Alternative versus Complementary Medicine?

[Smiles302]

What is your understanding of the terms "alternative medicine" and "complementary medicine"?

Are they one and the same thing?



I had assumed anyone advertising complementary medicine, advised the use of their product along side conventional medicine while alternative medicine was well an alternative to conventional medicine.

I've been told it's an unfair assumption...

[Croydon Bob]

I think of "alternative medicine" as an alternative to real medicine. It is crap that doesn't help the patient.

And "complementary medicine" as the new name used by liars and loonies for alternative medicine when they got fed up with us calling it an alternative to real medicine. They're trying to make it sound less hostile to real medicine, trying to create the assumption that you made.

It's often called both now anyway; "CAM". Or "SCAM" = So-called Complementary and Alternative Medicine.

[bindeweede]

Alternative and complementary medicines are lovey-dovey. Cosy, cotton-woolly, cuddly lamby-loving, comforting, natural, holistic, no doubt environmental, and lead to total wellness.

Real medicine (and other treatments) can be very nasty, but can also work. Unlike the other stuff, other than placebo.

{Sorry, just felt I needed to get that off my chest.}

[DrS]

And "complementary medicine" as the new name

This is my understanding too, that it was once called Alternative but changed to Complementary (or very often Complimentary ) once Alternative started getting a bad name.

[smudge]

This is my understanding too, that it was once called Alternative but changed to Complementary (or very often Complimentary ) once Alternative started getting a bad name.

Yes. An attempt to re brand the same crap. 'Complementary' as in 'take your homeopathy pills alongside your chemo therapy', because 'who knows which will work best for you'. As in 'science doesn't explain everything', why not use 'natures magic to plug those gaps in knowledge'.

[Smiles302]

Ah I see that's annoying.

How do you get words defined? Would it be possible to get the two words legally defined?
To attempt to separate the delusional but harmless from the delusional and dangerous?

[panama]

Ah I see that's annoying.

How do you get words defined? Would it be possible to get the two words legally defined?
To attempt to separate the delusional but harmless from the delusional and dangerous?

A legal definition might be a good step in the right direction. Might make it harder for the snake-oil salesman to peddle their coloured sugar waters.

[Drop Bear]

'Alternative'

(Of two things)mutually exclusive (of one or more things)available in place of another,group of persons dissociating themselves from conventional social practices; 2 Liberty to choose between to or more things: either of two or more possibilities. (Concise Oxford Dictionary)

The term 'alternative medicine' does not actually mean quackery,but has come to be associated with such practices.

I choose to use mainstream medicine,which includes antibiotics, vaccination,surgery even chemotherapy should that be indicated.(with a good prognosis) I take a raft of drugs,for several serious but not immediately life threatening conditions. I also take a couple of complimentary supplements under advice from my physician; Viz Fish oil (as oil) for heart and arthritis and vitamin D to help calcium absorption( I have osteoporosis)

I rejected a list of recommendations from a chiropractor because: they were expensive,there was no science I could find to support their efficacy and because he wanted me to cease mainsteam treatment.

I WILL happily try new,even weird treatments, but only after checking the science (including side effects) and only with the knowledge and approval of my physician lest some substance be contra indicated with medication I'm taking. (this has happened once)

[bindeweede]

'Alternative'

The term 'alternative medicine' does not actually mean quackery,but has come to be associated with such practices.

DB, not being too confrontational, and in a friendly way but please could you differentiate between "alternative medicine" and "quackery".

[JJM]

DB, not being too confrontational, and in a friendly way but please could you differentiate between "alternative medicine" and "quackery".

It is an odd construction; but there are true alternatives in medicine. Perhaps they are more often termed medical alternatives. A prime example may be in prostate cancer in which a man may get to choose among radiation, surgery and chemotherapy. One gets too choose the side effects one finds least onerous.

However, this discussion is so 2008. The new thing is "Integrated" (or "Integrative") medicine which adds worthless treatments to what works.

[brianp]

It is an odd construction; but there are true alternatives in medicine. Perhaps they are more often termed medical alternatives. A prime example may be in prostate cancer in which a man may get to choose among radiation, surgery and chemotherapy. One gets too choose the side effects one finds least onerous.

Surely the criteria should always be which treatment or combination of treatments is, in the opinion of the medics, most likely to be effective in that particular case.

[davidrodway]

Surely the criteria should always be which treatment or combination of treatments is, in the opinion of the medics, most likely to be effective in that particular case.

But the patient should be given the choice, based on advice.

[Pebble]

But the patient should be given the choice, based on advice.

Correct, the patient is entitled to make the wrong decision, so long as it is their decision and they appear to understand the risks and benefits of the choices presented. To do otherwise would be assault.
So technically, while homeopathy, aromatherapy or chiropracty are available as alternatives, these should be offered! I am not aware of any medic stupid enough to do this, but doubtless they exist.

[JJM]

Surely the criteria should always be which treatment or combination of treatments is, in the opinion of the medics, most likely to be effective in that particular case.

But the patient should be given the choice, based on advice.

Certainly, but an ethical medic cannot advise anything that is not known to be safe and effective; and that is everything CAM (including osteopathy, chiropractic, homeopathy etc.).