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What is alternative medicine?

By Lisa Fayed, About.com

Updated: April 21, 2007

About.com Health's Disease and Condition content is reviewed by our Medical Review Board

Question: What is alternative medicine?
Answer: Alternative medicine, or alternative therapy, is the use of medicine or therapy instead of traditional medicine.

For instance, a patient may use a special diet to treat cancer instead of the conventional medicine prescribed by a physician.

Many patients turn to alternative medicine when their treatment is no longer effective, or prognosis is very low.
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