine energy therapies

This type of alternative medicine is based on the theory that subtle energy fields within the body can be unbalanced, causing disease, and can be rebalanced by techniques such as hands-on healing as well as prayer and intention. Reiki is perhaps the best-known alternative medicine energy therapy. Some practitioners of this form of alternative medicine use crystals, magnets, or other materials to move energy within the patient's body. These alternative medicine health care workers are sometimes called "light workers."