Alternative medicine has been defined as "every available approach to healing that does not fall within the realm of conventional medicine"(1). It refers to therapies that differ from conventional medicine and includes some widely accepted practices such as chiropractic, massage therapy, naturopathy, osteopathy and acupuncture, as well as practices that are just beginning to be accepted such as homeopathy, herbal medicine, reiki, chakra balancing and spiritual healing.

Alternative medicine practices may incorporate spiritual, metaphysical, or religious beliefs, ancient medical traditions, or newly developed healing methods. Once an alternative medical approach is shown to be safe and effective, conventional practitioners may no longer consider it to be "alternative".