Alternative Medicine

Is alternative medicine effective or ineffective? Since the beginning of time there have been various cultures that have counted on what modern Western physicians refer to as alternative medicine. Before modern Western medicine became what it is today every illness was treated by some sort of natural remedy or alternative medicine. The debate still continues today whether or not alternative medicine is effective or if they are temporary solutions that will eventually lead to a turning towards Western medical treatments.
To clarify, "medicine" refers to a system which has its own philosophy and principles, which aims at maintaining health and wellness of the body and the mind. It also includes specific measurements that allow doctors to do diagnosis. Alternative medicine refers to any natural or homeopathic way to treat or cure pain, illness, and discomfort that a patient may be experiencing. Alternative medicine covers a broad range of healing philosophies, approaches, and therapies. It generally describes those treatments and health care practices that are outside mainstream Western health care. For example headaches are one of the most common complaints seen in the doctor's office. They can cause significant pain and productivity loss. Although drug treatments are effective and available over the counter many people suffering from headaches often turn to one of the many alternative treatments available. Alternative treatments aimed at stress reduction, such as biofeedback and relaxation, are well-studied and considered effective treatments for some patients with headaches. There are additional "nontraditional" headache treatments, including acupuncture, massage, herbs, and diets, for which there are varying degrees of effectiveness. One example suggests placing a few drops of peppermint oil at the base of the hairline to relax the muscle tension on one’s scalp, ideally relieving the headache. Another alternative solution would be to drink ginger tea made with